PRELUDE
God Is Here” arr. J. Ferguson ELW 526
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.
COMMISSIONING OF SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS
FIRST READING Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32
Response after the conclusion: Thanks be to God.
The word of the Lord came to me: 2What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, “The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge”? 3As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. 4Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the per-son who sins that shall die. 25Yet you say, “The way of the Lord is unfair.” Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way un-fair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? 26When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. 27Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. 28Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. 29Yet the house of Israel says, “The way of the Lord is unfair.” O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? 30Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. 31Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get your-selves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live.
PSALM 25:1-9
1To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 2My God, I put my trust in you; let me not be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. 3Let none who look to you be put to shame; rather let those be put to shame who are treacherous. 4Show me your ways, O Lord, and teach me your paths. 5Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I trusted all the day long. 6Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love, for they are from everlasting. 7Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions; remember me according to your steadfast love and for the sake of your goodness, O Lord. 8You are gracious and upright, O Lord; therefore you teach sinners in your way. 9You lead the lowly in justice and teach the lowly your way.
SECOND READING Philippians 2:1-13
Response after the conclusion: Thanks be to God.
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, 2make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 5Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, 8he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. 9Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
GOSPEL Matthew 21:23-32
Response after the announcement: Glory to you, O Lord.
Response after the conclusion: Praise to you, O Christ.
23When [Jesus] entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. 25Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.” 27So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 28“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. 30The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. 31Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed .
SERMON PASTOR ERIC
HYMN OF THE DAY Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word” ELW 517
(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.
PEACE
The presiding minister and the assembly greet each other in the peace of the risen Christ.
The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.
The people may greet one another using their cell phones texting “Peace be with you” or similar words. The assembly is then seated.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Together as Jesus taught us using the more familiar words
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.
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
O God, My Faithful God” ELW 806
What’s Happening!
Worship Assistants
- Pastor: The Reverend Dr. Eric J. Trozzo
- Assisting Minister: Michael Rieker
- Cantor: David D. Harp
- Greeter: John O’Meara
- Usher: John Terpak
- Soloist: Mike Williams
Zoom Events
For more info, please refer to September Messenger
- Today, Sept. 27 9:30AM Live Streaming Worship
- Sunday, Sept. 27 11AM Congregation Meeting via Zoom
- Sunday, Sept. 27 TBA Virtual Sunday School with Cross Roads
- Today, Sept. 27 9:30AM 1PM Confirmation (9th Grade)
- Monday, Sept. 28 10:30AM Bible Study & Fellowship
- Monday, Sept. 28 7PM Congregation Council Mtg..
- Wednesday, Sept. 30 7PM Book Group “Dear Martin”
- Thursday, Oct. 1 10:30AM Tea & Talk
Mark Your Calendar
- Sunday, Oct. 1 9:30AM Live Streaming Worship