Sunday, August 30, 2020 @ 10AM
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Prelude: Meditation on “Erhalt Uns Herr”
(Martin Luther)
Welcome and Announcements
Gathering Hymn: “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” – LBW # 315,
vs 1- 4
Confession & Forgiveness
Greeting & Kyrie
Canticle of Praise: “Glory to God…”
Prayer of the Day
First Reading, Jeremiah 15:15-21
Psalm # 26
Second Reading, Romans 12:9-21
Holy Gospel, Matthew 16:21-28
Sermon
Hymn of the Day: “My Faith Looks Up to Thee” – LBW # 479, vs
1 - 4
Apostle’s Creed
Prayers of the Church
The Lord’s Prayer
Blessing
Dismissal
Sending Hymn: “On Our Way Rejoicing” - LBW # 260, vs 1 – 2
Postlude: Voluntary on “Nun Danket Alle Gott” (Johann Cruger)
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Service Supplement
(Congregational
responses are in bold print)
Prelude Meditation
on “Erhalt Uns Herr” (Martin
Luther)
Welcome and Announcements Pastor John
Gathering Hymn “Love Divine, All
Loves Excelling” LBW # 315, vs 1
– 4
Love divine, all loves excelling, Joy of
heav'n, to earth come down! Fix in us thy humble
dwelling, All thy faithful mercies crown. Jesus, thou art all compassion, Pure,
unbounded love thou art; Visit us with thy salvation, Enter ev'ry
trembling heart.
Breathe, oh, breathe thy loving Spirit Into
ev'ry troubled breast; Let us all in thee inherit; Let
us find thy promised rest. Take away the love of sinning; Alpha and Omega be; End of faith, as its beginning, Set our hearts at
liberty.
Come, Almighty, to deliver; Let us all
thy life receive; Suddenly return, and never, Nevermore thy temples leave. Thee we would be always
blessing, Serve thee as thy hosts above, Pray, and
praise thee without ceasing, Glory in thy perfect love.
Finish then thy new creation, Pure and
spotless let us be; Let us see thy great salvation Perfectly
restored in thee! Changed from glory into glory, Till in heav'n
we take our place, Till we cast our crowns before
thee, Lost in wonder, love, and praise!
Confession & Forgiveness
Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, who
forgives all our sin, whose mercy endures forever. Amen.
God of all mercy and consolation, come to
the help of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us
the power of your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, receive your
forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Let us confess our sin in the presence of
God and of one another. Gracious God, have mercy on us. We confess that we
have turned from you and given ourselves into the power of sin. We are truly sorry and humbly repent. In your compassion forgive us
our sins, known and unknown, things we have done and things we have failed to
do. Turn us again to you, and uphold us by your Spirit, so that we may live and
serve you in newness of life through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even
when we were dead in sin, and made us alive together with Christ. By grace you
have been saved. In the name of Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Almighty
God strengthen you with power through the Holy Spirit, that Christ may live in
your hearts through faith. Amen.
Greeting
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
love of God, and the communion of the Holy
Spirit be with you all. And also with you.
Kyrie
In peace, let us pray to the Lord. Lord,
have mercy. For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us
pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. 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. Lord, have mercy. For this holy house, and for all
who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord. Lord,
have mercy. Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious
Lord. Amen.
Canticle of Praise “Glory to God…”
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God’s people on earth. 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.
Prayer of
the Day
Let us pray…O Lord, mercifully continue to purify and defend your
Church. Since she cannot stand firmly without your power, govern her always by
your grace; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
First Reading Jeremiah 15:15-21
The prophet Jeremiah asserted that the Lord knew his
case and was fully aware of what his enemies had done to him. Jeremiah was
getting impatient and pleaded with the Lord to come to his rescue. But the Lord
answered, “If you will be patient and return to me, you will be the one to
share my Word.” The people would fight against him, but the prophet would not
be moved.
15O Lord, you
know; remember me and visit me, and take vengeance for me on my persecutors. In
your forbearance take me not away; know that for your sake I bear reproach. 16Your
words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the
delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts. 17I
did not sit in the company of revelers, nor did I rejoice; I sat alone, because
your hand was upon me, for you had filled me with indignation. 18Why
is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will you be to
me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail? 19Therefore thus
says the Lord: “If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before
me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as
my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them. 20And
I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight
against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you
and deliver you, declares the Lord. 21I will deliver you out of the
hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of
the ruthless.” This is the word of the Lord, thanks be to God.
Psalm # 26
The psalmist sang to the Lord, asking him to judge his
faithfulness. He asserted that he had been true to God and that God should test
him and try him to assess his faithfulness. “I do not sit with men of
falsehood,” claimed the psalmist. Instead, he kept his eyes on God’s steadfast
love and mercy.
Give judgment for me, O Lord, for I have lived with
integrity; I have trusted in the Lord and have not faltered.
Test me, O Lord, and try me; examine my heart and my
mind.
For your love is before my eyes; I have walked
faithfully with you.
I have not sat with the worthless, nor do I consort
with the deceitful.
I have hated the company of evildoers; I will not sit
down with the wicked.
I will wash my hands in innocence, O Lord, that I may
go in procession round your altar,
Singing aloud a song of thanksgiving and recounting
all your wonderful deeds.
Lord, I love the house in which you dwell and the
place where your glory abides.
Do not sweep me away with sinners, nor my life with
those who thirst for blood,
Whose hands are full of evil plots, and their right
hand full of bribes.
As for me, I will live with integrity; redeem me, O
Lord, and have pity on me.
My foot stands on level ground; in the full assembly I
will bless the Lord.
Second
Reading Romans
12:9-21
Paul advised the Christians in
Rome to be loving to one another; not a fake love that was in word only, but a
genuine love that sought not to punish or get revenge. We are called to live in
harmony with one another and to seek to outdo one another by doing good. This
is a sign to others that faith is living and active in God’s people.
9Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to
what is good. 10Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one
another in showing honor. 11Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent
in spirit, serve the Lord. 12Rejoice in hope, be patient in
tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13Contribute to the needs of the
saints and seek to show hospitality. 14Bless those who persecute
you; bless and do not curse them. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice,
weep with those who weep. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not
be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be
wise in your own sight. 17Repay no one evil for evil,
but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18If
possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19Beloved,
never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written,
“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20To the contrary,
“if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to
drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on
his head.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with
good. This is the Word of God, word of life, thanks be to God.
Holy Gospel Matthew
16:21-28
The
Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew the 16th Chapter. Glory to
you, O Lord. Jesus
explained to his disciples what following him meant: denial of self and taking
up the cross and following. This means leaving behind our own wants and
desires, putting ourselves last so that we can be a part of his kingdom.
21Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to
Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes,
and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22And Peter took him
aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall
never happen to you.” 23But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind
me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the
things of God, but on the things of man.” 24Then Jesus told his
disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his
cross and follow me. 25For whoever would save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26For what will
it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what
shall a man give in return for his soul? 27For the Son of Man is
going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will
repay each person according to what he has done. 28Truly, I say to
you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the
Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” This is the gospel of the Lord, praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon Pastor
John
Hymn of the Day “My Faith Looks Up to Thee” LBW # 479,
vs 1 – 4
My faith looks up to thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine! Now
hear me while I pray, Take all my guilt away, Oh, let
me from this day Be wholly thine!
May thy rich grace impart Strength to my fainting heart, My zeal inspire; As thou hast died for me, Oh, may my love
to thee Pure, warm, and changeless be, A living fire!
While life’s dark maze I tread And
griefs around me spread, Be thou my guide; Bid darkness turn to day, Wipe
sorrow’s tears away, Nor let me ever stray From thee aside.
When ends life’s transient dream, When
death’s cold, sullen stream Shall o'er me roll; Blest Savior, then, in love Fear
and distrust remove; Oh, bear me safe above, A ransomed soul!
Apostle’s
Creed
Let us join together in confessing our faith with the saints who
have gone before us, in the words of the 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 power of the
Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He 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, and is seated at
the right hand of the Father. 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.
(P):
Filled by the Spirit, let us join the whole people of God in Jesus Christ in
praying for the church, those in need, and all of God’s creation. A brief
silence.
(W): Holy Lord, just as Jesus called Peter to get behind him and focus on
things that are above, help us also to get behind Jesus and follow him all our
days. Fill us with your love and guide us in all we do, that your name may be
praised over all the earth. Lord
in your mercy, hear our prayer.
(W): Gracious God, you have planted your holy church
in places where persecution and oppression abound, where jealousy causes people
to want to injure those who call on your name. Protect those faithful ones who
are yours, we pray, that they would always know your light and love and fear
not in the face of evil. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
(W): Loving God, your love is so amazing and wonderful
and your grace and mercy are boundless. Grant that we would have the same
spirit of love and mercy toward others that you have toward us. Teach us to
forgive, even when we want to hold on to grievances. Help us to be those who
work for reconciliation in our families, church, and the world. Lord
in your mercy, hear our prayer.
(W): Healing Lord, your power is made
perfect in our weakness. Pour out your healing Spirit on all those who are
suffering this day. Give them peace in
the face of trials and comfort in their loneliness and uncertainty. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
(P):
Into your loving hands, gracious God, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting
in your abundant mercy, through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Let us pray the prayer our Savior taught
us…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.
Blessing
The
Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy.
The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen.
Dismissal
Go
in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God.
Sending Hymn “On Our Way Rejoicing” LBW
# 260, vs 1 – 2
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)
(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)
Postlude Voluntary
on “Kirken Den Er Et Gammelt”
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Please visit the “Messages” page of our website at www.stmatthewbq.org for latest on our services or
listen for our “One Call” announcements for updates and events.
Not receiving the “One Call”?
Please call the office and provide a good number for our list. Thank you!
St. Matthew Women of the NALC Group is collecting donation for the Perry Point VA at
church until Sunday September 6th. The items being requested are
cloth masks, PPE items such as surgical masks, face shields, etc., body wash,
shampoo, bodywash/shampoo combo bottles, body lotion, toothpaste, dental
adhesive, powder, activity and coloring books, simple crafts, paint-by-number
sets. If you have any questions, please contact Pam Keller or Ann Janowich.
Flea Market is scheduled
for Saturday, September 19th with a rain date of September 26th
from 8am to 1pm. Space rental is $10 per space and table rental is $5 per
table. If you are interested in reserving a space/table, please contact Donna
Jones at 410-335-1494. Thank you for your support in our Women’s Ministry.
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Listening for the Promise
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost - August
30, 2020
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone
would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Matthew 16:24–25
When I was very young (in 1974), there
used to be commercials on television for the Prudential Insurance Company. The
jingle went like this, “Get a piece of the rock!” They were selling an
insurance that you could count on. It was rock solid. It was foundational to
your well-being. In one of these commercials the narrator says, “This is Mr.
Finnegan, he’s seldom satisfied and often disappointed.” Turns out though that
Mr. Finnegan actually liked Prudential Life Insurance.
He addresses the camera and says, “When I find something I like, I stick with
it!” Cue the music once more, “Get a piece of the rock!”
Jesus told Peter, nicknamed “the rock,” that He was going to have
to suffer at the hands of men, be crucified, and on the third day rise. Peter didn’t want to hear it. The “rock” on whom Jesus would build
his church was now waffling. We humans do that, quite often, when it comes to
suffering. We’re not good at suffering. Jesus went on
to explain that if any want to follow him they must be willing to take up their
cross. Our cross is Jesus’ cross. When we follow him
we enter into situations where our faith is tried and tested. But no matter
what happens, we put our trust in our sure and solid foundation which is Jesus.
Peter may have been called “the rock,” but Jesus is the boulder! Peter is more
like a piece of THE Rock - Jesus.
Martin Luther said it this way in a sermon he gave on this text.
He points us to the source of the real benefits, Jesus. “So now you might say,
does not Christ say here, ‘You are Peter,’ and ‘upon this rock I will build My
church?’ So you must understand that here Peter is
called a rock and Christ is also a rock. For Christ is the whole rock and Peter
a piece of the rock, just as surely as Christ. For what is attributed to us for
the sake of our fellowship with Him is that we also have a Christian nature on
us. He is good so we are also good. He is righteous and we
also. Everything He has and can do we can also boast is ours.”
So, we can get a piece of the rock (Peter) or we can get a piece
of THE Rock (Jesus). And when we find something we like (that brings us
salvation and a right relationship with God) we stick with it! Amen.