Sixteenth SUNDAY after PENTECOST
September 25, 2022
The Rev. Joshua Heimbuck, Pastor
WELCOME
A warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning. Today we gather around Word and Sacrament through which God equips, directs, and supports his people in the mission and ministry of his Kingdom. All that God has promised in his Son, Jesus Christ, comes together by the power of the Spirit as we worship. Guests and visitors, please honor us by signing our Guest Book in the entrance hall of the church as you leave this morning’s worship. If you have no church home of your own, we invite you to make Grace Lutheran Church the center of your worship, learning, fellowship, and service. After this morning’s worship, join us for a cup of coffee 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 True Riches with God
We say, “you can’t take it with you,” but we still spend a great deal of our time and energy dealing with money and earthly possessions. Our choices in life all seem to be affected by the dollar and what we have or don’t have. The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus shows that there is a treasure greater than money, riches, and possessions that is worthy of our trust. God provides this treasure in Christ, and we daily fight to keep things in their proper perspective, using them for Godly purpose. We are blessed to be a blessing
PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP
Lord, overtake our weakness with your power so that we may proclaim the saving Gospel to all nations. Remove from us all fear and doubt and move us toward those who have not heard the story of your love; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
+ THE ORDER OF CELEBRATING +
Now the Feast and Celebration— Marty Haugen
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
WELCOME
PRELUDE The Lord’s My Shepherd — By Lloyd Larson, Tatsiana Asheichyk
SONG What Have We to Offer
ORDER OF CONFESSION
In the Name of the Father and of the ☩ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
‘As I live,” says the Lord, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that
the wicked turn from their ways and live.”
If we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins
and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Let us confess our sins before God our Father and in the presence of one another.
+ A Brief Silence for Reflection & Self-examination +
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in our thinking, in our speaking, and in our doing. We deserve your wrath and punishment. It is only for the sake of your obedient Son, Jesus Christ, that we dare to ask for forgiveness. 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.
You have been raised to life with Christ. Now set your minds on what is in heaven, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Rejoice in the Lord, 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 and share the peace of the Lord as we greet each other.
THE PASSING OF PEACE
[The congregation is encouraged to share the peace of Christ and greet one another with
the words: “The Lord’s peace be with you.” The response: “And also with you.”]
APOSTOLIC GREETING
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
KYRIE
NOW THE FEAST
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Everlasting God, you have wonderfully established the ministries of angels and mortals. Mercifully grant that as Michael and the angels contend against the cosmic forces of evil, so by your direction they may help and defend us here on earth, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God whom we worship and praise with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, now and forever. Amen
FIRST LESSON Amos 6:1a, 4-7
[The prophet Amos announces that Israel’s great wealth is a cause not for rejoicing but rather for sorrow, because God’s people have forgotten how to share their wealth with the poor and needy.The wealthy people will be the first to go into exile when the judgment comes.]
Alas for those who are at ease in Zion, and for those who feel more secure on Mount Samaria. Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory, and lounge on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock, and calves from the stall; who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp, and like David improvise on instruments of music; who drink wine from bowls, and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! Therefore they shall now be the first to go into exile, and the revelry of the loungers shall pass away.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
SPECIAL MUSIC Hymn of the Spirit — By Russell Nagy, Grace Choir, Tatsiana Asheichyk, Piano
SECOND LESSON 1 Timothy 6:6-19
[Timothy is reminded of the confession he made at his baptism and of its implications for daily life.His priorities will be different from those of people who merely want to be rich.]
Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.
But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the presence off God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, who no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen
As for those who in the present are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of life that really is life.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL VERSE
HOLY GOSPEL Luke 16:19-31
The gospel according to Luke, the 16th chapter. Glory to you, O Lord.
[Jesus tells a parable in which the poor one is “lifted up” and the rich one is “sent empty away.”Jesus makes it clear that this ethic of merciful behavior is not new but is as old as Moses and the prophets.]
Jesus said:] “There was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man name Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ He said, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ He said, ‘No, Father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
SONG of THE DAY Here I am Lord
SERMON “True Treasure” Pastor Josh 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
The Offerings Are Brought Forward
OFFERING PRAYER
Gracious God, you open your hand, filling our lives with all good things and renewing the face of the earth. We offer these gifts in thanksgiving for all that we have received from your bounty. Accept them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
THE 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 him thanks and praise.
Holy God, mighty Lord, gracious Father, endless is your mercy and
eternal is your reign. You have filled all creation with light and life;
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
When sin scarred the world, you sent your Son to heal our ills and
to form us again as one.
.
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 which is given
for you. Do this in 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 in remembrance of me.
Remembering his life and death, his resurrection and ascension, and his
command to love one another, we pray for his coming again.
Come, Lord Jesus, live in us that we may live in you.
Send now, we pray, your Spirit, that all your promises may come to us
and your whole creation.
Amen. Come, Holy Spirit.
Through him all glory and honor are yours, Almighty Father, with the Holy
Spirit, in your holy Church, both now and forever. Amen
THE 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
LAMB OF GOD
We come to The Sacrament sincerely believing in the real presence of Christ and that in the eating and drinking of the bread and wine of The Sacrament we receive the true body and blood of our Lord for our forgiveness, salvation, and strength for Christian life and witness.
DISTRIBUTION of the LORD’S SUPPER
DISTRIBUTION HYMN Let Us Talents & Tongues Employ
DISMISSAL
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
God our Creator, at this table you have satisfied us with the good things
of your grace. Fix our hearts on your mercy and truth, that our lives may
reflect your love to all creation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
BLESSING
SONG Create in Me a Clean Heart
ANNOUNCEMENTS
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
POSTLUDE
+ With Great Joy … Tell Everyone What He Has Done! +
This Week at Grace
TUESDAY the 27th: Women’s Bible Study 10:00 am
WEDNESDAY the 28th: Choir Rehearsal 7:00 pm
SUNDAY, October 2nd: Bible Discussions — Racism 8:45 am
Sunday School for All Ages 9:00 am
Worship 10:00 am
Coffee Connection 11:00 am
Grace Notes
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.
JOB OPENING — Grace Lutheran Church has an opening for an Administrative Assistant. 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. Please request job description and/or send resumes to gracelutheranashland@gmail.com.
Grace Lutheran Church
660 Frances Lane
Ashland, OR 97520
541-482-1661
Pastor Joshua Heimbuck — heimbuck@me.com