St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church Sunday August 23, 2020 “Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost” 9:00 Worship
Our Mission:
REACHING OUT – SHARING GRACE
Our Purpose: St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church is a family that loves to serve the Lord as we grow in faith, serving the neighborhood with glocal projects.
1015 Lancaster Lane Lincoln, Nebraska 68505 (402)483-1692 standrewslutheran.net Rev. Kimberlee Osborn, Pastor
St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church Sunday August 23, 2020 GATHERING
WELCOME/ANNOUNCEMENTS
CHURCH CHAT Jody Busse
GATHERING SONG “Here As In Heaven” The atmosphere is changing now For the Spirit of the Lord is here The evidence is all around That the Spirit of the Lord is here The atmosphere is changing now For the Spirit of the Lord is here The evidence is all around That the Spirit of the Lord is here Overflow in this place Fill our hearts with your love Your love surrounds us You're the reason we came To encounter your love Your love surrounds us! Fill our hearts with your love Your love surrounds us You're the reason we came To encounter your love Your love surrounds us! Spirit of God fall fresh on us We need your presence Your kingdom come, your will be done Here as in heaven Spirit of God fall fresh on us We need your presence Your kingdom come, your will be done Here as in heaven Spirit of God fall fresh on us We need your presence Your kingdom come, your will be done Here as in heaven! Here as in heaven, Lord Sweep through this place, Lord Sweep through this place, Lord Heaven come to earth Heaven come to earth Kingdom come A miracle can happen now For the Spirit of the Lord is here The evidence is all around That the Spirit of the Lord is here “Here as In Heaven” by Christopher Brown/Wade Joye/Steven Furtick / Matthews Thabo Ntele / Mack Brock. © 2014 Essential Music Publishing. CCLI #1177228. GREETING L 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. PRAYER OF THE DAY L O God, C with all your faithful followers of every age, we praise you, the rock of our life. Be our strong foundation and form us into the body of your Son, that we may gladly minister to all the world, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. SHARING OF THE PEACE L The peace of Christ be with you always. C And also with you.
WORD READING Isaiah 51:1-6 1Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness, you that seek the LORD. Look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug. 2Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, but I blessed him and made him many. 3 For the LORD will comfort Zion; he will comfort all her waste places, and will make her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song. 4Listen to me, my people, and give heed to me, my nation; for a teaching will go out from me, and my justice for a light to the peoples. 5I will bring near my deliverance swiftly, my salvation has gone out and my arms will rule the peoples; the coastlands wait for me, and for my arm they hope. 6Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and those who live on it will die like gnats; but my salvation will be forever, and my deliverance will never be ended. L Word of God, word of Life! C Thanks be to God! PSALM Psalm 138 L I give you thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; C I bow down towards your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness; for you have exalted your name and your word above everything. L On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul. C All the kings of the earth shall praise you, O LORD, for they have heard the words of your mouth. L They shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD. C For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly; but the haughty he perceives from far away. L Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; you stretch out your hand, and your right hand delivers me. C The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. GOSPEL Matthew 16:13-20 13Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. L The gospel of the Lord! C Praise to you, O Christ! SERMON
SONG OF THE DAY “Built on a Rock” #652 Built on a rock the church shall stand, even when steeples are falling; Crumbled have spires in ev'ry land, bells still are chiming and calling— calling the young and old to rest, calling the souls of those distressed, longing for life everlasting. Surely, in temples made with hands God the Most High is not dwelling— high in the heav'ns his temple stands, all earthly temples excelling. Yet he who dwells in heav'n above deigns to abide with us in love, making our bodies his temple. Christ builds a house of living stones: we are his own habitation; he fills our hearts, his humble thrones, granting us life and salvation. Where two or three will seek his face, he in their midst will show his grace, blessings upon them bestowing. Yet in this house, an earthly frame, Jesus the children is blessing; hither we come to praise his name, faith in our Savior confessing. Jesus to us his Spirit sent, making with us his covenant, granting his children the kingdom. Through all the passing years, O Lord, grant that, when church bells are ringing, many may come to hear your Word, who here this promise is bringing:
"I know my own, my own know me; you, not the world, my face shall see; my peace I leave with you. Amen."
APOSTLES’ CREED 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 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 MEAL CONFESSION & FORGIVENESS L When we look to the rock from which we were cut, and to the quarry from which we were dug, we see our ancestors Abraham and Sarah, who were alone until God blessed them and made them many! C When we look to the cornerstone of the church, we see Christ, the Son of the Living God. Beginning with Peter, God has made us into living stones. God’s house will stand forever! L Brothers and sisters, with hope in the mercies of God, we confess our sins before God and one another...Merciful God,
C we confess that we have conformed our lives to the ways of the world and not the ways of your kingdom. We think of ourselves too highly and regard others as lowly. L We exalt possessions and power, when you alone are to be exalted. C We let conflicts prevail over grace and divisions over harmony. L Have mercy upon us, we pray. C Forgive us and transform us, that we may be holy and acceptable to you, discerning and doing your will. Through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen. L The steadfast love of the Lord never ends. When we call out to God, God answers. C God saves us with a strong and outstretched hand. In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and helped to live in grace. Amen! Thanks be to God! CALL TO THE TABLE “You Are Holy” #525 You are holy, you are whole. You are always ever more than we ever understand. You are always at hand. Blessed are you coming near. Blessed are you coming here to your church in wine and bread, raised from soil, raised from dead. You are holy, you are wholeness, you are present. Let the cosmos praise you, Lord! Sing hosanna in the highest! Sing hosanna! Sing hosanna to our God! WORDS OF INSTITUTION LORD’S PRAYER WORDS AFTER COMMUNION L May the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ give us strength for today and hope for tomorrow. C Amen. PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION L God of the welcome table, in this meal we have feasted on your goodness and have been united by your presence among us. Empower us to go forth sustained by these gifts so that we may share your neighborly love with all, through Jesus Christ, the giver of abundant life. C Amen. SENDING BLESSING L Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. God, the creator, ☩ Jesus, the Christ, and the Holy Spirit, the comforter, bless you and keep you in eternal love. C Amen. SENDING SONG “Who You Say I Am” Who am I that the highest King Would welcome me? I was lost but he brought me in Oh his love for me, Oh his love for me Who the Son sets free, Oh is free indeed I'm a child of God, Yes I am Free at last, he has ransomed me His grace runs deep While I was a slave to sin Jesus died for me Yes he died for me Who the Son sets free, Oh is free indeed I'm a child of God, Yes I am In my Father's house There's a place for me I'm a child of God Yes I am I am chosen, Not forsaken I am who you say I am You are for me, Not against me I am who you say I am I am chosen, Not forsaken I am who you say I am You are for me, Not against me I am who you say I am Oh, I am who you say I am Yes, I am who you say I am In my Father's house There's a place for me I'm a child of God Yes I am In my Father's house There's a place for me I'm a child of God Yes I am “Who You Say I Am” by Ben Fielding/Reuben Morgan. c. 2017 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia. CCLI #1177228. DISMISSAL L Jesus asks each of us: Who do you say that I am? C Our response is more than words. It is the choices we make and how we live our lives. L This day and all our days, C let every word we speak and every action we perform confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. L Go in peace. Live in love. Love to serve. C We go with hope, Reaching Out--Sharing Grace! Thanks be to God!
The Offering Prayer and Confession are reprinted by permission of Westminster John Knox Press from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion © 2012. The Prayer of the Day, Prayer after Communion, and Blessing are reprinted from Sundays and Seasons © 2019 Augsburg Fortress.
COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS AUGUST 2020 1. Charlotte Pasco came to Council to talk about improvements to the parsonage. Charlotte named the top three things she has been asked to address: to level the uneven sidewalks at the church (which is now completed), remove the carpet from the parsonage and restore the floors where possible (2 of the 3 bedrooms are done and we are awaiting bids for the floors in the living room, dining room, and kitchen), and replace the windows in the parsonage dining room. The windows in the living room also need to be replaced, as the frames are disintegrating. Charlotte recommends these windows be replaced with a solid wall. 2. Pam Dill came to Council to request permission for the Quilters to meet at the church. They have a plan for social distancing, wearing masks, and for sanitizing the space after use. 3. Nancy Weller came to Council to request permission for an Outreach Project for God’s Work Our Hands on Sept 13. She also expressed a desire for Council to revisit the idea of having in-person gatherings, including worship. 4. For July 2020 regular giving was $1598.02 under the budget estimate. Year to date regular giving is under the budget estimate by $16,232.48 Special giving for July was $310.00. Monthly giving overall is down because of the pandemic. Thank you for your continued faithfulness in supporting the ministry of St. Andrew’s with your gifts. 5. Checking opening balance was $4866.61 and closing at the end of July was $1960.10. Savings opened the month at $51,403.73 and closed at $45,004.17. Greg had to transfer $6000 to help cover payroll in July. Now that the offerings have been counted and deposited, the $6000 will be moved back to savings. 6. Council voted and agreed unanimously not to meet in person indoors for worship and to table this discussion for another month until more data from the resuming of school can be considered. 7. In considering the suggestion of outdoor worship, because of concerns about adequate sound support and the parameters Pastor described, namely that outdoor worship would only include prayers, scriptures, and sermon and exclude all singing and communion, and that masks over the nose and mouth and social distancing would be required at all times, out of concern that the congregation will be disappointed by this option, Council voted unanimously to table this discussion until September, once again deferring to the COVID counts that may rise due to the resuming of school. 8. Council unanimously agreed to establish a set of guidelines for the use of our building by St. Andrew’s groups that are in compliance with Directed Health Measures (DHM). Council agreed starting with smaller groups might be a better way to start resuming in-person gatherings. A form will be developed for members of groups to sign to agree to certain parameters for in- person gatherings, including wearing a mask over nose and mouth at all times while in the building and on campus, maintaining a minimum of 6 feet of social distancing between persons, and sanitizing hard surfaces, door knobs, and light switches before exiting the space. Council has unanimously voted for Zoom to be utilized whenever possible to conduct the work and business of the church. 9. Council empowered Executive Team to review written requests for use of St. Andrew’s building/campus as laid out in our soon-to-be-established “Health and Safety Guidelines,” and to that end, Executive Team will meet no more than once a week to review and approve/deny/ask for more information on these submitted requests. All requests must be submitted in writing/email, and at this time, all requests are limited to St. Andrew’s groups only. Council passed the motion unanimously. 10. St. Andrew’s will host the General Election as a polling place on November 3. The Fellowship Hall will be closed for the rest of the week, due to COVID-19 contamination concerns. 11. Council approved the replacement of the dining room windows with new windows in the parsonage. 12.Council approved the construction of a wall in the living room to replace the windows that are not airtight and whose frames are disintegrating.
ANNOUNCEMENTS OUR CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY SURROUNDS the Rockel Family at the death of Shirley on August 20. Funeral arrangements are pending. PASTOR KIM will be on vacation beginning August 24 and will return to the office on September 1. If you desire pastoral care while she is away, please call the church office or Council President Jody Busse (402-440-3229) to be connected to the pastor on-call. ONE DAY WITHOUT SHOES: St. Andrew’s will again be participating with Cornhusker Bank in the collection of shoes for those at the People’s City Mission. A barrel will be in the entry by the office between August 28 and September 12. Please bring new or gently used footwear to fill the barrel. Reminder: our office hours are currently 8:00am-12:00 noon, Tuesday through Friday. SUNDAY SCHOOL is being held every Sunday at 10:00am via Zoom. Tune in on Zoom Room # 951 5888 0642. Or click this link: https://zoom.us/j/95158880642 Hope you’ll join in!