14th Sunday After Pentecost - CTS Back to Indoor Service

Share:

Listens: 0

Christ the Servant Lutheran Church

Religion & Spirituality


September 13, 2020 In-Person Worship 9:30am 15th Sunday After Pentecost PRELUDE WELCOME CONFESSION & FORGIVENESS P: We confess our sins before God and one another. God of all ages, D: You have chosen us as your own, yet we often live as if it were not so. We succumb to things which are not good for us. C: We repent. D: We believe we know better than you. C: We repent. D: We refuse to trust your promises. C: We repent. D: Sweep away our foolishness and bring us back into a trusting relationship with the one who has lovingly created us and longs to be our strength and life. P: Dear people, hear the joyful words that God has forgiven us! Our misdeeds and folly are forgotten; grace and mercy abound. Let us give thanks that we have a compassionate creator! All: Amen. PRAYER OF THE DAY D: Merciful God, You created people not as subjects to rule, but as partners in tending and enjoying this bountiful earth. Help us release our shame and guilt over what we have done wrong, accepting instead your mercy and forgiveness offered through Jesus Christ our Lord. All: Amen SCRIPTURE Genesis 2:4b-7, 15-17; 3:1-8 These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created. In the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up—for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no one to till the ground; but a stream would rise from the earth, and water the whole face of the ground— then the LORD God formed a human from the dust of the ground, and breathed into their nostrils the breath of life; and the human became a living being. The LORD God took the human and put them in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it. And the LORD God commanded them, “You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die.” Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’“ But the serpent said, “You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Word of God, Word of Life GOSPEL Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.” Word of God, Word of Life MEDITATION MUSIC FOR MEDITATION PRAYERS D: We pray for the church, the world, and all those in need. A brief silence. Forbidden things are often exceedingly tempting, and we love pursuing them. We remain burdened with shame over events long past. Stand between us and our shame, that we might release all that no longer serves us, choose instead a path of joy and freedom, live in the grace which you have offered, and be open to your renewing love. God of compassion, Hear our prayers; C: Hear us. D: Bless all grandparents—those who care for and love their grandchildren, those who serve as surrogate mentors, those who long for grandchildren but do not have any, and all who have missed their grandchildren over the past 6 months due to COVID 19. Strengthen ties between generations that each might be blessed and enriched by the other. God of compassion, hear our prayers; C: Hear us. D: Loving creator, you have given us this great garden of earth to till and keep. May we resist the temptation to exploit and misuse is out of greed or possessiveness, choosing instead to cultivate its beauty and share its fruits equitably and justly. Likewise, we are quick to condemn, judge, and overlook others, especially those most in need of your mercy and healing. Send your comfort, grace, and healing to all who need it including those we name in the silence of our hearts now… God of compassion, hear our prayers; C: Hear us. D: We remember John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople, all courageous preachers of your gospel. Make us bold proclaimers of grace and mercy. Help us creatively connect with one another and remain church together, even while we are apart. God of compassion, hear our prayers; C: Hear us. D: Receive these prayers and all those which we offer in silence, for the sake of our savior Jesus Christ. All: Amen HOLY COMMUNION 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 broken for you. Do this in 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 sins. Do this in remembrance of me. LORD’S PRAYER (please recite in the silence of your heart or speak very softly) 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 BLESSING May the God of all creation, in whose image we are made, who claims us and calls us beloved, who strengthens us for service, give you reason to rejoice and be glad! The blessing of God, Sovereign, ☩ Savior, and Spirit, be with you today and always. All: Amen. DISMISSAL D: Go in peace, remember the sick, and the poor. All: Amen.