The Twelfth Sunday

After Pentecost

August 19, 2007 9:00am

Thank You for sharing this time of worship with us. We're glad you're here! Please sign the Friendship Register. Do come again! If you do not have a local church home, we invite you to make your home with us. Here you will find Christian love, opportunities for spiritual growth, warm friendships, and a feeling of being part of the family of God.

The Lord's Supper is being celebrated today. This special meal, instituted by Christ, unites us with Him and our brothers and sisters in the faith. This sacrament is intended for those who are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; trust in Jesus Christ as the only way to heaven; and believe that the true body and blood of Jesus are present with the bread and wine of Holy Communion. Guests who share this faith are invited to speak with the pastor before joining us in this holy meal.

Assisting Us In Worship This Morning

Mildred Rilling and Marlene Struwe, greeters

Jerry Holen, head usher

Margaret Meier, organist

John Mueller, communion assistant

We Gather To Worship The Lord

Order of Service: Service of Word and Sacrament, p.26 front of hymnal

Hymns: 402 443 406 451

Message: Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

“By Faith...”

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Genesis 15:1-6

(Abraham believes God's promises and it is counted to him as righteousness.)

After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward."

But Abram said, "O Sovereign Lord, what can You give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?" And Abram said, "You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir."

Then the word of the Lord came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir." He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars-- if indeed you can count them." Then He said to him, "So shall your offspring be."

Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.

EPISTLE LESSON: Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

(Abraham's faith is set before us as an example of obedience to God's guiding his life.)

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible…

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

By faith Abraham, even though he was past age-- and Sarah herself was barren-- was enabled to become a father because he considered Him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country-- a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

GOSPEL LESSON: Luke 12:32-40

(Fear not! It is our Father's desire to give us the kingdom.)

Jesus said, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.

“But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him."

This Week At Mt. Olive

Today: 8:45am Prayer Time in the Fireside Room

9:00am Family Worship

10:00am Social Time

7:00pm Coordinating Council Meets

Monday: 6:00pm Carousel Event/Como Park (see bulletin board)

7:00pm “Time of Grace” Bible Study

Tuesday: 11:30am Women’s Guild Outing

6:00pm Twins Game

Thursday: State Fair Begins

Next Sunday: 6:30am “Time of Grace” on KMSP, Channel 9

9:00am Family Worship Service

3:00pm SCLHS 50^th Anniversary Service

Door Offerings for the renovation of the main lodge at Camp Croix will be taken each Sunday until Mt. Olive’s Camp Croix weekend, September 7-9, 2007. Offerings will be matched by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans South Ramsey Chapter. Please make any checks out to Mt. Olive with memo of Camp Croix. Thanks for giving so that the remodeling can begin!

You’re Invited to the Como Park Living at Home/Block Nurse Program’s 2^nd Annual Fundraiser at the Cafésjian Carousel in Como Park, Monday evening, from 6 to 8pm. Come for carousel rides, root beer floats, and a silent auction.

Join Us Monday Evening for “Time of Grace” Bible study. It begins with a viewing of the weekly “Time of Grace” church service with Pastor Mark Jeske, and continues with a discussion of that week’s text and topic. We meet in the Fireside Room at 7:00pm. All welcome!

Plan To Attend the Women’s Guild Outing this Tuesday, August 21^st. We are going to Pippins Restaurant (2905 N. Snelling Ave.) at 11:30am for lunch, games and socializing. All men and women of the congregation are invited. Please sign the sheet in the narthex this morning.

The State Fair Is Here! Volunteers are needed to park cars in our parking lot. There is a sign-up sheet on the narthex bulletin board. Please sign up today! There are three shifts per day, beginning at 8:00am and ending at 8:00pm. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Care in Congregation will match up to $1,300. Thank you for your help!