St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church

THE FEAST OF ST. MATTHEW

September 22, 2019

11:00 AM

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OUR MISSION As a Lutheran community of faith, we continue our history of proclaiming

Christ crucified through Word and Sacrament in joyful service to God and our neighbor.

WELCOME TO ST. MATTHEW’S LUTHERAN CHURCH

We welcome all who worship with us today. We gather as the Body of Christ to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice of thanksgiving and praise to God. Ushers are available to answer any of your questions. The church is equipped with a hearing impaired system. If you need a listening device, it may be obtained from an usher. In the minutes prior to the beginning of each service, the doors to the nave are closed, and quiet is encouraged. Music is offered which prepares worshipers to receive God’s gifts from His Hand – the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.

Everyone is asked to sign the Attendance Record found at the end of each pew or row of chairs. Please sign this record and pass it down to those beside you during the announcements. As it is returned, please note who is worshipping with you. The Attendance Record helps worshipers to put names and faces together. We make new friends in this way and grow in care for each other.

Celebrating Holy Communion: We believe, teach, and confess Christ is truly present in the bread and wine. All baptized Christians, who share this belief, are invited to receive Jesus as He comes in the Holy Communion to forgive the sins of the penitent. Children and others who are not yet receiving the sacrament, or who choose not to commune with us, are invited to come forward for a blessing, crossing their arms over their chest. After receiving the host in your outstretched hands, please eat the host if you wish to drink from the first cup, the metal chalice. Please hold the host if you wish to dip your host in the second cup, the ceramic chalice. Those unable to drink wine are urged simply to touch their host to the outside of the cup prior to eating.

The altar flowers are dedicated to the Glory of God and given by Janet and Denis Hall, and by Dr. Raymond and Karen Schmoke in honor of their beautiful grandchildren.

The red paraments and chasuble dedicated today are given by Helen Stansbury in loving memory of her husband, Bob Stansbury, and their son, Chuck Stansbury.

Sunday School is sponsored by Helen Knoll in honor of her mother, Minnie Hollar.

WELCOME IN THE NAME OF JESUS! On this Feast of St. Matthew, we celebrate our parish's 127th anniversary. Our history has been marked by profound changes: the turning of two centuries, two world wars, the Great Depression, the cataclysm of the 1960s, the sudden death of two pastors, the deaths of many dear saints, and times of great flourishing and times of divisiveness. Throughout that history of struggles and joy, we have been sustained by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His sacraments. Father Peter Hoyer proclaims the Good News again this day that uncustomarily draws us away from the reign of death to the eternal life and love of the Triune God.

I will strive to …… Pray daily Worship weekly Read the Bible Serve at and beyond St. Matthew’s Be in Relationship to encourage spiritual growth in others Give of my time, talents and resources

Those Serving in Worship

Portions of today’s liturgy and hymns are reprinted from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, and Lutheran Book of Worship © 1978 Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission of Concordia Publishing Liturgy license #000010164, Concordia Publishing Hymn license #100010164, Augsburg Fortress license #9245-L, Augsburg Fortress license #26780, and CCLI license #2014768. Eucharistic Prayer and Fraction reprinted by permission from A Little Book of Canons by Rod L. Ronneberg, STS, © 1997 and © 2010.

Assisting Minister Pr. Peter Hoyer

Lector Pr. Marvin Schedler

Ushers Dave and Diane Sundberg

Communion Assistants Pr. Robert Kuppler, Pr. Michael Bergbower, Robert Shiver, Raymond Shaver Greeter Jenny Manning

Acolyte Harrison Rutland, Jacob Harms, Stuart Shaver

Crucifer Nathan Harms

Altar Guild Lynette Farmer, Cathy Aleksandravicius

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(*Please stand as you are able.)

Silence for Meditation

PRELUDE Trumpet Rondeau in G Major David Lasky WELCOME * THE CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS Pastor: In the name of the Father, and of the Son +, and of the Holy Spirit. Congregation: Amen.

Pastor: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thought 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. Congregation: Amen.

Pastor: 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.

Pastor: Most merciful God, Congregation: 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.

Pastor: 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 +Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

* OPENING HYMN Glories of Your Name are Spoken LBW 358 * THE GREETING Pastor: The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Congregation: And also with you.

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THE HYMN OF PRAISE

* THE SALUTATION Pastor: The Lord be with you. Congregation: And also with you.

* THE PRAYER OF THE DAY Pastor: O Almighty God, who by thy blessed Son didst call Matthew from the receipt of custom to be an Apostle and Evangelist: Grant us grace to forsake all covetous desires and inordinate love of riches, and to follow the same thy Son Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Congregation: Amen.

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FIRST LESSON: Ezekiel 2:8--3:11 8 “But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” 9 And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10 And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe. 3:1 And he said to me, “Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey. 4 And he said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. 5 For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel— 6 not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to such, they would listen to you. 7 But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. 8 Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. 9 Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.” 10 Moreover, he said to me, “Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears. 11 And go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ whether they hear or refuse to hear.”

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

PSALM 119:33-40 Teach me, O Lord, the way / of your statutes;* and I will keep it / to the end. Give me understanding, that I may / keep your law* and observe it with / my whole heart. Lead me in the path of / your commandments,* for I de- / light in it. Incline my heart to your / testimonies,* and not to / selfish gain! Turn my eyes from looking at / worthless things;* and give me life / in your ways. Confirm to your ser- / vant your promise,* that you / may be feared. Turn away the reproach / that I dread,* for your / rules are good. Behold, I long / for your precepts;* in your righteousness / give me life! Glory to the Father, and / to the Son,* and to the / Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginn- / ing, is now,* and will be forev- / er. Amen. SECOND LESSON: Ephesians 4:7-16 7But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high, he led a host of captives and he gave gifts to men.” 9(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? 10He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

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* THE ALLELUIA VERSE

* THE GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Pastor: The HOLY GOSPEL according to St. Matthew, the ninth chapter. HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 9:9-13 9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. 10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. 11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

* THE GOSPEL RESPONSE

THE SERMON Following Jesus: Uncustomarily Pr. Hoyer * THE HYMN OF THE DAY By All Your Saints in Warfare

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RECEPTION OF NEW MEMBERS LBW pg. 198 * PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH Assisting Minister: Lord, in your mercy. Congregation: Hear our prayers.

ANNOUNCEMENTS * SHARING THE PEACE Pastor: The peace of the Lord be with you always. Congregation: And also with you. THE OFFERING What A Friend Besig Adult Choir * THE OFFERTORY RESPONSE * THE OFFERTORY PRAYER Assisting Minister: O God our Father, Congregation: in memory of Matthew, the blessed faithful apostle of Jesus your Son, we offer ourselves with these gifts as our sign, confessing faith in the merit of our Savior; and as it pleases you, use us as well to add to the glory of our Lord, living always in concert with the eternal melody of your saving grace. Amen.

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* THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

Pastor: It is indeed right and salutary…we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

* THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER Pastor: You are indeed holy...now and forever. Congregation: Amen.

Pastor: As our Savior Christ has taught us, we now boldly pray:

* 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.

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THE DISTRIBUTION (Please be seated. An usher will direct you to the altar rail.) DISTRIBUTION HYMNS Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether

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We All Are One in Mission * THE POST-COMMUNION BLESSING Pastor: May this the body and this the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in His grace. Congregation: Amen. * THE POST-COMMUNION CANTICLE

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THE POST-COMMUNION PRAYER Assisting Minister: Lord Jesus Christ, you fed the thousands in the wilderness lest they faint along the way; here you have now fed us bread and wine with yourself that we may live. Present our communion to the Father as our prayer to be united with the very saints who served you unto death on our behalf. We bless you now and evermore.

Congregation: Amen.

Congregation: I will strive to pray daily, worship weekly, read the Bible, serve at and beyond St. Matthew’s, be in relationship to encourage spiritual growth in others, and give of my time, talents, and resources.

* THE BENEDICTION Pastor: Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Congregation: Amen.

* CLOSING HYMN The Church’s One Foundation LBW 369 At this time anyone desiring prayer for healing is invited to approach the altar rail.

* THE DISMISSAL Pastor: Go in peace. Serve the Lord! Congregation: Thanks be to God!

POSTLUDE Now Thank We All our God J. S. Bach

LESSONS for NEXT WEEK: Daniel 10:10-14, 12:1-3; Psalm 91; Revelation 12:7-12; Luke 10:17-20

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Letter on abortion from Bishop Eaton 5/30/2019 10:15:00 AM

Dear Beloved in Christ, As most of you are well aware, many states have passed or are considering legislation to restrict access to legal abortion. Talking about abortion has never been easy in this country, and the same holds true in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The members of this church have divergent beliefs and opinions about whether or not abortion should be legal. No matter what your views on abortion are, as a church we are made up of members who have had abortions and members who have chosen not to. Among us are pastors, deacons, and others who have counseled with women, girls, and others they love. We are friends, loved ones, and relatives of people who have had to decide whether or not to get an abortion. We are all affected by the divisive discourse and the legal changes.

I commend you to study and discuss the ELCA social statement Abortion. Through this social teaching and policy statement, this church seeks to travel a moderating path by supporting abortion as a last resort.

Amid the legislative challenges to access to abortion, we must remember that this church supports ongoing access to legal abortion as well as access to abortion services and reproductive health care that is not restricted by economic factors.** I urge each of us to read, to study, to listen, to discern, and to discuss as church together. See the full statement here: http://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/AbortionSS.pdf?_ga=2.213633236.1943168717.1568640421-1000105586.1567536669 God's peace, The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton Presiding Bishop Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ** This key sentence has been highlighted with bold, italics, & underscoring for your attention. Otherwise, Bishop Eaton’s letter is reproduced here exactly as published on the ELCA website.