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Zoom Meeting, Sundays @ 11:00 a.m.:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83025269997?pwd=VW1ZUXlsSTdkcWl0SC90SWRvK2dHUT09
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October 6, 2024
“I am the good shepherd,
and the good shepherd gives up his life for his sheep.
I am the good shepherd.
I know my sheep, and they know me.”
Worship Theme: As the LWML meets today, we celebrate the way of the kingdom, which demonstrates that women are not dismissed as inferior but accepted and valued fully.
Pastor: Nathan Whittaker
First Reading: Steve Tucker
Second Reading: Marlene Bolar
Assisting Minister: Merlean Locke
Musician: Anita Tucker
We pray that you are blessed with the Word of God today.
May the spirit of the living God abide with you always!
Welcome
P: Blessed be ✝ God, who creates and sustains all life; who redeems and restores us to new life; and who works within us and this world,
C: Amen.
Confession and Forgiveness
P: Before God and in the company of our siblings in Christ, let us confess our sin.
Silence for reflection.
P: Gracious God,
C: We have sinned in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
P: God’s love for you is total and complete. No matter who you are, no matter what happens, and no matter what you do, God still loves you. Even more, in God’s good pleasure and in the name of Jesus Christ ✝ your sins are forgiven now and forever.
C: Amen.
Opening Hymn TFF 166 – Oh, I Woke Up This Morning
Oh, I woke up this morning with my mind,
and it was stayed, stayed on Jesus,
woke up this morning with my mind,
and it was stayed, stayed on Jesus,
woke up this morning with my mind,
and it was stayed, stayed on Jesus,
hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah.
Can't hate your neighbor in your mind,
when you keep it stayed, stayed on Jesus,
can't hate your neighbor in your mind,
when you keep it stayed, stayed on Jesus,
can't hate your neighbor in your mind,
when you keep it stayed, stayed on Jesus,
hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah.
Makes you love ev'rybody with your mind,
when you keep it stayed, stayed on Jesus,
love ev'rybody with your mind
when you keep it stayed, stayed on Jesus,
love ev'rybody with your mind
when you keep it stayed, stayed on Jesus,
hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah.
The devil can't catch you in your mind,
when you keep it stayed, stayed on Jesus,
devil can't catch you in your mind,
when you keep it stayed, stayed on Jesus,
devil can't catch you in your mind,
when you keep it stayed stayed on Jesus,
hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah.
Jesus, the captain in your mind,
when you keep it stayed, stayed on Jesus,
Jesus, the captain in your mind,
when you keep it stayed, stayed on Jesus,
Jesus, the captain in your mind,
when you keep it stayed, stayed on Jesus,
hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah.
Greeting
P: The grace of God that is Christ’s gift to all, the love of God that sustains us all, and the unity of the Spirit who binds us in peace be with you all.
C: And also with you.
Call to Worship TFF p.72-76
AM: Come, let’s sing out loud to the Lord!
C: Let’s raise a joyful shout to the rock of our salvation!
AM: Let’s come before God with thanks!
C: Let’s shout songs of joy!
AM: The Lord is a great God,
C: the great king over all other gods.
AM: The earth’s depths are in God’s hands;
C: the mountains and seas belong to the Lord;
AM: Come, let’s worship and bow down!
C: Let’s kneel before the Lord, our maker!
AM: Come, let’s sing out loud to the Lord!
C: Let’s raise a joyful shout to the rock of our salvation!
Kyrie TFF pp. 26-27
AM: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
AM: For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
AM: For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
AM: For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
AM: Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
C: Amen.
Prayer of the Day
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Let us pray. Sovereign God, you have created us to live in loving community with one another.
C: Form us for life that is faithful and steadfast and teach us to trust like little children, in Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
First Reading Genesis 2:18-24
Then the Lord God said, “It’s not good that the human is alone. I will make him a helper that is perfect for him.” 19 So the Lord God formed from the fertile land all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky and brought them to the human to see what he would name them. The human gave each living being its name. 20 The human named all the livestock, all the birds in the sky, and all the wild animals. But a helper perfect for him was nowhere to be found.
21 So the Lord God put the human into a deep and heavy sleep, and took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh over it. 22 With the rib taken from the human, the Lord God fashioned a woman and brought her to the human being. 23 The human said,
“This one finally is bone from my bones
and flesh from my flesh.
She will be called a woman
because from a man she was taken.”
24 This is the reason that a man leaves his father and mother and embraces his wife, and they become one flesh.
R: Word of God, word of life.
C: Thanks be to God.
Psalm of Response Psalm 8
AM: Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name throughout the earth!
C: You made your glory higher than heaven!
AM: When I look up at your skies, at what your fingers made—
C: the moon and the stars that you set firmly in place—
AM: what are human beings that you think about them;
C: what are we that you pay attention to them?
AM: You’ve made them only slightly less than divine,
C: crowning them with glory and grandeur.
AM: You’ve let them rule over your handiwork,
C: putting everything under their feet.
Second Reading Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12
1 In the past, God spoke through the prophets to our ancestors in many times and many ways. 2 In these final days, though, he spoke to us through a Son. God made his Son the heir of everything and created the world through him. 3 The Son is the light of God’s glory and the imprint of God’s being. He maintains everything with his powerful message. After he carried out the cleansing of people from their sins, he sat down at the right side of the highest majesty. 4 And the Son became so much greater than the other messengers, such as angels, that he received a more important title than theirs.
5 God didn’t put the world that is coming (the world we are talking about) under the angels’ control. 6 Instead, someone declared somewhere,
What is humanity that you think about them? Or what are the human beings that you care about them? 7 For a while you made them lower than angels. You crowned the human beings with glory and honor. 8 You put everything under their control.
When he puts everything under their control, he doesn’t leave anything out of control. But right now, we don’t see everything under their control yet. 9 However, we do see the one who was made lower in order than the angels for a little while—it’s Jesus! He’s the one who is now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of his death. He suffered death so that he could taste death for everyone through God’s grace.
R: Word of God, word of life.
C: Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation TTF 98 – Open Our Eyes, Lord
Open our eyes, Lord; we want to see Jesus,
to reach out and touch him and say that we love him.
Open our ears, Lord, and help us to listen.
Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus.
Gospel Mark 10:1-16
P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the 10th chapter.
C: Glory to you, O Lord!
1 Jesus left that place and went beyond the Jordan and into the region of Judea. Crowds gathered around him again and, as usual, he taught them. 2 Some Pharisees came and, trying to test him, they asked, “Does the Law allow a man to divorce his wife?” 3 Jesus answered, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a divorce certificate and to divorce his wife.”
5 Jesus said to them, “He wrote this commandment for you because of your unyielding hearts. 6 At the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. 7 Because of this, a man should leave his father and mother and be joined together with his wife, 8 and the two will be one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. 9 Therefore, humans must not pull apart what God has put together.”
10 Inside the house, the disciples asked him again about this. 11 He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; 12 and if a wife divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
13 People were bringing children to Jesus so that he would bless them. But the disciples scolded them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he grew angry and said to them, “Allow the children to come to me. Don’t forbid them, because God’s kingdom belongs to people like these children. 15 I assure you that whoever doesn’t welcome God’s kingdom like a child will never enter it.” 16 Then he hugged the children and blessed them.
P: The Gospel of our Lord.
C: Praise to you, O Christ.
Hymn of the Day TFF 219 – For All the Faithful Women
For all the faithful women
Who served in days of old
To you shall thanks be given
To all, their story told
They served with strength and gladness
In tasks your wisdom gave
To you their lives bore witness
Proclaimed your pow'r to save.
O God, for saints and servants
Those named and those unknown
In whom through all the ages
Your light of glory shone
We offer glad thanksgiving
And fervent prayer we raise
That, faithful in your service
Our lives may sing your praise
We praise your name for Miriam
Who sang triumphantly
While Pharaoh's vaunted army
Lay drowned beneath the sea
As Israel marched to freedom
Her chains of bondage gone
So may we reach the kingdom
Your mighty arm has won
We sing of busy Martha
Who toiled with pot and pan
While Mary sat in silence
To hear the word again
Christ, keep our hearts attentive
To truth that you declare
And strengthen us for service
When work becomes our prayer
Recall the outcast woman
With whom our Lord conversed
Christ gave her living water
To quench her deepest thirst
Like hers, our hearts are yearning
Christ offers us his word
Then may our lips be burning
To witness to our Lord
All praise to God the Father!
All praise to Christ the Son!
All praise to God the Spirit
Who binds the church as one!
With saints who went before us
With saints who witness still
We sing glad alleluias
And strive to do your will
Sermon
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Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into hell. 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 again 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.
Music Group Selection
Prayers of the Congregation
AM: Challenged by God’s Word in Christ, let us pray for the church, the world, and the whole creation.
Silence
God of ancestors, we give thanks for the church in all times.
C: Send prophets who bear messages that stir the church toward renewal and justice.
AM: Creator of every creature on earth, direct our world toward renewal.
C: Reveal the ways we can work alongside creation for the health and well-being of all.
AM: Sovereign God, we gave thanks that you are mindful and benevolent to us.
C: Accompany us when hardness of heart gets in the way of justice. Endow leaders with minds and hearts for compassion.
AM: Unifying God, humans were created for relationship with the earth, its creatures, and one another. Forgive us when division threatens companionship, mutual support, and unity among us.
C: Inspire us with your love to build supportive communities of faith where all are cherished, especially those rejected by the church.
AM: Restoring Lord, grant healing and wholeness to those who are sick or suffering, especially those in our congregation: Jerelene, Norma, Rozetta, John, Maurnitta, Rosa, Jean, David and Ella.
C: Work through medical professionals to diagnose, ease pain, and give life to all who seek their wisdom and experience.
AM: For what else do the people of God pray? We invite those joining us via zoom to offer their prayers first.
Prayers to consider:
- Peace in Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Palestine, and all in armed conflict
- Women’s rights
- LGBTQ+ safety and care
- End of gun violence in our city and nation
- End of racism in America and the world
- Ceasing of gentrification in the Central District
- Good Shepherd House and LIHI
- Those impacted by weather and nature)
AM: We now invite those in the sanctuary to offer up their prayers.
After the petitions:
AM: Lord, in your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Into your hands, O God, we commend all for whom we pray, in the name of the one who reconciled all creation to himself, Jesus Christ our Savior,
C: Amen.
Peace
P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: And also with you.
(We now greet one another with: “Peace be with you.”)
Gathering of Offerings
Offering Prayer
P: Let us pray. God of grace and mercy, as we bring our gifts before you today, bless and use them to further your work in our community and beyond, so everyone may know and feel your love.
C: Help us to see and meet the needs around us with open hearts and willing hands, extending your grace and compassion to all. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
Great Thanksgiving
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them to the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
P: It is indeed right and proper that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our brother; who shows us the way of the kingdom. And so, with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join the unending hymn:
Holy, Holy, Holy TFF p.38
Holy, holy, holy Lord, 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.
P: We give thanks that on the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying,
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
C: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Lord’s Prayer
P: Let us pray, with confidence, the words our brother gave us:
C: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
Communion Hymn TTF 39 – Lamb of God
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
grant us peace, grant us peace.
Communion
Wine is served in individual glasses.
Grape juice is available in the center of the tray.
Prayer after Communion
P: Let us pray. God of our ancestors and of all people, we thank you that as the broken bread was gathered into one loaf, the broken fragments of our history are gathered up and healed by this redeeming act of Christ.
C: Send us forth in peace and form us into what we just received: your love and grace for all people. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Blessing
P: Beloved in the Lord, God has shown us what is good. What does the Lord require but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with our God? We do so with the love, grace, and power of the Father, Son ✝, and Spirit given to us.
C: Amen.
Sending Hymn TFF 217 – Bind Us Together, Lord
Refrain:
Bind us together, Lord, bind us together
With cords that cannot be broken.
Bind us together, Lord, bind us together,
Bind us together with love.
There is only one God,
There is only one King;
There is only one Body,
That is why we sing:
Refrain
Made for the glory of God,
Purchased by His precious Son;
Born with the grace to be clean,
For Jesus the victory has won.
Refrain
You are the family of God,
You are the promise divine;
You are God's chosen desire,
You are the glorious new wine.
Refrain
Dismissal
We’ve Come This Far by Faith
We’ve come this far by faith
Leaning on the Lord
Trusting in His holy word.
He’s never failed me yet.
Oh……. Can’t turn around,
We’ve come this far by faith!
Closing Blessing
Acknowledgments
All songs come from This Far By Faith: An African American Resource for Worship (Minneapolis: Augsburg Press, 1999) reprinted with permission under onelicense.net license #A-738102, unless otherwise acknowledged. All Scripture passages are from Common English Bible © 2012. Elements taken from sundaysandseasons.com.; Copyright © 2022 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Oh, I Woke Up This Morning (TFF 166), Text: African American spiritual; Tune: African American spiritual. For All the Faithful Women (TFF 219), Text: Herman G. Stuempfle Jr., b. 1923; Tune: BARONITA, Doreen Potter, 1925-1980; © 1993, 1997 GIA Publications, © 1975 Hope Publishing Co. Bind Us Together, Lord (TFF 217), Text: Bob Gillman, b. 1946; Tune: BIND US TOGETHER, Bob Gillman, b. 1946; © 1977 Kingsway Thankyou Music, admin. Integrity's Hosanna! Music in N. S. and C. America.
Announcements for October 6, 2024
- Welcome to our visitors. Please take a moment to sign our guest book in the narthex. You are always welcomed here!
- Adult Bible Study – Wednesdays 10:30am to 12:00.
Led by Deacon Barnes, currently studying the book of Numbers.
Call in 667-770-1249 passcode, 287179.
- Pastor Nate will begin office hours on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:30am -12:30pm
- LWML Fall Rally hosted by the women of Good Shepherd today following the worship service in the fellowship hall.
- Donations for our new neighbors are being collected for both food and basic needs. Please see the sheets on the narthex table for items that we will always need. Thanks to all who donate to support our community!
- We continue to remember in our prayers Rick Bacalzo and Rev. Victor Langford, for healing and spiritual blessings.
- Vacation for Pastor Nate will be from October 10-13. Deacon Clato will be leading us in worship Sunday. Please contact one of the deacons for pastoral care, Ron or Clato.
- LWML Sock it to homelessness during the month of October! Please bring donations of new white socks to the church to be donated to Operation Nightwatch.
- Good Shepherd Annual Harvest Festival October 26th
4-6pm. Mark your calendar!
Prayer Requests –
To update/add prayer requests,
please contact us at (206) 325-2733
or lcgs22un@outlook.com
_____________________
Our Mission Statement:
Led by the Holy Spirit,
the mission of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd is to give glory to God
for the building of His Kingdom by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ,
worshipping the Triune God, and reaching out in love to the community.