St. John’s Lutheran, Folcroft
Worship Service September 26, 2021
https://stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Events this week:
Tuesday 7 pm Zoom Finance Meeting
CALL TO WORSHIP
PRELUDE: Children of the Heavenly Father Rottermund
* CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, whose teaching is life,
whose presence is sure, and whose love is endless. Amen.
Let us confess our sins to the one who welcomes us with an open heart.
God our comforter: like lost sheep, we have gone astray. We gaze upon abundance and see scarcity. We turn our faces away from injustice and oppression. We exploit the earth with our apathy and greed.
Free us from our sin, gracious God. Listen when we call out to you for help. Lead us by your love to love our neighbors as ourselves. Amen.
All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
By the gift of grace in Christ Jesus, God makes you righteous.
Receive with glad hearts the forgiveness of all your sins.
Amen.
* PRAYER OF THE DAY:
Let us pray.
Generous God, your Son gave his life that we might come to peace with you. Give us a share of your Spirit, and in all we do empower us to bear the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
* indicates please stand as you are able
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
* GATHERING SONG Oh, Sing to the Lord (ELW 822) VS 1, 2 & 5
FIRST READING: Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29
4The rabble among them had a strong craving; and the Israelites also wept again, and said, “If only we had meat to eat! 5We remember the fish we used to eat in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; 6but now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.”
10Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, all at the entrances of their tents. Then the LORD became very angry, and Moses was displeased. 11So Moses said to the LORD, “Why have you treated your servant so badly Why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me 12Did I conceive all this people Did I give birth to them, that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a sucking child, to the land that you promised on oath to their ancestors’ 13Where am I to get meat to give to all this people For they come weeping to me and say, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ 14I am not able to carry all this people alone, for they are too heavy for me. 15If this is the way you are going to treat me, put me to death at once—if I have found favor in your sight—and do not let me see my misery.”
16So the LORD said to Moses, “Gather for me seventy of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tent of meeting, and have them take their place there with you.”
24So Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD; and he gathered seventy elders of the people, and placed them all around the tent. 25Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again.
26Two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested on them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. 27And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” 28And Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, “My lord Moses, stop them!” 29But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake Would that all the LORD‘s people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit on them!”
PSALM: Psalm 19:7-14
7The teaching of the LORD is perfect and revives the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure and gives wisdom to | the simple.
8The statutes of the LORD are just and rejoice the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is clear and gives light| to the eyes.
9The fear of the LORD is clean and endures forever;
the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous | altogether.
10More to be desired are they than gold, more than | much fine gold,
sweeter far than honey, than honey | in the comb.
11By them also is your servant enlightened,
and in keeping them there is | great reward.
12Who can detect one’s | own offenses
Cleanse me from my | secret faults.
13Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins; let them not get dominion | over me;
then shall I be whole and sound, and innocent of a | great offense.
14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable | in your sight,
O LORD, my strength and | my redeemer.
SECOND READING: James 5:13-20
13Are any among you suffering They should pray. Are any cheerful They should sing songs of praise. 14Are any among you sick They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. 17Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest.
19My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, 20you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
* GOSPEL: Mark 9:38-50
The holy gospel according to Mark. Glory to you, O Lord.
38John said to [Jesus,] “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40Whoever is not against us is for us. 41For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.
42“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. 43If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. 47And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, 48where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.
49“For everyone will be salted with fire. 50Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
MEDITATION: Pastor Wende Bleam (sermon read by Tim Fisher)
*HYMN OF THE DAY Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service (ELW 712)
*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
Offerings 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.
Those who are worshipping in person can place their offerings
in the plate at the door as they enter or leave.
* PRAYERS OF THE INTERCESSION:
Made children and heirs of God’s promise, we pray for the church, the world, and all in need.
We pray for the church and its ministry. Bless the newly baptized and encourage them in their journey of faith. Sustain all members of the body of Christ in lives of prayer, service, and worship. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We pray for natural wonders of your creation. Restore damaged forests, waterways and natural habitats and lead us to be good stewards of what you have provided. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those in authority. Give them wise minds and compassionate hearts. Strengthen in them a desire to protect the vulnerable and care for those underserved. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who are struggling with cancer, dementia, or any other disease. Provide them with peace and resilience for the days ahead. Sustain caregivers with energy and patience. We pray especially for those affected by the covid virus in mind, body or spirit, for Derek, Morgan, Ash, Sue, Gavin, Donna, Robert, Alannah, Lillian, Alexis, Sharon, Connie, Pat, Hazel, Bill, Jacklyn, Addison, Joe, Deb, Tim, Shane, Tom, Carl, Monica, Marc, Alisia, Helen, Lucas, Laura, the Folcroft Police, Michael, Kelly, Rick, Dick, Ruth, Lisa, Lori, Wayne, Tim, Elaine, Bill, Lynda, and those we now raise before you in our hearts, let us pray. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for the worship leaders of this congregation: musicians, readers, acolytes, and ushers. Bless us through their ministry and grant them the passion to continue in their service. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We give thanks for all your saints, those we have loved and known and those from every time and place. Continue to guide us by their example and reassure us of your promised salvation. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Receive these prayers, O God, and those in our hearts known only 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: People of God, you are Christ’s body, bringing new life to a suffering world. The holy Trinity, one God, bless you now and forever. Amen.
* SENDING SONG Abide, O Dearest Jesus (ELW 539) VS 1, 3 & 5
* DISMISSAL: Go in peace. You are the body of Christ. Thanks be to God.
We hope that this service was meaningful for you and brought God’s peace and comfort into your homes. Continue to wear a mask and wash your hands frequently and to love others as yourself. Pray, trust, believe and wait. See you next week.
POSTLUDE: Allegretto in F Mozart
You are welcome to watch the live service at 10:15 am at https://www.facebook.com/stjohnslutheranfolcroft
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.
Our Financial Response (August)
CURRENT
Budgeted costs per month $ 9,041.09
Offering last month $ 7,401.75
Budget required to date (8 months) $ 72,328.72
Total received to date $ 46,898.65
MISSION SUPPORT
Budget required to date (8 months) $ 4,000.00
Total received to date $ 4,547.00
Please continue to support St. John's. Our expenses continue each month
even if we are not all worshipping together inside our building.
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.
The ALTAR FLOWERS are sponsored by the family of Ruth Weaver on her birthday.
The ETERNAL CANDLE is sponsored for the month of September by the Fisher family in memory of Barbara Fisher.
New sign-up sheets are available on the hallway bulletin board. The sign up for the Eternal Candle is available for the remainder of the year. The cost is now $20.
A sign-up sheet is provided to sponsor the Altar Flowers: (cost $14 per vase. Please note the new prices for the candles as well as the flowers. If there are no sponsors for a vase, the flowers will be paid by the current fund.
Also, there is a sign-up sheet for Coffee Talk. Please note: If you sign up for Coffee Talk, as well as providing the drink and snack, you are also responsible for putting everything in the trash and cleaning the kitchen.
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.
Are you on FACEBOOK Do you ever like or share the church's posts We hope you do. Every little activity on our page is a good thing. More eyes to see what we're about and what we have going on is helpful. And if you leave a comment, even better. Others that may check our Facebook page out see that we're a busy, happening church. If you need our social media addresses on Facebook or Instagram, see Elaine Fisher or check out the hashtag on the bulletin board in the hallway for information.
We are registered as Saint Johns Evangelical Lutheran Church for Amazon Smile. Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of eligible smile.amazon.com purchases to the charities selected by customers. You will need to go to Smile.amazon.com. Then you select our name as your charity. Again, the name is registered as Saint Johns Evangelical Lutheran Church. So far, we have received almost $75, just by doing your shopping through Smile.amazon.
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 Ruth Weaver if you wish to purchase and gift cards. Thank you for helping us raise that 5% for expenses that are not covered by the current fund!
During the month of September, we will be taking a collection to add to the Education Fund for Eleanor Holbrook Davenport. As many are aware, Eleanor is the daughter of Jennifer Holbrook who passed in 2015. At that time, it was decided to open a fund to help pay for her education. At this time, we have contributed approximately $4,000. If you are making a donation, either send in the mail to the church, or place in the offering in an envelope marked ELEANOR. If sending though Tithely, please send to the SPECIAL FUND with the note ELEANOR. Thank you so much for your continuing donations for this worthy project.
