CALL TO WORSHIP PSALM 119:33–40
Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes, and I shall keep it to the end.
Give me understanding, and I shall keep your teaching;
I shall keep it with all my heart.
Lead me in the path of your commandments, for that is my desire.
Incline my heart to your decrees and not to unjust gain.
Turn my eyes from beholding falsehood; give me life in your way.
Fulfill your promise to your servant, which is for those who fear you.
Turn away the reproach that I dread, because your judgments are good.
Behold, I long for your commandments; by your righteousness enliven me.
GATHERING SONGS “Earth and All Stars” #731
Earth and All Stars
Earth and all stars, loud rushing planets, sing to the Lord a new song!
O victory, loud shouting army, sing to the Lord a new song!
He has done marvelous things. I, too, will praise him with a new song!
Hail, wind, and rain, loud blowing snowstorms, sing to the Lord a new song!
Flowers and trees, loud rustling dry leaves, sing to the Lord a new song!
He has done marvelous things. I, too, will praise him with a new song!
Trumpet and pipes, loud clashing cymbals, sing to the Lord a new song!
Harp, lute, and lyre, loud humming cellos, sing to the Lord a new song!
He has done marvelous things. I, too, will praise him with a new song!
Knowledge and truth, loud sounding wisdom, sing to the Lord a new song!
Daughter and son, loud praying members, sing to the Lord a new song!
He has done marvelous things. I, too, will praise him with a new song.
Herbert F. Brokering (b. 1926). Tune: © 1968, Augsburg Fortress Text: © 1968, Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the ☩ holy Trinity,
the one who fashions us,
the one who heals us,
the one who reforms us again and again.
Amen.
Let us confess our sin, calling for God's transforming power.
Silence for reflection and self-examination.
Source of all life,
we confess that we have not allowed your grace to set us free.
We fear that we are not good enough.
We hear your word of love freely given to us,
yet we expect others to earn it.
We turn the church inward, rather than moving it outward.
Forgive us. Stir us.
Reform us to be a church powered by love,
willing to speak for what is right,
act for what is just, and seek the healing of your whole creation. Amen.
God hears our cry and sends the Spirit to change us and to empower our lives in the world.
Your sins are forgiven, ☩ God’s love is unconditional, and you are raised up as God’s people
who will always be made new, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray. O Lord God, enliven and preserve your church with your perpetual mercy. Without your help, we mortals will fail; remove far from us everything that is harmful, and lead us toward all that gives life and salvation, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
BLESSING OF THE BACKPACKS
Dear God,
as we get ready to start another year in school,
we ask your blessing on these backpacks,
and especially on these children who will wear them.
As they do the very important work of being students,
bless them with:
eagerness to learn, that their world may grow large;
respect for teachers and students,
that they may form healthy relationships;
bless them with love for nature,
that they may become caretakers of your creation;
bless them with happiness when learning is easy
and stick-to-it-iveness when it is hard;
bless them with faith in Jesus as their best teacher and
closest friend.
We ask that you would protect these, your own children.
Watch over them and keep them safe
as they travel to and from school.
As they learn, help them also to discover
the different gifts that you have given each one of them
to be used in your work in the world.
As they hear the many voices that will fill their days,
help them to listen most carefully for your voice,
the one that tells them you will love them always,
no matter what.
We ask this in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Copyright © 2020 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS006385.
THE FIRST LESSON: Ezekiel 33:10–11
Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel, Thus you have said: "Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?"
Say to them, As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked,
but that the wicked turn from their ways and live;
turn back, turn back from your evil ways;
for why will you die, O house of Israel?
Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.
THE SECOND LESSON: Romans 13:8–14
Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet"; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.
Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL INVITATION “Thy Word”
THE GOSPEL FOR THE DAY: Matthew 18:15–20
The holy gospel according to Saint Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord.
If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON “Two or Three” Pastor Phil Wold
HYMN OF THE DAY “You are Mine” #581
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
THE SIGN OF PEACE IS SHARED
The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.
THE OFFERING AND OFFERING PRAYER
Let us pray. Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts: our selves, our time, and our possessions. Use us, and what we have gathered, in feeding the world with your love, through the one who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
THE LORD'S PRAYER
BLESSING
SENDING SONG “Thy Holy Wings” #613
SENDING
Go in peace. God is at work in you. Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
Altar Flowers: A donation has been made to Lutheran World Relief by Florence and Vern Kluck in loving memory of our son Neal and our grandson’s father David Schwabauer.
From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2023 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #26385. 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.