INTRODUCTION

A little faith goes a long way is Jesus’ point in the gospel. A mustard seed’s-worth of faith has miraculous potential. The patience, tenacity, and endurance required for the life of faith are the blessings received in holy baptism, holy communion, and the word read and proclaimed in this assembly. Anticipate them. Receive them with thanksgiving.

ANNOUNCEMENTS   

PRELUDE

* CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

Blessed be the holy Trinity,   one God, our maker, our helper, and our keeper. Amen.

Trusting in God’s mercy, let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Merciful and loving God, we are your stiff-necked people. We trample on the needy. We grumble about your grace to others. We turn away from the poor. Have mercy on us and forgive our sins. Rejoice over us as ones who were lost and have been found. Amen.

Even when we are faithless, God remains faithful. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. You who were lost have been found. In the name of   Jesus, your sins are forgiven! Amen.

* PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. 

Benevolent, merciful God: When we are empty, fill us. When we are weak in faith, strengthen us. When we are cold in love, warm us, that with fervor we may love our neighbors and serve them for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

*GATHERING SONG My God, How Wonderful Thou Art (ELW 863)

FIRST READING: Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4

1 The oracle that the prophet Habakkuk saw.

 2 O LORD, how long shall I cry for help,

  and you will not listen 

 Or cry to you “Violence!”

  and you will not save 

 3 Why do you make me see wrongdoing

  and look at trouble 

 Destruction and violence are before me;

  strife and contention arise.

 4 So the law becomes slack,

  and justice never prevails.

 The wicked surround the righteous;

  therefore judgment comes forth perverted.

 2:1I will stand at my watchpost

  and station myself on the rampart;

 I will keep watch to see what he will say to me

  and what he will answer concerning my complaint.

 2 Then the LORD answered me and said:

 Write the vision;

  make it plain on tablets,

  so that a runner may read it.

 3 For there is still a vision for the appointed time;

  it speaks of the end and does not lie.

 If it seems to tarry, wait for it;

  it will surely come; it will not delay.

 4 Look at the proud!

  Their spirit is not right in them,

  but the righteous live by their faithfulness.

PSALM: Psalm 37:1-9

 1 Do not be provoked by | evildoers;

  do not be jealous of those | who do wrong.

 2 For they shall soon wither | like the grass,

  and like the green grass | fade away.

 3 Put your trust in the LORD | and do good;

  dwell in the land and | find safe pasture.

 4 Take delight | in the LORD,

  who shall give you your | heart’s desire. 

 5 Commit your way to the LORD; put your trust | in the LORD,

  and see what | God will do.

 6 The LORD will make your vindication as clear | as the light

  and the justice of your case like the | noonday sun.

 7 Be still before the LORD and wait | patiently.

  Do not be provoked by the one who prospers, the one who succeeds in | evil schemes.

 8 Refrain from anger, leave | rage alone;

  do not be provoked; it leads only to evil.

 9 For evildoers shall | be cut off,

  but those who hope in the LORD shall possess the land.

SECOND READING: 2 Timothy 1:1-14

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my beloved child:   Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.   3 I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. 6 For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.

  8 Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, in the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace, and this grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, 12 and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day the deposit I have entrusted to him. 13 Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.

*GOSPEL: Luke 17:5-10

The holy gospel according to Luke. Glory to you, O Lord.

5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

  7 “Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’  8 Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me; put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’  9 Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded  10 So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’ ”

The gospel of the Lord.  Praise to you, O Christ.

MEDITATION

*HYMN OF THE DAY How Firm a Foundation (ELW 796)

* 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.

*PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Renewed in God’s everlasting grace, let us pray for the church, the world, and all creation.

O God of the church, you give the church a treasure in Jesus Christ. Draw us into the gift of faith passed down from generation to generation. Remind your people that faith the size of a mustard seed is enough. God of grace, receive our prayer.

O God of creation, you nourish the earth with grace and mercy. Bring favorable weather during the harvest season and sustain all creation along with all who labor in the field. Ensure the welfare of animal companions whose presence offers comfort, safety, and joy. God of grace, receive our prayer.

O God of nations and communities, you govern and guard the world. Give leaders and people in authority a spirit of making just and righteous laws. Bring peace to countries affected by war and violence (especially). God of grace, receive our prayer.

O God of those in need, you care for those who are sick, oppressed, bereaved, lonely, and poor. Come to the help of all in need. Help us to trust that you will come to us at the right time. We pray especially for the Folcroft Police and Fire Company members, the family of Tiona, family and friends of Dan, Pastor Wende, Ray, Richie, Jules, Derek, Chris, Bill, Donna, Trena, Keyasi, Sorie, Bill, Carol, Vince, Danielle, Barbara, Deb, Connor, Dawn, Elaine, Robert, Anna, Don, Bryant, Lois, Curt, Calvin, Robin, Helen, Hoon, Pat, Joe, Ruth, Lisa, Jacklyn, Lillian, Alexis, and those we now raise before you in our hearts.  We pray for those affected by the Covid virus in mind, body or spirit.  Grant them healing and wholeness. God of grace, receive our prayer.

O God of this congregation, you nurture our faith. Thank you for those of all ages who teach, lead, and learn in this congregation and beyond. Give growth to the seeds of faith watered by faithful examples of baptismal living. God of grace, receive our prayer.

O God of ages past, thank you for the witness of those who have died in faith. May the faith of those who now rest in your merciful arms, like Lois and Eunice, shape our faith in your Son, Jesus Christ. God of grace, receive our prayer.

We offer our prayers, O God, trusting in your everlasting grace and mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

* LORD'S PRAYER

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.

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.

*PEACE

The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.

OFFERING OF TITHES AND GIFTS TO GOD

Please place your offering in the plate near the Sanctuary door any time during or following worship. Your offering and tithes may be made on line through our  website:   stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org  or sent by mail to

St. John’s Lutheran church, 1500 Glen Avenue, Folcroft, PA 19032.

* OFFERING PRAYER

*BLESSING

The love of God abound in you; the grace of our Savior Jesus Christ fill your hearts; and the life of the Spirit   bless you and give you peace. Amen.

* SENDING SONG  Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing (ELW 545)

DISMISSAL - Go in peace. Live by the Spirit. Thanks be to God.

The ETERNAL CANDLE is sponsored for the month of October by the Shortt family in memory of Virginia and Warren Lewis.

UPCOMING MEETINGS:

YOU CAN HELP!  You can be a good steward AND get your grocery shopping done.  Did you know that if you purchase a grocery food gift card from St. John’s, our congregation will receive 5% of all sales of gift cards.  Please see MaryAnne Rossi if you wish to purchase and gift cards.  Thank you for helping us raise that 5% for helping to continue our ministry. 

Each week, we collect food for our hungry neighbors in need in our SHARING GOD'S BOUNTY WAGON.  Hunger doesn’t take a vacation.  Please consider making a donation of a food item each week. If you are in need of food, please notify Pastor Wende and she will let you know what we have available.

The Social Ministry Committee would love to hear from you if you have any ideas for small fundraising and/or social ministry events that we could pull off with minimal effort. Challenge us with your ideas!!

With our church building getting older, we need everyone’s eyes and ears to help keep her in good repair. If you see any problems like a burnt out light bulb, please let Barb or Bud know or drop a note in the offering plate on Sunday. We need to get a jump on current or upcoming problems.

Our Financial Response  (September) 

CURRENT

Budgeted costs per month        $   7,263.55

Offering last month        $   5,131.14

Budget required to date (9 months)        $  65,371.95

Total received to date        $  49,736.26

MISSION SUPPORT

Budget required to date (9 months)        $   3,600.00

Total received to date        $   3,427.48

Please continue to support St. John's.  Our expenses continue each month. 

Your offering and tithes may be made on line through our  website:   stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org  or sent by mail to

St. John’s Lutheran church, 1500 Glen Avenue, Folcroft, PA 19032.