Ascension Evangelical Lutheran Church Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod 4768 Union Deposit Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111 Office: 652-8285; cell: 319-5424; home: 732-2631; Email: [email protected] ; Church’s Website: www.ascension-wels.net; Pastor Robert Green; Officers: President: Gary Graf; Vice President: Chuck Thompson; Secretary: Ralph Buehler; Elders: Gary Graf, Chuck Thompson, Ralph Buehler, Rick Grove; Fellowship: Ron Althoff; Treasurer: Rick Grove; Properties: Larry Stoner; Publications: Terry Reilly; Stewardship: Franklin Stauffer; Organists: Marge Metz; Altar Guild: Barb Buehler; LWMS Reporter: Marge Metz; Choir director: Lori Nowaczyk.

August 20, 2017

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

Guests and Visitors! We are glad you are here. Please sign the guest book, located on the cabinet to your left as you leave the sanctuary, or fill out the guest card in the pew and put it in the offering plate. Please include your e-mail or mailing address, if you would like to be added to our weekly e-mail for sermons, bulletins and announcements. There is restroom and a nursery in the narthex.

For a personal prayer for before worship see page 10 in the hymnal Christian Worship.

The order of service for today is Service of the Word, found on page 38 in the front of the hymnal.

Service Introduction: Our Lord Jesus Christ graciously sup plies forgiveness for the soul and food for the body. The Christian is called to trust in God to provide both. The Christian uses the gifts and talents God has given him or her to work for food and he or she uses the Means of Grace to grow in faith. 1 Opening hymn: 353 Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness

Prayer of the Day: O God, you reveal your mighty power chiefly in showing mercy and kindness. Grant us the full measure of your grace that we may obtain your promises and become partakers of your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

First lesson: The Messiah is commissioned to call the nations into the mercies promised to David. The invitation is one of pure grace. For we had nothing to offer God ("no money") and our entire natural life could not pay for a morsel that could satisfy the needs of our soul. The gospel invitation calls us to the new, everlasting covenant which alone satisfies our soul: "Come, buy and eat ... without money and without cost. ... Listen ... Give ear ... hear me, that your soul may live."

Isaiah 55:1–5 (NIV84)

55 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. 3 Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you,

2 my faithful love promised to David. 4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of the peoples. 5 Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not know you will hasten to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.” Psalm 42-43 found on page 82 in the front of the hymnal. Believers confidently anticipate the restoration of fellowship with God after a time of turmoil and separation.

Second Lesson: The ultimate proof that God works for the good of those who love him may be seen in the persecution we bear as Christians. Normally, we would be powerless against persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword. But none of these things, in fact, nothing in all creation can "separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Even if our enemy were to take our life, we would be more than conquerors. Death for the Christian is the ultimate deliverance from all evil!

Romans 8:35–39 (NIV84)

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor

3 depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

After the reading of the verse of the day, the congregation joins in singing the Triple Alleluias, found on page 18.

Verse of the Day: Alleluia. Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” Alleluia. (John 14:23)

Gospel reading: This is the reading for the sermon.

Will you trust Jesus to bless your efforts to serve him?

Matthew 14:13–21 (NIV84)

13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” 16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. 18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and

4 the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Sermon hymn: 395 Seek Where You May to Find a Way

Sermon: by Pastor R. Green, read by Ralph Buehler, based on Matthew 14:13-21

Will you trust Jesus to bless your efforts to serve him?

Offering: During the offering the congregation joins in singing hymn: 480 Almighty Father, Heaven and Earth v. 2, 4, 5

The Prayer of the Church as found on page 127.

Prayers have been requested for:

For health issues for: Nan Uhlman, Lori Nowaczyk’ step- mother, for recovery from surgery for cancer; Mary Gustin, for cancer; Anthony Pockey, Lance’s father for cancer; Steve Lange for illness; Kathy Risley, a friend of Phyllis Cross, for stomach problems; Paul Kraft for heart; Betty Murray for heart; Birgit Peltzer, friend of Pastor and Jeanne; Jolynn Larson, for multiple sclerosis; for Steve Murray, for stroke; Ann Swan, for kidney problems; Sonia Schmidt for cerebral palsy; Evelyn Kraft for lung issues; Bob Leathe for arthritis, heart, and kidney issues; Faye Falcone Phyllis Cross’s sister for eyesight; Brenda Thompson for her knee; for Caleb for autism and back problems; Margret Negley; Grace Nitz for heart problems.

5 for the faith, health and welfare: Paul, Betty’s nephew, Christina Kurk; Erika Hauer, Kundry’s mother, Sharon Miller, Phyllis Cross’ niece; Patrick Collins; Pam Seed; Ryan Collins; Billy Martin; Cece Stoner, Larry’s mother, Chris and Heather and sons Dalton and Dane; Linda Helms; Allyssa Helms, Linda Helms granddaughter. for our world and home mission work; for our college student: Lori Nowaczyk; for those in the military: Matthew Easter, Brian Easter, Sarah Buehler; Alyssa Briggs; Dennis Willie; Lance Pockey; and Ralph Lounsbrough.

Next hymn: 565 There Still Is Room

Closing hymn: 332 Go, My Children, With My Blessing

A prayer for after worship from page 11 of Christian Worship, A Lutheran Hymnal:

Good Shepherd, I was glad to be here, gathered with your flock to worship you. Cause the Word I have heard to take root in my heart and bear fruit in my life. Guide me in paths of righteousness, that my words and actions might lead others to glorify you. Grant, O Lord, that the lips which have sung your praise may continue to glorify you in the world; that the ears which have heard you speak may be open always to your Word and closed to hatred and discord; that the tongues which have confessed your name may always speak the truth without fear; that all of us who have worshiped together today may be united in true love for each other as you have loved us in Jesus. Amen!

August Elder: Rick Grove August Ushers: Ron Althoff, Jerry Hawks August Church Cleaning Leader: Ron Althoff 6 Today, Sunday, August 20, 2017, at Ascension 9:15am Bible Class – Comparison of the Gospels 10:30am Worship Service with Communion

The week of August 21 at Ascension: Wednesday August 23rd: 5:30pm Catechism Class (Canceled) Thursday, August 24th: 10:30am Bible Study - Minor Prophets (Canceled) 7:30pm Bible Class at West Shore YMCA – “Grace Abounds” (Canceled) Sunday, August 27, 2017, at Ascension 9:15am Bible Class – Bible Lesson for Today’s Service 10:30am Worship Service

Birthdays: Eric Metz 26th Anniversaries: None

Special Announcement:

We are in dire need of 1 or 2 Sunday School teachers to cover the third Sunday of each month (September through May) in other words teaching 9 Sunday School lessons.

Church Sign Fund: Balance as of 8/6/2017 $8,750

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