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THE TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Two
portraits: the haughty and the humble
The color
green, used for
the vestments and paraments in the season after Pentecost, symbolizes growth
and life in the Holy Spirit.
FIRST
READING: A prophet usually speaks to the people in the name of God. However, here
we see Jeremiah speaking to God in the name of Israel. He implores God to have
mercy upon his people, despite their sins. He asks God to act not for their
sake alone, but for the sake of the glory of his name.
SECOND
READING: Paul
believes that he is nearing death, and reflects on his life and ministry. In
the first part of the reading, he compares his life of faith to an athletic
struggle in which he was victorious. However, in the second part of the
reading, we hear a different language, in which God gave him strength and
rescued him ‘from the lion’s mouth’ (think Daniel in the lion’s den) and will
continue to preserve him until the day of the Lord’s appearing.
GOSPEL: In Jesus’ story, the tax collector was a Jew who collected
Roman taxes from his own people. As such, he was despised by his countrymen.
The Pharisee, a member of the most scrupulous sect of Judaism at the time,
compares himself favorably to those who neglect the religious law. It is precisely
his belief in his ‘worthiness’ before God which keeps him from asking for
mercy. Jesus’ reversal of blessing which is depicted here causes us to reflect
on the humility needed to enter into God’s presence.
OPENING MUSIC Lord, Teach Us How to Pray Aright - Herbert Garske
Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven - Paul Manz
BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Stand
The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.
Blessed be God: Father, X Son, and Holy Spirit;
And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever. Amen
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16
Let us confess our sins in the presence of God and of one another.
Silence for reflection and self-examination.
I confess to God Almighty, before the whole company of heaven, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned in thought, word, and deed by my fault, by my own fault, by my own most grievous fault; wherefore I pray God Almighty to have mercy on me, forgive me all my sins, and bring me to everlasting life. Amen
The almighty and merciful Lord grant you pardon, forgiveness,
and remission of all your sins. Amen
I confess to God Almighty, before the whole company of heaven,
and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned in thought,
word, and deed by my fault, by my own fault, by my own most
grievous fault; wherefore I pray God Almighty to have mercy on
me, forgive me all my sins, and bring me to everlasting life. Amen
The almighty and merciful Lord grant you pardon, forgiveness, and remission of all your sins. Amen
THE HOLY COMMUNION
I will go to the altar of God;
the God of my joy and gladness.
We include in the online order of worship all hymns which are in the public domain. Texts which are copyrighted may not be included in the online order of worship. If you need a copy of the hymnals for your home use, please contact us so that we may provide you with one. Thank you!
WHymn Green LBW 549 Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven
1 Praise, my soul, the
King of heaven;
to his feet your
tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed,
restored, forgiven,
evermore his praises
sing.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise the
everlasting King!
2 Praise him for his
grace and favor
to our forebears in
distress.
Praise him, still the
same forever,
slow to chide and
swift to bless.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Glorious in his
faithfulness!
3 Tenderly he shields
and spares us;
well our feeble frame
he knows.
In his hands he
gently bears us,
rescues us from all
our foes.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Widely as his mercy
flows.
4 Angels help us to adore
him,
who behold him face
to face.
Sun and moon bow down
before him;
all who dwell in time
and space.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise with us the
God of grace.
Text: Henry F. Lyte, 1793-1847
APOSTOLIC 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. 2 Corinthians 13:13
HYMN OF PRAISE
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
O God, who alone can probe the depths of the heart,
you hear
the prayer of the humble
and
justify the repentant sinner.
As we stand
before you,
grant us
the gift of humility,
that we may
see our sins clearly
and refrain
from judging our neighbor.
We ask this
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God,
now and forever.
Amen
Happy are they who dwell in God’s house.
Let us hear
the Word of the Lord. Psalm
84:3a
First READING Jeremiah 14:7-10, 19-22
7Although
our iniquities testify against us,
act, O Lord,
for your name’s sake;
our apostasies indeed are many,
and we have sinned against you.
8O hope of Israel,
its savior in time of trouble,
why should you be like a stranger in the land,
like a traveler turning aside for the night?
9Why should you be like someone confused,
like a mighty warrior who cannot give help?
Yet you, O Lord,
are in the midst of us,
and we are called by your name;
do not forsake us!
10Thus says the Lord concerning this people:
Truly they have loved to wander,
they have not restrained their feet;
therefore the Lord does
not accept them,
now he will remember their iniquity
and punish their sins.
19Have you completely rejected Judah?
Does your heart loathe Zion?
Why have you struck us down
so that there is no healing for us?
We look for peace, but find no good;
for a time of healing, but there is terror instead.
20We acknowledge our wickedness, O Lord,
the iniquity of our ancestors,
for we have sinned against you.
21Do not spurn us, for your name’s sake;
do not dishonor your glorious throne;
remember and do not break your covenant with us.
22Can any idols of the nations bring rain?
Or can the heavens give showers?
Is it not you, O Lord our
God?
We set our hope on you,
for it is you who do all this.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks
be to God.
Antiphon
1 How dear to me is your dwelling, O | Lord of hosts!*
My
soul has a desire and longing for the courts of the Lord;
my
heart and my flesh rejoice in the | living God.
2 The sparrow has found her a house
and the swallow a nest where she
may | lay her young,*
by
the side of your altars, O Lord of
hosts,
my King | and my God.
3 Happy are they who dwell | in your house!*
They
will always be | praising you.
4 Happy are the people whose strength | is in you,*
whose
hearts are set on the | pilgrims' way.
5 Those who go through the desolate valley
will
find it a | place of springs,*
for
the early rains have covered it with | pools of water.
6 They will climb from | height to height,*
and
the God of gods will reveal him- | self in Zion.
Antiphon
SECOND READING 2
Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18
6As for me, I am already being poured
out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. 7I have
fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8From
now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all
who have longed for his appearing.
16At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted
me. May it not be counted against them! 17But the Lord stood by me
and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed
and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18The
Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly
kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Stand
VERSE
2 Timothy 4:18 Setting by Paul D.
Weber
Alleluia.
The Lord will rescue me from every evil and save me for his
heavenly
kingdom. Alleluia.
Gospel Luke 18:9-14
The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke.
Glory to you,
O Lord.
9[Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in
themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt:10“Two
men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax
collector. 11The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus,
‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers,
or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give a
tenth of all my income.’ 13But the tax collector, standing far off,
would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God,
be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14I tell you, this man went down to
his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be
humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to
you, O Christ.
Sit
Sermon
Stand
WHYMN OF THE DAY
Green LBW 438 Lord, Teach Us How to Pray
Aright
1 Lord, teach us how to pray aright,
with rev'rence and
with fear.
Though dust and ashes
in your sight,
we may, we must draw
near.
2 We perish if we cease
from prayer;
oh, grant us pow'r to
pray.
And when to meet you
we prepare,
Lord, meet us on our
way.
3 Give deep humility;
the sense
of godly sorrow give;
a strong desire, with
confidence,
to hear your voice
and live;
4 Faith in the only
sacrifice
that can for sin
atone;
to cast our hopes, to
fix our eyes
on Christ, on Christ
alone.
5 Give these, and then
your will be done;
thus strengthened
with all might,
we, through your
Spirit and your Son,
shall pray, and pray
aright.
Text: James Montgomery, 1771-1854, alt.
CONFESSION OF FAITH 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
We gather in your house, Lord of hosts, humbled by
our need for your grace and amazed by the forgiveness you offer through your Son.
Give your people strength, so that through the Church the message might be
fully proclaimed so that all may hear it. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We gather in your house, Lord of hosts, praying for
all who stray from your ways, for we confess that we are among them. As you
have set our sins aside, we ask that you also not count their sins against
them. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We gather in your house, Lord of hosts, and we ask
that you would bless the nations of the world with peace and justice. In this
time of trial, give people vision for a future and bring all into the house of
your peace. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We gather in your house, Lord of hosts, bringing
the desires of our hearts and our love and concerns for others. Grant our
requests as will be truly best for us and those for whom we pray:
The pastor reads the names on the prayer list.
The congregation may offer silent and spoken
intercessions.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We gather in your house, Lord of hosts, and we look
forward to the great day of gathering in your heavenly kingdom. Give us your
Spirit on our pilgrimage, that we may fight the good fight, finish the race,
and keep the faith. Rescue us from the jaws of the evil one, and at last,
reveal yourself to us together with all the saints. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Into your hands, Father, we
commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy, through Jesus Christ our
Lord.
Amen
PEACE
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
And
also with you.
The
people exchange the sign of peace with the simple words, Peace be with you.
Sit
The Lord’s Table is prepared.
Stand
OFFERTORY Revelation 5:12-14 Setting by Richard W. Gieseke
Worthy
is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and
glory and blessing! To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be
blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever! Amen
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
Hear us, O Lord Jesus Christ, from your dwelling place,
from the glorious throne of your kingdom, and come and cleanse us.
You are seated on high with the Father,
and you dwell also with us here, although unseen.
By your mighty hand render us worthy to receive in holy communion
your spotless body and your precious blood.
Amen
GREAT THANKSGIVING
It is indeed right and salutary that we should at
all times and all places
offer thanks and praise to you, holy Father, through Christ our Lord;
Through him you humble the exalted and exalt the humble. You justify those who call upon your mercy, and save for your heavenly kingdom all who trust in him. And so, with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
The pastor leads the people in praying the Eucharistic canon:
Lord, you are holy indeed.
All creation gives you thanks and praise.
In the wonder of your love for us,
you created life through your Word made flesh,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
From every time and place
you gather a people to yourself,
so that those you claim as your own
may glorify your wondrous grace and mercy.
As we now gather this Table to celebrate the Supper of your Son,
we ask that by the power of your Spirit
these gifts of bread and wine may be for us
the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
That same Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed,
took bread; when he had given thanks,
he broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said;
Take and eat, for this is my body, which is given for you.
Do this for my remembrance.
When supper had ended, he took the cup;
when he had given thanks, he gave it to them and said:
All of you, drink from this,
for this cup is my blood of the new covenant,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this for my remembrance.
Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Mighty Lord, Gracious Father:
As we call to mind the death your Son endured for us,
his glorious resurrection and ascension,
and his promise to come again,
we offer you our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.
Grant that we who gather for this holy supper
may be filled with the Holy Spirit,
united in Christ as his living body in the world,
awaiting the world to come where his love will be fulfilled.
In the presence of Christ, we pray to his Father using the words he gave us.
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 Matthew 6:9-15
This is the bread that comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world.
Lord, give us this bread always.
John 6:33, 34
We adore Christ, present in bread and wine.
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.
WDISTRIBUTION HYMN
Choir
Eternal
Light Text/
Christopher Idle, from a prayer of Alcuin
Music/ Jane Marshall
Eternal light, shine in my heart;
Eternal hope, lift
up my eyes;
Eternal power, be
my support;
Eternal
wisdom, make me wise.
Eternal Life, raise me from death;
Eternal brightness,
help me see;
Eternal Spirit,
give me breath;
Eternal Savior,
come to me.
Until by your most costly grace,
Invited by your holy
Word,
At last I come
before your face
To know you,
my eternal God.
When all have received, 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
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We give you thanks, almighty God,
that you have refreshed us through the healing power of this gift of life;
and we pray that in your mercy
you would strengthen us through this gift,
in faith toward you and in fervent love toward one another;
for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen
Sit
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE FAITH FAMILY
Stand
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
the Lord look upon you with favor and X give you peace.
Amen Numbers 6:24-26
WCLOSING HYMN Praise to You, O God of Mercy Blue WOV 790
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2022 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #20540.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Prayer of the Day from Opening Prayers: Collects in Contemporary Language: Norwich, UK: Canterbury Press, 2001.
Additional material from Foretaste of the Feast to Come: Devotions on Holy Communion, by Philip Pfatteicher, copyright 1987 Augsburg Publishing House.
Eucharistic Canon reprinted by permission from A Little Book of Canons, Rod L. Ronneberg, STS, copyright 1997 and 2010.
Wesley, Frank, 1923-2002. The Publican and the Pharisee, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=59165 [retrieved October 17, 2022]. Original source: Estate of Frank Wesley, http://www.frankwesleyart.com/main_page.htm.
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
Saturday Evening Worship – 6:30 pm
Sunday Morning Worship – 10:30 am
