The Virtual Worship Service for September 12, 2021
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Youth Sunday/Worship and Holy Communion 10:00 a.m.
The congregation reads the boldface responses.
PRELUDE
Who You Say I Am, Ben Fielding and Reuben Morgan, Arr. By Dan Musselman
GATHERING
ANNOUNCEMENTS
INTRODUCTION
The Parable of the Prodigal Son, shows us the overwhelming love a father has for his two sons. On this Mission Sunday, our youth will be sharing about their experiences from the summer mission trip. Today’s service has been largely created by our youth. The gospel and songs that we are sharing were part of our worship experience. Our theme, Worth It, showed us that we were created by a loving God, who made us to be exactly who we are. We are worthy and truly loved by our Heavenly Father.
A PRAYER FOR GOOD SHEPHERD DURING OUR VISIONING PROCESS
What made you think we could withstand losing one of our pastors and our music director, go through this transition, during a pandemic, when everything we’ve been comfortable with has been turned upside down? We’re scared, and we’re excited. Thank you for being with us this far. Please continue to be with the visioning team as they wrap up their duties and with the call committee as their duties begin. Wrap your loving arms around all of us as we work with you to create something great from our challenges. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
GATHERING HYMN
Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone), Traditional Melody; Words: John Newton, Additional Words: Chris Tomlin.
Performed by Anne Marie Mettus, piano and Maya Caggiano, violin.
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found
Was blind, but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
My chains are gone, I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love
Amazing grace
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures
My chains are gone, I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love
Amazing grace
My chains are gone, I've been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy reigns
Unending love
Amazing grace
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God who called me here below
Will be forever mine, will be forever mine
You are forever mine
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God,
whose teaching is life,
whose presence is sure,
and whose love is endless.
Amen.
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.
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
Lord, we thank and praise you for making us worth it. Your love starts when we are being formed and never stops. You are there when we are lost and welcome us back when we are found. Help us appreciate, embrace and witness to your love. We pray this in your Son's name. Amen
BLESSING OF THE BACKPACKS
WORD
FIRST READING
Isaiah 43:1-3a, 4a
A reading from Isaiah.
Whether or not we are faithful to God, he will always be with us and we don't have to be afraid.. He has redeemed us and called us by name. He is the Lord our God, the Holy One of Israel, our Savior.
But now thus says the LORD,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
You are precious in my sight,
and honored, and I love you.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALMODY
Psalm 139:1-14
(Read responsively.)
O LORD, you have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from far away.
You search out my path and my lying down,
and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
O LORD, you know it completely.
You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is so high that I cannot attain it.
Where can I go from your spirit?
Or where can I flee from your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, you are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
If I take the wings of the morning
and settle at the farthest limits of the sea,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light around me become night,”
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is as bright as the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
For it was you who formed my inward parts;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
that I know very well.
SECOND READING
Ephesians 3:14-21
A reading from Ephesians.
As we trust in Him, the Lord will make his home in our hearts. This is shown in the prayer. When Paul prays for spiritual growth, he gives his trust to God and asks for empowerment in return.
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
GOSPEL
Luke 15:11-30
The holy gospel according to Luke:
Praise to you, O Lord.
Then Jesusa said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself witha the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.” ’ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.
“Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’
The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON
Worth It?
Youth
HYMN OF THE DAY
Reckless Love, Cory Asbury
Before I spoke a word
You were singing over me
You have been so, so good to me
Before I took a breath
You breathed Your life in me
You have been so, so kind to me
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending
Reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down
Fights 'til I'm found
Leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn't earn it and I don't deserve it
Still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending
Reckless love of God, yeah
When I was Your foe
Still, Your love fought for me
You have been so, so good to me
When I felt no worth
You paid it all for me
You have been so, so kind to me
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending
Reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down
Fights 'til I'm found
Leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn't earn it and I don't deserve it
Still, You give yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending
Reckless love of God, yeah
There's no shadow You won't light up
Mountain You won't climb up
Coming after me
There's no wall You won't kick down
Lie You won't tear down
Coming after me
There's no shadow You won't light up
Mountain You won't climb up
Coming after me
There's no wall You won't kick down
Lie You won't tear down
Coming after meOh, the overwhelming, never-ending
Reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down
Fights 'til I'm found
Leaves the ninety-nine
And I couldn't earn it and I don't deserve it
Still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending
Reckless love of God
APOSTLES’ CREED
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.
*Or, “he descended into hell,” another translation of this text in widespread use.
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.
The response to “Lord, in your mercy,” is “hear our prayer.”
The prayers conclude:
Receive these prayers, O God, and those in our hearts known only to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
OFFERING
OFFERTORY
What a Beautiful Name, Ben Fielding, Brooke Ligertwood, Arr: Dan Musselman
Anne Marie Mettus-Piano
Mission Trip Slide Show
OFFERING PRAYER
Let us pray. God of abundance,
you cause streams to break forth in the desert
and manna to rain from the heavens.
Accept the gifts you have first given us.
Unite them with the offering of our lives
to nourish the world you love so dearly;
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
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 power and might,
heaven and earth are 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.
Hold up your communion kits.
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
All who hunger and thirst, come.
The table is ready.
COMMUNION
Holy Communion will be consumed together
by the congregation at your seats.
When giving the bread and cup, the pastors will say:
The body of Christ given for you. The blood of Christ shed for you.
Everyone may respond by saying: Amen.
POST-COMMUNION BLESSING
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
Amen.
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.
SENDING
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
Who You Say I Am, Rueben Morgan, Ben Fielding, Hillsong Worship
Who am I that the highest King would welcome me?
I was lost, but He brought me in
Oh His love for me
Oh His love for me
Who the Son sets free
Oh, is free indeed
I'm a child of God, yes, I am
Free at last, He has ransomed me
His grace runs deep
While I was a slave to sin, Jesus died for me
Yes, He died for me
Who the Son sets free
Oh is free indeed
I'm a child of God, yes, I am
In my Father's house
There's a place for me
I'm a child of God, yes, I am
I am chosen, not forsaken
I am who You say I am
You are for me, not against me
I am who You say I am
I am chosen, not forsaken
I am who You say I am
You are for me, not against me
I am who You say I am
I am who You say I am
Who the Son sets free
Oh is free indeed
I'm a child of God, yes, I am
In my Father's house
There's a place for me
I'm a child of God, yes, I am
In my Father's house
There's a place for me
I'm a child of God, yes, I am
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. The living Word dwells in you.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
Reckless Love, Cary Asbury, Arr. Dan Musselman
From sundaysandseasons.com. Copyright © 2021 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SB125183.
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Permission to reprint, podcast, and / or stream the music in this service obtained from CCLI with licenses #2332347and #20946066 . All rights reserved.”