Welcome to ICYMI Worship! ICYMI stands for In Case You Missed It; our ICYMI series will give you a brief snapshot of worship each week so that you can worship in your home, on the road, or wherever life takes you.
This is our last week before we return to our regular two worship schedule, with services at 9 and 11 am. How would you like to see ICYMI reflect worship going forward? Leave your comments below!
At Cross of Christ, our basic worship order is based on worship patterns from Hebrew traditions and biblical accounts of the earliest Christians:
We GATHER with songs and prayer,
We HEAR God’s word,
We SHARE a meal of bread and wine,
We are SENT into the world to love and serve. Let us know how this format works for you.
Our Gathering song is Take my life and let it be.
Prayer of the Day
Lord of rough-worn hands, who knew the labor of hammer, saw and lathe. You are the blessing of those who labor, and the source of rest for all who are weary and heavy-laden. Be with us in all our work – the labor of employment, the work of home and garden, the tending to family, the service we offer to one another and to our neighbors in need. Give all pride in their work, a fair return for their labor, and joy in using the gifts and talents you have given them in meaningful ways. Grant opportunities for work that is sustaining and purposeful for the unemployed and underemployed. Protect those who are treated unfairly in workplace, field, or factory. Liberate those who are forced to labor against their will. On this holy day of rest, and in this time when our nation remembers our laborers, we pray blessings upon all workers and all work, knowing that your labor on our behalf never ceases. This we pray in your name, O Christ, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
This week’s readings are:
1 Chronicles 16:8-16
make known his deeds among the peoples.
9 Sing to him, sing praises to him,
tell of all his wonderful works.
10 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
11 Seek the Lord and his strength,
seek his presence continually.
12 Remember the wonderful works he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
13 O offspring of his servant Israel,[a]
children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
14 He is the Lord our God;
his judgments are in all the earth.
15 Remember his covenant forever,
the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
16 the covenant that he made with Abraham,
his sworn promise to Isaac
Psalm 26:1-8
1 Vindicate me, O Lord,
for I have walked in my integrity,
and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
2 Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
test my heart and mind.
3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
and I walk in faithfulness to you.[a]
4 I do not sit with the worthless,
nor do I consort with hypocrites;
5 I hate the company of evildoers,
and will not sit with the wicked.
6 I wash my hands in innocence,
and go around your altar, O Lord,
7 singing aloud a song of thanksgiving,
and telling all your wondrous deeds.
8 O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell,
and the place where your glory abides.
Romans 12:9-21
9-10 Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.
11-13 Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.
14-16 Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.
17-19 Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.”
20-21 Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good.
This week’s Gospel text is from Matthew 16:21-28
Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
21 From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
The Cross and Self-Denial
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
27 “For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. 28 Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Pastor Dave’s Sermon Snapshot: On this Labor Day weekend, we give thanks to God for our vocational callings, and ask God to bless the labor of all workers. Our focus today is on Christ’s calling to those who wish to be his followers, as we will hear in our Gospel lesson. What does Jesus say it means to be his disciple? What does he call us to lay down, and to take up? Welcome to all as we explore these important questions and worship the one who, by his self-sacrificing work, has set us free.
Our Hymn of the Day is The Wonderful Cross
Prayers of the People – 9/3/17
Open to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we pray for the church, the world, and all of God’s creation. Each petition will end, “Lord, in your mercy” to which the congregation responds, “Hear our prayer.” We observe a brief time of silence for preparation.
We pray for laborers and workers the church and its mission. Make your church ready to lose its life for your sake. Unite it in service, sustain it in suffering, and let its love for others be genuine. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We pray for the nations and their leaders. Overcome evil with good. Show us how to live peaceably with all. Teach us how to love our enemies. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We pray for those in any need. Provide for the hungry. Rescue the persecuted. Bless those who advocate for fair and safe working conditions and for just and livable wages. We continue in prayer for the many victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas. Bless the work of Lutheran Disaster Response and affiliates and all who are at work amid this crisis providing shelter, food, water, comfort and care. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We pray for this community and its ministry. Move us to persevere in prayer for one another, to grow in faith through study of your word, to extend hospitality to strangers, to witness to our faith in word and in deed, and to share the load of ministry employing the gifts you have entrusted to us. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We pray for the needs of our sisters and brothers in faith. Bring healing to the ill and injured, peace to all who are near death, consolation to the sorrowful, and hope to the discouraged. We remember those who have asked for our prayers – Anna Bero, Cheryl Buettemeier, Phyllis Hahn, Claire Huehnerhoff, Mary Mehlum, Iris Schiffer, Vernette Rae, Corinne Riemer, and Marilyn Van Brero. Lord in your mercy.
hear our prayer.
Into your hands, gracious God, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting the power of Christ and the gifts of the Spirit.
Amen.
Our Communion song is How Deep the Father’s Love For Us
On the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.
All are welcome to receive Christ’s Body and Blood in the Bread and Wine of the Eucharist.
And because there’s always something going on, the Announcements!
ADULT FAITH FORMATION ON BREAK – this holiday weekend. Next Sunday we begin a Reformation-themed series for September and October, guided by Martin Luther’s Small Catechism (a copy of which will be provided to those who attend). Pastor Dave leads us, from 10:15 to 10:55 am, in the Library. Please join us as we grow in faith together.
CHILDREN’S FAITH FORMATION returns next week! We invite kids ages 4-10 to join us in the Youth Room at 10:15. Our program is designed for children to be able to participate whenever they’re here, so drop-ins are welcome.
OFFICE CLOSED MONDAY – for Labor Day. We give thanks for our dedicated and talented staff and for their labor in support of the ministries and mission of Cross of Christ. Thank you, staff! The office reopens Tuesday at 9:30 am.
TODAY IS THE LAST SUMMER WORSHIP SUNDAY – Next week we return to our two-service schedule – Traditional service at 9 am, Casual worship at 11 am, and Discipleship Hour between. It’s been fun worshipping together in various forms and styles this Summer. We’ll continue coming back together on fifth Sundays in October, December, and April, with Reunion Sunday special events. Our next combined service Sunday is Reformation Sunday, October 29, with one very special service at 10 am, followed by an Oktoberfest luncheon.
NEW COORDINATOR OF CARING MINISTRIES – After a thorough search process, Pastor Judy Brennan has been offered and has accepted the newly created position of Coordinator of Caring Ministries. Pastor Judy will be working with our lay Caring Ministry leaders and volunteers to provide care for our members in need. Working on a one-quarter time basis – averaging about 10 hours weekly – Pastor Judy will partner with Pastor Dave to provide pastoral care, emergency responses, and pastoral guidance. She will spend most of her time outside of the church office visiting folks, but will establish regular office hours yet to be determined. She will also be with us in worship approximately one Sunday a month. Pastor Judy officially joins our staff on Tuesday. She will be officially installed in both worship services on Sunday, September 24. She is excited to get to know us, and we are looking forward to working with her!
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT – Will you be traveling this summer or otherwise unable to attend worship? Take a peek at a new feature on our blog: ICYMI Worship! ICYMI stands for In Case You Missed It, and it’s a brief roundup of our worship service each week that includes the readings, hymns, Pastor Dave’s Sermon Snapshot, the prayers, and announcements. You can learn more by visiting the Cross of Christ Facebook page and clinking on a link to ICYMI, or at http://www.crossofchristbellevue.org/category/icymi-worship/.
LUTHERANS RESPONDING TO VICTIMS OF HURRICANE HARVEY – Lutheran Disaster Response and its affiliates are collaborating with community leaders, government officials, and other non-profit agencies to respond to the massive needs – both immediate and long-term – created by Hurricane Harvey. The ELCA and Lutheran Disaster Response/Relief have a long history of caring for people impacted by natural disasters both domestically and abroad. From the ELCA website, “We invite you to stand by our neighbors on the Gulf Coast during this time. Your gifts ensure that our Church will be able to provide help and hope for those left homeless or otherwise affected by this disaster for years to come. Gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response, designated for “Hurricane Response – United States” will be used entirely (100 percent) for this disaster. Together, we can help provide immediate and long-lasting support. Give today to support the needs in this response and others like it.” To learn more please visit the ELCA website at www.elca.org. Thank you.
RICK STEVES REFORMATION 500 ANNIVERSARY VIDEO – Be sure to check out this video offering – “Luther and the Reformation” produced by our synod’s own Rick Steves! Five hundred years ago, Martin Luther kicked off the Protestant Reformation, which contributed to the birth of our modern age. In this one-hour special — filmed on location in Europe — Rick Steves tells the story of a humble monk who lived a dramatic life. Rick visits key sites relating to the Reformation (including Erfurt, Wittenberg, and Rome) and explores the complicated political world of 16th-century Europe — from indulgences to iconoclasts, and from the printing press to the Counter-Reformation. It’s a story of power, rebellion, and faith that you’ll never forget. Watch the video here: https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/tv-specials/luther.
NATIONAL LUTHERAN CHOIR IN WASHINGTON – presenting a community-wide evening of singing in commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. “Jesus Christ: Yesterday, Today and Forever” is a musical program celebrating a rich treasury of music – from early hymns to new works – expressing the journey of the Lutheran Church. Under the direction of Dr. David Cherwien, the 64-voice National Lutheran Choir is in concert at 7:30 pm on Friday, September 29, at St. Mark’s Cathedral, Seattle. The concert is free and open to the public. Info at: www.saintmarks.org. A freewill offering will be received to support Compass Housing Alliance and Imagine Housing. Fellow Lutheran and travel guru Rick Steves has agreed to match the offering at this event up to $20,000.
NW WASHINGTON SYNOD WOMEN’S ORGANIZATION CONVENTION – October 7 from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm at Trinity Lutheran, Lynnwood. Rev. Heidi Fish, pastor of Celebration Lutheran, Anacortes, will lead a Bible study, “Dancing Through the Waters,” focusing on Miriam’s story and Exodus 15:20. For more information or to register, please visit www.lutheransnw.org/synod-women.
Our sending song is To be your presence
This hymn is sung to the tune ENGELBERG, which we hear below on piano.
By God’s grace, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, we are called to
Worship God
Grow in Faith
Share the Gospel
Serve others, and
Welcome all.
Thanks be to God!
Thank you for your blog, facebook post. I read the prayer of the day out loud. God bless Cross of Christ.