Worship Helpers: Reader-Kevin Horn, Lay Assistant– Jess Wimmer
FELLOWSHIP: Violet Yuill, Elaine Leisy
Conflict is a part of relationships and life in community. Jesus’ words in today’s gospel are often used in
situations having to do with church discipline. The prophet Ezekiel tells of warning the wicked to turn
from their ways, and Paul reminds us that love is the fulfilling of the law. We gather in the name of
Christ, assured that he is present among us with gifts of peace and reconciliation.
(*) Please stand as you are able
(-) Please be seated
GATHERING
The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God.
-PRELUDE
-WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
*CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
L: Blessed be God, the one who forms us, ☩ Jesus who bears the cross, the Spirit who makes
our joy complete.
C: Amen.
L: Let us bow before God in humility, confessing our sin. Silence for reflection.
L: Steadfast and faithful God,
C: you have revealed the ways of justice, yet we fail to follow you. We are overwhelmed
by the world’s violence and suffering. We are afraid to risk what we have for the sake
of others. For the harm we have caused, known and unknown, forgive us. For the un
just demands we place on others and your creation, forgive us. For the ways we turn
away from you and our neighbor, forgive us. Lead us back to you and set us on the
right path; in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
L: Beloved in Christ, God’s justice stretches beyond all understanding. God’s compassion is
beyond compare. In Jesus, God is always making a new way for us. In ☩ Christ, you are
already and always forgiven.
C: Amen.
*GATHERING SONG Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee ELW 836
*GREETING
L: 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 (spoken)
(Response to the leader) C: Lord, have mercy. (Final response) C: Amen, amen.
*CANTICLE OF PRAISE Glory to God ELW p. 213
*PRAYER OF THE DAY
L: Holy One, you stretch wide your tent that all may be welcomed in, and in Jesus you
stretched out your hands in expansive love for a weary and wounded world. Help us to reach
out with your own wounded hands of love, that through us your life may be known in the
world, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C: Amen.
WORD
God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song.
-FIRST READING: Ezekiel 33:7-11
(after the reading)
L The word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.
-PSALM 119:33-40 ELW PSALM SECTION
-SECOND READING: Romans 13:8-14
(after the reading)
L The word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.
-LET THE CHILDREN COME (Please pass worship cards to the center aisle)
*GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Alleluia. Lord, to Whom Shall We Go? ELW p. 188
*GOSPEL: Matthew 18:15-20
L The holy gospel according to Matthew, the 18th chapter. C Glory to you , O Lord.
(after the reading)
L The Gospel of the Lord. C Praise to you, O Christ.
-MESSAGE
-HYMN OF THE DAY God’s Work, Our Hands INSERT
(Sung to the tune of “Earth and All Stars”)
1 God’s work, our hands: working together,
building a future, repairing the world,
raising up homes, planting new gardens,
feeding the hungry and shelt’ring the cold.
Bless, God, our hands as we work in your name,
sharing the good news of your gospel.
2 God’s work, our feet: trav’ling together,
following Jesus to places unknown,
walking as friends, marching for freedom,
running the race with God’s future the goal.
Bless, God, our feet as we follow your way,
sharing the good news of your gospel.
3 God’s work, our voice: singing together,
praising, proclaiming to all who will hear,
praying for peace, shouting for justice,
claiming God’s love for the lost and the least.
Bless, God, our voice as we speak in your name,
sharing the good news of your gospel.
4 God is at work in and around us:
seedlings are sprouting and bread’s on the rise!
Washed and set free, humbled and honored,
gifted by grace, we respond in God’s love.
Bless, God, our lives as we answer your call,
sharing the good news of your gospel.
*APOSTLES’ CREED ELW p. 105
*PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
each petition ends with
L God, we pray. C open our hands in love.
*SHARING OF GOD’S PEACE
L The peace of Christ be with you always.
C And also with you.
(Please share a sign of God’s peace with one another, such as Peace be with you.)
THANKSGIVING
-PRESENTATION OF THE GIFTS
The Offering is presented at the altar as the Offertory is sung.
-OFFERTORY We Are an Offering ELW 692
*OFFERTORY PRAYER
L God of power, God of plenty, all things belong to you. We bring your gifts to the table, that
all might be fed. Form us into the body of your Beloved, Jesus Christ, our Savior.
C Amen.
*THANKSGIVING FOR THE WORD ELW p. 220
*LORD’S PRAYER
L Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.
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.
SENDING
God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world.
*CELEBRATION OF VOCATION AND BLESSING OF HANDS FOR MINISTRY
(INSERT)
P: We are called to proclaim the good news:
C: God is at work!
A: This good news is not left in some history long ago or a place far away:
C: God is at work in the world still today!
P: In us and through us, God is glorified in our work.
C: God is at work through us!
A: When we offer a helping hand, God is praised.
C: God is at work through us!
P: When we share of our abundance, God is known in the world.
C: God is at work through us!
A: In our service today, and in our daily lives,
let us live out what God has called us to in baptism.
C: God is at work through our hands!
People may come forward for a blessing of their hands
at stations in the center aisle.
A: (Signing a cross on the backs of the hands:)
A: God bless your hands and your work,
A: (Signing a cross on the palms of the hands:)
A: that through you God’s love may be known.
C: Amen.
-SONGS During the Blessing of Hands This Little Light of Mine ELW 677
Praise and Thanksgiving ELW 689
*BLESSING
L: The God of glory, ☩ Jesus Christ, name above all names, and the Spirit who lives in you,
bless you now and forever.
C: Amen.
*DISMISSAL
L Go in peace. God is at work in you.
C Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
ADDITIONAL WORSHIP SCHEDULES
‘ONLINE WORSHIP’ – Website: Alliancestjohns.org or Facebook: Alliance NE St Johns Lutheran
ANNOUNCEMENTS
SCRIPTURES FOR WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 17TH – Genesis 50:15-21, Psalm 103:1-13,
Romans 14:1-12, Matthew 18:21-35.
MINI-REVOLUTION SUNDAY SCHOOL – Starts TODAY! Welcome back!
WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY – Started last Wednesday. Please join Jody Mischnick and the
gang as they study “Twelve Women of the Bible”. Prayers begin at 9:30.
FELLOWSHIP– SEPTEMBER 17TH– BRUNCH!. SEPTEMBER 24TH– Troy & Michelle
Hoxworth, Bev Stravopolous.
1ST-6TH GRADE BIBLE WORKSHOP– September 16th, 10:00am-Noon.
BIBLE SUNDAY – NEXT SUNDAY-September 17th during worship.
CONFIRMATION CLASS – Meets September 17th following worship.
CARRY-IN BRUNCH – NEXT SUNDAY-September 17th following worship.
PRESCHOOL – Taking registrations now! Please spread the word. Thank you for all your
support of the Preschool!
WORSHIP HELPERS – September 17– Reader– Patricia Jones, Lay Assistant– Earl Jones,
September 24– Reader– Melinda Ewing, Lay Assistant– Maurine Roller .
GOD’S WORK OUR HANDS– TODAY!
ADDITIONAL SERVING AVAILABLE– Please be sure and check the oak table for sign-up
sheets for additional ways to serve- “Welcome to Worship Bags”, “Mini-Revolution” and the.
“Hospitality Crew”. Please check it out. Also, be considering what dates you can sign-up in
October for “Meals On Wheels”! Thank you for your service.
COMMUNITY TABLE– September 18th & 25th at 10:30am. Masonic Center-123 W 3rd Street.
“GO AND…” – Ready, Set, Go! In the Great Commission, Jesus calls us to GO. We are taking
those words to heart. The Nebraska Synod Assembly launched a year-long focus to “Go
And…” We invite you to be part of this call to GO!
SEPTEMBER– SERVE WITH NEIGHBORS
As Mr. Rogers asked us – “Who is your neighbor?” Love grounds us as we engage with our
neighbors living next door, the people in surrounding communities, and those living beyond our
own horizons. Accompaniment calls us to use our God-given gifts and talents as we collaborate,
learn from each other, and together walk in agape love.
Questions to consider:
Who is your neighbor? How do you know? What did you discover in walking with your neighbor?
As you GO with your neighbors, how do you describe your vocation?
Prayer: God of Accompaniment, you meet us where we are. Help us meet our neighbors wherever they might be and walk with them. Amen.
FINANCES
Actual expenses thru 9/3/2023 $123,620.59 Giving thru 9/3/2023 $92,216.56
Giving under actual expenses ($31,404.03)
35 Weeks of Budgeted Expenses $133,556.15 Giving under Budgeted Expenses ($41,339.59)
