The High PriestService of the Word

WELCOME

Sunday, August 23, 2015

THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, the fountain of living water, the rock who gave us birth, our light and our salvation. Amen

Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are clothed with God's mercy and forgiveness. Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.

We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters and by your Word you created the world, calling forth life in which you took delight.

 

Through the waters of the flood you delivered Noah and his family. Through the sea you led your people Israel from slavery into freedom. At the river your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Holy Spirit. By water and your Word you claim us as daughters and sons, making us heirs of your promise and servants of all.

C. We praise you for the gift of water that sustains life, and above all we praise you for the gift of new life in Jesus Christ. Shower us with your Spirit, and renew our lives with your forgiveness, grace, and love. 

To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

PEACEThe peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.

GATHERING SONGTHE GATHERED SHALL CHOOSE!

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.

  KYRIE (Red Hymnal p. 213)

Kyrie eleison: Lord, have mercy.Christe eleison: Christ, have mercy.Kyrie eleison: Lord, have mercy.

CANTICLE OF PRAISE  Red Hymnal p.

213

Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest; glory to God, glory to God, and peace to God's people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.

Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest; glory to God, glory to God, and peace to God's people on earth. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.

Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest; glory to God, glory to God, and peace to God's people on earth. 

For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God in the highest; glory to God, glory to God, and peace to God's people on earth, and peace to God's people on earth.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. Great High Priest, You became human and endured the trials and sufferings of humanity so that we might be saved through you. Show us how to treat each other with the compassion you showed to us. Amen. 

NARRATIVE READING: Hebrews 4:14-5:10

A reading from Hebrews.

Chapter 414Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession.15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without

sin.16Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Chapter 51Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.2He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; 3and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as

for those of the people. 4And one does not presume to take this honor, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was. 5So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him,  "You are my Son,  today I have begotten you"; 6as he says also in another place,  "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.“

7In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries

and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.8Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered;9and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him,10having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.

Word of God, word of life.Thanks be to God.

PSALM READING

Psalm 34:15-22 L. 15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and God’s ears are open to their cry.

C.16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to erase the remembrance of them from the earth.

L.17 The righteous cry, and the LORD hears them and delivers them from all their troubles.

C.18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those whose spirits are crushed. L.19 Many are the troubles of the righteous, but the LORD delivers them from every one.

C.20 God will keep safe all their bones; not one of them shall be broken.

L.21 Evil will bring death to the wicked and those who hate the righteous will be punished.22 O LORD, you redeem the life of your servants, and those who put their trust in you will not be punished.  

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

FAITH: Alleluia, alleluia.Alleluia, alleluia.

 NEW HOPE:

Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go?You have the words of eternal life.Alleluia.

GOSPEL: Luke 18:9-14The holy gospel according to Luke. Glory to you, O Lord.9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:10Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.11The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

12I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.'13But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!'14I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."

The gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Pastor Michael Peuse

HYMN OF THE DAYRed Hymnal 521

“O Day of Rest and Gladness ”

1 O day of rest and gladness, O day of joy and light,O balm for care and sadness, most beautiful, most bright:on you the high and lowly, through ages joined in tune,sing, "Holy, holy, holy,“ to the great God triune.

2 On you, at earth's creation,the light first had its birth;on you, for our salvation,Christ rose from depths of earth;on you, our Lord victoriousthe Spirit sent from heav'n;and thus on you, most glorious,a threefold light was giv'n.

3 Today on weary nationsthe heav'nly manna falls;to holy convocationsthe silver trumpet calls,where gospel light is glowingwith pure and radiant beamsand living water flowingwith soul-refreshing streams.

4 New graces ever gainingfrom this our day of rest,we reach the rest remainingto spirits of the blest.We sing to you our praises,O Father, Spirit, Son;the church its voice upraisesto you, blest Three in One.

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

Announcements 

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

With confidence in God’s compassion and generosity, let us pray for the church, the world, and all of God’s creation.. . . . .

. . . .Lord, in your mercy,(response) hear our prayer. With gratitude for your ears and your heart, we humbly lift our petitions before you today, in the name of Christ, our redeemer. Amen.

OFFERING

OFFERTORY RESPONSE  (Red Hymnal #188)

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with your free Spirit.

CANTICLE OF THANKSGIVING

Salvation belongs to our God and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever.

 Great and wonderful are your deeds, O God of the universe; just and true are your ways, O Ruler of all the nations. Who can fail to honor you, Lord, and sing the glory of your name?

Salvation belongs to our God and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever.

For you alone are the Holy One, and blessed is the one whose name is the Word of God. All praise and thanks to you, holy God!

Salvation belongs to our God and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever.

THANKSGIVING FOR THE WORD

Let us pray. Praise and thanks to you, holy God, for by your Word you made all things: you spoke light into darkness, called forth beauty from chaos, and brought life into being. For your Word of life, O God, we give you thanks and praise.

By your Word you called your people Israel to tell of your wonderful gifts: freedom from captivity, water on the desert journey, a pathway home from exile, wisdom for life with you. For your Word of life, O God, we give you thanks and praise. 

Through Jesus, your Word made flesh, you speak to us and call us to witness: forgiveness through the cross, life to those entombed by death, the way of your self-giving love. For your Word of life, O God, we give you thanks and praise.

Send your Spirit of truth, O God; rekindle your gifts within us: renew our faith, increase our hope, and deepen our love, for the sake of a world in need.

Faithful to your Word, O God, draw near to all who call on you; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory forever. Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.

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.

BLESSING

Almighty and merciful God, Father, ☩Son, and Holy Spirit, bless, preserve, and keep you this day and forevermore. Amen.

SENDING SONG: Red Hymnal #631

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

1Love divine, all loves excelling, Joy of heav'n, to earth come down!

Fix in us thy humble dwelling, all thy faithful mercies crown.

Jesus, thou art all compassion, pure, unbounded love thou art;visit us with thy salvation,

enter ev'ry trembling heart.

2 Breathe, oh, breathe thy loving Spiritinto ev'ry troubled breast;let us all in thee inherit;let us find thy promised rest.Take away the love of sinning;Alpha and Omega be;end of faith, as its beginning,set our hearts at liberty.

3 Come, Almighty, to deliver;let us all thy life receive;suddenly return, and never,nevermore thy temples leave.Thee we would be always blessing,serve thee as thy hosts above,pray, and praise thee without ceasing,glory in thy perfect love.

4 Finish then thy new creation,pure and spotless let us be;let us see thy great salvationperfectly restored in thee!Changed from glory into glory,till in heav'n we take our place,till we cast our crowns before thee,lost in wonder, love, and praise!

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. Live in love, as Christ loved us.

C: Thanks be to God.

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