The Holy Communion on the Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost, 9:30 a.m.

 The livestream may be found here.

August 29, 2021, 9:30 a.m.

The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

 

 For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; ²for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like.

James 1:23-24

 

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

 

The color green, used for the vestments and paraments for the Sundays after Pentecost, represents growth and life in the Holy Spirit.

 

OLD TESTAMENT: The book of Deuteronomy is the fifth and last of the books of the Torah, the books of the Law. In chapter 4, Moses reminds the people of Israel to obey the Law that God has given them once they have arrived in the Promised Land. Psalm 15 depicts the one who faithfully observes the Law as the one who may approach God in the tabernacle. Such a psalm would also have been very important to the Pharisees of Jesus’ time, who longed for the Messiah, God’s anointed, the holy one, to come and save Israel, and believed that perfect obedience to the Law would speed that day.

 

NEW TESTAMENT: The letter of James is concerned with the conduct of Christians. They should live in imitation of the life which Christ lived among them. A summary of the letter could be this: ‘Be doers of the word, and not merely hearers’ (1:22).

 

GOSPEL: In today’s Gospel reading, handwashing is not a health practice, but a religious practice. The Pharisees scrupulously followed the traditions which they had received, including ritual handwashing and washing of food and cooking and dining implements. In confronting Jesus regarding his disciples’ neglect of such rites, they are implicitly asking whether Jesus respects their authority to interpret the Law and whether he acknowledges the necessity of such rituals. He responds in the negative; neglect of outward rituals does not defile a person, but sin, which comes from within, defiles.

 

Our Lord Jesus Christ is indeed the One who interprets the Law and fulfills it; he is the righteous One who may approach God in his temple, he is the mirror image of the Father of lights from whom comes every generous act of giving and every perfect gift.

 

OPENING MUSIC       

Lord, with Glowing Heart  - Thomas R. Pearce

All People That on Earth Do Dwell

I.                    Roger Petrich

II.                  Hans Friedrich Micheelsen

 

BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

 

Stand

In the name of the Father, and of the X Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

  Amen

 

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

  Amen

 

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

Silence for reflection and self-examination.

 

Most merciful God,

  we confess that we are in bondage to sin

  and cannot free ourselves.

  We have sinned against you

  in thought, word, and deed,

  by what we have done

  and by what we have left undone.

  We have not loved you with our whole heart;

  we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.

  For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, 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

 

Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and, for his

sake, forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father,

and of the X Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

  Amen

THE HOLY COMMUNION

 

I will go to the altar of God,

  to the God of my joy and gladness.                                        Psalm 43:4a

 

 

X HYMNS OF PRAISE                                     

      All People That on Earth Do Dwell

 

 

 1      All people that on earth do dwell,

        sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;

        him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell;

        come ye before him and rejoice.

 

2      Know that the Lord is God indeed;

        without our aid he did us make.

        We are his folk, he doth us feed,

        and for his sheep he doth us take.

 

3      Oh, enter then his gates with praise;

        approach with joy his courts unto;

        praise, laud, and bless his name always,

        for it is seemly so to do.

 

4     For why? The Lord our God is good:

        His mercy is forever sure;

        his truth at all times firmly stood,

        and shall from age to age endure.

 

5      To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

        the God whom heav'n and earth adore,

        from us and from the angel host

        be praise and glory evermore.

 

Text: William Kethe, d. c. 1594

 

 

                                                                                                 Lord, with Glowing Heart

1      Lord, with glowing heart I’d praise thee

        for the bliss thy love bestows,

        for the pard’ning grace that saves me,

        and the peace that from it flows.

        Help, O God, my weak endeavor;

        this dull soul to rapture raise;

        thou must light the flame, or never

        can my love be warmed to praise.

 

2      Praise, my soul, the God that sought thee,

        wretched wand’rer, far astray;

        found thee lost, and kindly brought thee

        from the paths of death away.

        Praise, with love’s devoutest feeling,

        him who saw thy guilt-born fear

        and, the light of hope revealing,

        bade the bloodstained cross appear.

 

3      Lord, my spirit’s ardent feelings

        vainly would my lips express.

        Low before thy footstool kneeling,

        deign thy suppliant’s prayer to bless;

        let thy grace, my soul’s chief treasure,

        love’s pure flame within me raise;

        and, since words can never measure,

        let my life show forth thy praise!

 

Text: Francis S. Key, 1779-1843

 

 

APOSTOLIC GREETING and PRAYER OF THE DAY

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.

 

Father of lights,

giver of every good and perfect gift,

bring to fruition the word of truth sown in our hearts by your Son,

  that we may rightly understand your commandments,

  live your law of love,

  and so offer you worship that is pure and undefiled.

Grant this through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

  Amen

 

CALL TO THE WORD

God gave us birth by the Word of truth,

that we might become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.            James 1:18

  Let us hear the Word of the Lord.

 

Sit

First READING                                                       Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9

 

¹So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. ²You must neither add anything to what I command you nor take away anything from it, but keep the commandments of the Lord your God with which I am charging you.
  ⁶You must observe them diligently, for this will show your wisdom and discernment to the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and discerning people!” ⁷For what other great nation has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is whenever we call to him? ⁸And what other great nation has statutes and ordinances as just as this entire law that I am setting before you today?
  ⁹But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children’s children.

 

The Word of the Lord.                                                             Thanks be to God.

PSALM 15

Pastor sings first, then all:

 

 Sung responsively between pastor and people.

 

¹ Lord, who may dwell in your | tabernacle?*

                Who may abide upon your | holy hill?

² Whoever leads a blameless life and does | what is right,*

                who speaks the truth | from his heart,

³ there is no guile upon his tongue; he does no evil | to his friend;*

                he does not heap contempt up- | on his neighbor.

⁴ In his sight the wicked | is rejected,*

                but he honors those who | fear the Lord.

⁵ He has sworn to | do no wrong*

                and does not take | back his word.

⁶ He does not give his money in | hope of gain,*

                nor does he take a bribe a- | gainst the innocent.

⁷ Whoever | does these things*

                shall never be | overthrown.                                                         R

 

                     

SECOND READING                                                           James 1:17-27

 

¹⁷Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. ¹⁸In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
  ¹⁹You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; ²⁰for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. ²¹Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.
  ²²But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. ²³For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; ²⁴for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. ²⁵But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.
  ²⁶If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. ²⁷Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

 

The Word of the Lord.                                                          

  Thanks be to God.

 

Stand

VERSE

Jeremiah 15:16                                                    Setting by Robert J. Powell

Sung by the Cantor                            

Alleluia. Your word became a joy to me, and delight of my heart.  Alleluia.

 

Gospel                                                                          Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

 

The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark.

  Glory to you, O Lord.

 

¹Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around [Jesus], ²they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. ³(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; ⁴and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) ⁵So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” ⁶He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,
 ‘This people honors me with their lips,
  but their hearts are far from me;
 ⁷in vain do they worship me,
  teaching human precepts as doctrines.’
⁸You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.”
  ¹⁴Then he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: ¹⁵there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.”
  ²¹For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, ²²adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. ²³All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

 

The Gospel of the Lord.                                              

  Praise to you, O Christ.

 

Sit

Sermon                                                                  

 

Stand

X HYMN OF THE DAY                                                 O God, My Faithful God

1      O God, my faithful God,

        true fountain ever flowing,

        without whom nothing is,

        all perfect gifts bestowing:

        give me a healthy frame,

        and may I have within

        a conscience free from blame,

        a soul unstained by sin.

 

2      Give me the strength to do

        with ready heart and willing

        whatever you command,

        my calling here fulfilling--

        to do it when I ought,

        with all my might--and bless

        whatever I have wrought,

        for you must give success.

 

3      Keep me from saying words

        that later need recalling;

        guard me, lest idle speech

        may from my lips be falling;

        but when, within my place,

        I must and ought to speak,

        then to my words give grace,

        lest I offend the weak.

 

4     When dangers gather round,

        oh, keep me calm and fearless;

        help me to bear the cross

        when life seems dark and cheerless;

        help me, as you have taught,

        to love both great and small,

        and, by your Spirit's might,

        to live at peace with all.

 

Text: Johann Heermann, 1585-1647; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827-1878, alt.

 

 

 

CONFESSION OF FAITH

The pastor and people confess the faith of the Church in the words of the Apostles’ Creed.

 

 

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

 

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

                He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

                                and born of the virgin Mary.

                He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

                                was crucified, died, and was buried.

                He descended into hell.

                On the third day he rose again.

                He ascended into heaven,

                                and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

                He will come again 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

Father of lights, you have commanded us to call upon you in prayer. Now hear the prayers we offer you in confidence that you hear us and will answer from your throne in heaven.

 

A brief silence

 

Your Law keeps order in the world, confronts us with our sinfulness and leads us to put our trust in Christ’s death for us, and guides us in holy living. Give your Church the grace to hear your word and to do it; to grow in love for Christ who fulfilled the Law for us, and to teach our children and our children’s children of your mighty deeds. Lord, in your mercy,

  hear our prayer.

 

We ask your blessing upon our bishop, Dan; our pastors, Maurice and Harvey, and upon the Rev. Dr. Eric Riesen and the faculty, staff and students of the North American Lutheran Seminary as they begin the fall term. Be with all students and teachers as they return to school. Lord, in your mercy,

  hear our prayer.

Lord of justice, show your mercy to all on college and seminary campuses, especially women and men vulnerable to sexual abuse and exploitation. Restrain those who seek to exert power over others, and convert all people to holiness of life, in true religion keeping us unstained by the world. Lord, in your mercy,

  hear our prayer.

 

Help your Church to care for widows, orphans, and all in need. Bless those who grieve, strengthen those who are sick, comfort the dying, and grant to those whom we name before you the blessing of your heavenly grace.

 

 

The pastor reads those names which have been submitted for prayer.

The people are invited to offer petitions and thanksgivings.

 

Lord, in your mercy,                                       

  hear our prayer.

 

Those who have died in Christ share in your great feast and celebration. We thank you for those who have gone before us in faith.  As we join together in the feast and celebration on earth, point us toward that day when all your creation will feast with you in heaven. Lord, in your mercy,

  hear our prayer.

 

Into your hands, Father, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your steadfast love,

through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

  Amen

 

Peace

The peace of the Lord be with you always.

  And also with you.

 

The people exchange a sign of peace with the simple words, Peace be with you.

 

Sit

The Lord’s Table is prepared.

 

Stand

OFFERTORY  John 6:50-51                                 Setting by Robert J. Powell

Sung by the Cantor

This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that you may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven; whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.

 

PRAYER OF PREPARATION

As the grain once scattered in the fields

and the grapes once dispersed on the hillside

are now reunited on this table in bread and wine,

so, Lord, may your whole Church be gathered together

from the corners of the earth into your kingdom.

  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 him thanks and praise.

 

    It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times

and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our Lord.

  He is the author, interpreter, and fulfillment of your law of liberty, giving us your Holy Spirit that we may be his disciples in both deed and word.

  And so, with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

 

Holy, holy, holy LORD, God of power and might!

                Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

                Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!

                Hosanna in the highest!

 

You are indeed holy, almighty and merciful God;

                you are most holy, and great is the majesty of your glory.

You so loved the world that you gave your only Son,

                that whoever believes in him may not perish

 but have eternal life.

Having come into the world, he fulfilled for us your holy will

                and accomplished our salvation.

 

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, given for you.

Do this for the 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 for the remembrance of me.

 

Remembering, therefore, his salutary command,

                his life-giving Passion and death,

                his glorious resurrection and ascension,

and his promise to come again,

                we give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,

                not as we ought, but as we are able;

and we implore you mercifully

to accept our praise and thanksgiving,

and, with your Word and Holy Spirit,

to bless us, your servants,

                and these your own gifts of bread and wine;

that we and all who share

in the body and blood of your Son

may be filled with heavenly peace and joy,

                and, receiving the forgiveness of sin,

may be sanctified in soul and body,

                and have our portion with all your saints.

 

All honor and glory are yours, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

                in your holy Church, now and forever.

  Amen

 

Christ is in our midst.

By the power of the Spirit,

we pray to his Father, saying:

 

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

 

This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Happy are we who are called to his Supper.

  Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,

  but only say the word and I shall be healed.                         

John 1:29; Revelation 19:9; Matthew 8:8

 

 

 

 

 

AGNUS DEI (Lamb of God)     

 

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.     

Sit

DISTRIBUTION

Admission to the Sacrament is by invitation of the Lord, presented through the Church to those who are baptized.

 

They may receive the Lord’s Body and Blood who are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, who commune in their home churches, and who believe that Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, is truly present in, with, and under the forms of bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.

 

The communicants will be invited forward one family unit at a time. Please do not come forward until the pastor directs you to come forward, do not approach all the way to the table until the pastor has retreated.

 

 When the pastor says ‘The body of Christ, given for you,’ eat the bread. When the pastor says, ‘The blood of Christ, shed for you,’ drink the wine.  Please take the plate and the glass(es) and place them on the table that is indicated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HYMNS                                                                              O, Jesus I Have Promised

1      O Jesus, I have promised

        to serve you to the end;

        remain forever near me,

        my master and my friend.

        I shall not fear the battle

        if you are by my side,

        nor wander from the pathway

        if you will be my guide.

 

2      Oh, let me feel you near me;

        the world is ever near.

        I see the sights that dazzle,

        the tempting sounds I hear.

        My foes are ever near me,

        around me and within;

        but, Jesus, then draw nearer

        to shield my soul from sin.

 

3      Oh, let me hear you speaking

        in accents clear and still

        above the storms of passion,

        the murmurs of self-will.

        Now speak to reassure me,

        to hasten or control;

        now speak and make me listen,

        O Guardian of my soul.

 

4     O Jesus, you have promised

        to all who follow you

        that where you are in glory

        your servant shall be too.

        And Jesus, I have promised

        to serve you to the end;

        oh, give me grace to follow,

        my master and my friend.

 

Text: John E. Bode, 1816-1874, alt.

 

We, Who Once Were Dead

 

1      We who once were dead

        now live, fully knowing

        Jesus as our head.

        Life is overflowing

        when he breaks the bread.

 

2      We were lost in night,

        but you sought and found us.

        Give us strength to fight;

        death is all around us.

        Jesus, be our light.

 

3      He became our bread;

        Jesus died to save us.

        On him we are fed,

        eating what he gave us,

        rising from the dead.

 

4     Let us share the pain

        you endured in dying;

        we shall then remain

        living; death defying,

        we shall rise again.

 

5      Jesus, you were dead,

        but you rose and, living,

        made yourself our bread,

        in your goodness giving

        life though we were dead.

 

6      This is your design;

        in this meal we meet you.

        Be our bread and wine,

        Jesus, we entreat you.

        This shall be our sign.

 

Text: Muus Jacobse, 1909-1972; tr. composite

 

After all have returned to their places, the congregation stands at the direction of the pastor.

 

The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.

  Amen

Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;

your word has been fulfilled.

My own eyes have seen the salvation

which you have prepared in the sight of every people:

A light to reveal you to the nations

and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen   

Song of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32)

Pour out upon us the Spirit of your love, O Lord, and unite the wills of those whom you have fed with one heavenly food, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

  Amen

 

SENDING

Benediction

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make his face to shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.                   

  Amen

 

 

 

 

 

Dismissal

Go in peace. Serve the Lord.                                               

  Thanks be to God!

 

 

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2021 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.

Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #20540.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the

 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Caravaggio, Michelangelo Merisi da, 1573-1610. Narcissus, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=58435 [retrieved August 23, 2021]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Narcissus-Caravaggio_(1594-96)_edited.jpg.

Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org