September
27, 2015
Pastor Ellen Schoepf
Website
www.faithlutheranokemos.org
Facebook
facebook.com/faithlutheranokemos
Not Against Us
There are days when it can feel like the whole world is against you. Traffic piles up on your morning commute, causing you to be late for something you didn’t feel like going to in the first place. An offhand joke lands the wrong way and feelings get hurt. All the little things that would normally be minor annoyances on their own add up to a big thing. Even in the church, where we expect to find acceptance and harmony in the body of Christ, there are days when it feels like everyone is against us. People have strong opinions about the best way to worship, or the most important teachings in scripture, or who gets to use the church kitchen and when . . . and don’t even get started on the congregation’s annual budget!
“If you’re not with us, you’re against us,” the saying goes. But in today’s gospel reading Jesus says, “Whoever is not against us is
for us” (Mark 9:40). The difference is subtle at first, but huge upon further reflection. The first saying draws a clear line between who’s in and who’s out. It’s a shut-down saying. But the second version, Jesus’ version, leaves the line a little bit blurry.
In the familiar version, all the other cars on the road in traffic are working together to make you late. But in Jesus’ version, perhaps everyone is just trying to get where they are going without hurting anyone else. In the familiar version, the offhand joke is an indicator of disrespect warranting a long resentment. In Jesus’ version, there is room for making amends and experiencing reconciliation. In the familiar version, every difference of opinion in the church is just cause for division. But in Jesus’ version, the door is left open for us to remain united as the body of Christ,
even in the face of profound disagreement.
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Holy Communion
Introduction
to the day
Someone is casting out demons in Jesus’ name who isn’t part of Jesus’ own circle, and the disciples want him stopped. They appeal to Jesus, as Joshua did to Moses about the elders who prophesied without official authorization. Like Moses, Jesus refuses to see this as a threat. Jesus welcomes good being done in his name, even when it is not under his control. The circle we form around Jesus’ word must be able to value good being done in ways we wouldn’t do it, by people we can’t keep tabs on.
If hearing assistance is needed, please ask an usher
for a personal PA receiver.
The ushers also have large print copies of today’s
worship folder available.
If it will be difficult for you to stand along with
the congregation during
any part of the worship service, please
feel free to remain seated.
There is a nursery available during the worship
service for those who wish
to use it. It is located at the end of the
hall beyond the coat racks.
WELCOME
We cordially greet all who
have come to worship today.
Please register your
attendance and join us in fellowship after the service.
Prayer Requests
PRELUDE
The pre-service music signals
the beginning of the worship service.
Silence during the
pre-service music enables worshipers to prepare for worship through quiet
meditation.
“Healer of Our Every
Gathering
The Holy Spirit calls us together as the
people of God.
The assembly stands
Gathering Song #604
Greeting
A The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C And also with you.
KYRIE
Canticle of Praise
Prayer of the Day
A Let us pray.
Generous God, your Son gave his life that we might come to peace with you. Give us a share of your Spirit, and in all we do empower us to bear the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C Amen
The assembly is seated
Word
God speaks to us in scripture
reading, preaching and song.
First
The Lord’s spirit comes upon seventy elders
A A reading from Numbers.
What constitutes legitimate
need and legitimate leadership is the focus of this reading. God provides manna
in the wilderness, yet the people crave meat. What is truly needful? God
bestows the spirit on seventy elders, yet two men not designated as leaders
prophesy in the power of God’s spirit. What constitutes real leadership?
4The rabble among
them had a strong craving; and the Israelites also wept again, and said, “If
only we had meat to eat! 5We
remember the fish we used to eat in
10Moses heard the people weeping
throughout their families, all at the entrances of their tents. Then the Lord became very angry, and Moses was
displeased. 11So Moses said to the Lord, “Why have you treated your servant
so badly? Why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me? 12Did
I conceive all this people? Did I give birth to them,
that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a
sucking child, to the land that you promised on oath to
their ancestors’? 13Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they come weeping to me and say, ‘Give
us meat to eat!’ 14I am not able to carry
all this people alone, for they are too heavy for me. 15If this is the way you are going to treat me,
put me to death at once—if I have found favor in your sight—and do not let me
see my misery.”
16So the Lord said to Moses, “Gather for me seventy of the elders of
24So Moses went out and told the
people the words of the Lord; and
he gathered seventy elders of the people, and placed them all around the tent. 25Then the Lord
came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was
on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them,
they prophesied. But they did not do so again.
26Two men remained in the camp, one
named Eldad, and the other named Medad,
and the spirit rested on them; they were among those registered, but they had
not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. 27And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying
in the camp.” 28And Joshua son of
Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, “My lord Moses, stop
them!” 29But Moses said to him, “Are
you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord‘s
people were prophets, and that the Lord
would put his spirit on them!”
A The word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
chancel
Choir “Healing
River” arr. Dengler
Chris Lewis, soloist
Second
Prayer and anointing in the community
A A reading from James.
Marks of the Christian
community include praying for those who are sick and in need, celebrating with
those in good health, restoring those who have strayed, confessing sins to one
another, and offering forgiveness to each other.
13Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. 14Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them
pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.
16Therefore
confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be
healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. 17Elijah was a human being like us, and he
prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it
did not rain on the earth. 18Then he
prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest.
19My brothers and sisters, if
anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, 20you should know that whoever brings back a
sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and will cover a
multitude of sins.
A The word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
The
assembly stands to welcome the gospel
Gospel Acclamation
Gospel: Mark 9:38-50
Warnings to those who obstruct faith
P The holy gospel according to Mark.
C Glory to you, O Lord.
On the way to
38John said to [Jesus,]
“Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop
him, because he was not following us.” 39But
Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name
will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40Whoever
is not against us is for us. 41For
truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear
the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.
42“If any of you put a stumbling
block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for
you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into
the sea. 43If your hand causes you
to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter
life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.
45And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame
than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. 47And
if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter
the
49“For everyone will be salted
with fire. 50Salt is good; but if
salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves,
and be at peace with one another.”
P The gospel of the Lord.
C Praise
to you, O Christ.
The
assembly is seated
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
Sermon
The
assembly stands to proclaim the word of God in song
Hymn of the Day #612
Text and music printed under OneLicense.net license
A-708005
APOSTLES’ Creed
C I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen
Prayers of
Intercession
A Made alive with God in Christ, we pray for
the church, those in need, and all of God’s creation.
Prayers
of intercession are prayed.
To
each petition, the assembly responds:
A Lord, in your mercy,
C hear our prayer.
The
presiding minister concludes the
prayers, and the assembly responds:
P Gather these concerns and all who are in need into your abundant care, O God, remembering your promise of mercy, through Christ our Lord.
C Amen
Peace
P The peace of Christ be with you always.
C And also with you.
The people may greet one another
with a sign of Christ’s peace,
and may say, “Peace be with you,” or similar words.
The assembly is seated
MeaL
God feeds us with the
presence of Jesus Christ
OFFERING
An offering is gathered
for the mission of the church, including the care of those in need.
Faith Bells “Psalm XIX” Marcello
The assembly
stands
Offering Prayer
A Let us pray.
Merciful God, as grains of wheat scattered upon the hills were gathered together to become one bread, so let your church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into your kingdom, for yours is the glory through Jesus Christ, now and forever.
C Amen
Great Thanksgiving
Dialogue
P The Lord be with you. C And also with you.
P Lift up your
hearts. C We
lift them to the Lord.
P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Preface
P It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty
and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ; who on this day overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Holy, Holy, Holy
Thanksgiving at the Table
P In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Lord’s Prayer
P Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit,
let us pray as Jesus taught us.
C Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen
Invitation to Communion
P God gives food to those who hunger.
Come, be fed, be healed.
The assembly is seated
Communion
When giving the bread and cup, the communion ministers say:
The body of Christ, given for you.
The blood of Christ, shed for you.
and each person may respond:
Amen
WE WELCOME ALL GUESTS worshiping with us today and invite all baptized Christians who believe in the real presence of Jesus Christ in and with the bread and wine to come to the Lord’s table. Children who have not yet received First Communion instruction are invited to come forward with their families to receive a blessing. There will be one chalice (cup) of wine, as well as trays of individual cups. In the center of each tray, there are a few glasses filled with white grape juice for those who prefer juice rather than wine. Communion will be by continuous line.
Communion Song
Congregational Song #614
Congregational Song #779
The assembly stands
P The body and blood of
our Lord Jesus Christ
strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
C Amen
Prayer after
Communion
A Let us pray.
We give you thanks, O God,
that you welcome us to your table and
satisfy our deepest hunger and thirst.
By your gifts of word and holy meal,
strengthen us to take up the cross as
we go about our callings in this world,
following after Jesus Christ, our servant Lord.
C Amen
Sending
God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Blessing
A Like children in the arms of Jesus, receive blessing:
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy.
The Lord look upon you with favor and ☩ give you peace.
C Amen
Sending Song #729
Text printed under
OneLicense.net license A-708005
Dismissal
A Go in peace. Remember the poor.
C Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
“Voluntary IV, Spiritoso” Samuel
Wesley
Copyright © 2015 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
Reprinted by
permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #20803.
New Revised
Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of
the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the
Used by permission. All rights
reserved.
Clipart copyright © 2015 by Communication Resources. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
James tells us to sing songs of praise, confess our sins to one another and pray for one another (5:13, 16, NRSV).
We gather to do all these things. Welcome!
Sunday education hour 9:00
a.m.
SUNDAY WORSHIP 10:00 a.m.
Pastor Ellen
Schoepf
Secretary Rita Barry
Director
of Christian Education Melinda
Schultz
Director
of Music Debra
Borton-McDonough
Organist/Pianist Bruce
Williams
September
20, 2015 worship attendance: 165
Serving Faith Today October 4
Acolytes Adelle Dingledine Emilee
Nussdorfer
Altar
care
Communion
assistants Mike Eschelbach Harold Sollenberger
Natalie
Dingledine Brendan Guenther
Adelle Dingledine Emilee
Nussdorfer
Greeters Mike Eschelbach Harold Sollenberger
Lay
assistants Mike
Eschelbach Harold
Sollenberger
Readers Natalie
Dingledine Brendan Guenther
Ushers Dingledine
family Doug and Linda Hirt
Nursery