gathering The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of
God.
Prelude Improvisation #7 | Camille Saint-Saëns
Invocation Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, who upholds us
through adversity, who consoles us in our sorrows, whose mercy
endures forever.
Amen.
f
2
One generation shall commend your works to anot her and shall
declare your mighty acts. Psalm 145:4
[ELW 530] Here, O Lord, Your Servants Gather Sekai no tomo to te a
tsunagi
A reading from Isaiah For the mountains may depart and the hills be
removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my
covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has
compassion on you. (ISAIAH 54:10)
3
A prayer of lament We lament before you, O God, Comforter in our
distress, the losses of our usual signs of community.
Our weekly assembled worship is not the same as we once knew: our
sharing of bread and cup, our communal song, our greetings of
peace; full observances of seasons and celebrations; baptisms,
confirmations, weddings, and funerals; gatherings for education;
coffee hours; the mutual consolation of the faithful enacted each
Sunday, and we mourn friends, and family, and members of our
community who have died of COVID-19.
O God, we lament our losses, for they are many. Restore us,
gracious God.
Restore us, gracious God.
We lament before you, O God, Sustainer of the universe, the
tragedies that our world has experienced. We lament the millions
sickened; the countless dead; thousands unemployed; medical systems
depleted; economic security threatened; government assistance
inadequate; political discord escalated; despondency rampant;
racial injustice intensified; communal engagements canceled. .
.
O God, we lament the world’s tragedies, for they are incalculable.
Heal us, compassionate God.
Heal us, compassionate God.
Praise on a Sunday of Re-Gat hering Yet today, O God of the
everlasting arms, we rejoice at today’s re-gathering of our
congregation: we praise you for Sunday worship in word and
sacrament; for the personal presence of our pastors and ministers;
for infants, children, youth, adults, and the aged together; for
communal song and live music; for coffee hours; for Bible study;
for service with one another for the wider community; for the
mutual consolation of the faithful enacted on Sundays and weekdays…
O God, we rejoice at this re-gathering for baptismal life together.
Empower our church, faithful God.
Empower our church, faithful God.
4
One generation shall commend your works to anot her and shall
declare your mighty acts. Psalm 145:4
And we pray, O God of safe harbor, for the emergence of a wholesome
world: with health restored; mourners consoled; vaccines available;
hospitals restocked; employment reinstated; poverty averted;
sustenance shared; science respected; travel resumed; fear replaced
with confidence; sorrow turned to joy . . . O God, we pray for the
emergence of a wholesome world. Renew the whole world, merciful
God.
Renew the whole world, merciful God.
Peace Give us your peace, eternal God.
Give us your peace, eternal God. The people greet one another with
a sign of Christ’s peace.
The assembly stands.
Gat hering Hymn O My God and King and Savior
5
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.
Prayer of t he Day Let us pray.
O God, through suffering and rejection you bring forth our
salvation, and by the glory of the cross you transform our
lives.
Grant that for the sake of the gospel we may turn from the lure of
evil, take up our cross, and follow your Son, Jesus Christ, our
Savior and Lord.
Amen.
The assembly is seated.
word God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and
song.
First Reading Isaiah 50:4-9a
A reading from Isaiah.
The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know
how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens—
wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord God has
opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I
gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who
pulled out the beard;
I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The Lord God helps
me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my
face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he
who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand
up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is
the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty?
Word of God, word of life.
Thanks be to God.
6
One generation shall commend your works to anot her and shall
declare your mighty acts. Psalm 145:4
Psalm Psalm 116:1-9
1 I love the Lord, who has heard my voice, and listened to my
supplication,
2 for the Lord has given ear to me whenever I called.
3 The cords of death entangled me; the anguish of the grave came
upon me; I came to grief and sorrow.
4 Then I called upon the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I pray you,
save my life.” REFRAIN
5 Gracious is the Lord and righteous; our God is full of
compassion.
6 The Lord watches over the innocent; I was brought low, and God
saved me.
7 Turn again to your rest, O my soul. for the Lord has dealt well
with you.
8 For you have rescued my life from death, my eyes from tears, and
my feet from stumbling. REFRAIN
Second Reading James 3:1-12
A reading from James.
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters,
for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater
strictness. For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no
mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in
check with a bridle. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to
make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Or look at ships:
though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them,
yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the
pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts
of great exploits.
How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is
a fire. The tongue is placed among
our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets
on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. For
every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can
be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can
tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we
bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made
in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and
cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. Does a
spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish
water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a
grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.
Word of God, word of life.
Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation
Glory to you, O Lord.
Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea
Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say
that I am?” And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others,
Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” He asked them, “But
who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the
Messiah.” And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about
him.
Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great
suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and
the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He
said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to
rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he
rebuked
Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your
mind not on divine things but on human things.”
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any
want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up
their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life
will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for
the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them
to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can
they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and
of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the
Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his
Father with the holy angels.”
The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
The assembly is seated.
Sermon Pastor Matt Smuts
8
One generation shall commend your works to anot her and shall
declare your mighty acts. Psalm 145:4
The assembly stands to proclaim the word of God in song.
Hymn of t he Day [ELW 660] Lift High the Cross
9
Creed 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 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 Intercession Following each petition:
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer. The assembly is seated.
Musical Offering [8:30 ANGELIQUE ZULUAGA AND MARK TENDALL] With a
Voice of Singing | Martin How, arr. Alice Carpenter [10:45 CHOIR]
Jesus, Feed Us | Ray Makeever, arr. Brian Wentzel
10
One generation shall commend your works to anot her and shall
declare your mighty acts. Psalm 145:4
meal God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ.
The assembly stands.
T he Great T hanksgiving The presiding minister greets the assembly
and invites all present to give thanks.
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all
times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and
merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ; who on this day
overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection
opened to us the way of everlasting life. And so, with all the
choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
11
The presiding minister continues with a prayer of thanksgiving,
concluding:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily
bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the
kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever.
Amen.
The assembly is seated.
Prayer af ter Communion Let us pray.
God of abundance, with this bread of life and cup of salvation you
have united us with Christ, making us one with all your people. Now
send us forth in the power of your Spirit, that we may proclaim
your redeeming love to the world and continue forever in the risen
life of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
12
One generation shall commend your works to anot her and shall
declare your mighty acts. Psalm 145:4
sending God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world.
Blessing God who cares for all life abundantly, generation after
generation, bless you and keep you in the presence of God, Father,
+ Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
13
Thanks be to God.
[9] Marjorie Khosrovi [10:45] Jane Garvey
14
One generation shall commend your works to anot her and shall
declare your mighty acts. Psalm 145:4
TODAY
7:00 p.m. | Prayer in the Style of Taizé
Women of Grace: 1 DAY RETREAT @ Grace September 18 | 1pm-late
Please join us on Saturday, 9/18, from 1-5:30 for an in-person
retreat on our campus.
We’ll start with lunch, work on the topic “VOICE” throughout the
afternoon, have coffee, cookies, & fruit, time for catching up,
and enjoying each other’s company. The official retreat ends around
5:30pm. Bring friends and family to join our
FINGERFOOD POTLUCK-DINNER at 6pm and stay for our ADULT MOVIE-NIGHT
to watch “Sweet Land” at 7pm. Everything will take place in our
courtyard. Masks are welcome. Please RSVP here for attendance and
to sign up for bringing food.
15
Sunday, September 12 Prayers: Cora Scheel; Patricia Rauch, mother
of Gretchen Rauch;
for all affected by COVID; for all who died/whose lives were
changed by the trauma of 9/11; The men and women of the armed
forces; the people of Bethlehem
Monday, September 13 Readings: Psalm 119:169-176 | 1 Kings 13:1-10
| Romans 3:9-20
Prayers: Carol Inderbe, niece of Sandy Christy; Gale Mellum, father
of Eric Mellum; Sunny View Retirement Community (sunny-view.org);
Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (plts.edu)
Tuesday, September 14 Readings: Psalm 119:169-176 | 1 Kings
13:11-25 | Colossians 3:1-11
Prayers: Don Ostrus; LifeMoves (lifemoves.org);
Reconciliation Lutheran Church Center in Juba South Sudan
Wednesday, September 15 Readings: Psalm 119:169-176 | Isaiah
10:12-20 | John 7:25-36
Prayers: California Lutheran University
(callutheran.edu); Mt. Cross Lutheran
Camp (mtcross. org)
T hursday, September 16 Readings: Psalm 54 | Judges 6:1-10 | 1
Corinthians 2:1-5
Prayers:
Bayshore Christian Ministries (bayshore.org);
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
Friday, September 17 Readings: Psalm 54 | 1 Kings 22:24-40 | Romans
11:25-32
Prayers: South Palo Alto Food Closet; Ecumenical Hunger Program
(ehpcares.org)
Saturday, September 18 Readings: Psalm 54 | 2 Kings 17:5-18 |
Matthew 23:29-39
Prayers: Habitat for Humanity; Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (elca.org)
Sunday, September 19 Readings: Sunday | September 18-24 (Lectionary
25) | Jeremiah 11:18-20 or Wisdom
1:16—2:1, 12-22 | Psalm 54 | James 3:13—4:3, 7-8a | Mark
9:30-37
The foundational premise of this set of daily readings is their
relationship to the Sunday lectionary. The readings are chosen so
that the days leading up to Sunday prepare for the Sunday readings.
The days flowing out from Sunday reflect upon the Sunday readings.
Contact the church office (
[email protected]) to be included in
the prayer rotation.
daily prayers daily readings
3 David Horsma
7 Caylee Patterson
12 Marjorie Khosrovi
13 Hayden Hallada
14 Emily Swanson
16 David Luenberger
19 Michelle Geris
20 Donald Teeter
22 Michael Choma
24 Christina Ikner
25 Ruby Bragg
26 Barbara Pitkin
27 Friederike Wekel
Senior Pastor
Associate Pastor
Elizabeth Hood
Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual
License #SAS002368.
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. Revised Common Lectionary, Copyright © 1992
Consultation on Common Texts,
admin Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission.
Hymns and songs reprinted and livestreamed under OneLicense.net
Annual License # A-706409.
Cover Image: Praise to the Lord by Mike Moyers. Copyright © Mike
Moyers. All rights
reserved. Used by permission of the artist.
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This Week at Grace SUNDAY 8:30 am ••• Worship 9:45 am ••• Sunday
School & Generations of Grace Launch 10:45 am ••• Outdoor
Worship 7:00 pm ••• Prayer in the Style of Taizé
TUESDAY 7:00 am ••• Men’s Breakfast
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