Part 2:
Part 3:
Part 4:
Justice,
Justice Sunday
November 9, 2014
10 am Holy Communion Service
Grace Evangelical Lutheran
Today’s Worship
Participants:
Pastor: Rev. Megan
Rohrer
Music Director: Dorothy
Clazie
Assisting Minister: Laurel
Reader: Mary Ann
Welcome to worship at
Grace!
Welcome to long-time Lutherans, Christians from every tradition, and
people new to faith. Welcome to all who have no church home, want to follow
Christ, have doubts, or do not believe. Welcome to new visitors and old
friends. Welcome to people of every age and size, color and culture, every
sexual orientation and gender identity, socio-economic status, marital status,
ability and challenge. Welcome to believers and questioners, and to questioning
believers. This is a place where you are welcome to celebrate and sorrow,
rejoice and recover. This is a place
where lives are made new.
Special
Welcome to Newcomers
Welcome to our small community of
faith. While we are small in numbers, we
have big hearts and a desire to grow. In
order to help you follow along, we have included all the materials you need for
worship in this bulletin.
Please join us for worship any Sunday at
10am that you are able. If you cannot
join us in person, you can also join us online via live stream or by watching
the archives of our worship and Bible Study that Doesn’t Suck anytime during
the week at our website (www.gracesf.com), or on our mobile phone app, Bible Study that Doesn’t Suck, is
available on Google Play and ITunes.
If you have any questions about the service
or about Grace, you can fill out the form in pew to let our pastor know you’d
like to chat. Or you can contact Pastor
Megan Rohrer at pastor@gracesf.com.
Prelude: Handel: Allegro for Clarinet (Erin
Dunning)
Greeting: Water is poured into the baptismal font.
The
Grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be
with you all. C And
also with you.
Opening Hymn: Verses 1, 2
and 5
Welcome
Prayer of
the Day:
Just God, help us to float in the waters of baptism
and to use our assurance that we are forgiven to advocate, pray and offer a
hand up to those who are vulnerable and experiencing injustice. And, remind us that no matter what, you love
us and yearn for our best. Amen.
First Reading: Amos 5:24
24But
let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream.
L Word of hope, word of life. Thanks
be to God
Psalm 30 (read together)
I will
extol you, God most high, for you have drawn me up, and did not let my foes
rejoice over me.
You are my God, I cried to you for help, and you
have healed me.
God most
high, you brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among
those gone down to the Pit.
Sing praises to the God most high, you faithful ones, and
give thanks to God’s holy name.
For God’s
anger is but for a moment; God’s favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may linger for the night, but joy
comes with the morning.
As for me, I said in my prosperity, ‘I shall never be
moved.’
By your
favor, God most high, you had established me as a strong mountain; you hid your
face; I was dismayed. To you, God most high, I cried, and made supplication: ‘What profit is there in my death, if I go
down to the Pit? Will the dust praise
you? Will it tell of your faithfulness?
Hear, O God, and be gracious to me! God most high, be my helper!’
You have
turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me
with joy, so that my soul may praise you and
not be silent.
My God, I will give thanks to you forever.
Artist of the Month: Laurel Kapros Rohrer
After several months of volunteering at the Hospitality Hour
morning meal at St. Francis Lutheran Church, the city and the people of San Francisco have begun
to look different to me. St. Francis is
in the Duboce Triangle neighborhood; it is quiet when volunteers arrive on
Sunday mornings to prepare for the meal, but it quickly awakens into a busy,
vibrant place. It is this vibrancy of
people and community that make St. Francis a place of sharing: of food, of resources, of stories and of new
ways of understanding each other. I remember coming to the city when I was
younger, long before I moved here from my own small-town, and seeing people on
the streets who seemed homeless and hungry, feeling a little scared and not
knowing how to help.
It’s still
not always simple to find the answers or to see the people who might need some
extra support. I’m learning that some ways to help are through a meal, a bowl
of hot soup, a loaf of bread, a bag of toiletries. Other ways are through a
smile, listening to what someone needs, respecting the simple act of sitting down
and eating a meal, and recognizing yourself in others no matter where you are
in life. Sometimes guests and volunteers alike tell bits of their own stories.
They tell me where they came from, what San
Francisco was like when they got here, who their friends
are that they look out for. A group of school kids from a neighboring city came
to help with food prep on a Saturday and got an impromptu San Francisco history lesson. A couple of
volunteers discovered a shared love for the music of the rat pack. Connections
are made over food.
Every Sunday, many guests say ‘thank
you’, tell us they like the meal and appreciate the volunteers. It’s not always easy though, sometimes it’s a
lot of work, and occasionally people, myself included, have not so good days.
But even on a hard day, I can say, hey, everyone who came to the meal was fed.
They had food so they could take their medication. They got warm on a cold day.
A family with kids had bread, sandwiches and fruit to get them through the
weekend.
So I do look at the people of this
city a little differently since I’ve been volunteering at St. Francis. It has a
greater impact on me when I hear some of the negative assumptions that are made
about those that are marginally-housed, homeless, or hungry. I try not to walk blindly through the streets
or judge someone by how they look, dress or the fact that they are hungry. A
true diversity of experiences makes up our Bay Area communities.
There can be
enough food, energy and compassion to go around. But, in so many ways, we can’t
do it alone. It takes a whole group of volunteers working together to sort the
food, prep and serve the meals and to clean-up afterwards. It takes a church
and a community being open and welcoming. Everyone’s story is important, but
regardless of how they got here, why they might need a meal, everyone who is
hungry deserves to be fed.
L Word of hope, word of life. Thanks
be to God
Special
Music: Angermann: The Lord never closes His eyes" (Hilda, Jeannie and
Erin)
Gospel Reading: Matthew 25:1-13
25“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took
their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were
foolish, and five were wise. 3When the foolish took their lamps,
they took no oil with them; 4but the wise took flasks of oil with
their lamps. 5As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became
drowsy and slept. 6But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is
the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7Then all those bridesmaids
got up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give
us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9But the wise
replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to
the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10And while they went to
buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the
wedding banquet; and the door was shut. 11Later the other
bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘God most high, God most high, open to us.’ 12But
he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ 13Keep awake
therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
The gospel of the God most high. Praise
to you, O Christ.
Sermon: Silence for reflection follows the sermon. The assembly stands to proclaim the word of
God in song. Resources used in today's sermon.
Hymn of the Day: Verses 2, 3
and 4
A During this season of Pentecost, we pray that
the Holy Spirit will bring understanding, inspiration and health to the church,
the world and all people in their need. A brief silence.
Creating
God, help us repair broken relationships, to clean up our messes and debts and
to ask for help when we need it. God in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Parent
God, bless all who are parents, the family and staff of the Grace Infant
Care Center
and all who have created families. Help
us to become better at loving and receiving love from others. God in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God,
guide our civic leaders and enable them to be good stewards of public trust,
resources and properties. Be with our
bishops Elizabeth and Mark, our pastor Megan and all the staff and leaders of
our congregation. God in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We
give thanks for all who work in healing and caring professions. Support doctors, nurses, partners, parents
and friends who love and support others.
Provide healing and hope for those whose minds, bodies or spirits are in
need of care. Help us to live as fully
as we can as we await the day all pain and suffering will end. God in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For
whom and what else do the people of Grace pray?
(Please offer - silently or aloud- petitions
to God. End spoken petitions with “God
in your mercy.”)
P
Our prayers rise like incense and are held by a loving God who yearns for us to
be our best. May we sleep well, worry
less, and live convinced that God is on our side. Amen.
Peace
The presiding minister and the assembly greet each
other in the peace of the risen Christ.
P The peace of Christ be with you always. C
And also with you.
The people may greet one another with the sign of
Christ’s peace, and may say, “Peace be with you” or similar words. Then, the assembly is seated.
Offering
An offering is gathered for
the mission of the church, including the care of those in need.
Offertory: Lloyed Webber " Pie
Jesu" Translation: Merciful Jesus, who
takest away the sin of the world Grant them rest Jeannie and Hilda
Offering
Prayer:
After the offering is
gathered, the assembly stands.
A Let us
pray. God, bless all that we have to offer. May our financial support
match the generosity of our lives. Help
us to be good stewards of our financial and emotional investments. Amen.
Communion:
P It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,
that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise . . . we
praise your name and join their unending hymn:
P On the night in which he was betrayed, our God
most high 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.
The God most high’s Prayer: (This version is from
the New Zealand Prayer Book)
Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
now and forever. Amen.
Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom
sustain our hope and come on earth.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
now and forever. Amen.
Blessing
Announcements
Sending Hymn : Verses 1, 4 and 5
Dismissal
A: Go in peace and serve our God. C: Thanks
be to God.
Postlude Chopin " Impromtu for clarinet
Please join
us for coffee and refreshments downstairs in the Fellowship Hall.
To get to the Fellowship
Hall, exit to the right of the communion railing at the front of the church.
Announcements
You can find more information and find archived
sermons and worship live streams at our website: www.gracesf.com or on our blog: www.sfgrace.blogspot.com
·
November 27 – Thanksgiving: A
meal served for 300 individuals (mostly homeless or seniors) by Welcome at St.
Francis Lutheran Church.
·
December 4 –
18 - Holden Evening Prayer, 6:30pm: Each Thursday night in Advent.
·
December 11-13 – West Coast LGBTQ Conference for Christian College Students
·
December 24 – Christmas Eve Service of Carols, 9:30pm
Scripture in this service is
adapted from The Inclusive Bible: The First Egalitarian Translation, by
Priests for Equality. 2009, Sheed
& Ward. Kindle Edition. The traditional Lutheran
liturgy is from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2014 Augsburg Fortress. All
rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies
Annual License #28429. Hymns used with permission for worship and
podcast under OneLicense.net #A-723548.
No comments:
Post a Comment