Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
September 17, 2017
American Lutheran Church
“Committed to Love and to Serve”
905 East First Street u Gibson City, Illinois 60936 u (217) 784-4841
Pastor Jim Davis
Parsonage: (217) 784-5444 u Cell: (309) 826-4968
Krysti Brucker, Organist u Gerry Gallagher, Secretary
A member of Servant’s United Parish u God’s work ~ Our hands!
Community Lutheran, Cornell & St. Peter’s Lutheran, Dwight
Primarily Served by Pastor Kurt Hoover
Trinity Lutheran, Chenoa & St. John’s Lutheran, Anchor
Primarily Served by Pastor Ed Hudelson
St. John’s Lutheran, Sibley
Primarily Served by Pastor Jim Davis
“P” indicates Pastor / “A” indicates Assisting Minister / “R” indicates Reader
Bold text with a “C” indicates Congregational response
PRELUDE
WELCOME
Please stand in body or in spirit.
HYMN – All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name! – Green 328 – v. 1, 2 & 3
GREETING
A: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the
Holy Spirit be with you all. C: And also with you.
KYRIE
KYRIE
PRAYER OF THE DAY
A: Let us pray: C: 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.
A: Please be seated and have the children come forward for their sermon.
SERMON FOR CHILDREN
PSALM 103:1-13
R: Let us read from Psalm 103 responsively:
1Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless God’s holy name.
2Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all God’s benefits—
3who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases;
4who redeems your life from the grave and crowns you with steadfast love and mercy;
5who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.
6O Lord, you provide vindication and justice for all who are oppressed.
7You made known your ways to Moses and your works to the children of Israel.
8Lord, you are full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love;
9you will not always accuse us, nor will you keep your anger forever.
10You have not dealt with us according to our sins, nor repaid us according to our iniquities.
11For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is your steadfast love for those who fear you.
12As far as the east is from the west, so far have you removed our transgressions from us.
13As a father has compassion for his children, so you have compassion for those who fear you, O Lord.
GOSPEL READING – Matthew 18:21-35
R: Please stand in body or in spirit . . . Our Gospel Reading is from the 18th
Chapter of Matthew:
21Peter 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?” 22Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.
23“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; 25and, 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. 26So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ 27And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. 28But 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.’ 29Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ 30But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. 31When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. 32Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ 34And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. 35So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
R: This is the Word of our Lord. C: Thanks be to God! R: Please be seated.
SERMON – How Many Times Do I Have to Forgive?
HYMN – There Is a Name I Love to Hear – See Insert
APOSTLES’ CREED
A: Please stand in body or in spirit . . . Let us confess our faith in the words of the
Apostles’ Creed:
C: 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 again 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
A: Open to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, we pray for the church, the world, and all of God’s creation.
A: Lord, in your mercy ...... C: Hear our prayers.
A: Into your hands, gracious God, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting the power of Christ and the gifts of the Spirit. C: Amen.
PEOPLE IN OUR PRAYERS
Dick Anstrom, Adam Brerhorst, Carrie Breum, Isaac Brucker, Lisa Buhs,
David Carstens, Carly Chase, Kim Cooper, Emma Couillard, Mandy Darbutt, Heather Eisenhardt, Judy Friedlein, Herb Green, Alex Happ, Chuck Hay,
Dwayne & Barb Horsch, Denise Horton, Ada Kennedy, Liz Zalaker Laurie,
Curtis Lindsey, Patricia Lindsey, Nancy List, The Family & Friends of Ray Mook on his death, Leona Mulvaney, Pastor Dennis Norton, Joann Reinhart, Ray Roemer, Servants United Parish, Jim Spangler, Gary Stroh, Mary Timm, and
Lou Wahls.
SHARING OF GOD’S PEACE
A: May the peace of our Lord be with you always! C: And also with you!
A: Let us share a sign of God’s peace with one another . . .
Please be seated for our offering.
Please fill out an Attendance Card and place it in the offering plate!
This will help us keep accurate records. It is also an opportunity to share notes or prayer requests with Pastor, and to update your contact information.
OFFERING – All we have is from God. We respond by sharing what God has
given us.
Please stand in body or in spirit as our offerings are brought forward.
OFFERING RESPONSE – As the Grains of Wheat
Refrain: As the grains of wheat once scattered on the hill
were gathered into one to become our bread;
So may all your people from all the ends of earth,
be gathered into one in you.
1 As this cup of blessing is shared within our midst,
may we share the presence of your love. Refrain
Text: Didache, 2nd cent.; Marty Haugen, b. 1950
OFFERING PRAYER
A: Let us pray together: C: God of life, you give us these gifts of the earth,
these resources of our life and our labor. Take them, offered in great thanksgiving, and use them to set a table that will heal the whole creation; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Light. Amen.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
P: On 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.” 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 in remembrance of me.”
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 glory, forever and ever. Amen
Please be seated.
DISTRIBUTION OF HOLY COMMUNION
COMMUNION ANTHEM – Krysti Brucker, keyboards
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
P: Let us pray together: C: Holy and compassionate God, in bread and wine you give us gifts that form us to be humble and courageous. May your words come to life in our serving and in our witness, that we might speak a living voice of healing and justice to all the world, through Jesus Christ, our rock and our redeemer. Amen.
Announcements – Please use the microphone!
blessing
P: God, creator of all things, speaking reformation into being; Jesus Christ, savior of the world, raising the dead; Holy Spirit, living voice, calling and enlightening the church: Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. C: Amen.
HYMN – Crown Him with Many Crowns – Green 170 – v. 1, 2 & 3
DISMISSAL
R: Go in peace. Sound the good news. C: Thanks be to God!
POSTLUDE
Worship Assistants – September
Head Usher – Mike Bleich / Assistant Usher – Rodney Schrack
Altar Guild – Willy Stevenson
September 17th September 24th
Coffee/Refreshments – Jan Gill Coffee/Refreshments – Jan Gill
Greeters – Brad & Kelly Tompkins Greeters – Carol Carlson and
Asst. Minister – Eli Brucker Marilyn Riblet
Reader – Tina Anstrom Asst. Minister – Ryan Tompkins
Comm. Assts. – Brad & Kelly Tompkins Reader – Lanie Celeschi
Offering Counter – Willy Stevenson Comm. Assts. – Mike Bleich and
Sound Tech – Tom Brucker Willy Stevenson
Offering Counter – Jan Gill
Sound Tech – Ron Andris
Upcoming Events for this week:
September 18 Newsletter Deadline – Noon
September 18-20 – Pastor at Leadership Training – Carlinville, IL
September 19 Coffee and Conversation – Parish Hall – Jeremy Darnell –
GCMS School District Superintendent – 9:00-10:00 am
September 20 Church Council Meeting – Parish Hall – 6:30 pm
September 21 Community Pastors Meeting – 8:00 am
September 22 First Day of Fall
September 24 Moments of Grace – WGCY Radio – 106.3 FM – 7:30-7:45 am Worship – 10:00 am / Pulpit Exchange – Pastor Ed Hudelson
Pastor Jim Reents will be leading members of Servants United in a Bible study on Luther’s Catechism. Session dates and times are as follows:
St. John’s Lutheran Church Bible Study – Anchor
· Monday, September 18, 2017, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. (Ten Commandments)
· Monday, September 25, 2017, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. (Creed)
· Monday, October 2, 2017, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. (Sacraments)
Community Lutheran Church Bible Study – Cornell
· Wednesday, September 20, 2017, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. (Ten Commandments)
· Wednesday, September 27, 2017, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. (Creed)
· Wednesday, October 4, 2017, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. (Sacraments)
All semi-retired and retired folks are invited to meet for Coffee and Conversation on the third Tuesday morning of every month from 9:00 – 10:00 in Parish Hall. Our guest on Tuesday, September 19th is Jeremy Darnell, the GCMS School District Superintendent.
Save the Date – The Fall Gathering of the Northeast Conference of Women of ELCA will be held on Saturday, September 30th at Zion Lutheran Church in Clifton, Illinois. Registration begins at 9 am. Cost for the day is $10.00. Breakfast will be served by the Zion ladies. Bible Study will be led by Pastor Ray Bowers. Please register by calling 815-694-2065 by Monday, September 25 if you plan to attend. Please contact Jan Gill at 784-4963 for additional information.
This Wednesday evening, our Church Council will be voting to move our Sunday morning worship time to 10:30. This change will give our pastors time to visit with Sibley members after their worship service; travel to Gibson City; and begin our worship in a timely manner. If approved, this change would begin onSunday, October 1st. Please voice any questions, comments or concerns to Pastor, the Church Office, or any Council Member; or feel free to attend the Council Meeting this Wednesday, September 20th, at 6:30 pm.
Servants United Parish is worshiping in a joint Reformation Service in St. Peter’s Lutheran Church of Dwight on Sunday, October 29th, beginning at
10:00 am. The Servants United combined choir will sing two songs, and a lunch will follow the service. See the posters in Parish Hall for more information!
Please remember those who are serving our country:
Heather Eisenhardt Alex Happ PVT Brucker, Isaac
1657 West Pratt Blvd 913 Southerly Rd, Apt 213 Bravo Co 16th ORD BN