The Virtual Service for September 27, 2020

Worship for Sunday, September 27, 2020
17th Sunday after Pentecost 

GATHERING 
Here I Am Lord
Composer Dan Schutte
Performed and arranged by Robert Prester & Adriana Samargia  

I, the Lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save

I who made the stars of night
I will make their darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

I, the Lord of wind and flame
I will tend the poor and lame
I will set a feast for them
My hand will save

Finest bread I will provide
'Til their hearts be satisfied
I will give my life to them
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord
Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night

I will go, Lord
If You lead me
I will hold Your people in my heart
I will hold Your people in my heart

Here I am, Lord
Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night

I will go, Lord
If You lead me
I will hold Your people in my heart

INTRODUCTION TO THE DAY

Jesus’ parable about two sons who don’t do what they say reveals surprises in the reign of God. In the reading from Ezekiel the people claim the ways of the Lord are unfair, while God offers repentance and new life. Paul urges us to look to Christ as a model of humility, putting the interests of others above our own. Nourished by the broken bread and shared cup, we offer our lives for the sake of our needy world.

GATHERING SONG 
Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun (ELW 557)

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS 

Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God,
who creates, redeems, and sustains us and all of creation.
Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Faithful God,
have mercy on us.
We confess that we are captive to sin
and cannot free ourselves.
We turn from your loving embrace
and go our own ways.
We pass judgment on one another
before examining ourselves.
We place our own needs before those of our neighbors.
We keep your gift of salvation to ourselves.
Make us humble, cast away our transgressions,
and turn us again to life in you
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

God hears the cries of all who call out in need,
and through his death and resurrection,
Christ has made us his own.
Hear the truth that God proclaims:
Your sins are forgiven in the name of ☩ Jesus Christ.
Led by the Holy Spirit, live in freedom and newness
to do God’s work in the world.
Amen.

GREETING 

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

PRAYER OF THE DAY 

Let us pray. God of love, giver of life, you know our frailties and failings. Give us your grace to overcome them, keep us from those things that harm us, and guide us in the way of salvation, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

WORD 

THE READING Philippians 2:1-13
A reading from Philippians.

As part of a call for harmony rather than self-seeking, Paul uses a very early Christian hymn that extols the selflessness of Christ in his obedient death on the cross. Christ’s selfless perspective is to be the essential perspective we share as the foundation for Christian accord.

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
 who, though he was in the form of God,
  did not regard equality with God
  as something to be exploited,
 but emptied himself,
  taking the form of a slave,
  being born in human likeness.
 And being found in human form,
  he humbled himself
  and became obedient to the point of death—
  even death on a cross

Therefore God also highly exalted him
  and gave him the name
  that is above every name,
 so that at the name of Jesus
  every knee should bend,
  in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
 and every tongue should confess
  that Jesus Christ is Lord,
  to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

The word of the Lord. 
Thanks be to God. 

MUSICAL MEDITATION
Lord I Need You

Covered by Robert Prester & Adriana Samargia
Christy Nockels | Daniel Carson | Jesse Reeves | Kristian Stanfill | Matt Maher
© 2011 sixsteps Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Sweater Weather Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Valley Of Songs Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)

Lord I come I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
And without You I fall apart
You're the one that guides my heart

Lord I need You oh I need You
Ev'ry hour I need You
My one defense my righteousness
Oh God how I need You

Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are Lord I am free

Holiness is Christ in me
Where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me

Teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus You're my hope and stay

And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus You're my hope and stay

Lord I need You oh I need You
Ev'ry hour I need You
My one defense my righteousness
Oh God how I need You

My one defense my righteousness
Oh God how I need You

GOSPEL:  Matthew 21:23-32

The holy gospel according to Matthew. 
Glory to you, O Lord. 

When [Jesus] entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.”

The gospel of the Lord. 
Praise to you, O Christ. 

SERMON 
Upturning the Tables for Change
Pastor Harkness

HYMN OF THE DAY  
Dearest Jesus, at Your Word  (LBW 248)

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION 

Drawn together in the compassion of God, we pray for the church, the world, and all those in need.

A brief silence.  

The response to “Lord, in your mercy,” is, ”Hear  our prayer.”  

  The Prayers conclude:  
All these things and whatever else you see that we need, we entrust to your mercy; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

OFFERING

ANTHEM 
10,000 Reasons
Composer: Redman
Vocalists: Bev Haines, Charis Haines
Piano - Hugh Hart

OFFERING PRAYER 

Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things.
You have set before us these gifts of your good creation.
Prepare us for your heavenly banquet,
nourish us with this rich food and drink,
and send us forth to set tables in the midst of a suffering world,
through the bread of life, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.

 HOLY COMMUNION

DIALOGUE

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

PREFACE

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 Lord,
God of pow’r and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory, full of your glory.
Hosanna, in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna, in the highest.

THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE

Holy, mighty, and merciful Lord,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
In great love you sent to us Jesus, your Son,
who reached out to heal the sick and suffering,
who preached good news to the poor,
and who, on the cross, opened his arms to all.

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.
Remembering, therefore, his death, resurrection, and ascension,
we await his coming in glory.

Pour out upon us the Spirit of your love, O Lord,
and unite the wills of all who share this heavenly food,
the body and blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord;
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be all honor and glory, now and forever. 
Amen.

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 trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever.
Amen.

INVITATION TO COMMUNION

Friends of Jesus, come to the table.
Receive nourishment for your journey.

COMMUNION

The body of Christ, given for you. (The bread/wafer is consumed)

The blood of Christ, shed for you. Amen. (The wine/juice is consumed)

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

We give you thanks, gracious God,
that you have once again fed us with food beyond compare,
the body and blood of Christ.

Lead us from this place, nourished and forgiven,
into your beloved vineyard
to wipe away the tears of all who hunger and thirst,
guided by the example of the same Jesus Christ
and led by the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Amen.

SENDING 

BLESSING 

Mothering God,
Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit,
bless you and lead you into the way of truth and life.
Amen.

 DISMISSAL 

Go in peace. Remember the poor.
Thanks be to God.

SENDING SONG  
Hallelujah! We Sing Your Praises (ELW 535)

POSTLUDE
Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us With Your Love
Composer Steven Strite
Performed and arranged by Robert Prester & Adriana Samargia

Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love,
show us how to serve
the neighbors we have from you.

These are the ones we should serve,
these are the ones we should love;
all these are neighbors to us and you. 

Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love,
show us how to serve
the neighbors we have from you.

Loving puts us on our knees,
showing our faith by our deeds,
serving the neighbors we have from you. 

Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love,
show us how to serve
the neighbors we have from you.

_____ 

From sundaysandseasons.com. 
Copyright © 2020 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.