St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church * 405 King Street * Charleston, SC * 843.723.1611
St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church

The 15th Sunday after Pentecost
September 13, 2009


Prelude I Want Jesus to Walk with Me Carol Scott

Welcome

We’re delighted to greet everyone in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who takes away our sin and offers grace to all people. If you are a guest, please fill out the Guest Form and wear the name tag found in the pew rack. If you’re looking for a meaningful ministry with which to become involved, you are encouraged to speak with the Pastor.


Gathering

(We stand)
Brief Order for Confession & Forgiveness
P We gather in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
 P God of all mercy and consolation, come to the help of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C Amen

 (We kneel)
Confession
P Most merciful God,

C we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have
sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done
and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our
whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake
of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and
lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to
the glory of your holy name. Amen.

Absolution

P In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake
God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of
Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all
your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the ς Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen

(We stand) 
Entrance Hymn Lift High the Cross Hymn 660
Greeting
P The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the
Holy Spirit be with you all!
C And, also with you.

Kyrie (Music on page 138)
P In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
 P For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.


P For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the church of God,
and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
P For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise,
let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
 P Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
C Amen.

Hymn of Praise (Music on page 140)
 This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Power, riches, wisdom, and strength, and honor, blessing, and glory are his.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Sing with all the people of God, and join in the hymn of all creation:
Blessing, honor, glory, and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
For the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign. Alleluia.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Prayer of the Day
P O God, through suffering and rejection you bring forth our salvation, and by the
glory of the cross you transform our lives. Grant that for the sake of the gospel
we may turn from the lure of evil, take up our cross, and follow your Son, Jesus
Christ, our Savior and Lord.

C Amen.

(We sit)
Children’s Message

First Reading Isaiah 50:4–9a

The image of the servant of the Lord is one of the notable motifs in the book of Isaiah. Today’s reading describes the mission of the servant, whom early Christians associated with Jesus. Like Jesus, the servant does not strike back at his detractors but trusts in God’s steadfast love.

The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain
the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens — wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is the Lord GOD who helps me; who will declare me guilty?

P The Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.

Psalm Psalm 116:1-9





I love the LORD, who has heard my voice, and listened to my supplication,
for the LORD has given ear to me whenever I called.
The cords of death entangled me; the anguish of the grave came upon me;
I came to grief and sorrow.
Then I called upon the name of the LORD: "O LORD, I pray you, save my life." R
Gracious is the LORD and righteous; our God is full of compassion.
The LORD watches over the innocent; I was brought low, and God saved me.
Turn again to your rest, O my soul for the LORD has dealt well with you.
For you have rescued my life from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling;
I will walk in the presence of the LORD in the land of the living. R

Second Reading James 3:1–12

This text uses various images to illustrate how damaging and hurtful the way we speak to and about others can be. Not only are we to control our speech, but what we say and how we say it is to reflect our faith.

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue — a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.

P The Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.

 (We stand)
Gospel Acclamation (Music on page 142)
 Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
Gospel Mark 8:27-38
P The Holy Gospel according to Saint Mark, the seventh chapter.
C Glory to you, O Lord.

This story provides the turning point in Mark’s gospel. Peter is the first human being in the narrative to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, but he cannot accept that as the Messiah Jesus will have to suffer. Moreover, Jesus issues a strong challenge to all by connecting discipleship and the cross.

Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that I am?" And they answered him, "John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Messiah." And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him. Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."
He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

P The Gospel of the Lord. C Praise to you, O Christ.

(We sit)
Sermon Thoughts, Words and Deeds Pastor Robert Wallace

(We stand)
Hymn of the Day Where Charity and Love Prevail Hymn 359

Apostles’ Creed
 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.

 (We kneel)
The Prayers of the People
After each prayer petition:
P Lord in your mercy
C Hear our prayer
The prayers conclude:
P Receive our prayers, holy God, and give us all we need for this day and the days
to come, through the power of the Holy Spirit, and in the name of Jesus Christ
our Lord. 
C Amen.
 
(We stand)
Peace
P The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C And also with you. 
(Please feel free to move about and share God’s Peace with one another!)

Meal

(We sit)
Offering

Anthems ( 8:30AM) Lead on, O King Eternal! Henry Smart
Family Choir
(11:00AM) Open My Eyes K. Lee Scott

(We stand)
Offering Response
C O friends, in gladness let us sing,
 Supernal anthems echoing: Alleluia! Alleluia!
To God the Father, God the Son
And God the Spirit, Three in One:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia.

Offering Prayer
P God of majesty, in your might you have created all things, and you entrust to
our care what you have made. Receive our offerings, and make them a sign of
our dedication to provide for the needs of all people and creatures, in the name
of the one who sustains all things by his word, Jesus Christ our Lord.
C Amen.

The Great Thanksgiving (Music on page 144)
P The Lord be with you.
C And also with you.
P Lift up your hearts.
C We lift them to the Lord.
P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
 C It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Proper Preface

Sanctus (Music on page 144)
Holy, holy, holy Lord. God of pow’r and might
heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosanna,
Hosanna. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who
comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Words of Institution
 
In 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.
  
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

Invitation to Communion

Communion
All baptized Christians are invited to share in the Eucharist. Those who are not baptized, or wish to receive only a blessing, are asked to fold their arms over their chest. Communion will be by intinction (dipping). Please follow the usher’s direction.

(We sit)
Music at the Distribution
Agnus Dei (Music on page 146)
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world: grant us peace.

Hymns during Communion 522, 580

(We stand) 
Post Communion Blessing and Prayer
P Loving God, in this meal you sustain the weary and heal the broken. May the gift of your word made flesh, the body and blood of Christ, inspire our tongues to praise you and proclaim to the entire world the Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord.
C Amen.
 
Blessing
P The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy.
The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.
C Amen.
 
Sending Hymn Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Hymn 631

Dismissal
P Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
 
Postlude



Worship Leaders
The Reverend Dr. Robert W. Wallace Pastor
Mr. W. Douglas Ludlum Organist