The Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost - Online Worship - September
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Since I laid my burden down.
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Since I laid my burden down.
I feel better, so much better,
Since I laid my burden down.
I feel better, so much better,
Since I laid my burden down.
Feel like shouting, “Hallelujah!”
Since I laid my burden down.
Feel like shouting, “Hallelujah!”
Since I laid my burden down.
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Since I laid my burden down.
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Since I laid my burden down.
Since I laid my burden down.
Today we trust and proclaim anew, God is Who God is; Jesus goes out of his way to help us lay our burdens down, to have us sing hallelujah, to grace us and to save us, so we worship, in the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit.
Amen.
People of God: Happy are those whose help is in the Lord. Let us take a moment of silence to confess our sins and those times we have gone out of God’s way, putting our trust in earthly things and mere mortals in whom there is no hope.
(silence for reflection)
Friends in Christ: Believe anew, God is Who God is; God forever goes out of his way in the grace of these words: Jesus saves; Jesus forgives you all your sins. Trust the Lord sets you free. Trust anew the One who breathes life in you; the One who purifies your heart!
Purify my heart,
Touch me with Your cleansing fire.
Take me to the cross;
Your holiness is my desire.
Breathe Your life in me;
Kindle a love that flows from Your throne.
Oh, purify my heart; Purify my heart.
Friends of Jesus: The Lord goes out of his way to lift us up when we fall, to watch over us and to welcome us when we feel like strangers. Trust anew, the One who made heaven and earth, is Who he is, never stops coming to you, forever kindles a love that flows in you, and purifies your heart once again!
Purify my heart,
Touch me with Your cleansing fire.
Take me to the cross;
Your holiness is my desire.
Breathe Your life in me;
Kindle a love that flows from Your throne.
Oh, purify my heart; Purify my heart.
Loving God, we thank you and praise you; you are who are. You are tireless, persistent, faithful. You forever go out of your way to lift us up, to purify our hearts, to welcome us, for us to live in hope and new life. By your Spirit, renew our faith. Restore us, one and all; move each of us to go out of our way, to make you and our neighbors first in our lives once again. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you? You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. ...What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
(New Revised Standard Version)
From there, Jesus set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now the woman was a Gentile, of Syrophoenician origin. She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter. He said to her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” But she answered him, “Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” Then he said to her, “For saying that you may go – the demon has left your daughter.” So she went home, found the child lying on the bed, and the demon gone. Then Jesus returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. Jesus took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, Jesus sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”
(New Revised Standard Version)
ISAIAH 35:4-7A; JAMES 2:1-10,14-17; MARK 7:24-37
Most of us do not like going out of our way for anything. We have demands on our time. We barely get where we need to go. We usually look for short cuts, ways to cut corners, rather than willing to go out of our way for either a person or a purpose. Today in our readings, we hear the call as followers of Christ to go out of our way. James reminds us, `faith without works is dead.' In Mark's Gospel, a woman goes out of her way to make herself known to Jesus, and in the end it is her faith that helps her go out of the world's way of doing things. Other followers go out of their way to bring a deaf man to Jesus. As a new fall season of worship begins, be blessed anew, for God is who God is, forever going out of his way to renew us, to call us forth, to save us, to grace us, in Jesus Christ!
1. As we hear of Jesus going out of his way to serve the needs of others, we hear once again, God is who God is, blessing us to go out of our way in the name of Jesus Christ.
Mark 7:24, 31
A. Unfortunately, as humans, we often go out of God's way.
James 2:1-10,14-17; Mark 7:34-35
B. James calls us to go out of our way, because `faith without works is dead.'
James 2:14-17
C. The woman in Mark's Gospel goes out of the way of most.
Mark 7:25-28
D. Faith, like that of the woman in Mark's Gospel, will help us go out of the way we usually do things, out of the way of the world.
Isaiah 35:4,7a; James 2:3-4,8-9,17; Mark 7:26-30,32-33,36-37
i. Faith will help us go out of our way to welcome others.
ii. Faith will help us go out of our way to include one and all.
iii. Faith will help us stay strong and persistent as we go out of our way for Jesus.
2. Thanks be to God; God is who God is, and it is Jesus who goes out of his way, for each person and for God's purpose, time and time again. Jesus truly serves the needs of others, reveals and proclaims all God is, and saves us, one and all!
Isaiah 35:4; Mark 7:24,28-29,31-32,37
A. God in Jesus welcomes one and all! This text speaks more harshly to those on the inside than to those on the outside. Jesus came to the Jews, and they are not accepting of Christ as the Messiah. We are to welcome Jesus, and to welcome others.
B. God in Jesus saw though we were made in God's own image, we were obviously different from him and his perfection. Still, Jesus went to the cross to include us, to include one and all!
C. Let us trust God in Jesus Christ is the most persistent of all! The cross is God's persistent `yes' to the world's persistent `no.'
D. Trust whatever you need, God is who God is! God's grace is proclaimed in Jesus, who will go out of his way for you, time and time again!
Offering is available for our indoor services. Find a Lord of Life with a volunteer bucket to deposit offering in person as you leave worship today. If you find yourself wanting to offer your gifts to Lord of Life, you can do so online using the link below. You can also drop offering at anytime in our secure mailbox at Lord of Life located in the parking lot.
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone,
This solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love,
What depths of peace,
When fears are stilled,
When strivings cease.
My Comforter, my all in all,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the pow’r of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand.
‘Til He returns or calls me home,
Here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand!
Here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand!
...as we pray to you, Jesus, ...
Bless us anew, with all that is, in your Spirit, and your grace.
All these things and whatever else you see we need, grant to us we pray, for into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Holy Communion will take place after the closing Benediction. If you are not worshipping with us in person but would like to receive Communion, we will be offering Drive Through Communion at our building at 16200 Dodd Lane, Lakeville, Minnesota, following our indoor service. Drive Through Communion will be available between 10:15am & 10:30am.
In order to better serve you in this troubling times, the way we receive Communion has changed slightly. You will be offered a self-contained Communion serving. Each capsule has two layers. The first layer is a thin, clear, cellophane layer which reveals the host. Under the second layer you will find the alcohol free juice. Volunteers will be happy to take you waste after you receive Communion.
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.”
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.
Where You go, I’ll go;
Where You stay, I’ll stay;
When You move, I’ll move.
I will follow.
All Your ways are good;
All Your ways are sure;
I will trust in You alone.
Higher than my sight,
High above my life;
I will trust in You alone.
refrain:
Where You go, I’ll go;
Where You stay, I’ll stay;
When You move, I’ll move.
I will follow You.
Whom You love, I’ll love;
How You serve, I’ll serve;
If this life I lose,
I will follow You, yeah.
I will follow You, yeah.
bridge:
In You, there’s life everlasting.
In You, there’s freedom for my soul.
In You, there’s joy, unending joy;
And I will follow.
(refrain)
I will follow You, yeah.
I will follow You, yeah.
The body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, strengthen you and keep you in his grace, this day, and on into life everlasting.
Amen.
Let us pray.
Pour out upon us the spirit of your love, O Lord, and unite the wills of those whom you have fed with one heavenly food; through Jesus Christ, The Lord of life. Amen.
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace, as you feel the rush of The Wind in God’s saving grace. In the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Let us go in the peace of Christ, celebrating the love of God, and serving the Lord of life.
Thanks be to God!
vs. 1
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties,
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood,
From sea to shining sea.
vs. 2
O beautiful for pilgrim feet,
Whose stern impassioned stress,
A thoroughfare for freedom beat,
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thy every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control;
Thy liberty, in law.
vs. 3
O beautiful for heroes proved,
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine,
‘Til all success be nobleness,
And every gain divine.
vs. 4
O beautiful for patriot dream,
That sees beyond the years,
Thine alabaster cities gleam,
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood,
From sea to shining sea.
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Join us next Sunday, September 12, for Celebration Sunday, including “Blessing of the Backpacks!” Bring your backpacks and invite your neighbors and friends! The Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost, “Celebrating All God Is, In The Grace of Jesus Christ!” Worship includes a Children’s Message, a Sermon, and Holy Communion! Join us in-person or via our live stream efforts on our Facebook page, under “videos.”
As we share worship in this way, we are seeking volunteers to assist with greeting, ushering, serving communion, live streaming, AV ministry, set up, clean up, worship leaders, and more! You can access details and ways to sign up on our website and Facebook page! Thank you!
All who proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, are welcome to God’s table of grace as we share Holy Communion. Communion is now offered once again during worship, as we share pre-packaged single servings of communion, including a wafer and grape juice. Carefully pull back the first tab to expose the host, the body of Christ, given for you; then pull back the second tab to expose the blood of Christ, shed for you! Please ask for assistance or clarification as you are served!
For those sharing their generosity today, we thank you for your faithful giving! Offering is collected in baskets by the ushers as you exit the building.
For those who are not able to join us for worship, you are invited to receive drive-through communion, available Sundays, 10:15-10:30 a.m. at the front curb near the church entrance.
From everyone on every level of leadership and service, we continue to pray for you and to give thanks to God for each of you! Please contact Pastor Jamie if he can serve you in any way: jamie.thompson@lordoflifemn.org
We pray The Holy Spirit breathes anew on us to be God’s people and to be God’s Church, as together we make known and we trust anew
God’s gifts of hope, peace, justice, clarity, calm, and comfort forever break forth in new ways for you and your loved ones, today, and as we share every gift of God’s light, love, and grace!
Acknowledgments for today’s service include:
Litany Trusting and Proclaiming All God Is, written based on Psalm 146. “Prayer of The Day,” “Lord’s Prayer,” “Post-Communion Blessing, Prayer, & Benediction,” based on the LBW. © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship (LBW) and With One Voice Hymnal Supplement © 1995 Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis & Board of Publication, Lutheran Church In America, Philadelphia; and Evangelical Lutheran Worship © 2006 Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis, MN. Used with permission. “Holy Is The Lord” Words & Music by Chris Tomlin & Louie Giglio © 2003 sixsteps Music, CCLI # 4158039 “Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!” © Words and Music Public Domain, this arr. © 1992 Carl Haywood “Purify My Heart” © 1993 Universal Music CCLI #1314323 “Jesus Loves Me” © Words and Music Public Domain, CCLI #4771887 “In Christ Alone” © 2002 Thankyou Music CCLI #3350395 “I Will Follow” © 2010 SHOUT! Music Publishing, CCLI #5806878 “America the Beautiful” © 1956 Fred Bock Music Company CCLI #1881629 All rights reserved. All songs used with permission. CCLI License #1380826 & OneLicense #A-724016.
