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Guest Pastor: Steve Beighler
9:30am Helpers
Director: Sergio Porto
Audio Tech: John Holmgren
Lector & Assisting Minister: Ingrid Thom
Ushers: Roy Clinton and Shannon Motschall
Communion Server: Roberta Thom
Cantor: Joisanne Dailey
Acolyte: Katherine & Grace Morton
Refreshments: Anne and Sergio Porto
[ * Denotes Standing as you are able]
Prelude:
Confession and Forgiveness
All may make the sign of the cross, the sign that is marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.
Blessed be the holy Trinity,☩ one God,
whose steadfast love endures forever.
Amen.
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Merciful God,
we confess that we have not followed your path
but have chosen our own way.
Instead of putting others before ourselves,
we long to take the best seats at the table.
When met by those in need,
we have too often passed by on the other side.
Set us again on the path of life.
Save us from ourselves
and free us to love our neighbors.
Amen.
Hear the good news!
God does not deal with us according to our sins
but delights in granting pardon and mercy.
In the name of ☩ Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven.
You are free to love as God loves.
Amen.
Gathering Hymn
Greeting
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
Prayer of the Day*
Almighty God, you sent your Holy Spirit to be the life and light of your church. Open our hearts to the riches of your grace, that we may be ready to receive you wherever you appear, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
Children Sermon
First Reading: Genesis 15:1-6
1After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” 4But the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” 5He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” 6And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Psalm 33:12-22
12Happy is the nation whose God | is the Lord!
Happy the people chosen to | be God’s heritage!
13The Lord looks | down from heaven,
and sees all | humankind.
14God sits firmly en- | throned and watches
all who dwell | on the earth.
15God fashions | all their hearts
and observes | all their deeds. R
16A king is not saved by the size | of the army,
nor are warriors rescued by | their great strength.
17The horse gives vain | hope for victory;
despite its great strength it | cannot save.
18Truly, your eye is upon those who fear | you, O Lord,
upon those who wait for your | steadfast love,
19to deliver their | lives from death,
and to keep them alive in | time of famine. R
20Our innermost being waits for | you, O Lord,
our helper | and our shield.
21Surely, our heart rejoic- | es in you,
for in your holy name we | put our trust.
22Let your lovingkindness, O Lord, | be upon us,
even as we place our | hope in you. R
Second Reading: Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. 3By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised. 12Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.”
13All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, 14for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. 16But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation*
The Holy Gospel according to Luke 12:32-40
Glory to you Oh Lord.
Jesus said:] 32“Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
35“Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; 36be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. 37Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. 38If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.
39“But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you Oh Christ.
Sermon – Pastor
Hymn of the Day
Prayers of Intercession*
Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
Prayer List
Passing of the Peace* Pastor
The peace of Christ be with you all. And also with you.
**You may make your offering or donation through our website HERE.
Offering Hymn
Offering Prayer* Pastor
God of abundance:
you have set before us a plentiful harvest.
As we feast on your goodness,
strengthen us to labor in your field,
and equip us to bear fruit for the good of all,
in the name of Jesus.
Amen.
Great Thanksgiving*
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of pow’r and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory, full of your glory.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest. AMEN
Sanctus
Lord’s Prayer*
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Invitation to Communion*
AGNUS DEI
Communion Hymn:
Prayer After Communion *
Life-giving God,
through this meal you have bandaged our wounds
and fed us with your mercy.
Now send us forth to live for others,
both friend and stranger,
that all may come to know your love.
This we pray in the name of Jesus.
Amen.
Blessing*
The God of peace,
Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit,
bless you, comfort you,
and show you the path of life
this day and always.
Amen.
Announcements
September 3 – 5 Bilingual Retreat El Camino Pines
September 13 Worship Committee 10:30am
Fall Concert TBA
October 23 Interfaith Walk for Peace
Sending Hymn
Dismissal
Go in peace. Love your neighbor.
Thanks be to God.
Postlude:
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