Nineteenth SUNDAY after PENTECOST
October 16, 2022
The Rev. James A. Kabel, Pastor Emeritus
+ NINETEENTH SUNDAY after PENTECOST +
Persistence
WELCOME
A warm welcome to all who have gathered here for worship this morning. With God as our Father, we gather as a family in Christ to sing his praises and learn of faithfulness and obedience. We worship in the Name of our Lord by whose sacrifice we have been made saints. What a joy to be gathered around The Table of the Lord with the whole company of heaven and each other. Guests and visitors, if you have not already done so, please honor us by signing our Guest Book in the entrance hall of the church. If you have no church home of your own in the area, we invite you to make Grace Lutheran the center of your worship, learning, fellowship, and service. Please join us for a cup of coffee after this morning’s worship and let us become better acquainted with you as you get to know us better. Come to worship with us again and often!
AS WE GATHER Persistence
The readings for today encourage us to persist in prayer, never growing weary of asking God for what we need, knowing that he will respond out of love in our best interest. In doing so we persist in our faith, preaching and proclaiming the Word at all times by our Christian example. This a challenging task which we can accomplish with the guidance and strength of the Holy Spirit. Like Jacob we are bold to say to our Lord, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP
God our Father, you have made us a new company of priests to bear witness to the Gospel. Enable us to be faithful to our calling, to make known your promises to all people; through Jesus Christ your Son, our Lord. Amen
+ THE ORDER of CELEBRATING +
Jazz Mass Setting
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
CHIMES
WELCOME
PRELUDE God of Grace — Arr. by Keith Getty and Jonathan Rea
Tatsiana Asheichyk, Piano and Debra Harris, Flute
SONG Here in This Place (See back of worship folder)
INVOCATION & CONFESSION
In the Name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside
every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance
the race that is set before us.
If we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just will forgive our sins
and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
God calls his children to be faithful, despite the hardship, despite the cost.
+ A Brief Silence for Reflection +
Most merciful God, we confess our weakness and our sinfulness, our inability to seek your will or follow in your ways. We follow our own dreams and are misled by tempting voices. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive and strengthen us. Set our feet upon the path that you would have us go, for your Name’s sake.
Look to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that was set before him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. For his sake your sins are forgiven in the Name of the Father and of the ☩ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Forgiven and reconciled by God, let us be reconciled with one another as we share
the peace of our Lord and greet each other.
PASSING of PEACE
GLORY TO GOD Refrain: Glory to God, glory to God,
Glory to God in the Highest
And peace to his people on earth
- Lord God, heavenly King, Almighty God and Father, we worship
you we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.Refrain
- Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.You are
seated at the right hand of the Father; receive our prayer.Refrain
- For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy
Spirit in the glory of God the Father.
Refrain: Glory to God, glory to God,
Glory to God in the Highest
And peace to his people on earth.
Amen, Amen, Amen
PRAYER of THE DAY
O Lord, almighty and everlasting God, you have commanded us to pray
and have promised to hear us. Mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit
may direct and govern our hearts in all things that we may persevere
with steadfast faith in the confession of your Name; through Jesus
Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
FIRST LESSON Genesis 32:22-30
[Returning to the home he had fled after stealing his brother’s birthright and his father’s blessing,
Jacob wrestles all night long with an adversary who ultimately blesses him and changes his name
to “Israel,” a name that means “wrestles with God.”]
The same night [Jacob] arose and took his two wives, his two female servants,
and his eleven children and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and
sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. And Jacob was
left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the
man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and
Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me
go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless
me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he
said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven
with God and with men and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell
me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he
blessed him. So, Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God
face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.”
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
GRACE CHOIR Sing! Shout! Alleluia! — By Joseph Martin
Tatsiana Asheichyk, Piano and Debra Harris, Flute
SECOND LESSON 2 Timothy 3:14—4:5
[Paul continues his instruction of Timothy, his younger colleague in ministry, by emphasizing the importance of faithful teaching despite opposition.]
As for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing
from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with
the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in
Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living
and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
ALLELUIA [Sung before the reading of the Gospel]
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Give the glory and the honor to the Lord!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Give the glory and the honor to the Lord!
GOSPEL Luke 18:1-8
[Jesus tells a parable of a hateful judge who is worn down by a widow’s pleas. He thereby reminds
his listeners to be persistent in prayer, unceasing in their appeals. For if an unethical judge will ultimately grant the plea of a persistent widow, how much more will our loving God hear those who call upon him.]
[Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not
lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God
or respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him
and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but
afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God or respect man, yet
because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will
not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what
the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect who cry
to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give
justice speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith
on earth?”
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to You, O Christ.
SONG Lead Me, Guide Me (See back of worship folder)
HOMILY Beggars… All — Pr. Jim Text: The Gospel Lesson
APOSTOLIC CREED
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From thence He will come to judge the living 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 THE CHURCH
OFFERINGS are BROUGHT FORWARD
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Lord our God, all that we have is a sign of your love, all that we are is a gift from
your hand. Receive these offerings along with our thanksgiving, that our lives
may proclaim your love for all who are redeemed by Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
Praise Leader: The Lord be with you.
Congregation: And also with you
Praise Leader: Lift up your hearts
Congregation: We will lift them up to Him
Praise Leader: Let us give thanks always to the Lord our God.
Congregation: It is right, it is just, it is well
Praise Leader: Father, it is our duty and our salvation, always
and everywhere to give you thanks through your
beloved Son, Jesus Christ
Congregation: Holy, holy, holy, Lord
Praise Leader: For our sake He opened His arms on the cross,
He put an end to death and revealed the resurrection
Congregation: Holy, holy, holy, Lord
Praise Leader: In this He fulfilled your will and won for you a holy people. And so, we join the angels and the saints in proclaiming your glory as we sing:
Congregation: Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might
Heaven and earth are 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
WORDS of INSTITUTION
LORD’S PRAYER
Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray:
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
The peace of the Lord ☩ be with you always. And also with you.
AGNUS DEI
O Lamb of God
You take away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us, have mercy on us.
O Lamb of God
You take away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us, have mercy on us.
O Lamb of God
You take away the sins of the world,
Grant us peace.
DISTRIBUTION of THE LORD’S SUPPER
COMMUNION SONG Now in This Banquet (See back of worship folder)
PRAYER of THANKSGIVING
We give thanks to you, faithful God, for feeding us with this one heavenly food. Transform us through this meal into the likeness of your Son, and unite us in love for one another, that we may be your body in the world; in Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen
BLESSING
SONG The Trees of the Field (See back of worship folder)
DISMISSAL
+ The Worship is Over. Let the Service Begin! +
THE PRESENCE of CHRIST is celebrated in The Lord’s Supper. He comes to us in a real and present way with his life-giving body and blood in the bread and wine to assure us of our forgiveness and to strengthen our faith and service. All who trust and believe the words “given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins” are welcome. Come, receive Christ’s presence in the meal prepared for you. Enjoy his presence.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Today’s music is used by permission, ccli 540181.
Grace Notes
TODAY is Mite Box Sunday — Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth, but she, out of her poverty, put in everything — all she had to live on" (Mark 12:41–43) Based on the Biblical account of the widow's mite, the Mite Box is intended for regular contributions of "mites" — offerings above and beyond the support given to congregations and the LCMS. Mite Box contributions amount to millions of dollars that fund district and national mission grants and implement the LWML program.
JOB OPENING! — We are still looking for an Administrative Assistant to replace Margaret. Time is running out! The position is part time, 15 — 20 hours per week, Tuesday through Thursday, 9:30 am to 3:00 pm with a half hour lunch. If you know of anyone who might be interested, please have them contact the church office ASAP at gracelutheranashland@gmail.com.
Annual fundraising Banquet — On Friday, October 21st the Pregnancy Center will hold their Annual Fundraising Banquet at the Jacksonville Presbyterian Church. More information is posted on the bulletin board in the Administration Wing hallway, or go to banquet2022.planningpod.com. Please make your reservations by October 13th.
This Week at Grace
MONDAY the 17th: Lay Ministry Meeting 12:30 pm
TUESDAY the 18th: Women’s Bible Study 10:00 am
No LWML meeting today
Council Budget Committee Meeting 1:00 pm
WEDNESDAY the 19th: Choir Rehearsal 7:00 pm
THURSDAY the 20th: Newsletter Deadline
SUNDAY, October 23rd: Bible Discussions — Racism 8:45 am
Sunday School for All Ages 9:00 am
Worship 10:00 am
Coffee Connection 11:00
Grace Lutheran Church
660 Frances Lane
Ashland, OR 97520
541-482-1661
Pastor Joshua Heimbuck — heimbuck@me.com