16 Oct BULLETIN – SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2022
WELCOME to MESSIAH & ST. PETER LUTHERAN CHURCHES
The Reverend Nancy Brody, Pastor
Greta Wright, Music Director
Sunday, October 16, 2022
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
GREETING AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS Page 56
ENTRANCE HYMN Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven #549
1 Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
to his feet your tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
evermore his praises sing.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King!
2 Praise him for his grace and favor
to our forebears in distress.
Praise him, still the same forever,
slow to chide and swift to bless.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Glorious in his faithfulness!
3 Tenderly he shields and spares us;
well our feeble frame he knows.
In his hands he gently bears us,
rescues us from all our foes.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Widely as his mercy flows.
4 Angels help us to adore him,
who behold him face to face.
Sun and moon bow down before him;
all who dwell in time and space.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise with us the God of grace.
APOSTOLIC GREETING Page 57
KYRIE and HYMN OF PRAISE Pages 57-60
PRAYER OF THE DAY
O Lord God, tireless guardian of your people, you are always ready to hear our cries. Teach us to rely day and night on your care. Inspire us to seek your enduring justice for all this suffering world, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
FIRST READING GENESIS 32:22-31
The same night [Jacob] got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.” The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.
PSALM 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills; from where is my help to come?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
The Lord will not let your foot be moved nor will the one who watches over you fall asleep.
Behold, the keeper of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep; My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
The Lord watches over you; the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will preserve you from all evil and will keep your life.
The Lord will watch over your going out and your coming in, from this time forth forevermore. My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
SECOND READING 2 TIMOTHY 3:14–4:5
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Page 62
GOSPEL LUKE 18:1-8
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’ For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’ ” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
SERMON
HYMN of the DAY O Love That Will Not Let Me Go #324
1 O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
that in thine ocean depths its flow
may richer, fuller be.
2 O Light that foll’west all my way,
I yield my flick’ring torch to thee;
my heart restores its borrowed ray,
that in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
may brighter, fairer be.
3 O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain
and feel the promise is not vain
that morn shall tearless be.
4 O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
and from the ground there blossoms red
life that shall endless be.
PROFESSION of FAITH/APOSTLE’S CREED Page 65
PRAYERS of INTERCESSION
In gratitude and humility, let us join together in prayer on behalf of all of God’s creation. A brief silence.
For all who wrestle with guilt, struggle with identity, and engage in spiritual battles. Make your church brave and bold enough to take on both its opponents and just causes. Give opportunities to practice compassion, extend grace and deliver good news. Grant us persistence in proclamation and prayer. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
For complete balance, health and restoration of earth and sky so that clouds and sun provide what’s needed. Renew humanity’s commitment to care for creation. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
For judges, juries, and all who seek to deliver justice. May laws follow your guiding wisdom. Help those who write, administer and enforce them only seek truth, handle disputes with fairness, and have courage to do what is right. Eliminate corruption in every criminal justice system. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
For all who are lonely, especially those who find themselves in unfamiliar territory, figuratively or literally. For those missing family, friends or visitors, who long to be healthy or pain-free, especially those on our prayer list. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
For those engaged in social, humanitarian and advocacy and all whom they serve: give each persistence, a voice and the wherewithal to benefit society at large. Protect the innocent. Defeat the oppressor. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
For the congregations of Messiah and St. Lutheran Churches. Help each to understand their purpose, recognize their value, commit to your divine will, willingly support and serve. Bless them for their faithfulness and continued efforts. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
For those who taught us faith and now rest in heavenly peace. We remember and give thanks for these saints who shared the gospel through word and deed. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
With grateful hearts we commend our spoken and silent prayers to you, O God: earnestly, patiently, in anticipation of a response through your Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen.
PEACE
OFFERING
OFFERTORY Page 75
LORD’S PRAYER
BENEDICTION Page 74
CLOSING HYMN If You But Trust in God to Guide You #453
1 If you but trust in God to guide you
and place your confidence in him,
you’ll find him always there beside you,
to give you hope and strength within.
For those who trust God’s changeless love
build on the rock that will not move.
2 What gain is there in futile weeping,
in helpless anger and distress?
If you are in his care and keeping,
in sorrow will he love you less?
For he who took for you a cross
will bring you safe through ev’ry loss.
3 In patient trust await his leisure
in cheerful hope, with heart content
to take whate’er your Father’s pleasure
and all-discerning love have sent;
doubt not your inmost wants are known
to him who chose you for his own.
4 Sing, pray, and keep his ways unswerving,
offer your service faithfully,
and trust his word; though undeserving,
you’ll find his promise true to be.
God never will forsake in need
the soul that trusts in him indeed.
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 given by Jean Patton in memory of Leroy Patton.
HELP HURRICANE VICTIMS
A congregation member has a personal/family connection to Florida. Rev. Tammy Snyder is Executive Coordinator of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship for the state of Florida and Caribbean Islands. CBF stays in communities long after others have left as they seek out marginalized communities to assist. They look for communities who need help, but don’t make the headline news or have adequate resources. Check out https://floridacbf.org or https://www. floridacbf.org/donate.
Checks can be made payable to CBF Florida and mailed to:
CBF Florida
P.O. Box 2556
Lakeland, Florida 33806
Thank you for your prayerful consideration.
HELP YOURSELF!
How would you like to follow the liturgy and turn pages in the green book while watching from home? See lyrics and read music to your favorite hymns during worship. Lutheran Books of Worship have been placed in the front of each church for you to own. Take as many as you need so there’ll be no reason not to fully participate as you watch online. Some small red Sunday school hymnals are also available. Please use and enjoy.
JOINT SERVICES in 2022
October 16th, 8:30 AM at St. Peter
October 30th, 10 AM at St. Peter
November 20th, 10 AM at Messiah
December 25th, 10 AM at Messiah
Please note the exact time joint service will begin according to the dates above. On 10/30 and 12/25, a time of fellowship featuring beverages and snacks will follow.
Please mark your calendars and don’t miss out!
ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS
Please plan to attend your congregation’s annual meeting. Nominations and votes are needed to elect council members, discuss proposed budgets, and conduct necessary church business. Important information will be shared and discussed at each congregational meeting.
CORRECTION TO THE NEWSLETTER
Messiah will hold its Congregational Meeting on November 20th at 9 AM before (not after as previously indicated) the joint worship service planned to commence at 10 AM.
BOSCOV’S FRIENDS HELPING FRIENDS DAY—WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19!
On Wednesday, October 19th Messiah will participate in the Boscov’s “Friends Helping Friends Day.” Boscov’s shoppers can purchase a $5.00 shopping pass and receive a 25% discount off the following departments: Ladies Apparel and Accessories, Maternity, Handbags, Ladies, Men’s and Children’s Shoes, Men’s Apparel and Accessories, Ladies and Men’s Coats, Lingerie, Robes, Sleepwear, Bras and Panties, Children’s Apparel, Juniors Apparel, Young Men’s Apparel, Candy and Cards, Trim-A-Home, Bridge Jewelry and Fashion Jewelry.
A 15% discount off of the following departments: Cosmetics and Fragrances, Fine Jewelry, Watches, Domestics, Luggage, Housewares, Flatware, Dinnerware, Glassware, Curtains and Drapes, Lamps, Home Décor, Pet Gifts, As Seen On TV, Furniture, Recliners, Men’s and Ladies Athletic Footwear, Halloween, Large Area Rugs, Mattresses, Boscov’s Optical, Boscov’s Hearing Aid Center and Boscov’s Salon Products.
A 10% discount off of the following departments: Small Appliances, Vacuum Cleaners, Personal Care, Heaters, Ready-to-Assemble Furniture and Toys.
Discounts are not offered on the following: Travelcenter, Beauty Express Salons, Eye Exams, Tempur-Pedic, Steams and Foster, Nectar, Beautyrest Black, adidas, Champion, Levi’s, Puma, Vionic, Hey Dude, Sperry, Fine Jewelry Clearance, Boscov’s Salon Services, Gift cards, layaway payments, and payments on your account. Cannot be combined with any other discount, certificate or redeemed for prior sales. No adjustments to prior purchases. Not eligible for exchanges or refunds. Not eligible for online or phone orders. Valid October 19, 2022 only.
All proceeds from the sale of the cards will benefit Messiah Lutheran Church. The cards can be used for in-store purchases only. The stub of the ticket can be completed and placed in a Friends Helping Friends Ballot Box at any Boscov’s store on October 19th to be eligible to win a $100 Boscov’s Gift Card. To purchase a “Friends Helping Friends Day” card, contact Dianna Reed at 717-692-5317.
HARVEST HOME MONTH
On “Harvest Home” Sunday, we bring a portion of the bounty, which God has given to us to share with our neighbors who are hungry. This year Harvest Home Sunday will be observed on Sunday, October 23 at St. Peter at 8:30 AM and at Messiah at 10 AM but items can be brought to the churches throughout the month of October.
In addition to non-perishable food items, cash donations are also much appreciated. All food and cash donations will go to support our local food banks.
WOMEN of the ELCA WELCA FALL RETREAT
Camp Hebron will host the WELCA Fall Retreat from Friday, October 28th until Sunday, October 30th. The theme will be “Jesus is the Vine. What does it mean to be a Branch?” Speaker Rev. Barbara Barry of Trinity Lutheran Church, Greencastle, PA is featured on Saturday, October 29. Following her program, there will be a free wagon ride and craft time Saturday afternoon. A church service with Communion will be held Saturday evening following dinner.
PORK & SAUERKRAUT DINNER
St. Peter will hold their annual Pork & Sauerkraut Dinner on General Election Day, Tuesday, November 2nd, from 3 to 7 PM. Dinners will include pork, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, applesauce, bread & butter, beverage, and dessert and are priced as follows: adults – $12, children ages 6 to 12 – $6, and children under age 5 eat free. Dinners can be eaten in or boxed to take home. Additional seating will be available in the pavilion or the upstairs Sunday school room.
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 OCTOBER
16 – DEADLINE FOR OCTOBER NEWSLETTER ITEMS
19 – 6:30 PM Ladies Aid at Messiah
20– 7:00 PM Bell choir rehearsal
23–20th Sunday after Pentecost HARVEST HOME
8:30 AM Worship at St. Peter
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.
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.