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September 8, 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: Perhaps more than any scroll in the scriptures, James helps us understand our faith in light of how we live in the here and now. We praise God, trust Jesus and lean on the Spirit as we live for others!
Pastor: Nathan Whittaker
First Reading: Clato Barnes
Second Reading: Adam Edwards
Assisting Minister: Ron Stephens
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 262 – This Is the Day
This is the day,
This is the day that the Lord has made,
That the Lord has made;
We will rejoice
We will rejoice and be glad in it,
And be glad in it.
This is the day that the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day,
This is the day that the Lord has made.
Repeat
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: Rejoice in the Lord always. Say it again: Rejoice!
C: Let gentleness be evident to all, for the Lord is near.
AM: Let us not be anxious about anything,
C: but present everything to God in prayer.
AM: Rejoice in the Lord always. Say it again: Rejoice!
C: Let gentleness be evident to all, for the Lord is near.
Prayer of the Day
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Let us pray. Gracious God, throughout the ages you transform sickness into health and death into life.
C: Open us to the power of your presence, and make us a people ready to proclaim your promises to the whole world, in Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.
First Reading Isaiah 35:3-7a
3 Strengthen the weak hands,
and support the unsteady knees.
4 Say to those who are panicking:
“Be strong! Don’t fear!
Here’s your God,
coming with vengeance;
with divine retribution
God will come to save you.”
5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened,
and the ears of the deaf will be cleared.
6 Then the lame will leap like the deer,
and the tongue of the speechless will sing.
Waters will spring up in the desert,
and streams in the wilderness.
7 The burning sand will become a pool,
and the thirsty ground, fountains of water.
R: Word of God, word of life.
C: Thanks be to God.
Psalm of Response Psalm 146:1-2, 5-10
AM: Praise the Lord!
C: Let my whole being praise the Lord!
AM: I will praise the Lord with all my life;
C: I will sing praises to my God as long as I live.
AM: The person whose help is the God of Jacob— the person whose hope rests on the Lord their God—
C: is truly happy!
AM: God: the maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them,
C: God: who is faithful forever
AM: who gives justice to people who are oppressed
C: who gives bread to people who are starving!
AM: The Lord: who frees prisoners.
C: The Lord: who makes the blind see.
AM: The Lord: who straightens up those who are bent low.
C: The Lord: who loves the righteous.
AM: The Lord: who protects immigrants, who helps orphans and widows,
C: who makes the way of the wicked twist and turn!
AM: The Lord will rule forever!
C: Zion’s God will rule from one generation to the next!
Second Reading James 2:1-17
1 My brothers and sisters, when you show favoritism you deny the faithfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has been resurrected in glory. 2 Imagine two people coming into your meeting. One has a gold ring and fine clothes, while the other is poor, dressed in filthy rags. 3 Then suppose that you were to take special notice of the one wearing fine clothes, saying, “Here’s an excellent place. Sit here.” But to the poor person you say, “Stand over there”; or, “Here, sit at my feet.” 4 Wouldn’t you have shown favoritism among yourselves and become evil-minded judges?
5 My dear brothers and sisters, listen! Hasn’t God chosen those who are poor by worldly standards to be rich in terms of faith? Hasn’t God chosen the poor as heirs of the kingdom he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Don’t the wealthy make life difficult for you? Aren’t they the ones who drag you into court? 7 Aren’t they the ones who insult the good name spoken over you at your baptism?
8 You do well when you really fulfill the royal law found in scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself. 9 But when you show favoritism, you are committing a sin, and by that same law you are exposed as a lawbreaker. 10 Anyone who tries to keep all of the Law but fails at one point is guilty of failing to keep all of it. 11 The one who said, Don’t commit adultery, also said, Don’t commit murder. So if you don’t commit adultery but do commit murder, you are a lawbreaker. 12 In every way, then, speak and act as people who will be judged by the law of freedom. 13 There will be no mercy in judgment for anyone who hasn’t shown mercy. Mercy overrules judgment.
14 My brothers and sisters, what good is it if people say they have faith but do nothing to show it? Claiming to have faith can’t save anyone, can it? 15 Imagine a brother or sister who is naked and never has enough food to eat. 16 What if one of you said, “Go in peace! Stay warm! Have a nice meal!”? What good is it if you don’t actually give them what their body needs? 17 In the same way, faith is dead when it doesn’t result in faithful activity.
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 7:24-37
P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the 7th chapter.
C: Glory to you, O Lord!
21 Jesus left that place and went into the region of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know that he had entered a house, but he couldn’t hide. 25 In fact, a woman whose young daughter was possessed by an unclean spirit heard about him right away. She came and fell at his feet. 26 The woman was Greek, Syrophoenician by birth. She begged Jesus to throw the demon out of her daughter. 27 He responded, “The children have to be fed first. It isn’t right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” 28 But she answered, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” 29 “Good answer!” he said. “Go on home. The demon has already left your daughter.” 30 When she returned to her house, she found the child lying on the bed and the demon gone.
31 After leaving the region of Tyre, Jesus went through Sidon toward the Galilee Sea through the region of the Ten Cities. 32 Some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly speak, and they begged him to place his hand on the man for healing. 33 Jesus took him away from the crowd by himself and put his fingers in the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 Looking into heaven, Jesus sighed deeply and said, “Ephphatha,” which means, “Open up.” 35 At once, his ears opened, his twisted tongue was released, and he began to speak clearly.
36 Jesus gave the people strict orders not to tell anyone. But the more he tried to silence them, the more eagerly they shared the news. 37 People were overcome with wonder, saying, “He does everything well! He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who can’t speak.”
P: The Gospel of our Lord.
C: Praise to you, O Christ.
Hymn of the Day TFF 64 – Shine, Jesus, Shine
Refrain:
Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be light.
Lord, the light of your love is shining
In the midst of the darkness, shining
Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us
Set us free by the truth you now bring us
Shine on me, shine on me
Refrain
As we gaze on your kingly brightness
So our faces display your likeness
Ever changing from glory to glory
Mirrored here may our lives tell your story
Shine on me, shine on me.
Refrain
Sermon
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.
Prayers of the Congregation
AM: Lord, as your people, we need to hear from you…
When we are alone
When we go away to pray
When we have little faith
When we are battered by the waves
When the wind is against us
When we get in the boat
When we’re terrified by our ghosts
When we seek you on the mountain
When we cry out in fear
When we start walking on water
When we begin to sink
When we are far from land
(Silence for meditation)
AM: Lord, as your people, we need to hear from you…
speak to us,
calm our fears,
calm our storms
Strengthen our resolve
Remind us who you are
(Silence for meditation)
AM: Lord, as your people, we need to hear from you…
Walk to us
Call to us
Save us
Reach out your hand and catch us
Quiet the wind around us
(Silence for meditation)
AM: For what else do the people of God pray? We invite those joining us via zoom to offer their prayers first.
(Pause for prayers)
AM: We now invite those in the sanctuary to offer up their prayers.
(Pause for prayers)
After the petitions:
AM: Lord, in your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Lord, as your people, we praise and thank you for “Truly you are the Son of God.”
C: In your name, we pray, 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.”)
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 fights for and with us. 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 you what is good. What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Do so with the love, grace, and power of the Father, Son ✝, and Spirit given to you.
C: Amen.
Sending Hymn TFF 295– What A Mighty God We Serve!
What a Mighty God we serve!
What a Mighty God we serve!
Angels bow before him,
Heaven and earth adore him;
What a mighty God We Serve!
Repeat 2 times!
Announcements
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. This is the Day (TFF 262), Text: Psalm 118:24; Tune: Les Garrett, b. 1944; © 1971 Scripture in Song, a division of Integrity Music, Inc. Shine, Jesus, Shine (TFF 64), Text: Graham Kendrick; Tune: SHINE, JESUS, SHINE, Graham Kendrick; © 1987 Make Way Music, admin. Integrity's Hosanna! Music in N., S., & C. America. We’ve Come a Long Way, Lord (TFF 209), Text by traditional; adapt. Kenneth Morris; Tune by traditional; arr. Kenneth Morris; Text adapt. and arr. © Martin and Morris Music, Inc.
Announcements for September 8, 2024
- Welcome to our visitors. Please take a moment to sign our guest book in the narthex. You are always welcomed here!
- LWML Mites thank you to all who helped roll coins! Final amount collected will be announced next week!
- LWML Fall Rally will be hosted at Good Shepherd Sunday October 6th at 1:00. All women of Good Shepherd are encouraged to, attend bring a friend.
- Please keep in your prayers “Strip Church Seattle” also known as the “Jesus Loves Ministries”. This ministry started in 2012 at Lamb of God Lutheran Church ministering to strip clubs, Aurora Avenue prostitution and more.
- Annual Church Picnic today at Seward Park site 3. Worship service at the picnic site!
- Good Shepherd Annual Harvest Festival October 26th.
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.