23 Oct BULLETIN – SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2022

WELCOME to MESSIAH & ST. PETER LUTHERAN CHURCHES

Guest Speakers
Bob Bower
David Wright
Greta Wright, Music Director

Sunday, October 23, 2022
Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

GREETING AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS     Page 56

ENTRANCE HYMN     Come, Ye Thankful People, Come     #407

1   Come, you thankful people, come;
raise the song of harvest home.
All is safely gathered in
ere the winter storms begin.
God, our maker, does provide
for our wants to be supplied.
Come to God’s own temple, come,
raise the song of harvest home.

2   All the world is God’s own field,
fruit unto his praise to yield.
Wheat and tares together sown,
unto joy or sorrow grown.
First the blade, and then the ear,
then the full corn shall appear.
Lord of harvest, grant that we
wholesome grain and pure may be.

3   For the Lord our God shall come
and shall take his harvest home.
From his field shall in that day
all offenses purge away,
give his angels charge at last
in the fire the tares to cast,
but the fruitful ears to store
in his garner evermore.

4  Even so, Lord, quickly come
to your final harvest home.
Gather all your people in,
free from sorrow, free from sin,
there, forever purified,
in your garner to abide.
Come, with all your angels, come,
raise the glorious harvest home!

APOSTOLIC GREETING     Page 57

KYRIE and HYMN OF PRAISE     Pages 57-60

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Holy God, our righteous judge, daily your mercy surprises us with everlasting forgiveness. Strengthen our hope in you, and grant that all the peoples of the earth may find their glory in you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

FIRST READING JEREMIAH     14:7-10, 19-22

Although our iniquities testify against us, act, O Lord, for your name’s sake; our apostasies indeed are many, and we have sinned against you. O hope of Israel, its savior in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, like a traveler turning aside for the night? Why should you be like someone confused, like a mighty warrior who cannot give help?

Yet you, O Lord, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name; do not forsake us! Thus says the Lord concerning this people: Truly they have loved to wander, they have not restrained their feet; therefore the Lord does not accept them,now he will remember their iniquity and punish their sins. Have you completely rejected Judah? Does your heart loathe Zion? Why have you struck us down so that there is no healing for us? We look for peace, but find no good; for a time of healing, but there is terror instead. We acknowledge our wickedness, O Lord, the iniquity of our ancestors, for we have sinned against you. Do not spurn us, for your name’s sake; do not dishonor your glorious throne; remember and do not break your covenant with us. Can any idols of the nations bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Is it not you, O Lord our God? We set our hope on you, for it is you who do all this.

PSALM     84:1-7

How dear to me is your dwelling, O Lord of hosts!

My soul has a desire and longing for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.

Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young, by the side of your altars, O Lord of hosts, my king and my God.

Happy are they who dwell in your house! They will always be praising you. Happy are the people whose strength is in you.

Happy are the people whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on the pilgrims’ way.

Those who go through the balsam valley will find it a place of springs, for the early rains have covered it with pools of water.

They will climb from height to height, and the God of gods will be seen in Zion.

Happy are the people whose strength is in you.

SECOND READING     2 TIMOTHY 4:6-8, 16-18

As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing. At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION     Page 62

GOSPEL LUKE     18:9-14

[Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

SERMON

HYMN of the DAY     Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me     #327

1   Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy riven side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
cleanse me from its guilt and pow’r.

2   Not the labors of my hands
can fulfill thy law’s demands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save, and thou alone.

3   Nothing in my hand I bring;
simply to thy cross I cling.
Naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.

4   While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyelids close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee.

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.

God of mercy, you are in the midst of us and we are called by your name. Inspire your church to serve and love all people with the unceasing grace you extend to us. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

God of all creation, you formed a world where even the sparrow finds a home. Preserve the beauty and diversity of all creatures with whom we share the earth. Lead us to protect all living things. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

God of peace, you are an ever-present help in time of trouble. Rescue families and nations torn apart by violence and warfare (especially). Unite all people toward common goals of reconciliation and peace for every person. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

God of hope, you stand with the suffering and give strength. Comfort your people filled with fear or anger, anxiety or shame. Bring healing to all who are sick in body, mind, or spirit (especially). Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

God of restoration, you call us to trust in you and not ourselves alone. Make this congregation a community of humility and repentance, ready to encounter you in love and follow in your ways. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

God of eternal life, to you be the glory forever. We give you thanks for (James of Jerusalem and) all who have fought the good fight, finished the race, kept the faith, and now live with you. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

With grateful hearts we commend our spoken and silent prayers to you, O God; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

PEACE

OFFERING

OFFERTORY     Page 75

LORD’S PRAYER

BENEDICTION     Page 74

CLOSING HYMN     Children of the Heavenly Father     #474

1   Children of the heav’nly Father
safely in his bosom gather;
nestling bird nor star in heaven
such a refuge e’er was given.

2   God his own doth tend and nourish,
in his holy courts they flourish.
From all evil things he spares them,
in his mighty arms he bears them.

3   Neither life nor death shall ever
from the Lord his children sever;
unto them his grace he showeth,
and their sorrows all he knoweth.

4   Though he giveth or he taketh,
God his children ne’er forsaketh;
his the loving purpose solely
to preserve them pure and holy.

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.

Please welcome our guest speakers:
Bob Bower at our 8:30 AM worship service and David Wright at our 10:00 AM worship service.

Altar flowers at St. Peter have been presented by Dave and Lori Ritter in memory of loved ones.

Altar flowers at Messiah have been presented by Judy Shomper in memory of loved ones.

 

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 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.

 

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 floridacbf.org.

You can also mail a check payable to CBF Florida and mail it 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 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.

 

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 a 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

23     20th Sunday after Pentecost; HARVEST HOME

8:30 AM Worship at St. Peter

10 AM Worship Service at Messiah

25      7:00 PM Bell Choir Rehearsal

28-30 WELCA FALL RETREA; Camp Hebron

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.