SUNDAYS IN THE SEASON OF CREATION
Wonder, Despair, Hope, Resolve, Replant, St. Francis
September 29, 2024
10:00 a.m
PRELUDE Gather us in Improvisation
Day of Arising Raabe; setting by Mark Sedio
Christ our companion, hope for the journey,
bread of compassion, open our eyes.
Grant us your vision, set all hearts burning
that all creation with you may rise.
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 AT THE FONT FOR PRAYER AND PRAISE
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
For everything there is a season
And a time for every matter under heaven.
Therefore, if this is a time to be born, let us emerge from the womb with a cry;
If this is a time to die, let us say farewell with a smile.
If this is a time to plant, let us scatter the seed with a prayer;
If this is a time to harvest, let us reap the grain with a song.
If this is a time to break down, let us topple the walls with a shout.
If this is a time to build up, let us raise the foundation with care.
If this is a time to mourn, let us catch the tears with a chalice;
If this is a time to dance, let us leap the moon with a laugh.
If this is a time to embrace, let us wrap the world with a ribbon;
If this is a time to stand alone, let us face the crowd with a mirror.
If this is a time to be silent, let us proclaim the truth with a deed;
If this is a time to speak, let us counsel the words with the heart.
If this is a time to do battle, let us sustain the week with a vision;
If this is a time to make peace, let us anoint the wounds with a bomb.
If for everything there is a season,and a time for every matter under heaven;
O Lord teach us to know the times!
Phyllis Cole and Everett Tilson
GATHERING HYMN Gather Us In
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: Almighty God; you give seed for us to sow, and bread for us to eat; make us thankful for what we have received; make us rich to do those generous things which supply your people's needs; so all the world may give you thanks and Glory. Amen
Anglican Church of New Zealand
DISMISSAL TO CHILDREN’S CHURCH
LESSON FROM THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES Deuteronomy 24:17-21
17 You shall not deprive a resident alien or an orphan of justice; you shall not take a widow’s garment in pledge. 18Remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this. 19 When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be left for the alien, the orphan, and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all your undertakings. 20When you beat your olive trees, do not strip what is left; it shall be for the alien, the orphan, and the widow. 21 When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, do not glean what is left; it shall be for the alien, the orphan, and the widow.
Word of God. Word of Life. Thanks be to God.
A CONTEMPORARY VOICE Rev. Bill Radatz
A MODERN PSALM The Estuary Round (honoring the Tijuana Estuary)
By Bill Radatz. 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
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 Estuary 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: James 2:5-8, 14-18
5 Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? 7Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you? 8 You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? 15If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, 16and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill’, and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? 17So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith.
Word of God. Word of Life. Thanks be to God
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Hallelujah Heleluyan
GOSPEL READING: Mark 9:30-37 Glory to you, O God
30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; 31for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, ‘The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.’ 32But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.
33 Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the way?’ 34But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. 35He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, ‘Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.’ 36Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, 37‘Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON Rev. Kurt R. Christenson
HYMN OF THE DAY Every Planet, Star and Stone Thomas H. Troeger
Sung to the tune of Holy God We Praise Thy Name : Grosser Gott
Every planet, star and stone,
every atom charged and spinning,
every cell of blood and bone
trace to you, God, their beginning.
To exist in time and space
is itself a gift of grace.
But as if our breath and birth
and the joy of simple living
were not gifts enough for earth,
you outdo yourself in giving:
from your Word that made all things
love unbounded flows and springs.
Sweeping currents stir and guide
and renew our rich tradition
through the nurture they provide
for our churches work and Mission.
Drinking from Christ's constant streams,
we gain strength to live our dreams.
For each planet, star and stone,
for the gift of our existence,
for your love that we have known
as a flowing stream’s persistence,
we will live and end our days,
every heartbeat giving praise!
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
*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 button at the top right.
Offering Music God Whose Farm is All Creation setting Mark Sedio
All our labour, all our watching, all our calendar of care,
in these crops of your creation, take, O God: they are our prayer.
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,
through our Savior Jesus Christ; who on this day overcame death and the grave,
and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life.
And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and 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, …
Remembering, then, his death and resurrection, we take this bread and cup,
giving you thanks that you have made us worthy to stand before you and to serve you as your priestly people.
Send your Spirit upon these gifts of your church; gather into one all who share this bread and wine; fill us with your Holy Spirit to establish our faith in truth,
that we may praise and glorify you through your Son Jesus Christ; through whom all glory and honor are yours, 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 The Reign of God, Like Farmer’s Field
BENEDICTION & DISMISSAL
O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
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 Reflection Douglas E Wagner
The mountains shall bring peace to the people,
And the little hills, by righteousness Psalm 22:3
This music was chosen for the culmination of the Season of Creation here at First and for all who have offered their gifts in making it grow. To Jim, Bill, Randy and Pr. Kurt. We reflect on the necessity of taking care of what God has given us, this planet as well as our time and our possessions. -Engel
Rev. Kurt Christenson, Pastor
Bill Engel, Music Director
Earl Vaults, Tenor Saxophone
Trevor Patricia Watkin, Flute
Paul Engel, Cantor
Paul Engel, Lector
Richard Phillips, 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
Ruth Clayton, Melinda Person, Dan Kjonegaard, Ushers
The litanies and prayers come from God’s Good Earth by Jeffery and Anne Rowthorn. Liturgical Press, 2018 : Hymns are from Evangelical Worship, Augsburg Fortress Press, 2006 and All Creation Sings, Augsburg Fortress Press, 2020
ANNOUNCEMENTS
TODAY after worship: “'Twas the Season” led by Pr. Jim Friedrich
As the Season of Creation comes to an end, please join us for a time to process what we've done at First through the years to address environmental issues and during this year's programming. Hear also about the work of the ELCA and Lutherans Restoring Creation. Finally, we'll offer some insight into the role St. Francis has played in inspiring our respect for the creation.
October 6: Blessing of the Animals Worship at 10:00, Blessing on the Patio 11:00
This year’s Blessing of the Animals will once again take place as a part of Sunday worship, but with a twist. Please bring your pets, or any living thing, to worship at the regular time of 10:00 (or maybe your pet also wants to attend bible study at 9:00). We will begin our worship indoors in the sanctuary and then at 10:50 we will move out onto Patio where will we conclude with a time of Blessing of the Animals. For those who only come for the blessing that time will function as a stand alone service.
All people and pets are welcome at either 10:00 for the full service or at 11:00 for just the Blessing on the Patio.
If your pet can't travel, pictures welcome! Animal toys welcome too! Come discover more about St. Francis, patron saint of animals and all God's Creation. Invite your friends!
Sunday Morning Bible Study Class every week 9:00 in the Library
Our current study is 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. Our teachers are Pastor Kurt and Jim Boyd. Bring your own bible or use one off the library shelf. Feel free to drop in any Sunday. 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.
This week at FLC
|
Monday |
12:00 AA in the lounge 4:00 TACO meal and free clinics |
|
Wednesday |
10:00 TACO Starbucks and snacks |
|
Thursday |
12:00 Al Anon in the library |
|
Friday |
9:00 TACO meal 12:00 AA in the library |
|
Saturday |
12:00 First Saturday Giveaway |
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
www.firstlutheransd.org
First Lutheran Church worships and works on the unceded territory of the Kumeyaay People.
THE SEASON OF CREATION
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.
