FAITH LUTHERAN CHURCH

ANDOVER, MA Pr. Jeanette Leisk, Transition Pastor

May each person feel invited to this community, equipped to use their gifts to the Glory of God, and sent to serve.

Sunday, October 11 The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

All congregational responses are in bold text.

THEME: HOLY TROUBLEMAKERS: DOROTHY DAY

WELCOME …………………………………………….………………..………..……... Pr. Jeanette Leisk

PRELUDE ………..……………...... The Ash Grove - Traditional English melody, arr. Jason W. Krug

[Abby Schoppe, piano]

THE BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION

Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God,

who creates, redeems, and sustains us and all of creation.

Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Faithful God,

have mercy on us.

We confess that we are captive to sin

and cannot free ourselves.

We turn from your loving embrace

and go our own ways.

We pass judgment on one another

before examining ourselves.

We place our own needs before those of our neighbors.

We keep your gift of salvation to ourselves.

Make us humble, cast away our transgressions,

and turn us again to life in you

through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

God hears the cries of all who call out in need,

and through his death and resurrection,

Christ has made us his own.

Hear the truth that God proclaims:

Your sins are forgiven in the name of ☩ Jesus Christ.

Led by the Holy Spirit, live in freedom and newness

to do God’s work in the world.

Amen.

BLESSING OF 5TH

OCTAVE OF BELLS

Dear friends: Today we give thanks to God and we seek God’s blessing as we set apart a fifth

octave of handbells for the glory and praise of God.

Sing with joy to God our strength

ALL: and raise a loud shout to the God of Jacob.

Praise God with tambourine and dance;

ALL: praise God with strings and pipe.

We give you thanks, O God, creator of the universe, for your abundant gifts.

The whole earth reflects your glory; all your creatures praise you.

We lift our voices to join the sounds and song of heaven and earth,

of things seen and unseen, in praise of your glory.

You alone do great wonders,

and by your wisdom you made the heavens and the earth.

You have breathed your breath of mercy into your children,

to hear from them a joyful shout with their own song.

In the fullness of time, O God, you sang your new song, our Lord Jesus Christ,

who is exalted by poets, musicians, and all your saints.

Your Spirit is the breath of our music and song.

Send your blessing upon us and upon these bells

which we dedicate to your praise and glory.

Enrich the lives of your people through them,

and grant us faith to hear your gracious purpose in them.

By your Holy Spirit, let these bells

enliven the proclamation of your word

to the building up of your church, to the glory of your name,

and to the good of all your people;

through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

GATHERING SONG ……………………..……………………….….…. "We Will Glorify" [Rock of Ages]

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.

KYRIE ……………………………………………………………………………………………… ELW S120

HYMN OF PRAISE ……………………………………………“Glory Be to God in Heaven,” ELW S204a

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Open our hearts and our spirits to hear your words of peace and love, O God. Help us be the people

of service and justice that you have called us to be. Make us ready to heal rather than harm; to

serve rather than sever. Give us hearts of joy and justice, for we offer this prayer in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

READING ………………...……………………………………….………………..……..…… Isaiah 25:1-9

(read by Frauke Roth)

Introduction to the reading:

After a hymn of praise acknowledging God as a shelter for the poor, the prophet portrays a wonderful victory

banquet at which death—which in ancient Canaan was depicted as a monster swallowing up everyone—will

be swallowed up forever. The prophet urges celebration of this victory of salvation.

A reading from Isaiah.

O Lord, you are my God;

I will exalt you, I will praise your name;

for you have done wonderful things,

plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

For you have made the city a heap,

the fortified city a ruin;

the palace of aliens is a city no more,

it will never be rebuilt.

Therefore strong peoples will glorify you;

cities of ruthless nations will fear you.

For you have been a refuge to the poor,

a refuge to the needy in their distress,

a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat.

When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm,

the noise of aliens like heat in a dry place,

you subdued the heat with the shade of clouds;

the song of the ruthless was stilled.

On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples

a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines,

of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear.

And he will destroy on this mountain

the shroud that is cast over all peoples,

the sheet that is spread over all nations;

he will swallow up death forever.

Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces,

and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth,

for the Lord has spoken.

It will be said on that day,

Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us.

This is the Lord for whom we have waited;

let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

MESSAGE FOR CHILDREN …………………………………………..…...…………. Pr. Jeanette Leisk

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION …………………………………….. “Alleluia! Lord and Savior,” ELW S205a

THE GOSPEL ……………………………………………………………….……...……… Matthew 22:1-14

The holy gospel according to Matthew.

Glory to you, O Lord.

Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared

to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been

invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell

those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have

been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ But they made light of it

and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated

them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and

burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not

worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’

Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the

wedding hall was filled with guests.

“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a

wedding robe, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he

was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into

the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few

are chosen.”

The gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

THE SERMON ……………………………………………………..…………...………… Pr. Jeanette Leisk

HYMN OF THE DAY ………………..………….….. Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life, ELW 719

(see music next page)

..........................................................................................................................................

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.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION ………………………..……..……....…. Read by the Haltmeier family

With confidence in God’s grace and mercy, let us pray for the church, the world, and all those in

need.

Gracious host, fill your church with a spirit of joyous hospitality. We pray you give us boldness to

invite others to your table of boundless grace. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Gracious host, as creation waits with eager longing for redemption, protect your creatures that are

mistreated. Restore valleys, mountains and pastures, and still and running waters. Lord, in your

mercy,

hear our prayer.

Gracious host, as you set a table in the presence of enemies, so bless the efforts of diplomats,

international peace workers, and world leaders who navigate conflict. May they proceed with

dialogue and understanding, so that justice and peace prevails. We pray especially for leaders in

the midst of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Gracious host, let your gentleness be known among those who are weary or ill, especially Phil L.,

James L., Art D., Gretchen B., and Karin P. Strengthen doctors, medical care workers, and caretak-

ers who see to their needs. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Gracious host, as we remember those who have died and are gathered at the heavenly banquet,

especially Mary M., Jason R. and Rosemary N., comfort us with your presence. Assure us of your

peace at all times. Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Listen as we call on you, O God, and enfold in your loving arms all for whom we pray, in the name of

Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

OFFERING – BLESSING TIME

OFFERING ………………………………..……...….. Jesus Shall Reign - John Hatton, arr. Linda Lamb [Virtual Ringers of Faith]

THANKSGIVING FOR THE WORD

Let us pray.

O God of justice and love,

We give thanks to you that you illumine our way through life

with the words of your Son.

Give us the light we need,

Awaken us to the needs of others,

and at the end bring all the world to your feast;

through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,

to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit be honor and glory forever.

Amen.

THE 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.

BLESSING

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.

Amen.

SENDING SONG ………….....………………………..…..…… Sent forth by God's Blessing, ELW 547

(see music next page)

DISMISSAL

Go forth into the world to serve God with gladness;

Be of good courage;

Hold fast to that which is good;

Render to no one evil for evil;

Strengthen the fainthearted,

Support the weak;

Help the afflicted;

Honor all people

Love and serve God,

Rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE ………………………………...…………….………...………..…… "Shaken" [Rock of Ages]

Feel free to unmute yourselves and enjoy a time of fellowship!

Prayer Requests

Family mourning the death of Rosemary N., Mary M. and Jason R.; Phil L., suffering from a heart

condition; James L., suffering from T-cell lymphoma; Art D., for healing; Karin D., for healing after

surgery; Gretchen E. B., for healing after surgery.

Prayer requests may be added or changed by emailing shauna@faith-andover.org.

Requests received by Wednesday will appear in the bulletin on Sunday

and will remain posted for three weeks.