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17th Sunday after Pentecost, September 27, 2020
Tyler Gubsch
Tyler Gubsch
Sunday, September 27, 2020
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17th Sunday after Pentecost
September 27, 2020

PRELUDE

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CONFESSION and FORGIVENESS

P Blessed be the holy Trinity,  one God, who creates, redeems, and sustains us and all of creation.
C Amen.
P Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
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 cries of all who call out 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 Praise the Lord! O Heavens 823 (v 1,2)

1 Praise the Lord! O heav'ns, adore him; praise him, angels, in the height;
sun and moon, rejoice before him; praise him, gleaming stars and light.
Praise the Lord, for he has spoken; worlds his mighty voice obeyed;
laws which never shall be broken for their guidance he has made.
2 Praise the Lord, for he is gracious; never shall his promise fail.
God has made his saints victorious; sin and death shall not prevail.
Praise the God of our salvation; hosts on high, his pow'r proclaim;
heav'n and earth, and all creation, laud and magnify his name!

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.

KYRIE
P In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
P For the peace from above,
and for our salvation,
let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
P 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.
P For this holy house,
and for all who offer here their worship and praise,
let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
P Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
C Amen.

HYMN OF PRAISE
P Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God’s people on earth.
C Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you,
we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
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.
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.
P The Lord be with you.
C And also with you.
P Let us pray.
C God of love, giver of life, you know our frailties and failings. Give us your grace to overcome them, keep us from those things that harm us, and guide us in the way of salvation, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

First Reading: Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32
Ezekiel challenges those who think they cannot change because of what their parents were and did, or who think they cannot reverse their own previous behavior. God insistently invites people to turn and live.
1The word of the Lord came to me: 2What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, “The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge”? 3As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. 4Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die.
25Yet you say, “The way of the Lord is unfair.” Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? 26When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. 27Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. 28Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. 29Yet the house of Israel says, “The way of the Lord is unfair.” O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?
  30Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. 31Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live.

Responsive reading:  Psalm 25:1-9
Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love. (Ps. 25:6)
1To you, O Lord,
I lift up my soul.
2My God, I put my trust in you; let me not be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3Let none who look to you be put to shame;
rather let those be put to shame who are treacherous.
4Show me your ways, O Lord,
and teach me your paths. 
5Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I trusted all the day long.
6Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love,
for they are from everlasting.
7Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions;
remember me according to your steadfast love and for the sake of your goodness, O Lord.
8You are gracious and upright, O Lord;
therefore you teach sinners in your way
9You lead the lowly in justice
and teach the lowly your way. 

Second Reading: Philippians 2:1-13
As part of a call for harmony rather than self-seeking, Paul uses a very early Christian hymn that extols the selflessness of Christ in his obedient death on the cross. Christ’s selfless perspective is to be the essential perspective we share as the foundation for Christian accord.
1If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, 2make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 5Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
6who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross.
9Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name,
10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
P The Word of the Lord!
C Thanks be to God!

P The Holy Gospel according to the 21st Chapter of Matthew.
C Glory to you, O Lord!
Gospel: Matthew 21:23-32
After driving the moneychangers out of the temple (21:12), Jesus begins teaching there. His authority is questioned by the religious leaders, who are supposed to be in charge of the temple.
23When [Jesus] entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 25Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.” 27So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
28“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. 30The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. 31Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.”
P The Gospel of the Lord!
C Praise to you, O Christ!

Sermon Pastor Tyler


HYMN O Word of God Incarnate 514 (v 1,2,3)

1 O Word of God incarnate, O Wisdom from on high,
O Truth unchanged, unchanging, O Light of our dark sky:
we praise you for the radiance that from the hallowed page,
a lantern to our footsteps, shines on from age to age.
2 The church from you, dear Master, received the gift divine;
and still that light is lifted o'er all the earth to shine.
It is the chart and compass that, all life's voyage through,
mid mists and rocks and quicksands still guides, O Christ, to you.
3 Oh, make your church, dear Savior, a lamp of burnished gold
to bear before the nations your true light, as of old;
oh, teach your wand'ring pilgrims by this their path to trace,
till, clouds and darkness ended, they see you face to face.


P We proclaim God’s story as our story using the words of the Apostles’ Creed:

C 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.

Prayers of Intercession
P Drawn together in the compassion of God, we pray for the church, the world, and all those in need.
A brief silence.
P In all the world, give your church unity. Inspire all the baptized with the mind of Christ. Where the church is powerful and where it struggles, shape us with humility and obedience so that your love may be at work in us.
Lord, in your mercy,
C hear our prayer.
P Your Son took on all of bodily life in our world, even to death. Preserve and keep your creation, O God. Mend and redeem places that are polluted and damaged, so that all of creation confesses you as Lord.
Lord, in your mercy,
C hear our prayer.
P Turn the nations toward life. Where our ways are unfair, give us new hearts and new spirits. Where sin permeates our cultures and institutions, change our minds and teach us to trust your authority.
Lord, in your mercy,
C hear our prayer.
P Our lives are yours, O God. Relieve the suffering of those who are ill in body, mind, or spirit, especially those we name before you now……….. Defend the lives and welfare of children who are abused or neglected, hungry or exploited, bullied or lonely.
Lord, in your mercy,
C hear our prayer.
P Turn this congregation away from our own interests toward the interests of others. Fill us with your compassion and sympathy. Bless ministries of care in our community; make us into signs of your mercy and justice for our neighbors.
Lord, in your mercy,
C hear our prayer.
P Thank you for those who have gone into the kingdom ahead of us—tax collectors and prostitutes, likely and unlikely, obedient and slow to learn. By their witness, teach us to confess Jesus Christ as Lord in life and in death.
Lord, in your mercy,
C hear our prayer.
P All these things and whatever else you see that we need, we entrust to your mercy; through Christ our Lord.
C Amen.

OFFERING

OFFERING PRAYER
P Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things. You have set before us these gifts of your good creation. Prepare us for your heavenly banquet, nourish us with this rich food and drink, and send us forth to set tables in the midst of a suffering world, through the bread of life, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C 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, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times … with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
C Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of pow’r and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna. Hosanna. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
P 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.

P Remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray:
C 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.

Communion

Communion Hymn O Jesus, Joy of Loving Hearts 658 (v 1&2)
1 O Jesus, joy of loving hearts,
the fount of life, the light of all:
from ev'ry bliss that earth imparts
we turn, unfilled, to hear your call.
2 We taste you, ever-living bread,
and long to feast upon you still;
we drink of you, the fountainhead;
our thirsting souls from you we fill.


Prayer of Thanksgiving

We give you thanks, gracious God, that you have once again fed us with food beyond compare, the body and blood of Christ. Lead us from this place, 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.

 

BENEDICTION

P The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.
C Amen.

HYMN Take My Life, That I May Be 685 (v 1,2,5,6)
1 Take my life, that I may be
consecrated, Lord, to thee;
take my moments and my days;
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
2 Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love;
take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee.
5 Take my will and make it thine,
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is thine own,
it shall be thy royal throne.
6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store;
take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee.

P Go in peace. Serve the Lord!
C Thanks be to God.