Fruits of the Spirit
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Welcome to worship this evening with Lutheran Church of the Redeemer. Through the Holy Spirit, God is continually growing diverse fruits of love, faithfulness, and many other varieties through us.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23a)
We are confident that God has planted Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Midtown so that others may taste bountiful life in Jesus. May God nurture you through this worship service so you may bear good and beautiful fruit in Midtown and beyond.
GATHERING
The Holy Spirit gathers us into a community of prayer.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Come, rest from your labors in the vineyard
Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord
Come, let us gather the hopes and dreams and longing of all Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord
Come, receive a foretaste of the feast to come
We come to the abundant presence of the Lord
HYMN 582 Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling
OPENING PRAYER
Let us pray.
Almighty Creator and persistent Gardner, you planted the seed of good news in our hearts and continue to nourish our spirits in this community. As we worship you this evening, may your Word take root in our lives, bearing fruits of your Spirit in all we do and say in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. | Amen.
WORD
God speaks to us in scripture reading, silence, reflection, and song.
THE READING Galatians 5:16-6:10
Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.
My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ. For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor's work, will become a cause for pride. For all must carry their own loads.
Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher. Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap
at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.
HOMILY Let the Vineyards be Fruitful Pastor Jenny McLellan
PRAYER
Trusting in God’s abundant mercy, let us come near to the Holy One in prayer.
Sovereign God, grant peace among nations. Cleanse from our own hearts the seeds of strife: greed and envy, harsh misunderstandings and ill will, fear and desire for revenge. Hear us O God,
Your mercy is great.
Merciful God, we call to mind before you all whom it is easy to forget: those who are homeless, destitute, sick, isolated, and all who have no one to care for them. May we bring help and healing to those who are broken in body or spirit, that they may have comfort in sorrow, company in loneliness, and a place of safety and warmth. Tend the sick, give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, comfort the afflicted. For whom do we ask for God’s tender mercy?
[you may speak your own prayers and petitions]
Hear us O God, Your mercy is great.
Gracious God, we thank you for your goodness to us and to all that you have made. We praise you for your creation, for keeping us and all things in your care, and for all the blessings of life. For what do we give God praise?
[you may speak your own prayers and petitions]
Hear us O God, Your mercy is great.
Almighty God, your Holy Spirit equips the church with a rich variety of gifts. Grant that we may use them to bear witness to Christ in lives that are built on faith and love. Make us ready to live the gospel and eager to do your will, so that we may share with all your church in the joys of eternal life with the saints before us; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you always | And also with you.
MEAL Standing
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.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
Holy God, mighty and merciful, your people praise you, saying: Your mercy endures forever. Your mercy endures forever.
By your promise you bound yourself to earth and all its creatures, granting them life and calling them to flourish, setting the sign of your bow in the clouds, the colors of your love and faithfulness. Your mercy endures forever. Your mercy endures forever.
By your promise you bound yourself to your people of old, blessing them with family outnumbering the stars and calling them to be a blessing to others, showing them steadfast love in every generation and calling them to be a light to the nations. Your mercy endures forever.
Your mercy endures forever.
By your promise you joined us to Jesus, your Beloved, grafting us into your living Vine, and calling us to bear the fruit of your self-giving love.
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.
With this bread and cup we remember his life laid down and lifted up as we proclaim the mystery of faith. Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Send your Holy Spirit upon us and these gifts of bread and wine. Bless us to be a blessing. Make us a sign of your faithfulness. Send us to tend and cherish the earth and to serve the world with mercy and love.
With all the saints in light, with the earth and all its creatures, with sun and moon and stars, we praise you, O God, through Christ Jesus, in your Spirit, now and forever. | Amen.
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
All people are called to Christ’s table. Come, eat what is good. Seated
All who seek to meet the Risen Christ in the bread and wine are invited to receive Holy Communion.
Standing
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. | Amen
BLESSING
Creating God, Sower, Grower, and Reaper, bless you now and forever. | Amen.
HYMN 800 Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart
SENDING
Live by the Spirit, guided by God. Thanks be to God.
From sundaysandseasons.com.
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