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PRELUDE
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
TEMPLE TALK: Service and Witness Team, Anna Hudson
RINGING OF THE BELL
Please stand as you are able.
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, who pours love into our
hearts and healing upon the earth. Amen.
Confident that God justifies us by grace through faith, let us confess
our sin.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Compassionate God, we confess that we struggle to embody
your goodness in the world and in our own hearts. Creation
groans from overuse. Jealousy and bitterness strain our
relationships. Indifference keeps us from seeking justice.
Divisions disrupt your call to show genuine love to others. Turn
our hearts back to you. Restore our world and reconcile us to
one another. Renew us to live as your holy people, following
the way of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Hear this good news: We have peace with God through Jesus
Christ, in whom there is no condemnation, but only forgiveness and
the promise of eternal life. Receive freely this healing gift of grace.
Amen.
GATHERING HYMN “Earth and All Stars” Hymn #731
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. O Lord God, enliven and preserve your church with
your perpetual mercy. Without your help, we mortals will fail;
remove far from us everything that is harmful, and lead us
toward all that gives life and salvation, through Jesus Christ,
our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Please be seated.
WORD
FIRST READING Ezekiel 33:7-11
God appointed Ezekiel as a sentinel for the house of Israel. Ezekiel
must faithfully convey God’s warnings to the people. Remarkably,
God—who is about to attack Jerusalem—gives a warning with the
hope that repentance will make the attack unnecessary.
7 So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel;
whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them
warning from me. 8 If I say to the wicked, “O wicked ones, you shall
surely die,” and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from
their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will
require at your hand. 9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from their
ways and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in
their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.
10 Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel: Thus you have said:
“Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste
away because of them; how then can we live?” 11 Say to them: As I
live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the
wicked but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back,
turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
PSALM 119 Psalm 119:33-40
33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes,
and I shall keep it to the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep your teaching;
I shall keep it with all my heart.
35 Lead me in the path of your commandments,
for that is my desire.
36 Incline my heart to your decrees
and not to unjust gain.
Refrain
37 Turn my eyes from beholding falsehood;
give me life in your way.
38 Fulfill your promise to your servant,
which is for those who fear you.
39 Turn away the reproach that I dread,
because your judgments are good.
40 Behold, I long for your commandments;
by your righteousness enliven me.
Refrain
SECOND READING Romans 13:8-14
The obligation of Christians is to love one another and so fulfill the
heart and goal of the law. Clothes make the person as we “put on
the Lord Jesus Christ” and live today in light of the future God has in
store for us.
8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who
loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall
not commit adultery; you shall not murder; you shall not steal; you
shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in
this word, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no
wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.
11 Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is already the
moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us
now than when we became believers; 12 the night is far gone; the
day is near. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on
the armor of light; 13 let us walk decently as in the day, not in reveling
and drunkenness, not in illicit sex and licentiousness, not in quarreling
and jealousy. 14 Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make
no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
CHILDREN’S SERMON Pastor Chris Steubing
Please stand as you are able for the gospel reading.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
GOSPEL Matthew 18:15-20
The holy gospel according to Matthew.
Glory to you, O Lord.
Jesus offers practical advice to his disciples on how individuals—
and the church as a whole—should go about restoring relationships
when one member has sinned against another.
[Jesus said to the disciples:] 15 “If your brother or sister sins against
you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If you
are listened to, you have regained that one. 16 But if you are not listened
to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word
may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If
that person refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church, and if the
offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to
you as a gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you
bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on
earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you
agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my
Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there
among them.”
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON Pastor Chris Steubing
HYMN OF THE DAY “Come Now, O Prince of Peace” Hymn #247
Please stand as you are able.
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
Together with the whole church, we confess our faith:
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.
THE PRAYERS
...Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
SHARING THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.
Let us share the peace with one another.
OFFERING
OFFERING MUSIC “Forgiveness Waltz” See insert
OFFERING PRAYER
Let us pray. God of creation, you send rain and the earth springs
forth abundantly. All blessings are from you; make us generous
with what we have. Use our gifts, our abilities, and our hearts
in service to you and in love to our neighbors, today and always.
Amen.
MEAL
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
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.
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and
in all places give thanks and praise. . . We praise your name and join
their unending hymn.
In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread,
and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, 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.
With this bread and cup we remember our Lord’s Passover from
death to life as we proclaim the mystery of faith;
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray…
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
Christ invites you to this table. All who are thirsty, all who are hungry, come!
All are welcome to receive Holy Communion at the Lord's table. We
practice a continuous communion distribution. You are invited to
come forward at the direction of the ushers and kneel or stand at the
altar rail, filling in spaces starting from the center as they become
available. If you'd like to receive a blessing instead, you may simply
come forward and cross your arms over your chest. If you are unable
to come forward, please notify an usher and we will bring the sacrament
to you. The communion cups contain wine (red) or grape juice
(white). Gluten-free wafers are available upon request.
Communion Hymns
Hymn #522 “As We Gather at Your Table”
See Insert “Bind Us Together”
Hymn #466 “In the Singing”
POST COMMUNION BLESSING
Please stand as you are able.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Let us pray. Sustaining God, with this bread and cup, you nourish
us with mercy and abundant life. By your Spirit, send us
from this table to serve a needy world. Make us living signs of
your liberation, healing, and love, following the way of Jesus, in
whose name we pray. Amen.
BENEDICTION
The God of love draw you into full accord and one mind, in the body
of Christ Jesus. Amen.
The God of hope grant you strength and joy in all circumstances
through the interceding of the Spirit.
Amen.
The God of grace bless you now and forever.
SENDING HYMN “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” Hymn #836
DISMISSAL
Go out in joy. Be led forth in peace.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
God’s work. Our hands.
Join us for a day of service!
Calendar This Week
September 7th—Church office closed in observance of Labor Day
September 8th—6:00 PM Welcome & belonging Team meeting on Zoom
Church Staff and today’s worship leaders:
Pastor—Rev. Chris Steubing
Visitation Pastor—Rev. Judi Miller
Our Reader—Gerry Whitman
Our Liturgist—Don Gillett
Our Communion Assistants –Donna Clark & Ed Clark
Organist/Pianist—Daniel Vauter
Choir and Hand Bell Director—Wendy Kuenemann
Office Administrator—Trista Stubblefield
Liturgy and songs reprinted by permission of One License.net License # - A-744251. “Forgiveness Waltz” Words and music by
Jonathan Rundman ©2000 Salt Lady Music (ASCAP). All rights reserved. Used by permission. CCLI License #2561118
“Forgiveness Waltz”