St. John’s Lutheran, Folcroft
Worship Service August 30, 2020
https://stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Welcome to worship, today’s worship will be prayers, scripture reading and meditations while Rick is recovering. Announcements will be made after worship today so please stay after worship to hear important updates.
WE BEGIN IN THE NAME OF JESUS. + AMEN
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you. And also with you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY: Let us pray.
O God, we thank you for your Son, who chose the path of suffering for the sake of the world. Humble us by his example, point us to the path of obedience, and give us strength to follow your commands, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
FIRST READING: Jeremiah 15:15-21
O LORD, you know; remember me and visit me, and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors. In your forbearance do not take me away; know that on your account I suffer insult. Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts. I did not sit in the company of merrymakers, nor did I rejoice; under the weight of your hand. I sat alone, for you had filled me with indignation. Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail. Therefore thus says the LORD: If you turn back, I will take you back, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall serve as my mouth. It is they who will turn to you, not you who will turn to them. And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, says the LORD. I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
PSALM: 26:1-8
1 Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering. 2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and mind. 3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes, and I walk in faithfulness to you. 4 I do not sit with the worthless, nor do I consort with hypocrites; 5 I hate the company of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked. 6 I wash my hands in innocence, and go around your altar, O Lord, 7 singing aloud a song of thanksgiving, and telling all your wondrous deeds. 8 O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell, and the place where your glory abides.
SECOND READING: Romans 12:9-21
9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL: Matthew 16:21-28
The holy gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord. 21 From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? 27 “For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
MEDITATION: Pastor Wende
APOSTLES' CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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 to the dead.*
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and 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.
OFFERING
Please continue to support the church and our ministries by making your offerings on line through our website: stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org or sent by mail to: St. John’s Lutheran church, 1500 Glen Avenue, Folcroft, PA 19032.
PRAYERS OF THE INTERCESSION:
Confident of your care and helped by the Holy Spirit, we pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need.
God of faithfulness, you bid your people to follow Jesus. Set the mind of your church on divine things. Grant us trust in you, that we lose our lives for the sake of Christ and thereby discover joy in life through him. Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer.
God of wonder, the earth is yours and all that is in it. Heal your creation and give us eyes to see the world as you do. As the seasons change, pattern the rhythm of our lives in harmony with all creation. Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer.
God of all nations, you call us to live peaceably with all. Give us ears to hear one another, even those we name as enemies. Fill all leaders with mercy and understanding, that they advocate and genuinely care for those who are poor and most vulnerable in their communities. Lord in your mercy… hear our prayer.
God of salvation, you promise to deliver us. Give those who suffer a strong sense of your presence and love. Accompany those who are uncertain, raise the spirits of those who are despairing, and heal the sick, we especially pray for all who are affected by the California fires, recent storms and flooding and the covid virus in mind, body or spirit and for Derek, Morgan, Priscilla, Connie and her family, Lois, Pat, The Dittert family, Hazel, Bill, Jacklyn, Addison, Joe, Deb, Tim, Ash, Sue, Gavin, Donna, Robert, Alannah, Sherrie, Lillian, Alexis, Sarah, Bob, Sharon, Shane, Tom, Carl, Cindy, Chrissy, Monica, Norman, Rick and those we now raise before you in our hearts. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of community, you call us to rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, and persevere in prayer. Make our congregation a workshop of your love. When we quarrel, bring reconciliation. Help us overcome evil with good. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of all grace, you give us everlasting life. IN love we recall your holy ones who now live in your undying light. In our remembering, give us a foretaste of the feast to come. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the certain hope that nothing can separate us from your love, we offer these prayers to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
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.
BLESSING: May the One who brought forth Jesus from the dead raise you to new life, fill you with hope and turn your mourning into dancing. Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen.
DISMISSAL: Let the love of Christ shine through all you do and say, serve the Lord. Thanks be to God. Amen
Please stay for Announcements:
Tues Sept 1 7PM Finance meeting via Zoom
Tues Sept 7 7PM Council meeting via Zoom
1) We will be updating our prayer list – please send email to Sherrie letting her know who you want on the prayer list at this time so we keep those needing prayer on the list.
2) Good news, we have purchased the necessary equipment and services needed to move forward with live streaming so we should be up and running within a couple of weeks.
3) Elaine has agreed to help us with the videoing and to provide instructions to others who are willing to help with this. Please contact us if you are able to help us with this effort. I am hoping that we can have at least three people who can help with this.
4) Sunday Sept 13 is God’s work our hands Sunday and we are asking people to adopt a police officer to pray for daily, please call or text me for the name of a police officer.
5) Sunday Sept 3 will also be the day we resume in person worship with an outdoor service – weather permitting. We will be observing recommended covid guidelines to keep our members safe. You are asked to wear a mask, bring your own lawn chair, observe social distancing, and follow the directions of the ushers.
6) Sign language – we will go over what we have learned so far again this week. I also encourage you to go on line to the asl site to begin practicing the Lord’s prayer.
7) Bubba’s BBQ Email: BubbasBBQ2020@yahoo.com Bryant McCombs opened his new business located at our church. You can place an order on line by Wednesday and pick it up on Friday. Great opportunity to support one of our own and our church while enjoying delicious food.
We hope that this service was meaningful for you and brought God’s peace and comfort into your homes. Continue to shelter in place and to love others as yourself. Pray, trust, believe and wait. See you next week.
You are welcome to watch the live service at 10:15 am
at https://www.facebook.com/wende.bleam
Or you can watch live streaming on the St. John's website:
https://stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org
If you are having trouble accessing, please let us know.
From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2013 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #44714. 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.
