21 Aug BULLETIN – SUNDAY, AUGUST 21, 2022

Posted at 08:51h in Bulletins by Messiah Lutheran Church

WELCOME to MESSIAH & ST. PETER LUTHERAN CHURCHES

The Reverend Nancy Brody, Pastor

Greta Wright, Music Director

Sunday, August 21, 2022

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

GREETING AND ANOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS Page 56

ENTRANCE HYMN Praise to the Lord, the Almighty #543

1 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation!
Let all who hear now to his temple draw near,
joining in glad adoration!

2 Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things is wondrously reigning
and, as on wings of an eagle, uplifting, sustaining.
Have you not seen all that is needful has been
sent by his gracious ordaining?

3 Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you;
surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do
if with his love he befriend you.

4 Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all that is in me adore him!
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him!
Let the amen sound from his people again.
Gladly forever adore him!

APOSTOLIC GREETING Page 57

KYRIE and HYMN OF PRAISE Pages 57-60

PRAYER OF THE DAY

O God, mighty and immortal, you know that as fragile creatures surrounded by great dangers, we cannot by ourselves stand upright. Give us strength of mind and body, so that even when we suffer because of human sin, we may rise victorious through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

FIRST READING ISAIAH 58:9b-14

If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in. If you refrain from trampling the sabbath, from pursuing your own interests on my holy day; if you call the sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs; then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Jacob, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

PSALM 103:1-8

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless God’s holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all God’s benefits—

who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases;

who redeems your life from the grave and crowns you with steadfast love and mercy; The Lord crowns you with mercy and steadfast love;

who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.

O Lord, you provide vindication and justice for all who are oppressed.

You made known your ways to Moses and your works to the children of Israel.

Lord, you are full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord crowns you with mercy and steadfast love.

SECOND READING HEBREWS 12:18-29

You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. (For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death.” Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”)

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven! At that time his voice shook the earth; but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of what is shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Page 62

GOSPEL LUKE 13:10-17

Now [Jesus] was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, “There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.” But the Lord answered him and said, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?” When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.

SERMON

HYMN of the DAY O Christ, the Healer, We Have Come #360

1 O Christ, the healer, we have come
to pray for health, to plead for friends.
How can we fail to be restored
when reached by love that never ends?

2 From ev’ry ailment flesh endures
our bodies clamor to be freed;
yet in our hearts we would confess
that wholeness is our deepest need.

3 In conflicts that destroy our health
we recognize the world’s disease;
our common life declares our ills.
Is there no cure, O Christ, for these?

4 Grant that we all, made one in faith,
in your community may find
the wholeness that, enriching us,
shall reach and prosper humankind.

PROFESSION of FAITH/APOSTLE’S CREED Page 65

PRAYERS of INTERCESSION

Trusting in God’s extraordinary love, let us come near the Holy One in prayer. A brief silence.

You crown your church with steadfast love and mercy. Guide us continually in our call to strive for justice and peace on earth. Use our diverse gifts in service to all. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

You satisfy the needs of all creatures. Protect habitats in every climate. Repair ecosystems damaged by misuse, neglect, or natural disaster, so all creation may thrive. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

You make your ways known to all people. Inspire rulers and leaders of nations with your compassion and mercy. Raise up activists and community organizers to restore places affected by violence, poverty, and inequality. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

You provide justice for all who are oppressed and relief to all who are afflicted. Heal those who are burdened by addiction, depression, and anxiety. Set free all who cry out under the weight of mental, emotional, or physical distress (especially those on our prayer list). Merciful God, receive our prayer.

You call us to delight in the sabbath. Renew the bodies, minds, and spirits of this worshiping assembly. Give all who participate in worship, study, and service exactly what they need. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Generations bless your holy name. We give you thanks for the communion of saints who have gathered in prayer and praise, in and surrounding this place. Support us in your love until we rest forever in you. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Mighty immortal God, you forgive and heal, redeem and satisfy. Thank you for hearing our prayers and for always providing everything needed to heal the mind, body, and spirit through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

PEACE

OFFERING

OFFERTORY Page 75

LORD’S PRAYER

BLESSING Page 74

CLOSING HYMN Love Divine, All Loves Excelling #315

1 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.

2 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.

3 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.

4 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!

DISMISSAL Page 74

POSTLUDE

Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. Used by permission. Prayers adapted from Sundays and Seasons, copyright © 2019, Augsburg Fortress. Used with permission. Psalm readings from Lutheran Book of Worship, copyright © 1978. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual Subscription #SB160715 Other quotations from Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, National Council of Churches in Christ in the United States of America. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Altar flowers at St Peter have been presented by Bruce and Diane Keister in memory of George & Catherine Geise.

START THINKING MUSICAL THOUGHTS!

By the end of August, Music Director Greta will be gathering children, adults, and bell ringers to meet to sing and make music! Please consider joining us, and asking your kiddos if they are ready to give Youth Choir a try! We will not be asking for a weekly commitment at this time. Please call or text Greta if you’re willing to give it a try – 717-350-5072.

FREEWILL OFFERING

At every Lutheran baptism, a church representative presents a lit candle and says, “Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” While Pastor Brody was researching the Instituto Metropolitano Estrella this verse (Matt 5:16) popped up as the webpage tagline. Local resident Tawney Miller will be in church during the worship service on August 28th to introduce herself and explain more about her desire to continue mission work in Mexico full-time and of her need to raise funds beforehand.

You may recall that Pastor Brody’s daughter Bess was a youth missionary in Peru, South Africa and the Philippines. She knows firsthand how expensive these trips can be and how transformational the experience is to many lives. Please consider donating to Tawney’s upcoming trip through a freewill offering taking place on two consecutive Sundays, August 21st and August 28th. If you’d like to donate but won’t be around either of those dates, please let PB know. Tawney would like to make a 2-yr. commitment in Mexico City where she already spent a semester and very much hopes to return. Thank you in advance for giving God’s work your consideration.

Please check out the school’s webpage at https://imemexico.weebly.com/ or the sponsoring missionary agency at https://uwm.org/missionaries/31656/ to learn more in advance.

SEEKING FEMALE COMPANIONSHIP

Don’t worry. It’s not what you think. The Weaver family is searching for a companion – preferably female- who’s willing to spend a few occasional Saturday hours (from 3-8pm) with Betsy’s 91yo mother. Another possibility would be to stay with her for a day, here and there. The pay would be hourly. Betsy’s mom has pretty substantial vision, hearing and short-term memory loss. She manages to get around with a cane, play games and perform activities of daily living somewhat independently and better with assistance. Please contact Betsy by email at pweaver168@comcast.net or phone call (717-896-9128). Please leave a voice message if there is no answer.

A GOOD HOME FOR UNUSED COVID TESTING KITS

Medical personnel are still being tested every shift before work. Hospitals will reimburse the cost, but employees must supply the kits. If you have any unused, unexpired COVID test kits, they can be donated so they don’t go to waste. This will save the health care system added expense and workers the burden of purchasing their own. Please bring to church asap. Thanks!

MESSIAH SUNDAY SCHOOL ON BREAK

The Messiah Education. Committee has declared August as No-Show Sunday School Month ! ….. (meaning there will be none.) We will take a summer break until September.

2022 SCHOOL KITS

Each of the congregations of our conference has been asked to contribute items to make this project possible. Our two churches have been asked to provide 700 SPIRAL notebooks (70-sheet, wide- or college-ruled, approximately 8 x 10½”; no loose-leaf paper, please). Please consider donating notebooks for this project. Donation boxes will be located at each church in AUGUST. Thank you for your kindness!

To date we collected approximately 350 notebooks toward our goal of 700 needed.

PERSONAL CARE KITS

When natural disasters strike or war drives families from their homes, as we see over and over in the news, our hearts ache with compassion. But what can we do? Making Lutheran World Relief (LWR) kits is a simple, tangible way to offer comfort to those suffering and express love to our neighbors in need.

Messiah ladies are again collecting personal care kits to be shipped to and distributed by Lutheran World Relief. These kits provide the basic needs for personal hygiene.

Each kit includes the following items:

One light weight bath-size towel (52X27”), dark colors are recommended
2 bars of bath-size soap (4-5oz each)
1 adult toothbrush in the original packaging, or sealed in a business envelope—no plastic wrap
1 study comb
1 metal nail clipper

Please consider purchasing the needed items for one or more kits. There are baskets at the front of the church for each item—no need to remove tags or wrappings. Please have your kit items to the church by September 18th. We will be assembling the kits September 25th during the adult Sunday School hour. Thank you for participating in this LWR ministry!

TEEPEE TROT

The 2nd annual TeePee Trot 5K run/walk will be held on October 1st at 8:00 AM at Lake Tobias. Registration is $30 and includes a race T-shirt, designed by Pastor Brody’s husband Steve, as well as an admission pass to Lake Tobias! Anyone interested in participating or making a $30 donation to receive this year’s T-shirt can pick up a registration form at either church or visit the race website at sites.google.com/view/teepee-trot-5K/home.

Half of the race proceeds will be donated to the Alzheimer’s Association in memory of J. R. Tobias. Last year the race made a little over $2,700! We are looking for donations and volunteers to help run the event. If interested please contact Katie Jury at KAJ1211@comcast.net.

Volunteers will be needed on the day of the race.

MORE INFORMATION

Please visit our website: halifaxmessiah.church for weekly updates and archived materials, bulletins with hymn lyrics, articles, descriptions of various programs and ministries, newsletters, recorded services, text versions of sermons, a monthly calendar, and way to give online. Our 10am (and joint services) are available every week as a live streamed event via Facebook and available later in the day on YouTube. Please let us know if you watch online, have any questions, or would like to meet with the pastor in person.

We give thanks and feel blessed that you have chosen to worship with us today.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR AUGUST

28 – 12th Sunday after Pentecost

8:30 AM Worship Service at St. Peter Pavilion

10 AM Worship Service at Messiah

LET US PRAY

Prayer knits the waiting, expectant community together. It isn’t just for those being prayed for. It’s an act of faith where others are lifted up and entrusted to God.

New prayer requests

Please fill out prayer request cards from now on and provide your name, the person for whom you are requesting prayer, their contact information and a few details.

Continuing to add names verbally will lead to persons being left off the prayer list. And without written notes, the pastor cannot remember/connect names with specific needs for prayer.

Filling out a card will allow the pastor to make contact, initiate pastoral care, and request permission to place a person’s name on the prayer list. Alternatively, you may email or text as long as you provide the same details. Following this plan will assure consistency, improve communication and help those for whom we pray. Please email concerns and/or requests including your name and theirs, contact information, and a few specifics to: elsiebbrody@gmail.com Or text (443)-974-5558. Thank you.