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The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost - September 18, 2022 - "Whose Business Is It?" by Pr. Josh

Fifthteenth SUNDAY after PENTECOST

September 18, 2022

The Rev. Joshua Heimbuck, Pastor

WELCOME

A warm welcome to all who worship here this morning, especially to our guests and visitors. May this hour of worship make us eager to share in the proclamation of the Good News of God’s love in Christ as we enter another week of witness and service. Guests and visitors, if you are worshiping with us for the first time, please honor us by signing our Guest Book in the entrance hall of the church as you leave. Do 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 Faithful in All Things   

“Whoever is faithful in little is faithful also in much.” With these words, Jesus reminds us that ‘success’ for Christians is not measured in terms of profit margins or prestige. The prophet Amos chastised the citizens of Israel for taking advantage of the poor rather than being faithful in caring for them. Our Lord set before us the challenge to be faithful to him, and to express our faithfulness in actions of love toward one another.

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 and love to all; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ THE ORDER OF CELEBRATING +

Jazz Setting

PRE-SERVICE MUSIC

WELCOME

PRELUDE Morning Prayer — By Matt Schinske, Tatsiana Asheichyk, Piano

SONG Let Justice Roll Like a River

INVOCATION & CONFESSION

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

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just will forgive our sins

and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Today we confront the enormity of our guilt, the seriousness of our sin.

+ A Brief Silence for Reflection +

Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed. Complacent, self-serving, and unconcerned for others, we truly deserve your wrath and punishment. But we pray you, for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, to 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

In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. To those who believe in Jesus Christ he gives power to become the children of God and bestows on them the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who has begun this good work in us, bring it to completion in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 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

[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.”]

GLORY TO GOD Refrain:     Glory to God, glory to God,

Glory to God in the Highest

And peace to his people on earth

  1. Lord God, heavenly King, Almighty God and Father, we worship

you we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.Refrain

  1. 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

  1. 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, keep your Church in your perpetual mercy; and because without you we cannot but fall, preserve us from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen

FIRST LESSON Amos 8:4-7

[Amos was called by God to prophesy in the Northern Kingdom for a brief period of time. Peace and prosperity in Israel led to corruption and an increased gap between rich and poor. The prophet declares that God will not tolerate such a situation.]

Hear this, you who trample on the needy and bring the poor of the land to an end, saying, “When will the new moon be over, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may offer wheat for sale, that we may make the ephah small and the shekel great and deal deceitfully with false balances, that we may buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair

of sandals and sell the chaff of the wheat?” The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob: “Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.”

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

SECOND LESSON 1 Timothy 2:1-7

[The pastoral epistles offer insight into how early Christians understood many practical matters, such as church administration and worship. The Church’s focused prayer for others is an expression of the single-minded passion God has toward us in Jesus.]

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

GRACE CHOIR Clap Your Hands — By Patti Drennan, Tatsiana Asheichyk, Piano

ALLELUIA

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 16:1-15

After announcement of the Gospel lesson: “Glory to You, O Lord”

[Jesus tells the curious story of a dishonest man who cheats his employer and then is commended by him for having acted so shrewdly. Jesus wonders why his own followers are less creative and diligent in their stewardship given that they are managers of a far more valuable household.]

[Jesus] also said to his disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought against him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him

and said, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since

my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from

management, people may receive me into their houses.’ So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, “A hundred measures wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them, “You are those who justify themselves before men, but God know your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to You, O Christ.

SONG Lord, Let My Heart Be Good Soil

SERMON Whose Business, Is It? Pastor Joshua 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

The Lord be with you.

                                             And also with you

Lift up your hearts

   We will lift them up to Him

Let us give thanks always to the Lord our God.

   It is right, it is just, it is well

Father, it is our duty and our salvation, always

and everywhere to give you thanks through your

beloved Son, Jesus Christ

  Holy, holy, holy, Lord

For our sake He opened His arms on the cross,

He put an end to death and revealed the resurrection

                                               Holy, holy, holy, Lord

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:

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

PAX DOMINI

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 HYMN Here, In This Place

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 Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

BLESSING

SONG They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love

DISMISSAL

+ The Worship is Over. Let the Service Begin! +

This Week at Grace

TUESDAY the 20th: Newsletter Deadline

Women’s Bible Study 10:00 am

LWML 1:00 pm

WEDNESDAY the 21st: SOU “Meet Ashland 11:00 am — 2:00 pm

Choir Rehearsal 7:00 pm

THURSDAY the 22nd: First Day of Autumn

SUNDAY the 25th: Bible Discussions — Racism 8:45 am

Sunday School for All Ages 9:00 am

Worship 10:00 am

Coffee Connection 11:00 am

                                                                                                                        Brief meeting to choose colors options for church exterior.

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 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.

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.

Lutheran Hour Ministries shares the love of Jesus around the world through mass media and holistic outreach in over 60 countries each week. On Saturday, September 24, Lutheran Hour Ministries is hosting an online event, Bringing Christ to the Nations™: An LHM Global Overview, to give you a glimpse into their global Gospel outreach and ways you can be involved.

Register today at lhm.org/LLL2022.

SOU “MEET ASHLAND” — For students starting a new year at SOU, the Meet Ashland Information Fair is an excellent opportunity to get to know local businesses and services. Pastor Josh will be hosting the Grace Lutheran booth on Wednesday, September 21st, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM in the Stevenson Union Courtyard. Please feel free to stop by and visit, or sit a while and show students some Grace hospitality.

FALL 2022 LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES VIRTUAL EVENT — Lutheran Hour Ministries is a trusted resource in global media that equips and engages a vibrant volunteer base to passionately proclaim the Gospel to more than 150 million people worldwide each week. Join us in learning and celebrating how the Gospel is proclaimed in over 60 countries at the Fall 2022 LLL Virtual Event Saturday, September 24th. Registration information is posted on the Administration Wing hallway bulletin board.

Grace Lutheran Church

660 Frances Lane

Ashland, OR 97520

541-482-1661

Pastor Joshua Heimbuck — heimbuck@me.com

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