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Meeting ID: 847 3246 3674
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September 20, 2020
Serving Today
First Reading: Martha Stephens
Second Reading: Clato Barnes
Assisting Minister: Adam Edwards
WELCOME! We live confined and separated from one another. As the people of God, we gather via electronic means to receive strength and find hope through the word and sacraments.
Scripture theme: Watch any children on a playground and if there is an argument, it will frequently be about something that is “not fair.” Our readings today deal with fairness from God’s perspective. Jonah, in the First Reading, had prophesied that the evil people in Nineveh were going to be destroyed. Then he sat down outside the city to watch God’s judgment come true. However, the people repented and God changed God’s mind. Jonah thought that made him and his word foolish and wasn’t fair to him. But it was about the mercy of God. Jesus, in the Gospel, tells a parable about laborers all receiving the same wage regardless of how long they work. That wasn’t fair! But it was about the mercy of God. When St. Paul writes to the Philippians (Second Reading) he is in prison. His life may be at stake. He uses this occasion to show how in spite of being in prison he has been able to spread the Gospel, and asks his readers to live in such a way as to demonstrate that very Gospel.
In the Name of Jesus
Gathering
Welcome
A time of silence.
Confession
P: Blessed be the holy Trinity, ✝ one God, who creates, redeems, and sustains us and all creation.
C: Amen.
P: Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Silence for reflection.
Faithful God,
C: 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.
P: God hears the cry of all 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.
C: Amen.
Hymn: Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Words: Thomas O. Chisholm, 1866-1960
Music: faithfulness, William M. Runyan, 1870-1957
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou has been, thou forever wilt be.
Refrain:
Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand had provided;
great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Refrain
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Refrain
Greeting
P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And also with you.
Prayer of the Day
P: Let us pray. Almighty and eternal God,
C: you show perpetual lovingkindness to us your servants. Because we cannot rely on our own abilities, grant us your merciful judgment, and train us to embody the generosity of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Word
First Reading: Jonah 3:10-4:11
10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.
4:1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, "O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live." 4 And the Lord said, "Do you do well to be angry?"
5 Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. 6 Now the LordGod appointed a plant and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort.2 So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. 7 But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, "It is better for me to die than to live."
9 But God said to Jonah, "Do you do well to be angry for the plant?" And he said, "Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die." 10 And the Lord said, "You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?"
R: The word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Pause to contemplate the Word.
Psalm of Response: Psalm 145:1-8
P: I will extol you, my God and King,
C: and bless your name forever and ever.
P: Every day I will bless you
C: and praise your name forever and ever.
P: Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
C: and his greatness is unsearchable.
P: One generation shall commend your works to another,
C: and shall declare your mighty acts.
P: On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
C: and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
P: They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
C: and I will declare your greatness.
P: They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
C: and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
P: The Lord is gracious and merciful,
C: slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Second Reading: Philippians 1:21-30
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
R: The word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Pause to contemplate the Word.
Gospel: (Introduced as follows:)
P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 20th chapter.
C: Glory to you, O Lord!
Matthew 20:1-16
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 and to them he said, 'You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.' 5 So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all day?'
7 They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You go into the vineyard too.' 8 And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.' 9 And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. 10 Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. 11 And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house,
12 saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' 13 But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?' 16 So the last will be first, and the first last."
P: The Gospel of our Lord.
C: Praise to you, O Christ!
Sermon
Hymn of the Day: There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy
Words: Frederick W. Faber, 1814-1863
Music: Lord, Revive Us, North American, 19th cent.
There’s a wideness in God’s mercy, like the wideness of the sea;
There’s a kindness in God’s justice which is more than liberty.
There is no place where earth’s sorrows are more felt than up in heav’n.
There is no place where earth’s failings have such kindly judgment giv’n.
There is welcome for the sinner, and a promised grace made good;
there is mercy with the Savior; there is healing in his blood.
There is grace enough for thousands of new worlds as great as this;
there is room for fresh creations in that upper home of bliss.
For the love of God is broader than the measures of our mind;
and the heart of the Eternal is most wonderfully kind.
But we make this love too narrow by false limits of our own;
and we magnify its strictness with a zeal God will not own.
Tis not all we owe to Jesus; it is something more than all:
greater good because of evil, larger mercy through the fall.
Make our love, O God, more faithful; let us take you at your word,
and our lives will be thanksgiving for the goodness of the Lord.
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.
Prayer
Prayers of the Congregation
P: Holy and merciful God, we come before you for your people, the church, for the created world you have given us, and for all people in their need.
Silence
With thanksgiving we come before you for our congregation. That you have protected our membership from the coronavirus when death has been all around us, is a true blessing.
C: For those millions who have not been so blessed, especially those hundreds of thousands who have had death in their families, we ask for your compassionate support.
P: For all who in whatever fashion gather to hear your word this day, grant that they may find peace, and that they may know your strengthening mercy.
C: To that end bless the proclamation of your word so that your faithful may know your peace and joy in the midst of this troubling time.
P: With Jonah you used scorching heat, a bush, and a worm to show that nothing in creation is apart from your concern. Hurricanes in some parts of the country, tornadoes in others, and wildfires and intense smoke in others cause destruction and loss of life.
C: Comfort those who grieve; sustain those who survive and have to rebuild; bless with strength those who work to fight the fires; and give patience so that all might endure.
P: As teachers and students go back to school, but under much different circumstances than usual, give your blessing so that growth in useful knowledge may progress.
C: Keep teachers, students, and parents safe and well. Help us all to be examples of compassion that our nation may be built up.
A time for other intercessions
P: As our city, state, and nation struggle with Covid-19, racial injustice, the coming national election, and the disinformation around all of these, give to us, and our leaders, a sense of discernment and your calming compassion for all.
C: Bless our nation with the peace that surpasses human understanding.
P: In the Gospel for today you showed yourself as one who exhibits great generosity to all. Into the hands of such a generously given God we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in that generous mercy.
C: Amen.
Meal
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, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places gives 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 hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Holy, Holy, Holy
C: 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.
P: Holy, mighty and merciful Lord,
C: heaven and earth are full of your glory.
P: In great love you sent to us Jesus, your Son, who reached out to heal the sick and suffering,
C: who preached good news to the poor, and who, on the cross, opened his arms to all.
P: We give thanks that 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,
C: we await his coming in glory.
P: Pour out upon us the Spirit of your love, O Lord,
C: and unite the wills of all who share this heavenly food, the body and blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord;
P: to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and forever.
C: Amen.
Lord’s Prayer
P: Let us pray with confidence in the words our Savior 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
We share the bread and wine, the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
After all have communed:
P: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
C: Amen.
Prayer
P: Let us pray. We give you thanks, gracious God,
C: that you have once again fed us with food beyond compare, the body and blood of Christ. Lead us from this service, 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
P: The God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus. Romans 15:5
C: Amen.
P: The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
C: Amen.
P: The God of all grace ✝ bless you now and forever.
C: Amen.
Sending Hymn: On Our Way Rejoicing
Words: John S. B. Monsell, 1811-1875
Music: hermas, Frances R Havergal, 1836-1879
On our way rejoicing gladly let us go.
Christ our Lord has conquered; vanquished is the foe.
Christ without, our safety; Christ within, our joy;
who, if we be faithful, can our hope destroy?
Refrain:
On our way rejoicing; as we forward move,
hearken to our praises, O blest God of love!
Unto God the Father joyful songs we sing;
unto God the Savior thankful hearts we bring;
unto God the Spirit bow we and adore,
on our way rejoicing now and evermore.
Refrain
Announcements of our life together
Dismissal
P: Go in peace. Christ is with you.
C: Thanks be to God!
To God Alone Be Glory
Acknowledgments: The Confession and Forgiveness, and the Prayer after Communion are adapted from p. 254 of Sundays & Seasons, copyright © 2019 Augsburg Fortress. The order of our service is Setting One, pp.166-209 (adapted) of Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Leaders Desk Edition, copyright © 2006 ELCA, and published by Augsburg Fortress. All Scripture passages are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.
To assist you with preparation for worship the Scripture readings for next Sunday are:
Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32; Psalm 25:1-9; Philippians 2:1-13; Matthew 21:23-32.
This week at Good Shepherd:
Bible Study Wednesday 10:30 call in 712-770-4995 participant code 287179
Upcoming:
October 8th 11:00 Church Council Meeting
October 18thVoters’Assembly immediately following worship service
Happy Birthday to our September babies - Gene Allen Marshall 11th, Ruby Buxton 17th,Boots Winterstein 23rd, Shannon Cannon 25th, James Cannon and Clato Barnes 26th and Aujanique Star 30th. God’s abundant blessings to you all on your special day and always.
Stewardship: Last Week’s Attendance 30
Last 2 weeks Offering and Donations $7,670
VOTE: Elections Day is November 3rd.
In Washington State you can register to vote,
By mail: must be received eight days before Election Day
Online: 8 days before Election Day
In Person: Election Day.
Don’t put it off. Plan your vote and get your ballot counted!
The Portals of Prayer for October – December will be mailed out this week.
Sick and shut-in members:
Please remember in your prayers,
Wanda Allen 222 25th Ave., Sea 98122
Bill Johnson, 2717 Dexter Ave. N., Sea 98109
Joy Bauer, 1061 Shelton Ave. NE Renton 98056
Alcine Wyatt, 811 27th Ave., Sea 98122
Ella Smith, 4832 35th Ave. SW Sea 98126
Ruby Buxton 315 31st Ave., Sea 98122
Sharee Daniels, 6731 N 17th Street, Tacoma 98406
Orelia Jarrow 3621 33rd Ave. S. #335 Sea 98144
Jerelene Armstead 5145 S. Fountain Sea 98178
Sullivan Montgomery 5118 S. Fountain Sea 98178
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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.