St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church

The 19th Sunday after Pentecost


October 11, 2009


Prelude Jesu, Priceless Treasure J.S. Bach

Welcome

We’re delighted to greet everyone in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who takes away our sin and offers grace to all people. If you are a guest, please fill out the Guest Form. If you’re looking for a meaningful ministry with which to become involved, you are encouraged to speak with the Pastor.

Mission Moment


Gathering

(We stand)
Brief Order for Confession & Forgiveness
P We gather in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
 P God of all mercy and consolation, come to the help of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone.
Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the
fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C Amen

Confession (We kneel)
 P Most merciful God,

C we confess that we are captive 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.

Absolution

P In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God 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 ς Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen

Entrance Hymn (We stand) God of Grace and God of Glory Hymn 705

Greeting
P The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all!
C And, also with you.

Kyrie (Music on page 138)
P In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
 P For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
P For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
P For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
 P Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
C Amen.

Hymn of Praise (Music on page 140)

This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Power, riches, wisdom, and strength, and honor, blessing, and glory are his.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Sing with all the people of God, and join in the hymn of all creation:
Blessing, honor, glory, and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
For the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign. Alleluia.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Prayer of the Day
P Almighty and ever-living God, increase in us your gift of faith, that, forsaking what lies behind and reaching out to what lies ahead, we may follow the way of your commandments and receive the crown of everlasting joy, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

C Amen.

Anthem Beautiful Savoir Crusaders’ Hymn
Alleluia Choir, Danelle Welzig, Director

Word

Children’s Message (We sit)

First Reading Amos 5:6–7, 10–15

Amos was a herdsman by profession and a prophet by God’s call. During a time of great prosperity in the northern kingdom of Israel, the prophet speaks to the wealthy upper class. He warns his listeners that fulfilling God’s demand for justice brings blessing, while corruption and oppression incur God’s wrath.

Seek the LORD and live, or he will break out against the house of Joseph like fire, and it will devour Bethel, with no one to quench it. Ah, you that turn justice to wormwood, and bring righteousness to the ground! They hate the one who reproves in the gate, and they abhor the one who speaks the truth. Therefore because you trample on the poor and take from them levies of grain, you have built houses of hewn stone, but you shall not live in them; you have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine. For I know how many are your transgressions, and how great are your sins — you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe, and push aside the needy in the gate. Therefore the prudent will keep silent in such a time; for it is an evil time. Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD, the God of hosts, will be with you, just as you have said. Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the LORD, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

P The Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.

Psalm Psalm 90:12–17




So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
Return, O LORD; how long will you tarry?
Be gracious to your servants. R
Satisfy us by your steadfast love in the morning; so shall we rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad as many days as you afflicted us and as many years as we suffered adversity.
Show your servants your works, and your splendor to their children.
May the graciousness of the Lord our God be upon us;
prosper the work of our hands; prosper our handiwork. R

Second Reading Hebrews 4:12–16

We cannot hide our thoughts, desires, and actions from God, to whom we are completely accountable. Nevertheless, Jesus understands our human weakness and temptations, because he also experienced them. Therefore we can approach the throne of grace to receive divine mercy from Christ.

Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account. Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

P The Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation (Music on Page 142)
Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Gospel Mark 10:17-31
P The Holy Gospel according to Saint Mark, the tenth chapter.
C Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus has been teaching his disciples about what is most valued in God’s eyes. Now, a conversation with a rich man brings his message home to the disciples in a way that is surprising but unforgettable.

As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’” He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.” Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age — houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions — and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

P The Gospel of the Lord. C Praise to you, O Christ.


Sermon (We sit) “Desires of Your Heart” Pastor Robert Wallace

Hymn of the Day (We stand) God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending Hymn 678

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.

The Prayers of the People (We kneel)
After each prayer petition:
P Lord in your mercy
C Hear our prayer
The prayers conclude:
P Receive our prayers, holy God, and give us all we need for this day and the days to come, through the power of the Holy Spirit, and in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
C Amen.


Peace (We stand)

 P The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C And also with you.

(Please feel free to move about and share God’s Peace with one another!)

Meal

Offering (We sit)

Anthem (8:30am) Take My Life That I May Be William Havergal
Family Choir


Anthem (11:00am) How Amiable Are Thy Dwellings Ralph Vaughan Williams
Gallery Choir

Offering Response (We stand) Tune: Lasst uns erfreuen
 C O friends, in gladness let us sing,
 Supernal anthems echoing: Alleluia! Alleluia!
To God the Father, God the Son
And God the Spirit, Three in One:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia.

Offering Prayer
 P God of majesty, in your might you have created all things, and you entrust to our care what you have made.
Receive our offerings, and make them a sign of our dedication to provide for the needs of all people and creatures, in the name of the one who sustains all things by his word, Jesus Christ our Lord.
C Amen.


The Great Thanksgiving (Music on page 144)
P The Lord be with you.
C And also with you.
P Lift up your hearts.
C We lift them to the Lord.
P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
 C It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Proper Preface

Sanctus (Music on page 144)

Holy, holy, holy Lord. God of pow’r and might
heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosanna, Hosanna.
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.


Words of Institution

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.



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.


Communion
All baptized Christians are invited to share in the Eucharist. Those who are not baptized, or wish to receive only a blessing,
are asked to fold their arms over their chest. Communion will be by intinction (dipping). Please follow the usher’s direction.

Music at the Distribution (We sit)


Agnus Dei (Music on page 146)
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.
Hymns during Communion 793, 789


Post Communion Blessing and Prayer (We stand)

 P Loving God, in this meal you sustain the weary and heal the broken. May the gift of your word made flesh,
the body and blood of Christ, inspire our tongues to praise you and proclaim to the entire world the Savior,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
C Amen.
 P The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you
with favor and ς give you peace.
C Amen.

Sending Hymn The Spirit Sends Us Forth to Serve Hymn 551

Dismissal
P Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.



___________________________________________



Reproduced with permission by Augsburg Fortress.
Liturgies License #23349




You may use this Bulletin to cover your parking in the
Francis Marion or Hutson Street Garage.



St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church * 405 King Street * Charleston, SC * 843.723.1611