CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 112
Hallelujah! Happy are they who fear the LORD
and have great delight in God's commandments!
Their descendants will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches will be in their house,
and their righteousness will last forever.
Light shines in the darkness for the upright;
the righteous are merciful and full of compassion.
It is good for them to be generous in lending
and to manage their affairs with justice.
For they will never be shaken;
the righteous will be kept in everlasting remembrance.
They will not be afraid of any evil rumors;
their heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
Their heart is established and will not shrink,
until they see their desire upon their enemies.
They have given freely to the poor, and their righteousness stands fast forever;
they will hold up their head with honor.
The wicked will see it and be angry; they will gnash their teeth and pine away;
the desires of the wicked will perish.
GATHERING SONG “God of Tempest, God of Whirlwind” # 400
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity,☩ one God,
whose steadfast love endures forever.
Amen.
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Merciful God,
we confess that we have not followed your path
but have chosen our own way.
Instead of putting others before ourselves,
we long to take the best seats at the table.
When met by those in need,
we have too often passed by on the other side.
Set us again on the path of life.
Save us from ourselves
and free us to love our neighbors.
Amen.
Hear the good news!
God does not deal with us according to our sins
but delights in granting pardon and mercy.
In the name of ☩ Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven.
You are free to love as God loves.
Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray. O God, you resist those who are proud and give grace to those who are humble. Give us the humility of your Son, that we may embody the generosity of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen
FIRST LESSON: Proverbs 25:6–7
Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence
or stand in the place of the great;
for it is better to be told, "Come up here,"
than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.
Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.
SECOND LESSON: Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you. " So we can say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?" Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL: Luke 14:1, 7-14
The holy gospel according to Saint Luke. Glory to you, O Lord.
On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.
When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give this person your place,’ and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." He said also to the one who had invited him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON Table Manners Pastor Phil Wold
HYMN OF THE DAY “All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly” #461
APOSTLES’ CREED
OFFERING AND OFFERING PRAYER
Let us pray. God of all creation, all you have made is good, and your love endures forever. You bring forth bread from the earth and fruit from the vine. Nourish us with these gifts, that we might be for the world signs of your gracious presence in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE SERVICE OF PRAYERS FOR HEALING
In response to the Word of God, we pray for those in need, and ask God's blessing on those who seek healing and wholeness through Christ our Lord.
God the Father, you desire the health and salvation of all people.
We praise you and thank you, O Lord.
God the Son, you came that we might have life, and might have it more abundantly.
We praise you and thank you, O Lord.
God the Holy Spirit, you make our bodies the temples of your presence.
We praise you and thank you, O Lord.
Holy Trinity, one God, in you we live and move and have our being.
We praise you and thank you, O Lord.
Lord, grant your healing grace to all who are sick, injured, or disabled, that they may be made whole; hear us, O Lord of life.
Grant to all who are lonely, anxious, or despondent, the awareness of your presence; hear us, O Lord of life.
Mend broken relationships, and restore those in emotional distress to soundness of mind and serenity of spirit; hear us, O Lord of life.
Bless physicians, nurses, and all who minister to the suffering; grant them wisdom and skill, sympathy and patience; hear us, O Lord of life.
Grant to the dying a peaceful, holy death, and with your grace strengthen those who mourn; hear us, O Lord of life.
Restore to wholeness whatever is broken in our lives, in this nation, and in the world; hear us, O Lord of life.
Hear us, O Lord of life: heal us, and make us whole.
Gracious God, in baptism you anointed us with the oil of salvation, and joined us to the death and resurrection of your Son. Bless all who seek your healing presence in their lives. In their suffering draw them more deeply into the mystery of your love, that following Christ in the way of the cross they may know the power of his resurrection; who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen
THE SIGN OF PEACE IS SHARED
The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.
NOISY OFFERING
THE LORD’S PRAYER
BLESSING
SENDING SONG “Shine, Jesus, Shine” #671
SENDING
Go in peace. Serve the Lord. Thanks be to God.
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