July 31, 2016

11th Sunday after Pentecost

16548 Ferris Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95032 | (408) 356-5055 | www.faithlosgatos.org

Office Hours: Tues./Thurs. by appointment | Church phone answered 9 AM – 7 PM

For Emergencies: Pastor Anne (408) 406-8749 or Pastor Carol (831) 239-1254

July 31, 2016

LECTIONARY 17

Persistent Prayers

“Have it your way” was Burger King’s slogan in the 70s. The company ran a

campaign with a catchy song that promoted its unique willingness to make your

burger the way you wanted it. Other companies predefined how burgers were built

and would charge an additional fee for a special order. Now most restaurants as

well as other retail entities cater to their guests. There is a cultural expectation in

North America that we can and should have everything our way. Today’s gospel is

often read in that same vein. “Ask, and it will be given you” is interpreted as “I can

get whatever I want if I just ask.”

Jesus’ disciples see him praying. One of them requests instructions on how to pray,

adding that John taught his disciples to pray. Perhaps even the way you prayed was

a mark of whom you followed. The disciples wanted to emulate Jesus’ faith

practices. Jesus gave the model prayer, what we today call the Lord’s Prayer, and

went on to explain the certainty of God responding to the persistent prayers of the

faithful.

The prayer Jesus taught his disciples, and us, is a simple, humble prayer glorifying

God, asking to be fed, and asking both for forgiveness and the strength to forgive.

Jesus was not creating a brand for his disciples to imitate, but teaching them what

is important in the content and habit of prayer. Today’s reading concludes with

Jesus stating that God will “give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

(Luke 11:13). He doesn’t promise that a laundry list of material wants will be

granted. Keep knocking, keep asking, and be persistent in your habit of prayer. The

Holy Spirit has been given to you so that you may faithfully live out your

baptismal call.

Copyright © 2016 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg

Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS103424.

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.

Prelude

The Invitation of the Bell (please stand as you are able)

Gathering song:

Greeting & Prayer of the Day:

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.

P: Let us pray…

C: Benevolent God, you are the source, the guide, and the goal of our lives.

Teach us to love what is worth loving, to reject what is offensive to you,

and to treasure what is precious in your sight, through Jesus Christ, our

Savior and Lord.

Amen.

(please be seated)

Welcome & Gratitude Reports

Praise Song: “As We Gather” (sung as an echo song)

As we gather

may Your Spirit

work within us

As we gather

may we glorify

Your Name

Knowing well that as

our hearts begin

to worship

We’ll be blessed

because we came

We’ll be blessed

because we came

The steadfast love

of the Lord

never ceases

His mercies never

come to an end

They are new

every morning,

new every morning

Great is Thy

faithfulness, O Lord

Great is Thy

faithfulness.

Time with God’s Kids Tristen’s time at Mt. Cross Pastor Anne

First Reading: Colossians 3:1-2, 8-17

1So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where

Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above,

not on things that are on earth, 3for you have died, and your life is hidden with

Christ in God. 8 But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and

abusive language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you

have stripped off the old self with its practices10 and have clothed yourselves with

the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its

creator. 11 In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and

uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!

12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion,

kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone

has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven

you, so you also must forgive.14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which

binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in

your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be

thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one

another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and

spiritual songs to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in

the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

AM: Word of God, Word of Life

C: Thanks be to God!

Psalm Reading: Psalm 107:1-9, 43 (read responsively)

AM: 1Give thanks to the Lord, for the Lord is good,

for God’s mercy endures forever.

C: 2Let the redeemed of the Lord proclaim

that God redeemed them from the hand of the foe,

AM: 3gathering them in from the lands;

from the east and from the west, from the north and | from the south.

C: 4Some wandered in desert wastes;

they found no path to a city where they might dwell.

AM: 5They were hungry and thirsty;

their spirits languished within them.

C: 6Then in their trouble they cried to the Lord,

and you delivered them from their distress.

AM: 7You led them on a straight path

to go to a city where they might dwell.

C: 8Let them give thanks to you, Lord, for your steadfast love

and your wonderful works for all people.

AM: 9For you satisfy the thirsty soul

and fill the hungry with good things.

C: 43Whoever is wise will ponder these things,

and consider well the Lord‘s steadfast love.

(please stand as you are able)

Gospel Acclamation “Thy Word” # 144 (Purple book)

P: The Good News of Jesus according to: Luke 11:5-13

C: Glory to You, O Lord

5 And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at

midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 for a friend of

mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’7 And he answers from

within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are

with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he

will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of

his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

9 “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock,

and the door will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and

everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be

opened. 11 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for[a] a fish, will give

a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a

scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your

children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit[b] to those

who ask him!”

P: The good news of Jesus

C: Thanks be to you, O Christ

(please be seated)

Message Pastor Anne

(Usher will come by and pick up your Prayer cards)

(please stand as you are able)

Song of the Day: “Seek Ye First” #783 (blue

book)

Apostles Creed

P: With the whole Church, let us affirm our faith:

C: I believe in God, the Father almighty,

Creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son our Lord,

who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

on the third day he rose again;

He ascended into heaven,

He is seated at the right hand of the Father,

And He will come 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 People (please be seated)

AM: Rooted in Christ and rising to serve, let us pray for the church, the world, and

all in need.

A brief silence.

AM: O God, enliven the body of Christ with energy and creativity. Work through

partnerships across towns, denominations, and ministry contexts, that Christ

be shared with all. Hear us, O God.

C: Your mercy is great.

AM: Guard your creation against greed and over-consumption. Restore polluted

air and waters, protect animal habitats, and send new growth where it is

needed. Hear us, O God.

C: Your mercy is great.

AM: Break down barriers between neighborhoods, peoples, and nations

(especially). Sustain community leaders, legislators, volunteers,

peacemakers, and all who seek the good of their communities. Hear us, O

God.

C: Your mercy is great.

AM: We pray for the world. This week from the Cycle of World Prayer we

especially lift up The Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados,

Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica,

Puerto Rico, St Kitts-Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines,

Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. May they live in your peace and

protection. Hear us, O God,

C: Your mercy is great.

AM: Soothe furrowed and fevered brows. Give energy and compassion to

caregivers, those who sit at bedsides or wait by the phone. Comfort all in

need of healing (especially). Hear us, O God.

C: Your mercy is great.

AM: Bless the ministry of Bethel Lutheran Church in Cupertino, our sister

congregation in our parish and we lift them up in prayer. Lord, in your

mercy,

C: Your mercy is great.

AM: Inspire our congregation to live in the present moment, O God, and to trust

in you. In committee meetings, classrooms, and all ministries, give us

flexibility to follow where you lead. Hear us, O God.

C: Your mercy is great.

AM: We give thanks for those who have died recently and across the ages

(especially), and we rejoice in the hope of the resurrection. Hear us, O God.

C: Your mercy is great.

Pastor: We lift our prayers to you, O God, trusting your promise to hear us;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C: Amen.

Reconciliation & Peace

P: As you have been reconciled with God, so now reach out to those just

around you and share the reconciliation of God with others.

P: The peace of Christ be with you.

C: and also with you.

P: God 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 God.

C: It is right to give God thanks and praise.

P: A friend of the broken and companion of the forgotten;

a friend on the road and companion to the thirsty and hungry;

a friend to the lost and companion to the lonely;

as the bread breaks and the wine pours, we hear your invitation gathering us

around this table of your love.

And so we join the song of all the witnesses past and future:

Holy, Holy: “Santo, Santo, Santo” #473 (Red

Book)

(you are invited to sing this in either Spanish or English 2 times)

P: So it is that in the midst of the Passover meal, Jesus takes bread from the

table, gives thanks to God, breaks it, and gives it to his followers saying:

Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.

Whenever you do this, re-member me.

Later, during the supper, he takes a cup from the table, gives thanks, and

gives 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.

Whenever you do this, re-member me.

Send your spirit, O God, to transform these ordinary elements of bread and

wine into signs of your presence in our lives, that they may nourish us and

challenge us to be the Body of Christ in your world. C: Amen.

P: Let us pray together the prayer of Jesus, a prayer of hope for a new creation.

The Lord’s Prayer

C: 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

P: All are invited and welcome at this table. We come together and kneel or not

as we desire. There is gluten-free unleavened bread, red wine or white

grape juice in the individual cups. If you chose not to receive the bread and

wine you are invited to come for a blessing, or stay in your seat in silent

prayer. (For those who cannot come to the table, we will come to you.)

Invitation to the table

P: Come to the banquet, for nothing and no one can take your place. This is

God’s table, and Jesus is the host of this meal. It is a table of grace and it is

all we will ever need.

Communion Solo: Organist

Post-Communion Blessing & Prayer

P: O God, we give you thanks that you have set before us this feast.

By your Spirit strengthen us to serve all in need and to give ourselves away

as bread for the hungry and water for the thirsty, through Jesus Christ our

Lord.

C: Amen

The Offering is Received

Offering Song: “We Are An Offering” #146 (purple

book)

(please sing during the gathering of the offering)

Time of Testimony & Invitation

Blessing

P: May the God of love bless you, May Christ the Lamb of God live among

you, May the Spirit of justice & reconciliation bring peace to your hearts and

live with-in you.

C: Amen.

Sending Song: “Praise to You, O God of Mercy” #790 (blue book)

Dismissal

A: Empowered by the Holy Spirit, go and be God’s disciples in the world

C: Thanks be to God. We will!

Adult Bible Study

Sunday 10:45 am (after Coffee in the Fireside Room)

Colossians is a surprising letter. It is a dangerous letter. Join us on Sunday

mornings as we become "Rooted" in what God has to teach us through the book of

Colossians.

You received Christ Jesus the Lord, so continue to live as Christ’s people. Sink

your roots in him and build on him. Be strengthened by the faith that you were

taught, and overflow with thanksgiving. Col 2:6-7 (GW)

The Ecumenical Prayer Cycle—This week

The Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba,

Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica,

Puerto Rico, St Kitts-Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines,

Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago

Give thanks for: The Caribbean Council of Churches; Warm seas and idyllic

beaches; Calypso, reggae, plena, merengue, salsa, and all the new rhythms being created in these lands; Pepperpot stew, cou-cou, bananas, sweet

potatoes, conch; Patois, Creole, Srana, Bajan and other languages which fill these islands with meaning.

Adult Bible Study—10:45 AM – Fireside Room “Spiritual Passages” (continues

next week)

Lord’s Pantry is now collecting milk or money for milk to supply to their

Families. Please see the brochure in the Narthex; deliveries are made every

Monday

BACKPACK TIME

AGAIN

We will be

par cipa ng in the

backpack program for

the children

serviced by the Lord’s

Pantry. (School starts

soon)

We are needing

dona ons to cover the

Backpacks and the

supplies that

go into them.

Thank you for your

help with this much

needed project.

BACKPACK TIME

AGAIN

We will be

par cipa ng in the

backpack program for

the children

serviced by the Lord’s

Pantry. (School starts

soon)

We are needing

dona ons to cover the

Backpacks and the

supplies that

go into them.

Thank you for your

help with this much

needed project. Backpack Time

We will be participating in the backpack program for the children serviced by the

Lord’s Pantry. (School starts soon) We need donations to cover the backpacks

and the supplies that go into them. Thank you for your help with this much

needed project.

CONGRATULATIONS TO TRISTEN FABRIS

WHO IS MAKING HIS FIRST COMMUNION TODAY.

Financials/Attendance for July 24:

Attendance: 23 Offering: $1170.00

Social Concern of the Month: $0.00

Social Concern(s) of the Month—July World Water - ELCA

11th Sunday after Pentecost July 31,

2016

Those in Service today

Pastor: Pastor Anne Carlson

Organist: Catherine Ellacer

Ushers: Bob Balcomb/Les Grundy

Acolytes: Tristen Fabris/ Damian

Hernandez/Donovan Plummer

Reader/Lector: Jim Carlson

Altar Care: Linda Perez

Refreshments: Deana Hernandez

“In Celebration of Tristen Fabris’ First Communion”

Flowers: Nancy and Rob Walker

“Flowers in Memory of Parents Al and Jo Blessing”

Prayer List

Sharon Biller

Elizabeth Krc

Marie Hughes

Anne-Lise Holte

Dellevecchia Family

Eva Woodall

Robbie Biller

Guy Dellevecchia

Thelma Spaziani

Jazz Oda (Pr Carol's sister)

Tamara Feldman (Pr. Carol’s friend recently diagnosed with MS)

Pastor Carlton Monroe’s Parents – Ruby and Ben

**Please let us know the names of those you would like included on the prayer list.

By request, names may be returned to the prayer list.