August 23, 2020 – Holy Spirit Lutheran Church

Pentecost 12

August 23, 2020
9:30 a.m.

Holy Spirit Lutheran Church
Lancaster, PA

Welcome to worship!

By coming in the building you have already experienced some of the necessary changes to worship dedicated to keeping us safe during this time of pandemic. Within the worship liturgy two distinctive changes center around the sharing of the peace and the distribution of the sacrament of Holy Communion.

When sharing the peace of Christ, remain at your seat, make eye contact with someone and wave and say “peace.” Your smile is visible beneath your mask.

As regards the Holy Communion, the main difference is that each seating area will be sent forward separately. This will keep “traffic flow” simplified. The pastor and Assisting Minister will come to you, at the end of the aisle. Bring your communion cup with you that you picked up in the narthex. If you forgot, there are some at the front of the church. Keep your face mask on.

To receive the host, just hold out your hand. The pastor will drop (not place) the host onto your hand. Move immediately to the Assisting Minister, who will fill your cup. After having your cup filled, step to the side, and this is where you may lower you mask to consume the communion. Then raise your mask and return to your seat. There are receptacles provided for the used communion cups.

As you approach to receive, remember to maintain the proper distancing. The floor is marked for that purpose.

At the conclusion of the service, if you took a paper bulletin, keep your bulletin with you, and exit the building by way of the designated exit doors. The pastor will greet you outside. If you wish to have a conversation with someone, do so outside.

Most likely we will find some things to improve upon as the weeks go by. We are fortunate that we have a very open space in which to worship. Thank you for your attendance and patience as we find our way.

Stay well, and see you next week!

Welcome and Announcements

Gathering Music

The Brief Order for Confession and Forgiveness

Please stand

P
In the name of the Father and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C
Amen

P
Trusting in the mercy of God, let us confess our sin.
Silence is kept for reflection.
P
Reconciling God, we confess that we do not trust your abundance, and we deny your presence in our lives. We place our hope in ourselves and rely on our own efforts. We sin in thought, word, and deed. By your grace, forgive us; through your love, renew us; and in your Spirit, lead us; so that we may live and serve you in newness of life.
C
Amen.

P
Beloved of God, by the radical abundance of divine mercy we have peace with God through Christ Jesus. Let us live now in hope, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts. Your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C
Amen.

The Apostolic Greeting & Prayer of the Day

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.

P
Let us pray. O God, with all your faithful followers of every age, we praise you, the rock of our life. Be our strong foundation and form us into the body of your Son, that we may gladly minister to all the world, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C
Amen.
Please be seated.

Children’s Message

The children remain at their seat as the pastor share a message with them.

First Reading

Romans 12: 1-8
I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.
A
The word of the Lord
C
Thanks be to God

Please stand.

The Holy Gospel

Matthew 16:13-20
P
The Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew the sixteenth chapter.
C
Glory to you, O Lord
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
P
The Gospel of the Lord.
C
Praise to you, O Christ.
Please be seated.

The Sermon

Silence for reflection follows.

The Prayers of the Church

A
Raised up by the promised hope of healing and resurrection, we join all the people of God in praying for the church, the world, and all who are in need.

After each portion of the prayers:
A
Lord, in your mercy,
C
Hear our prayer.
The prayers conclude:
P
Into your hands, Gracious God, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Savior.
C
Amen.

The Peace

P
The peace of Christ be with you always.
C
And also with you.
Without leaving your seat offer a wave to your neighbor, sharing God’s peace., in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Please be seated.

Music as the Table is Set

Please stand.

The Offertory Prayer

A
Let us pray. God of goodness and growth, all creation is yours, and your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens. Water and word, wine and bread: these are signs of your abundant grace. Nourish us through these gifts, that we might proclaim your steadfast love in our communities and in the world, through Jesus Christ, our strength and our song. Amen.

The Great Thanksgiving

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.

Eucharistic Prayer

P
Holy, mighty, and merciful Lord, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
In great love you sent to us Jesus, your Son,
who reached out to heal the sick and suffering,
who preached good news to the poor,
and who, on the cross, opened his arms to all.

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.

Remembering, therefore, his death, resurrection, and ascension,
we await his coming in glory.
Pour out upon us the Spirit of your love, O Lord,
and unite the wills of all who share this heavenly food,
the body and blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord;
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be all honor and glory, now and forever.
C
Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

C
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.

The Fraction

P
Disciples of Jesus, come to the table. Receive nourishment for your journey.
C
Thanks be to God.

Please be seated.

The Distribution of Holy Communion

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America practices open table hospitality. Baptized communicants of other Christian denominations, of all ages, are welcome to receive the sacrament. An usher will direct each seating area to come forward to receive the sacrament. Bring your communion cup with you, or take one from the usher. The pastor will drop the host into your hand. Next move to receive the wine from the Assisting Minister. Then take another step to consume the sacrament. As you return to your seat, place the empty cup into the receptacle. Those persons not receiving communion are welcome to come forward to receive a blessing.

After all have communed, please stand for the prayers and blessing.

The Post Communion Blessing

P
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
C
Amen.

The Post Communion Prayer

A
Let us pray. God of the open table, in this meal we have feasted on your goodness and have been united by your presence among us. Empower us to go forth sustained by these gifts so that we may share your neighborly love with all, through Jesus Christ, the giver of abundant life.
C
Amen.

The 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. In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C
Amen.