St Stephen Lutheran Church Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: The Holy Communion on the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost, 10:30 a.m.

October 10, 2021, 10:30 a.m.

The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

Chinese, 1879

Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler

The color green, used for the vestments and paraments for the Sundays after Pentecost, represents growth and life in the Holy Spirit.

OLD TESTAMENT: The prophet Amos, speaking in the name of the LORD, thunders against Israel for failing to live in the covenant made at Sinai. Where there ought to be justice for the neighbor (Leviticus 19:13, 15), he finds only injustice and the taking of bribes in court cases. Any attempt to reprove and warn the powerful that they are accountable to God is met with rejection. They delude themselves vainly, reciting the words ‘The LORD, the God of hosts, is with us!’ (the words of Psalm 46). Even now, however, God holds out his hands – as long as his word is still living and active, there is hope for repentance.

NEW TESTAMENT: ‘The Word of God is living and active,’ says the writer to the Hebrews. The words ‘sharper than any two-edged sword’ were interpreted by the Reformers of the Lutheran Reformation as referring to the division of the Word of God as Law and Gospel. God’s Law convicts human beings of sin, and calls them to repentance. God’s Gospel speaks the good news of God’s salvation in Christ to the repentant sinner.

GOSPEL: Jesus’ words to the man who would follow him seem harsh, but are truly the greatest kindness: for he names that which is keeping the man from eternal life. The question of the disciples, ‘Who can be saved?’ indicates the common understanding of the time: those who were rich were the ones who could come closer to God, by having spare time to study God’s law. Those who leave behind the things that keep them from Jesus will receive much in this life, good and bad – but the most important is to receive eternal life in the age to come.

OPENING MUSIC My God, How Wonderful Thou Art (Improvisation)

The God of Abraham Praise - Paul Manz

BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

Stand

In the name of the Father, and of the X Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Silence for reflection and self-examination.

Most merciful God,

we confess that we are in bondage 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

Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and, for his

sake, 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 X Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

THE HOLY COMMUNION

I will go to the altar of God,

to the God of my joy and gladness. Psalm 43:4a

X HYMN OF PRAISE The God of Abraham Praise

ALL:

1 The God of Abr’ham praise,

who reigns enthroned above;

Ancient of everlasting days,

and God of love.

Jehovah, great I Am!

by earth and heav’n confessed;

I bow and bless the sacred name

forever blest.

HIGH VOICES:

2 The God of Abr’ham praise,

at whose supreme command

from earth I rise and seek the joys

at his right hand.

I all on earth forsake--

its wisdom, fame, and pow’r--

and him my only portion make,

my shield and tow’r.

LOW VOICES:

3 The God of Abr’ham praise,

whose all-sufficient grace

shall guide me all my pilgrim days

in all my ways.

He deigns to call me friend;

he calls himself my God!

And he shall save me to the end

through Jesus’ blood.

ALL:

4 He by himself has sworn;

I on his oath depend.

I shall, on eagle wings upborne,

to heav’n ascend.

I shall behold his face;

I shall his pow’r adore,

and sing the wonders of his grace

forevermore.

CHOIR:

9 The God who reigns on high

the great archangels sing,

and “Holy, holy, holy!” cry,

“Almighty King!

Who was, and is, the same,

and evermore shall be:

Jehovah, Father, great I Am!

We worship thee!”

ALL:

11 The whole triumphant host

give thanks to God on high.

“Hail, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!”

they ever cry.

Hail, Abr’ham’s God and mine!

I join the heav’nly lays:

all might and majesty are thine

and endless praise!

Text: Thomas Olivers, 1725-1799, alt.

Tune: Hebrew, arr. Meyer Lyon, c. 1770

APOSTOLIC GREETING and PRAYER OF THE DAY

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.

God of wisdom,

whose Word probes the motives of our hearts,

with you all things are possible.

Let worldly treasure not keep us from Jesus,

who looks on us with love.

Free us to leave all things and follow him:

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

Amen

CALL TO THE WORD

The Word of God is living and active,

sharper than any two-edged sword. Hebrews 4:12

Let us hear the Word of the Lord.

Sit

FIRST READING Amos 5:6-7, 10-15

⁶Seek 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.
⁷Ah, you that turn justice to wormwood,
and bring righteousness to the ground!
¹⁰They hate the one who reproves in the gate,
and they abhor the one who speaks the truth.
¹¹Therefore 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.
¹²For 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.
¹³Therefore the prudent will keep silent in such a time;
for it is an evil time.
¹⁴Seek 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.
¹⁵Hate 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.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

PSALM 90:12-27

Choir sings first, then all:

Sung responsively between the choir and people.

¹² So teach us to num- | ber our days,*

that we may apply our | hearts to wisdom.

¹³ Return, O Lord; how long | will you tarry?*

Be gracious | to your servants.

¹⁴ Satisfy us by your lovingkindness | in the morning;*

so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days | of our life.

¹⁵ Make us glad by the measure of the days that you af- | flicted us*

and the years in which we suf- | fered adversity.

¹⁶ Show your ser- | vants your works*

and your splendor | to their children.

¹⁷ May the graciousness of the Lord our God | be upon us;*

prosper the work of our hands; pros- | per our handiwork. R

SECOND READING Hebrews 4:12-16

¹²Indeed, 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. ¹³And 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.
¹⁴Since, 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.

¹⁵For 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. ¹⁶Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Stand

VERSE

Isaiah 25:9 Setting by Paul D. Weber

Sung by the Choir

Alleluia. We have waited for the Lord; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation. Alleluia.

Gospel Mark 10:17-31

The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark.

Glory to you, O Lord.

¹⁷As [Jesus] 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?” ¹⁸Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. ¹⁹You 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.’ ” ²⁰He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” ²¹Jesus, 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.” ²²When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.
²³Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” ²⁴And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵It 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.” ²⁶They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” ²⁷Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.”
²⁸Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” ²⁹Jesus 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, ³⁰who 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. ³¹But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Sit

Sermon

Stand

X HYMN OF THE DAY Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God

ALL:

1 Seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness,

and all these things shall be added unto you.

Allelu, Alleluia.

CHOIR:

2 Ask and it shall be given unto you; seek and you shall find;

knock and the door shall be opened unto you.

Allelu, Alleluia.

ALL:

3 We do not live by bread alone, but by ev’ry word

that proceeds from the mouth of God.

Allelu, Alleluia.

Text: St.1 Matt 6:33, St. 2. Matt 7:7, St. 3 Matt 4:4

Tune: Karen Lafferty, b. 1948

CONFESSION OF FAITH

The pastor and people confess the faith of the Church in 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 catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH

Let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

A brief silence

Heavenly Father, your Word, sharper than any two-edged sword, both reproves and restores us. By your grace, help us to leave behind all that would keep us from following Jesus. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Keep us from love of ease and comfort. Keep us from jealousy and envy of others. Show us the way of wisdom, that we may be ready to render an account of our stewardship. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Give all pastors the power to proclaim the Gospel of your Son, the high priest who intercedes for us. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Heal our nation and give us the spirit of forbearance instead of hatred. Grant to our public servants and all who are responsible for wealth the wisdom to hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the land. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Grant us peace in our day, and be present with all who suffer because of natural and man-made disasters. Restrain the evil one who would incite in us anger, covetousness, party spirit, and strife. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We pray for the sick, the dying, the grieving, the unemployed and underemployed, and for all who are in any kind of want of body, mind, or spirit. In obedience to your command, we name before you those who need our prayers.

The pastor reads those names which have been submitted for prayer.

The people are invited to offer petitions and thanksgivings.

Make them glad for as many days as they have been afflicted, and as many years as they have seen evil.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Make us aware of the brevity and fragility of life, and to look to the good examples of those who have gone before us; that, like them, we may follow you in our words and ways and in the age to come receive eternal life. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Into your hands, Father, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your steadfast love, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Peace

The peace of the Lord be with you always.

And also with you.

The people exchange a sign of peace with the simple words, Peace be with you.

Sit

The Lord’s Table is prepared.

Stand

OFFERTORY 1 John 2:1-2, 3:2 Setting by Richard W. Gieseke

Sung by the Choir

If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the expiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God: and so we are.

PRAYER OF PREPARATION

As the grain once scattered in the fields

and the grapes once dispersed on the hillside

are now reunited on this table in bread and wine,

so, Lord, may your whole Church be gathered together

from the corners of the earth into your kingdom.

Amen

GREAT THANKSGIVING

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give him thanks and praise.

It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our Lord;

He is our brother, who has been tested as we are, yet without sin;

he is our great high priest, who intercedes for us, and so we approach your throne with boldness, praying for mercy and grace to help in our time of need.

And so, with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy LORD, God of power and might!

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!

Hosanna in the highest!

You are indeed holy, almighty and merciful God;

you are most holy, and great is the majesty of your glory.

You so loved the world that you gave your only Son,

that whoever believes in him may not perish

but have eternal life.

Having come into the world, he fulfilled for us your holy will

and accomplished our salvation.

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.

Remembering, therefore, his salutary command,

his life-giving Passion and death,

his glorious resurrection and ascension,

and his promise to come again,

we give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,

not as we ought, but as we are able;

and we implore you mercifully

to accept our praise and thanksgiving,

and, with your Word and Holy Spirit,

to bless us, your servants,

and these your own gifts of bread and wine;

that we and all who share in the body and blood of your Son may be filled with heavenly peace and joy,

and, receiving the forgiveness of sin,

may be sanctified in soul and body,

and have our portion with all your saints.

All honor and glory are yours, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

in your holy Church, now and forever.

Amen

Christ is in our midst.

By the power of the Spirit,

we pray to his Father, saying:

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

O Lord, you satisfy us by your lovingkindness;

so shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life.

from Psalm 90:14

AGNUS DEI (Lamb of God)

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.

Sit

DISTRIBUTION

Admission to the Sacrament is by invitation of the Lord, presented through the Church to those who are baptized.

They may receive the Lord’s Body and Blood who are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, who commune in their home churches, and who believe that Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, is truly present in, with, and under the forms of bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.

The communicants will be invited forward one family unit at a time. Please do not come forward until the pastor directs you to come forward, do not approach all the way to the table until the pastor has retreated.

When the pastor says ‘The body of Christ, given for you,’ eat the bread. When the pastor says, ‘The blood of Christ, shed for you,’ drink the wine. Please take the plate and the glass(es) and place them on the table that is indicated.

HYMNS You Satisfy the Hungry Heart

Refrain Introduction,

Choir sings refrain,

All sing refrain,

Choir sings all stanzas, All sing refrain

Refrain

You satisfy the hungry heart

with gift of finest wheat.

Come give to us, O saving Lord,

the bread of life to eat.

1 As when the shepherd calls his sheep,

they know and heed his voice;

so when you call your fam'ly, Lord,

we follow and rejoice. Refrain

2 With joyful lips we sing to you

our praise and gratitude

that you should count us worthy, Lord,

to share this heav'nly food. Refrain

3 Is not the cup we bless and share

the blood of Christ outpoured?

Do not one cup, one loaf, declare

our oneness in the Lord? Refrain

4 The myst'ry of your presence, Lord,

no mortal tongue can tell:

whom all the world cannot contain

comes in our hearts to dwell. Refrain

5 You give yourself to us, O Lord;

then selfless let us be,

to serve each other in your name

in truth and charity. Refrain

Text: Omer Westendorf, 1916-1997

For Perfect Love So Freely Spent

1 For perfect love so freely spent,

for fellowship restored,

we celebrate your sacrament

and sing your praise, O Lord.

2 We come, by sin disquieted,

and find our lives made whole;

around this table we are fed

refreshment for the soul.

3 Abide with us; in all our ways

your saving love be shown;

so may our lives be hymns of praise,

O Christ, to you alone.

Text: Louise M. McDowell, b. 1923

Tune: St. Peter

After all have returned to their places, the congregation stands at the direction of the pastor.

The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.

Amen

POST COMMUNION HYMN Praise and Thanks and Adoration

1 Praise and thanks and adoration,

Son of God, to you we give,

for you chose to serve creation,

died that Adam’s heirs might live.

Dear Lord Jesus, guide my way;

faithful let me day by day

follow where your steps are leading,

find adventure, joys exceeding!

2 Hold me ever in your keeping,

comfort me in pain and strife;

through my laughter and my weeping,

lift me to a nobler life.

Draw my fervent love to you;

constant hope and faith renew

in your birth, your life and passion,

in your death and resurrection.

Text: Thomas H. Kingo, 1634-1703; hymnal tr. Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978

Pour out upon us the Spirit of your love, O Lord, and unite the wills of those whom you have fed with one heavenly food, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

SENDING

Benediction

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make his face to shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.

Amen

Dismissal

Go in peace. Serve the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

THIS WEEK FOR THE FAITH FAMILY

Sun/ Oct 10 Choir rehearsal 9:30 AM

WORSHIP 10:30 AM

Craft project and lunch following worship

Prayer at the Close of the Day (livestream) 9:30 PM Mon/Oct 11 Morning Prayer (livestream or in-person) 8:30 AM

New Members’ Class 6:30 PM

Wed/ Oct 13 Evening Prayer (livestream) 7:00 PM

Bible Study (over Zoom) 7:30 PM

Fri/Oct 15 Morning Prayer (livestream or in-person) 8:30 AM

Sat/ Oct 16 NA Meeting 11 AM

SATURDAY EVENING WORSHIP 6:30 PM

Sun/ Oct 17 Choir rehearsal 9:30 AM

WORSHIP 10:30 AM

Prayer at the Close of the Day (livestream) 9:30 PM

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #20540.

Chinese Jesus, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56648 [retrieved October 4, 2021]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ChineseJesus.jpg.

Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org

St Stephen Lutheran Church

55 Forsythe Road

Pittsburgh PA 15220

(412) 279-5868

office@ststephenpittsburgh.org

www.ststephenpittsburgh.org

Saturday Evening Worship – 6:30 pm

Sunday Morning Worship –10:30 am

Sunday, October 10, 2021

The Holy Communion on the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost, 10:30 a.m.