Sunday Worship Service: 26 September 2021

Blessings this day! 
Grace and Peace to you wherever you are finding a time and space for worshipping our gracious God.


Peace, Pastor Chris Lee

Order of Worship for Sunday, September 26, 2021

Prelude: ELW 540- “Go, Make Disciples.” Miriam Anderson, soloist.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Stewardship: Pam Edwards

Meditation

Someone who isn’t part of Jesus’ own circle is casting out demons in Jesus’ name, 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.

Confession and Forgiveness

Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, whose teaching is life, whose presence is sure, and whose love is endless.

Amen.

Let us confess our sins to the one who welcomes us with an open heart.

Silence is kept for reflection.

God our comforter:

like lost sheep, we have gone astray. We gaze upon abundance and see scarcity. We turn our faces away from injustice and oppression. We exploit the earth with our apathy and greed. Free us from our sin, gracious God. Listen when we call out to you for help. Lead us by your love to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Amen.

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. By the gift of grace in ☩ Christ Jesus, God makes you righteous. Receive with glad hearts the forgiveness of all your sins.

Amen.

Opening Hymn: ELW 636- “How Small Our Span of Life,” all 4 verses.

Prayer of the Day

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.

Amen.

First Reading: Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29

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 Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; 6but now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.”
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 Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tent of meeting, and have them take their place there with you.”
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!”

Second Reading: James 5:13-20

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.

Gospel: Mark 9:38-50

On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus teaches his disciples about ministry that involves service and sacrifice. His disciples are slow to realize that these words apply to them as well as to others.

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 kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, 48where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.
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.”

Sermon: Pastor Chris Lee

Hymn of the Day: ELW 719- “Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life,” verses 1, 3, 5, and 6.

Prayers of Intercession

Made children and heirs of God’s promise, we pray for the church, the world, and all in need.

A brief silence.

We pray for the church and its ministry. Bless the newly baptized and encourage them in their journey of faith. Sustain all members of the body of Christ in lives of prayer, service, and worship. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We pray for natural wonders of your creation–for the Rock and Mississippi Rivers, for Black Hawk Forest, Sylvan Island, and Illiniwek Forest Preserve. Restore damaged forests, waterways and natural habitats and lead us to be good stewards of what you have provided. Bring new creation to lands devastated by tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, fires, and other disasters. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We pray for those who are struggling with cancer, dementia, or any other disease or illness especially Wayne Esping; Libby Hofsas; Noah Stoutt; Art Renfro Jr.; Bonnie Sellers; Shelley Collis; Barbara Witt; Barb Martin; Deb Schafer; Alivia DeWitt; Bill and Virginia Thorpe; Richard Hotchkiss; Marijane Cook; Nancy and Bob Bosco; Charysse and Adean Heritage and Family; Randy McIntyre; Karen Bemowski; Marilyn Hubbard; Helen Schubert, and all those we name before you aloud or in our hearts. Give them tangible signs of your steadfast love. Provide them with peace and resilience for the days ahead. Sustain caregivers with energy and patience. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We pray for those in authority. Give them wise minds and compassionate hearts. Strengthen in them a desire to protect the vulnerable and care for those underserved. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We pray for the worship leaders of this congregation: musicians, song leaders, acolytes, Altar Guild, ushers and others. Bless us through their ministry and grant them the passion to continue in their service. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We give thanks for all your saints, those we have loved and known and those from every time and place. Continue to guide us by their example and reassure us of your promised salvation. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Receive these prayers, O God, and those in our hearts known only to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Peace

Great Thanksgiving

The Lord’s Prayer

Communion: ELW 497- “Strengthen for Service, Lord.”
Communion: ELW 484- “You Satisfy the Hungry Heart.”

Prayer after Communion

Lord of life, in the gift of your body and blood you turn the crumbs of our faith into a feast of salvation. Send us forth into the world with shouts of joy, bearing witness to the abundance of your love in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

Blessing

People of God, you are Christ’s body, bringing new life to a suffering world. The holy Trinity, ☩ one God, bless you now and forever.

Amen.

Sending Hymn: ELW 540- “Go, Make Disciples,” verses–one time through.

Dismissal

Go in peace. The living Word dwells in you.

Thanks be to God.

Postlude: “Break Bread Together,”- arr. Wood.

Facebook link to Worship Service for Sunday, September 26, 2021:

https://www.facebook.com/190629367619921/videos/3071912246419986

Image credits: Mark 9 Whoever…, blogspot.com and James 5, Any Among You Suffering, Pinterest.

Music credits:

Miriam Anderson: Song Leader

Pam Edwards: Music Director/ Pianist/ Organist

“Go, Make Disciples.” Text: Handt Hanson, b. 1950. Music: Handt Hanson. Text and music copyright 1996 Prince of Peace Publishing, Changing Church, Inc.. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.


“How Small Our Span of Life.” Text: Herman G. Stuempfle Jr., b. 1923. Music: English traditional. Text copyright 1993 GIA Publications, Inc.. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.


“Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life.” Text: Frank M. North, 1850 – 1935, alt.. Music: W. Gardiner, Sacred Melodies, 1815. Public domain.


“Strengthen for Service, Lord.” Text: Syriac Liturgy of Malabar; tr. composite. Music: Robert A. Hobby, b. 1962. Music copyright 2006 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.


“You Satisfy the Hungry Heart.” (Gift of Finest Wheat) Text: Omer Westendorf, 1916 – 1997. Music: Robert E. Kreutz, 1922 – 1996. Text and music copyright 1977 Archdiocese of Philadelphia. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.

“Break Bread Together,” organ, arr. Dale Wood. Preludes and Postludes Vol 3 Tune: Setting © 1974 Augsburg Fortress. One license #AF2020134. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.

Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2021 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Reprinted/ streamed with permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS006904. Duplication in any form is prohibited without permission or valid license from the copyright administrator.