Prayers for September 30

 The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe the good news.

Daily Readings for Friday, September 30, 2022

• Morning Psalms 84; 148
• First Reading Hosea 4:11-19
• Second Reading Acts 21:37-22:16
• Gospel Reading Luke 6:12-26
• Evening Psalms 25; 40

Loving God, through your Son you have called us to repent of our sin, to believe the good news, and to celebrate the coming of your kingdom. Like Christ‘s first apostles, may we hear his call to discipleship, and, forsaking old ways, proclaim the gospel of new life to a broken world. Great God, you are one God, and you bring together what is scattered and mend what is broken. Unite us with the scattered peoples of the earth that we may be one family of your children. Bind up all our wounds, and heal us in spirit, that we may be renewed as disciples of Jesus Christ, our Master and Savior. God of all who stand in awe of you, make us one with all your saints and with any who are in need. Teach us to befriend the weak, and welcome the outcast, that we may serve the Lord and live to offer him glory. (Add your prayers.) Amen.

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord be kind and gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.

(Opening sentences, prayers, and blessings are from the Book of Common Worship. Readings are from the daily lectionary in Daily Prayer. Both are published by Westminster/John Knox Press.)

Order of Worship September 25, 2022

 

 

CENTERING PRAYER

 

Loving God, giver of all good gifts, you created us for life together, and in Christ you revealed to us that the true riches of faith are good works, generosity, and a desire to serve. Strengthen us this day to pursue all righteousness, godliness, and love. Help us to persevere with gentleness and generosity that we may take hold of the life that truly is life and dwell with you eternally. Amen.

 

PRELUDE  Prelude Semplice      James Southbridge 

WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS 

MOMENT FOR MISSION

CALL TO WORSHIP

 

Happy are those whose help is in the God of Jacob,

whose hope is in the Lord their God.

The Lord will deliver those whom God loves.

We will find refuge under God’s wings.

The Lord God reigns forever, for all generations.

Praise the Lord!

† HYMN “You Who Dwell in the Shelter of the Lord” Hymnal #43

 

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

We are stuck in sin, O God, hoarding what we have, grasping for more, and ignoring those who hunger and thirst. We stay with our own kind, complacent in the face of systems that benefit us and oppress others. Forgive us; purify us; remake us, that we might love as you love. (Silent Confession)

ASSURANCE OF GRACE 

† SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST 

The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.

 †GLORIA PATRI Hymnal #581 

TIME WITH CHILDREN (Children 5th grade and younger may leave to attend Sunday School) 

† HYMN “Our God Is an Awesome God” Hymnal #616 

SCRIPTURE Luke 16:19-31 

SERMON “Our Hells and Our Heavens” Rev. Dr. Dave Burgess

 

† AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Apostles’ Creed 

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen. 

OFFERING     For the Autumn Sky      Ruth Elaine 

Chancel Choir 

† THE DOXOLOGY Hymnal #606 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. 

† HYMN      “Be Still, My Soul”      Hymnal #819 

† CHARGE AND BLESSING 

† BENEDICTION  “Go Now in Peace” 

Go now in peace. May the love of God surround you. Everywhere. You may go. 

POSTLUDE (Sunday Worship) Postlude on “Duke Street” James Southbridge 

† You are invited to stand, as you are able 

Scripture for September 24 and 25

 Luke 16:19-31

The Rich Man and Lazarus

19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. 20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores 21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. 24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Read full chapter

Rich Man and Lazarus by Fyodor Bronnikov

Prayers for September 23

Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.

Daily Readings for Friday, September 23, 2022

• Morning Psalms 88; 148
• First Reading Esther 8:1-8, 15-17
• Second Reading Acts 19:21-41
• Gospel Reading Luke 4:31-37
• Evening Psalms 6; 20

Jesus, Good Shepherd of the sheep, by whom the lost are sought and guided into the fold: Feed us and we shall be satisfied, heal us and we shall be whole, and lead us that we may be with you, with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Almighty God, by grace alone you call us and accept us in your service. Strengthen us by your Spirit, and make us worthy of your call. Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation. In the beginning you separated light from darkness and placed all your works in our hands. You have given us the light of day that we might see your wonders in all we say and do; you give us the gentle darkness of the night that we might rest from our burdens and be refreshed in body and spirit. Break through the darkness of our sins with the splendor of your mercy and love. Send your light to dispel our fears and anxieties and fill us with hope and joy. Glory, praise, and honor are yours, O God. (Add your prayers.) Amen.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

(Opening sentences, prayers, and blessings are from the Book of Common Worship. Readings are from the daily lectionary in Daily Prayer. Both are published by Westminster/John Knox Press.)

Order of Worship Sept 18

 

 

CENTERING PRAYER

 

You hear the cries of your people for justice and mercy; you answer our prayers with the gift of your Son, who bears our burdens and sets us free. Speak your truth to us; purge and refine us; that we may love and serve you alone. Amen.

 

PRELUDE (Sunday Worship) Praise to God the Father Franklin Ritter 

WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

 

Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name;

deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name sake.

We come to worship our saving Lord together!

† HYMN “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” Hymnal #366 

 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

 

Creator of the universe, we come trembling before you for we have hoarded and bartered what has never been ours in the hope of securing our future. We have yearned for wealth more than we have sought you. We have squandered your trust and grieved your heart with our betrayal. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and forgive our sins for your name sake. (Silent Confession)

 

 

ASSURANCE OF GRACE 

† SHARING THE PEACE OF CHRIST 

The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.

 †GLORIA PATRI Hymnal #581 

TIME WITH CHILDREN (Sunday Worship) (Children 5th grade and younger may leave to attend Sunday School)

 † HYMN “As the Deer” Hymnal #626 

SCRIPTURE Luke 16:1-13 

SERMON “The House Always Wins” Rev. Dr. Dave Burgess

† AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Apostles’ Creed 

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen. 

OFFERING        The Beatitudes         Eugene Butler 

Chancel Choir 

† THE DOXOLOGY Hymnal #606 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

 † HYMN      “I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me”      Hymnal #700

 † CHARGE AND BLESSING 

† BENEDICTION (Sunday Worship) “Go Now in Peace” Go now in peace. May the love of God surround you. Everywhere. You may go. 

POSTLUDE (Sunday Worship) Our Hope, Our Life Martin E. Leckebusch

 † You are invited to stand, as you are able

Scripture for September 17, 18

 Luke 16:1-13

The Parable of the Shrewd Manager

16 Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2 So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’

3 “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— 4 I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’

5 “So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’

6 “‘Nine hundred gallons[a] of olive oil,’ he replied.

“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’

7 “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’

“‘A thousand bushels[b] of wheat,’ he replied.

“He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’

8 “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

10 “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Read full chapter

*Jan Luyken etching of the parable of the unjust steward, Bowyer Bible.

Daily Prayer September 16

 

God is love, and those who abide in love, abide in God, and God abides in them.

Daily Readings for Friday, September 16, 2022

• Morning Psalms 130; 148
• First Reading Esther 1:1-4, 10-19
• Second Reading Acts 17:1-15
• Gospel Reading John 12:36b-43
• Evening Psalms 32; 139

Eternal God, we praise you for your mighty love given in Christ's sacrifice on the cross, and the new life we have received by his resurrection. We thank you for the presence of Christ in our weakness and suffering, the ministry of Word and Sacrament, all who work to help and heal, sacrifices made for our benefit, opportunities for our generous giving. God of grace, let our concern for others reflect Christ's self-giving love, not only in our prayers, but also in our practice. We pray for those subjected to tyranny and oppression, wounded and injured people, those who face death, those who may be our enemies. Eternal God, your love is stronger than death, and your passion more fierce than the grave. We rejoice in the lives of those whom you have drawn into your eternal embrace. Keep us in joyful communion with them until we join the saints of every people and nation, gathered before your throne in ceaseless praise. (Add your prayers.) Amen.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

(Opening sentences, prayers, and blessings are from the Book of Common Worship. Readings are from the daily lectionary in Daily Prayer. Both are published by Westminster/John Knox Press.)