Twentieth SUNDAY after PENTECOST
October 23, 2022
The Rev. Joshua Heimbuck, Pastor
WELCOME
This is a place of worship and prayer for all who know and love our Lord Jesus Christ. In it, we extend the hand of fellowship to friends who know us and those who are new to us. To our guests and visitors, we offer a cordial invitation to regularly share with us the blessings of God’s presence in Word and Sacrament. 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 Seeking Mercy
Those who seem farthest away from God may be the closest to mercy. That is the theme of today’s gospel reading, and it is echoed in the other readings for the day. It is the dynamic that supports the dialogue in the first reading. We get close to God as we confess that we are in need of grace.
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
CHIMES
PRELUDE I Need Thee Every Hour — By Terry Osman, Tatsiana Asheichyk, Piano
SONG Seek Ye First
ORDER OF CONFESSION
In the Name of the Father and of the ☩ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
“Turn to me and be saved,” says the Lord. “For I am God and there is no other.”
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
It is by grace that you are saved, through faith, and not of your own doing. 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
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
Holy God, our righteous judge, daily your mercy surprises us with everlasting forgiveness. Strengthen our hope in you, and grant that all the peoples of the earth may find their glory in you, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
FIRST LESSON Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22
[In a time of drought, the people pray for mercy, repenting of their sins and the sins of their ancestors.They appeal to God to remember the covenant, to show forth God’s power, and to heal their land by sending life-giving rain.]
Although our iniquities testify against us, act, O LORD, for your name’s sake, our apostasies indeed are many, and we have sinned against you. O hope of Israel, its savior in time of trouble, why should you be like a stranger in the land, like a traveler turning aside in the night? Why should you be like someone confused, like a mighty warrior who cannot give help? Yet you, O LORD, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name, do not forsake us! Thus says the LORD concerning his people. Truly they have loved to wander, they have not restrained their feet, therefore the LORD does not accept them, now he will remember their iniquity, and punish their sins. Have you completely rejected Judah? Does your heart loath Zion? Why have you struck us down so that there is no healing for us? We look for peace, but find not good; for a time of healing, but there is terror instead. We acknowledge our wickedness, O LORD, the iniquity of our ancestors, for we have sinned against you. Do not spurn us, for your name’s sake; do not dishonor your glorious throne; remember and do not break your covenant with us. Can any idols of the nations bring rain? Or can the heavens give showers? Is it not you, O LORD our God? We set our hope on you, for it is you who do all this.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
SPECIAL MUSIC O Searcher of Hearts — By Gene Clarke, Tatsiana Asheichyk, Piano
SECOND LESSON 2nd Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
[The conclusion of this letter to a young minister offers a final perspective on life from one who is not facing death.Though others have let him down, Paul is sure of his faith in the Lord, who has stood by him and lent him strength.]
As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing. At my first defense, no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL VERSE
HOLY GOSPEL Luke 18:9-14
The gospel according to Luke, the 18th chapter. Glory to you, O Lord.
[At the time of Jesus, Pharisees were regarded as exceptionally religious persons, and tax collectors were treated as outcasts. In this parable, Jesus contrasts the two in a surprising way to make a point about approaching God in humbleness.]
Jesus also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt. “Two men went up the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God,
be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other, for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
SONG of THE DAY Change My Heart, O God
SERMON “Exalted Humbleness” — Pr. Josh Text: The Gospel
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
OFFERTORY The Offerings are Brought Forward
OFFERING PRAYER
Gracious God, all that we have is a sign of your love; all that we are is a gift from your hand. Receive 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, our Bread of life, our Table, and our Food, you created a world
in which all might be satisfied with your abundance.
You dined with Abraham and Sarah, promising them life, and fed your people
Israel with manna from heaven.
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, therefore his life given for us, and his rising from the grave,
we await his coming again to share with us the everlasting feast.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
By your Spirit nurture and sustain us with this meal: strengthen us to serve all
in hunger and want, and by this bread and cup make us the body of your Son.
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
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.
LAMB OF GOD
DISTRIBUTION of the LORD’S SUPPER
Distribution Hymn
DISMISSAL
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
We give you thanks, 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 Be Thou My Vision
SILENT PRAYER
ANNOUNCEMENTS
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
POSTLUDE
+ With Great Joy… Tell Everyone What He Has Done! +
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.
Grace Notes
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.
This Week at Grace
TUESDAY the 25th: Women’s Bible Study 10:00 am
Budget Committee Meeting 1:00 pm
WEDNESDAY the 26th: Choir Rehearsal 7:00 pm
THURSDAY the 27th: Leadership Retreat 8:00 am — 4:30 pm
Ashland Hills Inn
SUNDAY, October 30th: Reformation Sunday
Bible Discussions — Racism 8:45 am
Sunday School for All Ages 9:00 am
Worship 10:00 am
Coffee Connection 11:00 am
Grace Lutheran Church
660 Frances Lane
Ashland, OR 97520
541-482-1661
Pastor Joshua Heimbuck — heimbuck@me.com