PRELUDE
“Praise the Lord, Rise Up Rejoicing” D. Dahl
Gathering
The Holy Spirit calls us together as people of God.
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
For safety reasons, we ask that the congregation follow along with all spoken and sung responses silently.
The Assisting Minister and the Cantor will respond for the congregation to all spoken and sung responses.
CONFESSION
Let us confess our sin.
Silence for self-reflection
Most merciful God, 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 or families or friends as ourselves.
For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, Have mercy on us.
Forgive us, renew us, and lead us. Free us from the urge to speak with
haste, offending those we fail to fully understand. Let our words always
honor your wondrous love so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your holy name. Amen
ABSOLUTION
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 each of you the entire forgiveness of all your sins; In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen
GREETING
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.
KYRIE
Lord, Have Mercy. Christ, Have Mercy. Lord, Have Mercy.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
The presiding minister leads the prayer of the day.
Let us pray,…
Word
God speaks to us in scripture, preaching and song.
CHILDREN’S TIME
Blessing of Backpackers and Virtual Learners
FIRST READING Genesis 50:15-21
Response after the conclusion: Thanks be to God.
15Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, “What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?” 16So they approached Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this instruction before he died, 17‘Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.’ Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, “We are here as your slaves.” 19But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? 20Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. 21So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.” In this way he reas-sured them, speaking kindly to them.
PSALM 103:8-13
8LORD, you are full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love;
9you will not always accuse us, nor will you keep your anger forever.
10You have not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us according to our iniquities.
11For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is your steadfast love for those who fear you.
12As far as the east is from the west, so far have you removed our transgressions from us.
13As a father has compassion |for his children, so you have compassion for those who fear you, O LORD.
SECOND READING Romans 14:1-12
Response after the conclusion: Thanks be to God.
1Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. 2Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. 3Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. 4Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand. 5Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. 6Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God. 7We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. 8If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. 9For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.” 12So then, each of us will be accountable to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
GOSPEL Matthew 18:21-35
Response after the announcement: Glory to you, O Lord.
Response after the conclusion: Praise to you, O Christ.
21Peter came and said to [Jesus], “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” 22Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. 23“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; 25and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. 26So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. 28But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ 29Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. 31When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. 32Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ 34And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. 35So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
HYMN OF THE DAY ELW 606
(Congregation is invited to silently follow along with the text below)
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Each portion of the prayers ends with these or similar words:
Lord in your mercy…Hear our prayer.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Together as Jesus taught us using the more familiar words
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
This congregation uses two versions of the Lord’s Prayer:
- Advent – Lent: The 1988 ecumenical version, which is based on the original Greek prayer of Jesus found in Matthew & Luke
- Easter – November: The 1928 Anglican version, which was originally based on a 4th century Latin translation of Matthew & Luke
Sending
God blesses us and sends us into the world to serve our neighbor.
BLESSING
Live your lives in Christ, rooted and built up in him, and abound in thanksgiving; and the blessing of the Holy Trinity + one God, be upon you and remain with you forever. Amen.
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God. Alleluia.
POSTLUDE
What’s Happening!
Worship Assistants
- Pastor: The Reverend Dr. Eric J. Trozzo
- Assisting Minister: Deacon William A. Lawrence
- Cantor: David D. Harp
- Greeter: Pam Bowen
- Usher: John Terpak
Zoom Events
For more info, please refer to September Messenger
- Monday, Sept. 14 10:30AM Bible Study & Fellowship
- Monday, Sept. 14 7PM Ministry Night
- Tuesday, Sept. 15 7PM Dialogue on Anti-Racism
- Thursday, Sept. 17 10:30AM Tea & Talk
- Sunday, Sept. 20 9:30AM Live Streaming Worship
- Wednesday, Sept. 23 7PM Book Discussion “Dear Martin”
Mark Your Calendar
- Tuesday, Sept. 15 Articles due for October Messenger
- Monday, Sept. 21 12-2PM & 5-7PM Moorestown Food Pantry Open
- Sunday, Sept. 27 11AM Congregation Meeting via Zoom
- Sunday, Sept. 27 Virtual Sunday School (TBA) time to be announced