1 The 13th Sunday after Pentecost September 8, 2019 PASTOR: The Rev. Gary Jepsen Sunday Morning Worship Service at 9 am at the Meridian Habitat & Community Center (Children’s Sunday School and Adult Bible Study available during the school year) 14422 Meridian East Puyallup, WA 98374 LWLC Office: 11707 101 st Ave E, Bldg B 253-445-4292 Hours: 9:00am-3:00pm, M-F Mailing address: PO Box 732005 Puyallup, WA 98373 www.LivingWordLutheranChurch.com Mission Statement: “We, God’s people of Living Word Lutheran Church, grounded in Holy Scripture, are called to follow and share the inspired Word of God in Christ, to live as faithful and obedient servants, reaching out to all people with the love of Jesus Christ.” Motto: “Grace Alone, Faith Alone, Word Alone.” Affiliated with LCMC (Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ)
Transcript
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The 13th Sunday after Pentecost September 8, 2019
PASTOR: The Rev. Gary Jepsen
Sunday Morning Worship Service at 9 am at the Meridian Habitat & Community Center (Children’s Sunday School and Adult Bible Study available during the school year)
14422 Meridian East Puyallup, WA 98374 LWLC Office: 11707 101st Ave E, Bldg B 253-445-4292 Hours: 9:00am-3:00pm, M-F
Mailing address: PO Box 732005 Puyallup, WA 98373 www.LivingWordLutheranChurch.com
Mission Statement: “We, God’s people of Living Word Lutheran Church, grounded in Holy Scripture, are called to follow and share the inspired Word of God in Christ, to live as faithful and obedient
servants, reaching out to all people with the love of Jesus Christ.” Motto: “Grace Alone, Faith Alone, Word Alone.”
Affiliated with LCMC (Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ)
Worship Service Coffee Hour Special Congregational Meeting
Monday 10:00 am Women’s Ministry Board meeting at the LWLC Office
Tuesday 6:30 pm LWLC Board meeting at the LWLC Office
Wednesday 8:00 am 6:45 pm
LWLC Prayer for Guidance at the LWLC Office Adult Bible Study at the LWLC Office
Thursday 10:30 am Midweek Bible Study at the LWLC Office
The chancel flowers are given to the glory of God by Dave & Judy Ostendorf in celebration of their 60th wedding anniversary!
Special Congregational Meeting will be immediately following the worship service
TODAY IS THE VOTE FOR THE GRAHAM CHURCH BUILDING.
Financial Report
Last Sunday’s Offering: Last Sunday’s Attendance:
$2,973 77
Julian Estates Attendance: 21
Next week’s Scriptures: Ezekiel 34:11-24 Psalm 119:169-176
1Timothy 1:5-17 Luke 15:1-10
Today’s Worship Assistants Set up/Tear Down (Team 1)- Bill Zavadil, Andy Anderson, Skip Whelan, Dennis Krumwiede, Rick Fields, Larry Vollmer, Alex Burdick, Gary Heintz; Ushers- Daryl & Deena Olson; Acolyte- Viviana Vashchenko; Lector-Al Luberts; Communion Set-
up/Cleanup-Yvonne Olson, Sue Fields; Communion Assistants- Al Auge, Mary Vollmer, Sharon Johnson; Sound System-Ron Johnson; Tellers –Bob Martin, Judy Krumwiede, Coffee Hour-Valerie Claiborne, Rosie Heintz; Altar Setup/Take Down-
Judy Williams, Sharlene Parker; Parking Lot- Tom Groce; Julian Estates Worship Leaders- TBD, Sharon Johnson
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Please silence all electronic devices, including cell phones, upon entering the sanctuary.
Living Word Lutheran Church Order for Worship
When you hear the bell, please be seated for the announcements. Announcements Please sign the attendance register and pass it down the row.
Our worship begins with the prelude as we enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Let us give thanks to him and bless his holy name!
Prelude Opening Hymn “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” LBW #151
We Worship with Confession.
Pastor: Remembering our baptism into Christ Jesus, we gather as we are to live – in the name of the Father, and of the () Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Congregation: Amen.
P: If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. Let us confess our sin to God who is faithful and just and who has promised to forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Silence for personal reflection and self-examination.
P (facing altar which symbolizes God’s presence): Most Merciful God…,
C: have mercy on us. We confess to You that 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 trusted You with our whole heart; we have not loved one another in deed and in truth. In Your compassion forgive our sin and uphold us by Your Spirit that we may live and
serve You in newness of life through Jesus Christ our light and our truth. Amen.
P: (facing the congregation declares God’s grace): With joy, I proclaim to you that Almighty God, rich in mercy, abundant in love, forgives you all your sin and grants you newness of life in Jesus Christ.
C: Thanks be to God.
We are sent to make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19). We begin by sharing the peace of the LORD with one another.
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.
Now the Feast
Refrain: Now the feast and celebration, all of creation sings for joy to the God of life and love and freedom: praise and glory forevermore! 1. Now is the feast of the Lamb once slain, whose blood has freed and united us to be one great people of God. (Refrain)
2. Power and riches, wisdom and might, all honor and glory to Christ, forever. (Refrain)
3. For God has come to dwell with us, to make us people of God; to make all things new. (Refrain)
P: The LORD be with you. C: And also with you.
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PRAYER OF THE DAY (we pray together):
“Christ the Life of all the living; Christ the death of death our foe, Christ Yourself for us once giving To the darkest depths of woe. Through Your suff’ring, death, and merit life eternal we inherit.
Thousand, thousand thanks are due, dearest Jesus unto You.” (LBW #97; vs. 1). Blessed LORD Jesus, as You chose the path of suffering and death to win for us eternal life,
may we in gratitude serve You by choosing life over the forces of death and darkness in our world; for You indeed live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and through eternity. Amen.
We Worship by Reading God’s Word
The First Reading is from the book of Deuteronomy, the 30th chapter (ESV).
Moses said to the people: 15“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 16If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in His ways, and by keeping His commandments and His statutes and His rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 17But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 18I declare to you today, that
you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. 19I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, 20loving the LORD your God, obeying His voice and holding fast to Him, for He is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD
swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
(Here ends this reading)
The Second Reading is from the Book of Psalms, the 1st Psalm . (to be read responsively)
Reader: 1Blessed is the one who walks not in the counsel of the wicked
Congregation: nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers.
Reader: 2Their delight is in the law of the LORD, Congregation: and on His law he meditates day and night.
Reader: 3They are like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, Congregation: and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
Reader: 4But the wicked are not so, Congregation: they are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Reader: 5Therefore the wicked shall not stand upright when judgment comes, Congregation: nor the sinner in the congregation of the righteous.
Reader: 6For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, Congregation: but the way of the wicked shall perish.
This Reading is the 2nd Epistle of Paul to Timothy, the 3rd chapter. (ESV)
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you
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have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable
for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
(Here ends this reading)
The congregation stands and sings: (LBW p.83) Alleluia. LORD to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia! (John 6:68)
The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the 14th chapter C: Glory to You, O LORD Now large crowds were traveling with [Jesus;] and
He turned and said to them, 26“Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. 27Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 28For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? 29Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, 30saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31Or what king,
going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. 33So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.”
(The Gospel of Our LORD)
C: Praise to You, O Christ
We Worship by Confessing Our Faith on the Words of the Apostles’ Creed
I BELIEVE in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.
I BELIEVE in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our LORD. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and
was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I BELIEVE in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Hymn of the Day “I Love You, Lord”
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Sermon “Decisions, Decisions” Gary R. Jepsen, Pastor
We Worship in Thanksgiving by Offering Our Gifts
Offertory The offering is received.
The congregation stands as the ushers bring the offering forward.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with Your free Spirit.
We pray together the offering prayer: P: Merciful God, C: everything in heaven and earth belongs to You. We joyfully release what You have entrusted to us. May these gifts
be signs of our whole lives returned to You, dedicated to the healing and unity of all creation, through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayers of the Church (Each petition ends with “LORD, in Your mercy”; the congregation responds, “Hear our prayer”.)
We Worship by Receiving Our LORD in His Holy Meal
The Great Thanksgiving (Spoken): 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 Him thanks and praise.
P: It is indeed right and salutary… (Here the minister continues with the preface:)
Holy, holy, holy are You, God of power and might; Heaven and earth are filled with Your glory. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is the One who comes in Your name. Hosanna in the highest, hosanna in the highest!
The Words of Institution & 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.
Holy Communion: Lutherans believe the LORD’s Supper is a holy sacrament in which Christ comes to us with His grace, love, compassion, and forgiveness. The crucified and risen Christ is present in, with, and under the bread and wine – He promises: “This is my body... This is my blood”. Therefore, the Apostle Paul says we should examine ourselves lest we eat or drink in an
unworthy manner (1 Cor. 11:27ff.). Martin Luther wrote, “Anyone who does not believe these words (‘this is My body given for you... this is My blood shed for you.’), is neither prepared nor worthy; for the words, ‘FOR YOU’ requires simply a
believing heart.” Therefore, all (including children who have received instruction) who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and LORD and who see His presence in the sacrament are welcome to commune with us.
As you come forward for communion, you are invited to dip your fingers in the water of the baptismal font and then make the sign of the cross on your forehead as a reminder of Christ’s claim upon you through your baptism.
(For those with gluten allergies, we now have gluten-free wafers available for Communion on the Baptismal Font.)
The congregation sings: “Lamb of God” Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world; have mercy on us.
If you are a visitor, we are blessed that you have joined us for worship. Coffee hour will follow the worship service. Please join us.
“My goal is this: always to put myself in the place in which I am best able to serve, wherever my gifts and qualities find the best soil to grow, the widest field of action. There is no other goal.” — Hermann Hesse
Rally Day planned for September 15th What is Rally Day? It’s just for kids isn’t it? Taking the last question first: No, rally day isn’t just for kids. It is for everyone in the church. Now to answer the first question so you can see why it is for everyone. Webster’s Dictionary DEFINES "rally" as: 1) a verb "to draw or call together for a common purpose" 2) a noun meaning "a renewal of energy in joint action"
During the summer, our many activities, vacations and events continually draw congregation members away from each other - especially on weekends. Summer can also be a spiritually draining time. You start the summer with the good intentions of sticking to your Bible-reading schedules, worshiping regularly, attending Bible class. But the reality is that summer’s hectic schedules can easily derail us from those good intentions. At the end of summer, we need "a renewal of energy" when it comes to spiritual matters. It’s hard to renew your energy on your own. But it’s much easier in a group. That’s why we set aside one special day at the end of the summer to "rally" - to "draw together for a common purpose" seeking the Holy Spirit’s power to "renew our energy" for worship, for digging into God’s Word, for praying, for serving, and for witnessing.
Next week we will be "drawing together and renewing our energy for the common purpose" of growing in trust and obedience to Jesus Christ." The Women's Ministry will once again be serving an indoor picnic lunch. There will be plenty for everyone, so invite a friend or neighbor and plan to be here September 15th. We also have an activity planned for the children, so when they finish their food there will be time for parents to sit and visit while the children learn more about "Sharing Jesus’ Light". In his service, Your Christian Education Committee
Next Week’s (Sep 15th) Worship Assistants Set up/Tear Down (Team 2)- Al Auge, Joe Burdick, Duane Claiborne, Gary Gjerstad, Jim Gronhovd, Ron Heilman, Ron Johnson, Daryl Olson, Dan Owen; Ushers- Mary Vollmer, Ron Johnson; Acolyte-Lydia Auge; Lector-Darlene Luberts; Communion Set-up/Cleanup- Lorraine Stargel, Judy Williams; Communion Assistants- Lorraine Stargel, Judy Williams, Carole Williams-Wood; Sound System-Andy Anderson; Tellers – Ron Anderson, Al Auge, Altar Setup/Take Down- Laura Burdick, Valerie Claiborne;
Parking Lot-Ron Johnson; Julian Estates Worship Leaders- Dave & Judy Ostendorf; Flowers- No one signed up
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2Chronicles 7:14
Prayers for those who are serving our country (military, firefighters & police) and their families and keep them safe: Josh Jepsen, Seth Hearld, Powell, Evan Gregory Blodgett, Ken Solbrack, Michael Elliott, Chris Berentson, Brady Woodman (Relma Burmeister’s grandson), Devlin Durkin;Curtis & Riley McKenzie, Richy (Larry and Mary Vollmer’s grandson). Alan Vong (Ron & Gaye Anderson). Paul Houck (Jim & Mei Barker). Our prayers for all those in harm’s way are urgently needed during this time of turmoil and strife in this country.
Prayers for those who have recently lost a loved one- Prayers of comfort and strength to the family of Linda (Jim Gronhovd’s sister) who recently passed away. Prayers for the Hullstrom family on the passing of Grandmother Hullstrom. Prayers for those with cancer or long-term illness. Don Minnick (Harold & Clarice Liemohn), Bob Lungberg (Bob & Nancy Martin), Taressa (Dennis & Judy Krumwiede’s daughter-in-law). Tony Horne (Bob Martin, Hal & Carolyn Martin, Lonna & Tom Groce), Mary Anne Horiskey (Bonnie DeBord), Baby Eli and his parents (Jim & Sue Gronhovd). Rich Bogle, (Sharon Edward’s cousin’s husband) Amy Roberts, (Ruth Anderson). Lloyd and Jackie (Cheryl Hedlund’s cousins) Susan, (Sharon Edwards daughter), Van Youngquist, and his family. Snookie Pankrantz, prayers for strength and comfort. Prayers for Bob (Al & Darlene Luberts) diagnosed with liver cancer. Dixie (Sharlene Parker’s sister) whose health both physically & mentally has declined. Her family has to make decisions for her care. May God lead them to the best decision for Dixie and peace for them. Suzy Davison (Al & Darlene Lubert), infection on her foot, pray for healing and strength. Prayers for Michelle Sauka (Bob & Nancy Martin) diagnosed with a nodule in her lung. Prayers for Russ Green (Bill & Debbi Zavadil) for quick recovery from cancer surgery, prayers of comfort for his wife. 5-year-old Lucas Bride (Heidi Sturdivant) recovering from tumor removal. Darlene Luberts Doctor’s discernment in addressing relief from the pain in two major areas. Prayers for healing and strength for those with health concerns and those facing or recovering from surgery Pray for doctor’s discernment on treatment for Gaye’s cousin Gene Schroeder (Ron & Gaye Anderson) experiencing weakness and bleeding. Prayers for son Brian (Gary & Cynthia Faul) who has a partially ruptured disc in his neck, pray traction will help and he can avoid surgery. Prayers for Hal (Al & Darlene Luberts) for quick healing and strength after surgery. Good medical results for Jerry Halverson having nerve block shots in his back, Jan Halverson having breast cancer surgery. Pray that doctors have steady hands and clear heads. Prayers for daughter-in-law Cheryl (Cynthia Faul) as she struggles with the pain of rheumatoid arthritis, prayers for guidance as she is looking for a new rheumatologist. Prayers for Wanda Folsom battling a respiratory infection. Pray for strength and healing for dear friend Mary Ellen Jensen (Don & Carol Brennan). Pray as we look for a new church building that we remember we are a Christian family. Let’s discuss with respect and an open mind.
The Drowning Man
A fellow was stuck on his rooftop in a flood. He was praying to God for help. Soon a man in a rowboat came by and the fellow shouted to the man on the roof, "Jump in, I can save you." The stranded fellow shouted back, "No, it's OK, I'm praying to God and he is going to save me." So the rowboat went on. Then a motorboat came by. "The fellow in the motorboat shouted, "Jump in, I can save you." To this the stranded man said, "No thanks, I'm praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith." So the motorboat went on. Then a helicopter came by and the pilot shouted down, "Grab this rope and I will lift you to safety." To this the stranded man again replied, "No thanks, I'm praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith." So the helicopter reluctantly flew away.
Soon the water rose above the rooftop and the man drowned. He went to Heaven. He finally got his chance to discuss this whole situation with God, at which point he exclaimed, "I had faith in you but you didn't save me, you let me drown. I don't understand why!" To this God replied, "I sent you a rowboat and a motorboat and a helicopter, what more did you expect?"
This story teaches us that efforts done in right direction with the faith in God bless us with both, desired results and God’s blessings. Difficult times for anyone surely change into the good times but we just need to do hard work and have patience. According to this proverb ‘God helps those who help themselves’, God helps those people who solve their problems themselves so, we should never get hopeless in our bad times and try to solve problems with
