Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost – September 13, 2020 The Order of Worship at 11:00 am To mitigate spread of COVID-19 in our community, on-site activities— including worship services—have been cancelled. Many activities continue, but in different formats: ZOOM for interactive small groups and classes, togo meals for the Food Ministry, and streaming worship services and music from the archives. Our gathering policies will continue to respond to changes in the best public health data available to us. Worship will be Livestreamed from Redeemer with only leaders present. Throughout worship, participants will be masked even as they speak and sing, and each will remain in an area designated for them alone. Similar protections will probably be required when we are able gradually to open worship further, but for now we are glad return to the familiarity of Redeemer and the musical and technical options it provides us. Thanks to all of the lectors and musicians who have led us during the past weeks as we worshiped from home. Please use the links available on the viewing page to let us know that you are worshiping from home, to offer any prayer requests, to let us know if you need help or are available to help a neighbor, and to continue to give to support the ministries that continue, socially distant for the common good. As always, we pray that worship at Redeemer is a blessing for you, even as your participation blesses us, even though we are not together in person. As you are comfortable, we encourage you to sing the hymns and to sing or speak the congregational portions of the liturgy in bold type. This bulletin contains content protected by copyright and is provided only for you to participate in worship. Please delete or destroy any physical or digital copy of the material following the service.
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PRELUDE
Pastorale from Symphony I
Louis Vierne
WELCOME
GATHERING The Holy Spirit gathers us in unity on the first day of the week, the day of Christ’s resurrection. HYMN 757
All My Hope on God is Founded Karen and Alan Boda, cantors
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All my hope on God is founded who will all my trust renew, who through change and chance will guide me, only good and only true. God unknown, God alone, call my heart to be thine own. Mortal pride and earthly glory, sword and crown betray our trust; what with care and toil we fashion, tow'r and temple, fall to dust. But thy pow'r, hour by hour, is my temple and my tow'r.
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Great thy goodness, e'er enduring; deep thy wisdom, passing thought; splendor, light, and life attend thee, beauty springing out of naught. Evermore from thy store newborn worlds rise and adore.
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Still from earth to God eternal sacrifice of praise be done, high above all praises praising for the gift of God's own Son. Christ doth call one and all: ye who follow shall not fall.
Text: Joachim Neander, 1650-1680; para. Robert Bridges, 1844-1930, alt.
CONFESSION In the name of the Father, and of the ☊ Son, and of the Holy Spirit. | Amen. Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Let us confess our sin in the presence of God. Most merciful God, | 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. 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 ☊ Son, and of the Holy Spirit. | Amen. 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.
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KYRIE
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HYMN OF PRAISE
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The Lord be with you. | And also with you. PRAYER OF THE DAY O Lord God, merciful judge, you are the inexhaustible fountain of forgiveness. Replace our hearts of stone with hearts that love and adore you, that we may delight in doing your will, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. | Amen. Please use the Prayer Request link on the webpage to submit your requests.
WORD God speaks to us in scriptures read, sung and preached. CHILDREN’S SERMON FIRST READING
Genesis 50:15-21
Donna Ruder, Lector After Jacob’s death the brothers of Joseph begged for forgiveness for the crime they had done against him. You intended to do me harm, Joseph said, but God used this as an opportunity to do good and save many lives. Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, “What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?” So they approached Joseph, saying, “Your 6
father gave this instruction before he died, ‘Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.’ Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, “We are here as your slaves.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.” In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them. PSALM 103: [1-7] 8-13 LORD, you are full of compassion and mercy. (Ps. 103:8) Bless the LORD, | O my soul, and all that is within me, bless God’s | holy name. Bless the LORD, | O my soul, and forget not | all God’s benefits who forgives | all your sins and heals all | your diseases; who redeems your life | from the grave and crowns you with steadfast | love and mercy; who satisfies your desires | with good things so that your youth is renewed | like an eagle’s. O LORD, you provide | vindication and justice for all who | are oppressed. You made known your | ways to Moses and your works to the chil- | dren of Israel. LORD, you are full of compas- | sion and mercy, slow to anger and abounding in | steadfast love; you will not al- | ways accuse us, nor will you keep your an- | ger forever. You have not dealt with us according | to our sins, nor repaid us according to | our iniquities. For as the heavens are high a- | bove the earth, so great is your steadfast love for | those who fear you. As far as the east is | from the west, 7
so far have you removed our transgres- | sions from us. As a father has compassion | for his children, so you have compassion for those who fear | you, O LORD. SECOND READING Romans 14:1-12 This Christian community has significant struggles with diversity. Here Paul helps us understand that despite different practices in worship and personal piety, we do not judge one another. All Christians belong to the Lord Jesus Christ who died for all of us and will judge each of us. Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand. Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God. We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.” So then, each of us will be accountable to God.
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GOSPEL Matthew 18:21-35 When Peter asks about the limits of forgiveness, Jesus responds with a parable that suggests human forgiveness should mirror the unlimited mercy of God. Peter came and said to [Jesus], “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” The Gospel of the Lord. | Praise to You O Christ. SERMON
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Pastor Ron Bonner
HYMN 359
Where Charity and Love Prevail
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 Each petition concludes: Lord, in your mercy, | Hear our prayer. At the conclusion of the prayers: Amen 10
PEACE The peace of Christ be with you always. | And also with you. Please let us know you worshiped with us today by using the I’m Worshiping link as you would the attendance pad at church.
THANKSGIVING GATHERING OF GIFTS Please use the Help and Give links to support the ministry of Redeemer. MUSIC
O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go Alan Boda, violin
arr. Laura B. Pease
THANKSGIVING FOR THE WORD Let us pray. Praise and thanks to you, holy God, for by your Word you made all things: you spoke light into darkness, called forth beauty from chaos, and brought life into being. For your Word of life, O God, | we give you thanks and praise. By your Word you called your people Israel to tell of your wonderful gifts: freedom from captivity, water on the desert journey, a pathway home from exile, wisdom for life with you. For your Word of life, O God, | we give you thanks and praise. Through Jesus, your Word made flesh, you speak to us and call us to witness: forgiveness through the cross, life to those entombed by death, the way of your self-giving love. For your Word of life, O God, | we give you thanks and praise. Send your Spirit of truth, O God; rekindle your gifts within us: renew our faith, increase our hope, and deepen our love, for the sake of a world in need. Faithful to your Word, O God, draw near to all who call on you; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory forever. | Amen. 11
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.
SENDING God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world. BLESSING Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. God, the creator, ☊ Jesus, the Christ, and the Holy Spirit, the comforter, bless you and keep you in eternal love. | Amen. SENDING Go in peace. Christ is with you. | Thanks be to God. POSTLUDE
Finale pour orgue, Op. 78
Rachel Laurin
Liturgy from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2013 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #21979. 12
HOLY BAPTISM following the service We celebrate today with Kristen and Bradley Sickles as they bring their daughter, Valerie Claire Sickley for the sacrament of Holy Baptism. We pray that God will bless this family and strengthen them in a life of faith. LAST WEEK AT REDEEMER Worship attendance for September 6: Livestream 362, Facebook Live 187 WEDNESDAY EVENING Pastor Mark’s Class | Zoom | 6 pm Worship | Livestream | 7:15 pm NEXT WEEK AT REDEEMER Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost Jonah 3:10--4:11, Psalm 145:1-8, Philippians 1:21-30, Matthew 20:1-16 NOTICE OF CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS CONGREGATIONAL MEETING | September 13 | 12 PM | Webinar The purpose of the meeting will be to vote on the following proposed amendment to the constitution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer recommended by the Redeemer Council: C. 13.07 This Congregation shall have a Legacy Giving Board that will operate as specified in this Congregation’s Continuing Resolutions. The purpose of the Legacy Giving Board is 1) To encourage, educate, and equip the Congregation for making long-term planned gifts to support the mission of the Church as a part of a donor’s overall financial and estate planning; and 2) To honor and advocate for the donor’s intent and wishes. Note: The existing paragraph C13.07 will be renumbered to C13.08 without any other changes. This change shall go into effect upon notification that the synod has approved it at the next Synod Council meeting in January 2021.
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CONGREGATIONAL MEETING | OCTOBER 11 | 12 PM | Webinar The purpose of the meeting will be to vote on the following: For approval vote: Be it resolved, that the 2019 required changes to the ELCA Model Constitution for Congregations be incorporated into the constitution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia. These changes will become effective upon approval by the congregation. The Redeemer constitution with the required ELCA changes shown is available in *Realm on the Church Documents page. For ratification votes: C13.01. The Executive Committee shall consist of the president of the Council, the vice president, the secretary, the treasurer, the financial secretary, and two Council members, who are elected at large by written ballot at the first meeting of the Congregation Council each year. Each at-large member shall be individually elected and must receive a majority of the votes cast. The senior pastor also serves as a member of the Executive Committee. The duties and powers of the Executive Committee are specified in the continuing resolutions. This change shall go into effect upon notification that the synod has approved it at the next Synod Council meeting in January 2021. C. 13.07 This Congregation shall have a Legacy Giving Board that will operate as specified in this Congregation’s Continuing Resolutions. The purpose of the Legacy Giving Board is 1) To encourage, educate, and equip the Congregation for making long-term planned gifts to support the mission of the Church as a part of a donor’s overall financial and estate planning; and 2) To honor and advocate for the donor’s intent and wishes. Note: The existing paragraph C13.07 will be renumbered to C13.08 without any other changes. 14
This change shall go into effect upon notification that the synod has approved it at the next Synod Council meeting in January 2021. *Please visit Realm to access the Church Constitution with highlighted changes. To access: Login to www.onrealm.org Click Groups Click Church Documents and Council Minutes Choose RedeemerConst_with_proposed-ELCA_changes If you need assistance please contact Robin Durdin, rdurdin@redeemer.org
THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER 731 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30308 www.redeemer.org | 404.874.8664 | Emergency Line: 404.874.9759 The Rev. Mark H. Larson ................................................Senior Pastor, ext. 201 The Rev. Ronald Bonner ............. Pastor for Community Engagement, ext. 203 The Rev. Jonathan Trapp ........................... Pastor for Faith Formation, ext. 233 The Rev. Jenny McLellan ...................Pastor for Congregational Care, ext. 224 STAFF Bob Boyd ......................................Director of Operations and Finance, ext. 232 Seth Brown .............................................Facilities and Media Director, ext. 218 Robin Durdin .......................................Office Administration Director, ext. 204 Kate Elkins............................................................... Preschool Director, ext. 252 David Hansen .................................................... Adult Choral Director, ext. 236 Sarah Hawbecker ..................... Organist & Children’s Music Director, ext. 206 Deacon Mary Houck .............. Children & Family Ministries Director, ext. 227 Jennifer Isaacson ................................. Financial Information Director, ext. 237 Karen Medford ..... Parish Nurse, and Adult Faith Formation Director, ext. 230 Hillary Nelson.......................................Youth Director, hnelson@redeemer.org Tawanda Searcy .......................... Receptionist and Wedding Director, ext. 200 Stacey Williams ......................................................................... Head of Security 15