SUNDAYS IN THE SEASON OF CREATION
Wonder, Despair, HOPE, Resolve, St. Francis
September 15, 2024
10:00 a.m
PRELUDE Sounds of the Sea
GATHERING
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
He gives power to the faint and strengthens the powerless.
Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
We shall mount up with wings like eagles;
We shall run and not be weary;
We shall walk and not faint. From Isaiah 40
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
WE GATHER IN HOPE
Hope Is it possible to have hope in such dire times? Jerome Groopman, in The Anatomy of Hope says, “To hope under the most extreme circumstances is an act of defiance.” Let us stand defiantly in our hope and trust in God as the one who makes us His own, the one who adopt us. Romans 8: 19-25
To have hope is to believe that history continues open to the dream of God and to human creativity.
To have hope is to continue affirming that it is possible to dream a different world, without hunger, without injustice, without discrimination.
To have hope is to be a messenger of God, tearing down walls, destroying borders, building bridges,
To have hope is to believe in the revolutionary potential of faith.
To have hope is to leave the door open so that the Spirit can enter and make all things new.
To have hope is to believe that life wins over death.
To have hope is to begin again as many times as necessary.
To have hope is to believe that hope is not the last thing that dies.
To have hope is to believe that hope cannot die, that hope no longer dies.
To have hope is to live. Missionary Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo, Honduras
GATHERING HYMN Lord of All Hopefulness
Verse 2 lower voices Verse 3 higher voices
GREETING
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy
Spirit be with you all. And also with you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, you are the true sun of the universe, ever rising, never setting. You are the source of all life, hope and health. With your glance you generate, preserve, nourish, sustain and inspire all things both in heaven and on earth. Dawn in our souls, that the night of our misdeeds and the clouds of our errors may be dispelled. With your light within us and before us, may we go through all of life without offense, walking soberly as in the day, made pure from all the works of darkness. Amen Erasmus 1466-1536
PASTOR’S 5th FLC ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
LESSON FROM THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES Isaiah 40:28-29, 31
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless.
31 but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Word of God. Word of Life. Thanks be to God.
PSALM FOR CREATION The Estuary Round Rev. Bill Radatz
honoring the Tijuana Estuary
To the tune of The Tallis Canon The Cantor will sing verse one, Congregation repeats in unison. Then the Choir will lead verse two, Congregation joins in canon style at the asterisk.
This place of river, sea and sky
Calls me to be its watchful eye.
To care for creatures, great and small
And guard this land as gift for all.
To fish that swim * within the sea
This place is like a nursery.
Their young grow strong and find their food
In marsh and mud and tidal pools.
The birds that fly * along the coast
Stop here to rest, their songs to boast.
San Piper, Egret, Clapper Rail
And Snowy Plover tell their tale.
The plants that grow * upon this land
In water, fresh and salt, must stand.
This makes them quite a hardy bunch
That creatures like to eat for lunch.
This place an Es * tuary be
Where river waters meet the sea,
Where good things grow and life abounds
Which help to make this world go round.
LESSON FROM THE EPISTLES OF ST. PAUL: Romans 8: 19-25
19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; 20for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; 23and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Word of God. Word of Life. Thanks be to God
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Holy, Holy, Holy, Santo, Santo, Santo
Congregation will sing the verse twice before and once after the reading of the Gospel.
You may either sing in English or Spanish as you feel called.
GOSPEL READING: Matthew 4: 12-17 Glory to you, O God
Out of despair over John’s arrest, Jesus goes to Capernaum by the sea to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy that he will bring hope, “a great light” for those in darkness. After this, he calls for repentance since “the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the lake, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15 ‘Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned.’
17From that time Jesus began to proclaim, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
TODAY’S MESSAGE Refuge Libretto by Bil Wright ©2024
Music by Dionne McClain-Freeney
For translation of the opera, refer to the bulletin here
Or https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Yo-9jIpnd3P5xnHh2T_mNGUQUGRg3gAkG1QxjaIveYU/edit?usp=sharing
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION Óyenos, Señor before and after prayers
*after each petition:
Hear us, O God. Your Mercy Is Great.
APOSTLE’S CREED
With the whole church, let us confess our faith.
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.
EXCHANGE OF PEACE
The Peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.
OFFERING
Give online using the QR code to the right
Offering Music
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 GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
PROPER PREFACE
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God,
…join their unending hymn:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
In the night in which he was betrayed, …
…almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy church, both now and forever. Amen.
THE LORD'S PRAYER
Lord, remember us in your Kingdom and teach us to pray:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
AGNUS DEI Lamb of God
COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION First Lutheran invites all who trust that God is somehow present in the bread and wine, however full of mystery that might be for you, to join us at the Table of Grace and Thanksgiving. In the center of each tray there is white grape juice for those who prefer. We also have gluten free wafers. If you wish for those please indicate when you reach Pastor.
COMMUNION MUSIC For the Beauty of the Earth
COMMUNION BLESSING AND PRAYER
Now may the body and blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. Amen.
Jesus, Bread of life, we have received from your table more than we could ever ask. As you have nourished us in this meal, now strengthen us to love the world with your own life. In your name we pray.
Amen.
SENDING SONG Beautiful Savior
BENEDICTION & DISMISSAL
The Aaronic Blessing: from the book of Numbers 6:22-27
We shall go out in joy
and be led back in peace;
the mountains and the hills before us shall burst into song,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. From Isaiah 55
POSTLUDE Beautiful Savior Grand Postlude Excerpts - David Cherwien /
Diane Bish
Chosen especially for today's service and in Honor of Pastor Kurt who especially loves this hymn for many reasons. As Music Director of FLC, I am honored and grateful to work under his leadership in making things happen here at FLC and truly opening doors to All People. His collaboration and creativity with Music&Arts@3rd&Ash is a gift to this Community. Today's service including the prolific work of Bil Wright and Dionne MCClain-Freeney is an example of how an arts ministry led by Pastor Kurt is wonderfully knit into the fabric of liturgy and the Season of Creation. - Bill Engel
Rev. Kurt Christenson, Pastor
Bill Engel, Music Director
Earl Vaults, Tenor Saxophone
Trevor Patricia Watkin, Flute
Jan Neuhaus, Cantor
Joann Masters, Lector
Chuck Leib, Assisting Minister
David Pohl, Paul Engel, Jan Neuhaus, Billie Thompson,
Joann Masters, and Randy & Joyce Sensmeier, Singers
Brian Jensen, Jaime Quezada Moysen, Genette McGowan,
Rebecca Kjonegaard, Melodie Baker, Tech team
Dan Kjonegaard, Ruth Clayton, Melinda Person, Ushers
Fellowship Snacks: Potluck!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
TODAY After Worship: Pastor Kurt and Colleen’s 5th FLC Anniversary Celebration
This fall we celebrate Pastor Kurt and Colleen’s 5th anniversary in our FLC family! Please join us after worship for a potluck fellowship luncheon to honor them.
TODAY after worship: Get out the Vote Postcard Writing to AZ - Thrivent Funded
On September 15th while fellowshipping and celebrating 5 years of ministry with Pastor Kurt, there will be an opportunity to write Get Out the Vote postcards to voters in AZ. Please join in at one of the tables to write some postcards (script provided) and/or pick up a packet of 25 postcards to write at home (instructions provided). We’ve got 500 names and addresses, 500 postcards and 500 stamps to Get Out the Vote! We need 20 people to write 25 postcards each between now and mail out day, October 24th. In the words of inspirational Michelle Obama, Let’s do Something together. Questions or if you need to arrange pick up of a packet, contact Colleen Kramer at colleen.kramer@gmail.com. See you there!
New FLC Website is LIVE!
The new website is now live at the same address: www.firstlutheransd.org. Access the member area by clicking "I'm a member/Login to FLC" on the home page. If you need a login, please complete the Google form linked in Heartbeat. We are not allowing people to self-register at this time so that we can manage privacy and access settings. All Volunteers: Be on the lookout for a login email to set up your accounts in the coming two weeks.
September 22 after worship
Bridging the Political Gap: Standing Firm Without Judgment
The political season is upon us and if you are like me, it is hard to hear the news without feelings of righteousness and judgment. I have become fascinated with the question of, “How do I stand strong in my beliefs without passing judgment on others?” If this is something that interests you too, please join Deacon Margy Schmitt Ajer and me, Kaaren Nyberg, on September 22nd for a post-service, guided discussion with the hope of taking a step to bridge the political gap.
September 29 after worship: Conclusion of It’s Not the End of the World
Our forums the past two Sundays took time to consider Hannah Ritchies book Not The End of The World: We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet. Ms. Ritchie is a Climate Scientist at Oxford. Her premise is that while the state of our climate is in serious danger we need to stop engaging in doomsday thinking and look at the data. She shares how, over a wide range of topics, our actions are making a positive difference. While there is work to be done there is much to celebrate. While full of data, her focus is to make things understandable for the layperson. She has done well. The book is great or you may wish to watch her 15 minute TED Talk. There are other interviews available on YouTube. One I particularly enjoyed was on British Channel 4 Replacing Eco-Anxiety with Cautious Optimism.
New Bibles for the Library
Friends, it should not come as a big surprise that over the years the Bibles in our Library, which once filled a whole shelf or two, have drifted away. With regular Bible Study being conducted every Sunday, it’s time to order a new batch. In my search for a reasonably priced hardcover New Revised Standard Version bible I stumbled on this edition annotated by no other than Jimmy Carter. The cost of each bible is $10 which includes shipping. We ordered 20 for the library and are asking for donations to cover the cost. If you give cash please attach a note saying what it’s for. You may also donate online through Tithely, choosing "Books and Subscriptions" from the drop-down menu. You may also, if you wish, make a dedication in honor or memory which will be included on a book plate.
Book Group News
In this month’s selection, The Sentence by Louise Erdrich*, a small independent bookstore in Minneapolis* is haunted from November 2019 to November 2020 by Flora, the store's most annoying customer. She dies on All Souls' Day, but simply won't leave the store. Tookie, who has landed a job at the bookstore after years of incarceration (that she survived by reading "with murderous attention”) must solve the mystery of this haunting—while coping with all that occurs in Minneapolis during a year of grief, astonishment, isolation, and furious reckoning. Says one reviewer: "Erdrich's playful wit and casual style belie a seriousness of purpose, which in this case, entails tackling the pandemic, the death of George Floyd, the trials of doing time in prison and not least, the power of books to change lives.” Join us as we meet to discuss this witty ghost story on Thursday, September 19, 4:00PM in the church library. Chuck Leib and Sharon Province will host. All are welcome!
*Louise Erdrich, a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and an award-winning author, is herself the owner of a small independent bookstore in Minneapolis, called Birch Bark Books.
Sunday Morning Bible Study Class every week 9:00 in the Library
We’ve recently begun a study on the Gospel of Mark. Mark is regarded as the oldest Gospel. Having likely been written before the others it is also the shortest and most direct of the four stories of Jesus. Mark is known for frequently employing the word immediately. In Mark, Jesus and the Disciples have no time to waste as they share the extraordinary new reality of God’s grace now embodied in the flesh. Please join us!
Children, Youth, and Family Corner
Grab a bag! Children’s worship bags will be available to grab on your way into the sanctuary, filled with quiet activities to do during worship. Those marked with a heart are for children under 5. Those marked with a star are for older children.
Children’s Church: We invite children up to age 12 to a special time in the library during worship, from the scripture readings until the sharing of the peace.
TACO Bites
TACO’s Executive Director, Susan Fleming, has accepted a new position as Executive Director at The Door of Hope, a Salvation Army-run facility in the Kearny Mesa area that provides housing, medical and mental health support, and job opportunities for up to 400 men, women, and children experiencing homelessness. This is a significant step up for her. We are sorry to see Susan leave, but are happy that she'll continue to do great work for those experiencing and working their way out of homelessness. Lorena Gilligan, our current TACO administrator, will be stepping in on an interim basis.
This week at FLC
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Monday |
12:00 AA in the lounge 4:00 TACO meal and free clinics |
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Wednesday |
10:00 TACO Starbucks and snacks |
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Thursday |
12:00 Al Anon in the library |
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Friday |
9:00 TACO meal 12:00 AA in the library |
The Season of Creation was initiated in 1989 by the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Dimitrios I. In subsequent years with the Roman Catholic Church and the World Council of Churches, of which our Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is a partner, the Season has been a growing movement. It begins September 1st every year and lasts through the Feast of St. Francis.
You may read more about the season at www.seasonofcreation.org
First Lutheran is pleased to be an enthusiastic participant in the movement.
Refuge, a Chamber Opera
Concept, Libretto Bil Wright
Music by Dionne McClain-Freeney
Bass-Baritone Bryan Dahl (Reverend Munez) completed his MM at The Chicago College of Performing Arts in 2017. He has performed across the US, in Europe and Central America. He is delighted to be singing with First Lutheran.
Philip Gómez (Cop, Father) obtained his BA from UCSD and MM from SDSU. He has performed in San Diego, New York, and Tijuana. In January 2024 Mr. Gómez sang in the NWEAMO Festival; Tijuana portions were featured in a screening at the Digital Gym Cinema. In addition, Mr. Gómez has worked as a teaching artist at the San Diego Opera.
Jiachae McGee (Pascale) is a vocalist and double bassist based in San Diego, CA. Jiachae completed her BA in Music Education from Point Loma Nazarene University. She studied Double Bass with Bob Magnusson and studied voice with Craig Johnson and Amy Mein. Ms. McGee currently sings in Sacra Profana.
Michele Scanlon (Musical Director) served as a staff pianist at The Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia for thirty years. While there she was also on staff at Russian Opera Workshop and performed with The Savoy Company, Concert Operetta Theatre, Philadelphia Concert Opera and many other East Coast groups and performers. She also produced over 100 opera galas for the Tomasello Winery Opera Series. She moved to California to be with family and also serves as a lecturer in Opera at UCLA. Currently she is enjoying the vibrant arts community in San Diego and is performing regularly with such groups as Opera a la Carte, Opera Wednesdays, Cinballera Entertainment, Pianorama and Genesis Opera Theater, while also maintaining an active schedule playing for recitals and competitions.
Dionne McClain-Freeney (composer) is a pianist, composer, singer, choral director, and teaching artist. 2023 Drama Desk Nomination. She has appeared on numerous national and international stages, played in some of New York City’s most beloved churches, and accompanied a variety of artists from Broadway, television, and the recording industry. Her award-winning musical theater compositions and arrangements (New York Musical Theatre Festival; GLAAD Media Award nominee), including the music for The Sugar Hill Sisters (book and lyrics by Bil Wright), and music and lyrics for This One Girl’s Story (book by Bil Wright) have been featured on television and radio, and praised in several online and print publications. In 2016, Dionne headlined Joe’s Pub, and was one of the keyboardists that set the Guinness World Record for World’s Largest Electronic Keyboard Ensemble in 2013. You can find Dionne on Facebook at facebook.com/dionnemcclainfreeney or on Twitter @DMcClainFreeney.
Bil Wright (concept, libretto) novelist, playwright, poet. Putting Make-up on the Fat Boy (Lambda Literary Award for YA, American Library Association Stonewall Award) When the Black Girl Sings (Junior Library Guild Award Selection), Sunday You Learn How to Box, (New York Public Library Choice for Young Readers; Coretta King Celebrating the Dream List). Anthologies: Black Like Us (A Century of LGBT African American Fiction), Tough Acts to Follow. As a playwright: Bloodsummer Rituals, based on the life of poet Audre Lorde (Jerome Fellowship), Off Broadway This One Girl’s Story (GLAAD nominee) Lyricist/Book writer, The Movie Star and the Mammy, Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, Staged Readings: NYMTF, Black Arts Festival Old Globe Theater (2022 Black Writers/Director), (2023 It Really Is James Baldwin!/playwright), La Jolla Playhouse Without Walls Festival. Also, Millay Fellowship, Albee Fellowship. (Selected bio).
Contact Us
Pastor Kurt: 619-234-6149 ext. 2 or 619-323-7587 PastorKurt@firstlutheransd.org
Office hours best made by appointment.
Church Administrator (Erin): 619-234-6149 ext. 1 administrator@firstlutheransd.org
Office hours: M, T, Th: 2-5, W, F: 11-2
First Lutheran Church worships and works on the unceded territory
of the Kumeyaay People.
