Showing posts with label sermon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sermon. Show all posts

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Worship Archive for October 19, 2014 worship service







 Pentecost 19A
 October 19, 2014
10 am Holy Communion Service
Grace Evangelical Lutheran

Today’s Worship Participants: 
Pastor: Rev. Megan Rohrer
Music Director: Dorothy Clazie
Assisting Minister: Earl
Reader: Sally 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: "Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee"     Hymntune: St. Agnes           arr. Eleanor Whitsett

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:


Welcome

Prayer of the Day:
Creating God, thank you for knitting us in our mother’s womb, for loving us just as we are and for giving us your last name.  Help us to live and love like we are all a part of one big holy family.  Amen.

First Reading: Exodus 33:12-23 

12Moses said to the Lord, “See, you have said to me, ‘Bring up this people’; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ 13Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” 14He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15And he said to him, “If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. 16For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth.” 17The Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” 18Moses said, “Show me your glory, I pray.” 19And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, ‘The Lord’; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. 20But,” he said, “you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live.” 21And the Lord continued, “See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; 22and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; 23then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen.”
L   Word of hope, word of life.                        Thanks be to God

Psalm  99 (read responsively)
1The God most high is king; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!  2The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. 3Let them praise your great and awesome name. Holy is God!
4Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
5Extol the Lord our God; worship at his footstool. Holy is God!   6Moses and Aaron were among God’s priests, Samuel also was among those who called on his name. They cried to the God most high, and God answered them.  7He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept his decrees, and the statutes that he gave them.
8O Lord our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
9Extol the God most high, our God, and worship at God’s holy mountain; for the God most high is holy.
Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
2We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly 3remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, 5because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake.
6And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, 7so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. 9For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, 10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.
L   Word of hope, word of life.                        Thanks be to God

Special Music:  "We're a Fellowship of Believers"    Jay Althaus   Grace Choir


Gospel Reading:  Matthew 22:15-22
15Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. 16So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. 17Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” 18But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? 19Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” 21They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

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: Verses 1-3



Prayers of Intercession
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: Psalm 96 - "Sing to the Lord a New Song" Dvorak        Jean Wilson, soprano


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 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:  (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.

Blessing

Announcements

Sending Hymn :

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

Postlude "O Jesus, I Have Promised" A. H. Mann                        arr. Kenneth Lowenberg


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.


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

A special thanks to Pastor Leslie Veen who is joining us today.  Pastor Leslie is a Presbyterian who helps students with their internship and practical training placements at the Lutheran seminary in Berkeley.  While Pastor Leslie was an intern, she worked with Pastor Megan at Old First Presbyterian Church.  Pastor Megan was working with the homeless there and Pastor Leslie was working on pastoral care and worship. 

There will be no Bible Study this week!

·        November 8 – Welcome Fundraiser: We will have a Musical Events featuring the movie RENT.
·        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


Sunday, February 23, 2014

Epiphany 7 (Cycle C) Sermon - Pastor Megan Rohrer

http://sermon.net/sfwelcome/sermonid/1200189362
Sermon by Pastor Megan Rohrer, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, San Francisco

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Live Stream of this morning's worship: Epiphany 6: Grace Evangelical Lutheran, San Francisco

This service was streamed live, but was not archived.  Join us in person every Sunday at 10 am (PST) at 3201 Ulloa St at 33rd Avenue or on join our services by watching the live stream below. You can also participate in our virtual offering here.



Epiphany 6

February 16, 2014
10 am Holy Communion Service
Grace Evangelical Lutheran, San Francisco




Assurance of Forgiveness

P    Forgetting that God has blessed us, we return again and again to worship, yearning to remember God’s promises.  As often as we have forgotten to follow God, we have been forgiven.  May we receive God’s compassion experience forgiveness for all of our sins, in the name of Jesus Christ.
C     Amen.



Greeting
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

P   Let us pray.
A brief silence is kept.

Loving God, you are the source of our life. You created human beings and declared, “it is good.” You further blessed our bodies by taking on our form complete with aches and pains, worries and anxiety, hopes and fears, dreams and desires. You continue to create and bless our bodies in their many forms as we are now your body, alive in the world to spread the good news of your love in diverse ways. Heal whatever distress we have about our bodies. Bless these bodies just as they are as we come together in love and hope, seeking to bring about your justice in the world.



Welcome                 Pastor Rohrer

First Reading: Deuteronomy 30:15-20

15 Today I have set before you a path towards life and success, or death and disaster. 16 For today I command you to love your God, to follow God’s ways and keep the commandments, laws and customs. If you do, you will live and grow, and your God will bless the land you are entering. 17 But if your hearts stray and you do not listen to me, if you let yourself be drawn into the worship of other gods, and serve them, 18 I tell you today, you will not survive. You will not live long in the land which you are now crossing the Jordan to enter and occupy. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today: I set before you life or death, blessing or curse. Choose life, then, so that you and your descendants may live, 20 by loving and clinging to your God, and obeying God’s voice. For that will mean life for you, a long life in the land which God swore to give to your descendants Sarah and Abraham, Rebecca and Isaac, and Leah and Rachel and Jacob.

L   The word of the Lord
C  Thanks be to God



Psalm: 119:1-8     Read responsively
1 Happiness comes to those whose way is blameless, who walk in your Law, God.
2 Happiness comes to those who keep your decrees, and seek you with all their heart,
3 and do no wrong, but walk in your ways.
4 You have commanded that your precepts be kept diligently—
5 if only I were more faithful in keeping your statutes!
6 Then I wouldn’t feel so ashamed when I look at all your commands.
7 I will thank you with an upright heart, when I truly learn to be as just as you want me to be.
8 I will obey your statutes; do not utterly forsake me.



Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9     
3 :1 Unfortunately, sisters and brothers, I was unable to speak to you as Spiritual people. I had to treat you as sensual people, still infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, since you weren’t ready for it. Indeed, you still aren’t ready for it, 3 since you’re still far too carnal—a fact that should be obvious from all the jealousy and wrangling that there is among you, from the way that you go on behaving like ordinary people! 4 What could be more nonSpiritual than your slogans, “I belong to Paul,” and “I belong to Apollos”? 5 After all, who is Apollos? And who is Paul? They are ministers through whom you came to believe. Even the different ways in which they brought the Gospel were assigned to them by God. 6 I did the planting, Apollos did the watering, but God caused the growth. 7 Neither the planter nor the waterer matters—only God, who makes things grow. 8 It is all one who does the planting and who does the watering; and all will be duly paid according to their share in the work. 9 we are coworkers with God; you are God’s farm, God’s building.



Anthem

Gospel Acclamation


Gospel: Matthew 5:21-37

P   The holy gospel according to Matthew, the fifth chapter.
C    Glory to you, O Lord.

21 “You’ve heard that our ancestors were told, ‘no killing’ and, ‘every murderer will be subject to judgment.’ 22 but I tell you that everyone who is angry with sister or brother is subject to judgment; anyone who says to sister or brother, ‘I spit in your face!’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin; and anyone who vilifies them with name-calling will be subject to the fires of Gehenna. 23 “If you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your sister or brother has a grudge against you, 24 leave your gift there at the altar. Go to be reconciled to them, and then come and offer your gift.

25 “Lose no time in settling with your opponents—do so while still on the way to the courthouse with them. otherwise your opponents may hand you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the bailiff, who will throw you into prison. 26 I warn you, you won’t get out until you have paid the last penny. 27 “You’ve heard the commandment, ‘no committing adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that those who look lustfully at others have already committed adultery with them in their hearts. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away. It’s better to lose part of your body than to have it all cast into Gehenna. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away! It’s better to lose part of your body than to have it all cast into Gehenna. 

31 “It was also said, ‘Whenever a couple divorces, each partner must get a decree of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that everyone who divorces—except because of adultery—forces the spouse to commit adultery. Those who marry the divorced also commit adultery. 33 “Again, you have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘Don’t break your vow; fulfill all oaths made to our God.’ 34 But I tell you not to swear oaths at all. Don’t swear by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 Don’t swear by the earth, for it is God’s footstool. Don’t swear by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great Ruler. 36 And don’t swear by your own head, for you can’t make a single hair white or black. 37 Say ‘yes’ when you mean ‘yes’ and ‘no’ when you mean ‘no.’ Anything beyond that is from the evil one.

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



Sermon                     Pastor Rohrer
Silence for reflection follows the sermon.

The assembly stands to proclaim the word of God in song.



Hymn of the Day


Creed

A    Together we confess our faith:
C    I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ, his Son, our Lord:
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary:
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead and buried,
he descended into the dead.
The third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the quick and the dead,
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting.  Amen.



Prayers of Intercession
A    During this season of Epiphany, we pray for all who travel, those who find faith in unexpected places and for the church, the world and all people in their need.
A brief silence.

A   God of creation, help us to care for all of your creation, to enjoy the beauty of all the earth: sunsets, stars and rainbows. Lord in your mercy,
C   Hear our prayer.

A   Parent God, bless all who are parents, the family and staff of the Grace Infant Child Care Center and all who have created families.  Lord, in your mercy,
C   Hear our prayer.

A  Help our civic leaders to bring justice to the war, cultivate peace and love beyond their borders.  Be with our bishops Elizabeth and Mark, our pastor Megan and all the staff and leaders of our congregation.  Help us to follow your path and grow in faithfulness.  Lord in your mercy,
C   Hear our prayer.

A   Help us to love each other, our neighbors and care for those who will soon join us.  Give us patience and help us have give each other the benefit of doubt as we journey together.  Lord in your mercy,
C   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 “Hear our prayer.”)

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. 
C  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. 

The assembly is seated.

Offering
An offering is gathered for the mission of the church, including the care of those in need.
Offertory Solo:

After the offering is gathered, the assembly stands.

Offering Prayer

A    Let us pray.
C    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:

Holy, Holy, Holy


P  In 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


Communion Song

Blessing
To the tune of the Beatles “Let It Be”

May God’s face shine upon you.  And clear a path before your feet
Praying for tomorrow, Go in peace
Blessed and forgiven, Children of God you’ll always be
Claim your wholeness, Go in peace

Go in peace, go in peace, go in peace, go in peace
In service, love and wisdom Go in peace

Announcements

Sending Hymn

Dismissal

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




 



Announcements & Commemorations for the Week



February 22nd Installation Events:
·         This event will take place at 7pm at Grace Lutheran. 
·         The band and choir from St. Paulus Lutheran will join Grace’s choir to lead Pastor Megan’s Beatles Mass liturgy. 
·         Food for the reception afterwards will be provided by the Welcome/St. Francis Lutheran partnership.
·         The offering for the installation will be divided between Welcome and SF CARES to support the Health and Vision event that will be held at Grace Lutheran on April 12th.

Upcoming Health and Vision Events with SF CARES:
SF CARES is a collaboration between Welcome, The Night Ministry and Welcome
·         February 22nd, 10am -3pm at St. Francis Lutheran
·         March 8th at Santa Maria y Martha Lutheran
·         April 12th at Grace Lutheran
·         May 24th at First United Lutheran
·         June 12th at the Bayview Mission




Copyright permission to the tune from the Beatles, courtesy of BMI through Christian Copyright Solutions.  Perform and WORSHIPCast #6400.
Scripture in this service is adapted from The Inclusive Bible: The First Egalitarian Translation, by Priests for Equality.  2009, Sheed & Ward. Kindle Edition.

Holy Communion: Musical Setting, by John Ylvisaker, text copyright © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, music © 1970 Augsburg Publishing House.  All rights reserved. Podcast under OneLicense.net A-723548.