Sunday, February 22, 2015

Worship Archive: February 22, 2015: Lent 1B: Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, San Francisco, CA





February 19, 2015
10:30 am Holy Communion Service
Grace Evangelical Lutheran, San Francisco


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 10:30am 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:                                                                                                             



Confession and Forgiveness
Please stand.  The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of your Baptism.

P     In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Silence for reflection and self-examination.

Most merciful God,
C     we confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen

Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and, for his sake, forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

The Grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.                          And also with you.






Gathering Hymn

Prayer of the Day: Gracious God, out of your love and mercy you breathed into dust the breath of life, creating us to serve you and our neighbors. Call forth our prayers and acts of kindness, and strengthen us to face our mortality with confidence.

Welcome                
First Reading          Mark 1:9-15
9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” 12And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.  14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

Word of hope, word of life.                 C  Thanks be to God


Genesis 9:8-17
8Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9“As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, 10and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. 11I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
12God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”


Psalm 25  (read responsively)
1To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2O my God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult over me.
3Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.
5Lead me in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long. 6Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
7Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!
8Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.   9He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
10All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

Second Reading                 1 Peter 3:13-22
18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, 19in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water.

21And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

Word of hope, word of life.                 C  Thanks be to God


Special Music:



Gospel Acclamation




Gospel Reading                 Mark 1:9-15
9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” 12And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.  14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

P   The gospel of the Lord.                           C   Praise to you, O Christ.

 


Sermon                    
Silence for reflection follows the sermon.  The assembly stands to proclaim the word of God in song.






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.  

Hymn of the Day  - Verses 1-3



Prayers of Intercession
A    During this season of Lent, we pray for all who long for better days, suffer, mourn and for the church, the world and all people in their need.  A brief silence.

Creating God, help us take the time to enjoy the world, live greener and love the animals and pets in our lives. 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.  Take special care of all who have lost children, parents or partners before their time.  Help us to love the best we can.  God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Help our civic leaders to bring justice to a war torn world and cultivate love beyond borders.  Be with our bishops Elizabeth and Mark, our pastor Megan and all the staff and leaders of our congregation.  Help us follow your path towards wholeness.  God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

A   Help us to love each other, our neighbors and care for the poor.  We pray especially for immigrants, refugees, the homeless, hungry and all who care for and advocate for them.  We pray for the members of our congregation, their family and friends, who are need healing.  We pray especially, during this season of Lent, for Anna Marie* who has requested our prayers for her health.  God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

A   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 find comfort, hope and love in our days to come.    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.  After the offering is gathered, the assembly stands.

Offering Prayer
A    Let us pray.   God, bless our diversity gifts.  Beyond our times, talents and treasures, we give thanks for the relationships and visions that we bring into this holy place.  May our relationships with money, giving and receiving become one of the ways we live our faith in the world.  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 Lord 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 Lord’s Prayer
C  Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen

Blessing

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

*Please let Pastor Megan know if you would like your name to be included in Grace’s public prayers.  You may also add names of others to Pastor Megan’s private prayer list, by giving Pastor a note with your prayer request on it.  Special prayer requests in today’s bulletin were submitted during our Ash Wednesday service.


Upcoming Special Worship Dates
·        Congregational Meeting: Sunday, February 22nd after worship
·        Singing Hymns at the Civic Center Bart Station to raise money for Singers of the Street: Tuesday, February 24th 3-7pm (evangelism/mission)
·        Pulpit Swap – Pastor Megan will be preaching at St. Mark’s Lutheran and we’ll be joined by the new pastor of St. Matthew’s: March 1st, 10:30am
·        Infant and Toddler Clothing and Toy Swap at Grace: Saturday, March 7th, 1-4pm (mission)
·        Maundy Thursday at Grace: April 2nd, 12pm  (worship)
·        Sadder with St. Paulus Lutheran @ Grace: the Evening of April 2nd  (worship)
Easter Sunday April 5th (worship)

Sending Hymn


Dismissal
A:  Go in peace and serve our God.
C: Thanks be to God.




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.            Today’s coffee hour will also serve as our congregation’s annual meeting.


About the Season of Lent:  Lent is the time in the church year when we get a little bit more solemn and serious.  Ancient Christians used this time to contemplate the fragility of life, serve the poor and reoriented their lives towards health, love and wholeness.  Some people choose to give something up and remember the suffering of Jesus on the cross.  Others choose to add rituals or practices to their life that help them enjoy life, decrease their stress or improve their ability to care for the world. 
Regardless of how you celebrate in your day-to-day life, we hope you will join us at Grace for worship.  Our services during this season will focus more on confession and forgiveness than other times of the year.  This is not because we believe that we are more in need of forgiveness.  Actually, Lutherans believe that everyone is equally a saint and a sinner.  We also believe that God’s grace is a gift that erases all the times we’ve done the wrong thing - even when we’ve enjoyed it.  Our congregation’s name is Grace because we really love how God names, claims and loves everyone. 
So why so serious this time of year?  We know that life is rough sometimes.  Cancer, HIV/AIDS, depression, debt, racism, the death of those who leave us too soon, war, poverty and homelessness and countless other things are very real and heartbreaking.  Faith and worship that ignores all the rough things in life, leaves us unprepared, unable to mourn and unable to respond to the unjust parts of life. 
During this time of Lent, we invite you to sit with all the uncomfortable parts of your life.  Our worship is designed to help you notice that even during the rockiest times, God is with you and loves you. 
If you would like support during your Lenten journey, please reach out to Pastor Megan for a special visit or phone call.

Pastor Megan Rohrer’s  contact info:                        pastor@gracesf.com                   415-827-2587





Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Worship Archive: Transfiguration Sunday: February 15, 2015







Epiphany 6B
February 15, 2015
10:30 am Holy Communion Service
Grace Evangelical Lutheran

Pastor: Rev. Megan Rohrer




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 10:30am 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:                                                                                                             

Greeting:  
Water is poured into the baptismal font. 
P   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.


Gathering Hymn:



Prayer of the Day:
Loving God, help us dwell in your mystery and be ever looking for your presence in our beautiful world.  Amen.

Welcome           

First Reading: 2 Kings 2:1-14
2Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent.” 4Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. 5The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take your master away from you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know; be silent.” 6Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. 7Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.
9When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” 10He responded, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” 11As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. 12Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
13He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.
L   Word of hope, word of life.                        Thanks be to God


Psalm  50  (read responsively)
1The mighty one, God the most high, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
2Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth.
3Our God comes and does not keep silence, before God is a devouring fire, and a mighty tempest all around. 4God calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that God may judge the people: 5“Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!”
6The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge.

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:3-6
3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. 6For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
L   Word of hope, word of life.                        Thanks be to God


Anthem:              WOV #684           Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness              Grace Choir

Gospel Reading:  Mark 9:2-10
2Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. 4And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” 8Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.
9As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean.
 P   The gospel of the Lord.                         Praise to you, O Christ.


Sermon              
Silence for reflection follows the sermon.  The assembly stands to proclaim the word of God in song.
Hymn of the Day:






Prayers of Intercession
A    During this season of Epiphany, we pray for teachers, the wise ones who have mentored us, and for 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, you are the highest authority.  Help our civic leaders to bring peace to a war torn world and to care for those who are vulnerable.  Be with our bishops Elizabeth and Mark, our pastor Megan and all the staff and leaders of our congregation.  Help us to support the work and hobbies of all who worship with us, so that we may draw closer to God in all that we do at work and at home.  God in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Loving God, help us to have patience, compassion and listening ears for those who differ from us.  Provide healing and hope for those whose minds, bodies or spirits are in need of care.  We pray especially for those who care for the sick and support those who are aging.  Help us to live and experience as much as we can while we await the day we will be reunited with those we have lost.   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.  After the offering is gathered, the assembly stands.

Offertory
         

Offering Prayer
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 Lord 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 Lord’s Prayer
C  Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen

Blessing

Announcements

Sending Hymn:  (see the next page)


Dismissal
A:  Go in peace and serve our God.
C: Thanks be to God.

Postlude:               

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.


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.  

Verses 1-3

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

Upcoming Special Worship Dates
·        Ash Wednesday at Grace: February 18th, 12pm (worship)
·        Ash Wednesday at the Civic Center Bart Station: February 18th, 4-6pm (evangelism)
·        Congregational Meeting: Sunday, February 22nd after worship
·        Singing Hymns at the Civic Center Bart Station to raise money for Singers of the Street: Tuesday, February 24th 3-7pm (evangelism/mission)
·        Pulpit Swap – Pastor Megan will be preaching at St. Mark’s Lutheran and we’ll be joined by the new pastor of St. Matthew’s: March 1st, 10:30am
·        Infant and Toddler Clothing and Toy Swap at Grace: Saturday, March 7th, 1-4pm (mission)
·        Maundy Thursday at Grace: April 2nd, 12pm  (worship)
·        Sadder with St. Paulus Lutheran @ Grace: the Evening of April 2nd  (worship)
·        Easter Sunday April 5th (worship)