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Home , Pentecost

Twentieth After Pentecost | Feast of St

God

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s Grace s

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Deb

Magelssen

Advent Lutheran Church, NYC October 18, 2020

Welcome to worship at ! We’re glad you’re here! To love and care for our neighbors, we are not gathering in person for worship. However, we are all together, united by Christ, even when we are separate.

Ways to engage throughout the service:

Space: So much of our living currently happens in one space. Consider designating worship time through the practice of lighting a candle, dimming the rest of the lights in the apartment, placing a cross (it can be homemade) or a on the table – something that is sacred to you that designates we are gathering for sacred worship.

Community: There is a comments section, use it to say hi to one another and check in. Post pictures of you or your household preparing for or engaging in worship. Church is God’s people gathered. So make yourself known and check in with each other in turn.

Music: The hymns are all printed in the bulletin. Sing so loudly your neighbors sing along!

Prayers of the People: During the of the People, type your prayers into the comments section. And commit to holding the request of at least one other person throughout the week.

Offering: Our ministry continues. Throughout this time, we continue to feed people. We continue to worship together. We continue to provide care for the whole community. Please consider continuing your financial contribution through online giving www.adventnyc.org/give or text to give at 917-994- 8568 and follow the instructions.

Communion: At Advent, when we gather, we celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion. Holy Communion is a cosmic event. There is a collapsing of time and space so that in that singular moment when you receive the body and the blood, you do so with every person who ever was, is and will be, in every time and place.

Rev. Tuhina Rasche says it best, “As a called an ordained minster of the church of Christ, I took an oath to not only responsibly administer the sacraments, I also took an oath to care for God’s people. In caring for God’s people, if folks at home lift up their elements in the midst of worship, I fully and wholly believe the to be at work to consecrate these elements. Yes, Jesus is at the right hand of God. And yes, even in elements consecrated in a virtual space, Jesus is in those elements as well. We cannot confine the moves of the Holy Spirit in community, even if that community is virtual.” During the consecration of the elements, you are invited to lift up bread and wine/juice in your home, and to commune when the words are spoken. Scripture tells us nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. This is the promise.

17 All the People of God speak the text in Bold (that’s you!) Worship leaders speak the text in regular type. | Italic Text provides explanation or instruction. * denotes an invitation to stand in body or spirit.

WELCOME

*GATHERING HYMN God of Grace and God of Glory

17 *GREETING

…the love of God, & the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Sovereign God, raise your throne in our hearts. Created by you, let us live in your image; created for you, let us act for your glory; redeemed by you, let us give you what is yours, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

FIRST READING: Isaiah 45:1-7 The prophet announces that Cyrus the Persian emperor is the one the LORD has anointed to end Israel’s exile. The LORD makes this choice so that the whole world will recognize this LORD as the only God. Persia had a god of light and a god of darkness; the LORD claims sovereignty over both light and darkness.

Thus says the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him and strip kings of their robes, to open doors before him— and the gates shall not be closed: I will go before you and level the mountains, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I surname you, though you do not know me. I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides me there is no god. I arm you, though you do not know me, so that they may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is no one besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe; I the LORD do all these things.

Word of God, word of life.

Thanks be to God.

17 SECOND READING: Luke 1:1-4; 24:44-53 These introductory and concluding verses of Luke’s provide us with the reason he is writing: so that we might know the truth about Jesus Christ who, in his suffering, death, and resurrection, fulfilled the ancient promises of God.

[Luke writes:] Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent , so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed.

[Before he ascended, Jesus said to the disciples and their companions:] “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of , the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from . You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.

* GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (2X)

17 *GOSPEL: Matthew 22:15-22 After Jesus begins teaching in the temple, religious leaders try to trap him with questions. First they ask if God’s people should pay taxes to an earthly tyrant like Caesar.

The Gospel according to St. Matthew. Glory to you O Lord.

Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap [Jesus] in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” “The emperor’s.,” they replied. Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

The Gospel of our Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

YOUNG DISCIPLE’S MESSAGE

SERMON Pastor Charles Miller

DISCIPLESHIP REFLECTION

HYMN OF THE DAY Humble Thyself in the Sight of the Lord

Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord. Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord. And God, will lift, you up, higher and higher. And God, will lift you up.

* Note: this hymn, like many, uses a male pronoun for God. No matter the pronoun we use, God is male and female and neither. God encompasses all gender and transcends all gender.

*PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

*PEACE

The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.

OFFERING

The financial gifts you give today are used for God’s ministry here at Advent and around the world. Your offerings enable our community to feed people, accompany immigrants and sojourners, teach and empower youth and children and create opportunities for people to know they are loved. You are invited to give online at www.adventnyc.org/give. Or text the amount you would like to give to our Text + Give number 917-994-8568. If you are a first time giver, follow the link to complete your gift. Let us give thanks to God.

17 OFFERTORY God of Region and of World Sang Maung Folktune from Myanmar Mallory King, voice Scott Zoid, viola da gamba God of region and of world, Make us one in love; for our land now we pray, Knowledge, truth, wisdom be our guide. humbly seek your blessing, our God. O Lord, let all nations prize your way; People free. Keep us in your peace, Safe from foes and from tyrants’ greed. Prosper this our land, Come, Lord, bless our leaders; Only place we can call our home. May they act rightfully. O Lord may your reign be soon fulfilled In our midst.

*OFFERTORY PRAYER

We offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us-ourselves, our time, and our possessions-signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of the One who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

*THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

God is with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift our hearts to God. Let us give thanks to our Living God! It is right to give our thanks and praise.

*THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE

*THE LORD'S PRAYER

We are one people who pray in many . We invite you to pray in the language you are most comfortable using when speaking to God (Spanish, German, Chinese, English, Arabic, etc). Like on the day of Pentecost, may our prayers rise like incense, diverse and yet united.

United by Jesus under one faith, but in many languages, let us pray as Jesus taught:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Padre nuestro que estás en el cielo, your name, your kingdom come, your santificado sea tu nombre. Venga tu will be done, on earth as in heaven. reino. Hágase tu voluntad en la tierra Give us today our daily bread. como en el cielo. Danos hoy nuestro pan Forgive us our sins as we forgive de cada día. Perdona nuestras ofensas those who sin against us. Save us como también nosotros perdonamos a from the time of trial and deliver us los que nos ofenden. No nos dejes caer from evil. For , the en tentación y líbranos del mal. Porque power, and the glory are yours, now tuyo es el reino, tuyo es el poder y tuya and forever. Amen. es la gloria, ahora y siempre. Amén.

17 THE DISTRIBUTION

Jesus is the host of this table and all are welcome. No matter who you are, or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome at God’s table. Come as you are. These gifts are for you.

*POST-COMMUNION BLESSING

*POST-COMMUNION PRAYER

We give you thanks, gracious God, that you have once again fed us with food beyond compare, the body and blood of Christ. Lead us from this place, nourished and forgiven, into your beloved vineyard to wipe away the tears of all who hunger and thirst, guided by the example of the same Jesus Christ and led by the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

*BENEDICTION

A CALL TO MISSION AND MINISTRY

Our mission is love. Our mission is to welcome all people to experience and live out God’s love.

Our strategy is community. Following the example of Jesus, our strategy is to practice authentic community that builds an inclusive faith.

Our vision is transformation. Our vision is to be a church where the Holy Spirit transforms peoples’ faith, the community and the world.

17 *SENDING HYMN Let Streams of Living Justice

the pow’rless find th-eir might.

*SENDING

You are the body of Christ raised up for the world. Go in peace. Share the good news. Thanks be to God!

POSTLUDE Ein Feste Burg , arr. Paul Manz

17 Let Streams of Living Justice. Text © 1989 William Whitla. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A724646God of region and of world: Falam Chin traditional melody, Myanmar. Text and English transcription by Sang Maung. © 1990, Christian Conference of , GIA Publications, Inc., agent. Used by permission, OneLicense.net #A724646.

Participants in Today’s Service

The People of God (That’s You!) Preaching/Presiding: Pastor Charlies Miller Assisting: Pastor Danielle Miller, Lynne Henderson Lector: Maya Nieberger Virtual Greeter: Lynne Henderson, Maya Nieberger Minister of Music: Frank Martignetti Musicians: Lauren Lester, Dorothy Trigg, Mallory King, Scot Zoid, Cameron Rasmussen, & Surprise Guests! Technical Team and Communications: Kevin Bowen Park Leaders: Anna Mizzi, Dorothy Trigg Zoom Leaders: Frank Martignetti Coffee Hour Leader: Lynne Henderson

Looking to get involved? Go to www.adventnyc.org/next 2504 Broadway at 93rd Street New York, NY 10025 (212) 665-2504 Sundays: 11:00am, & 12:30pm (in Spanish) www.adventnyc.org

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