Mt. Olive Ev. Lutheran Church

www.mtolive-wels.net

 

1460 Almond Avenue

St. Paul, Minnesota  55108

 

651.645.2575

 

A Praying Church

 

Carl R. Henkel, pastor

651.631.8625

carl.henkel@juno.com

 

 

The Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost

 

 

September 2, 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.

 

 

 

Assisting Us In Worship This Morning

 

Greg Schuyler, head usher

Bob Averbeck, organist

Ryan Jacobs, communion assistant

 

 

 

We Gather To Worship The Lord

 

WORDS OF WELCOME

 

Blessings to you all on this Labor Day Weekend!  God would have all people to be saved, to enter by the narrow door.  Yet, in our own strength, this is not possible.  Therefore, we rely on Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant, whose blood intercedes for us before the Father, and upon the Holy Spirit who brings us into saving faith.

 

+ PREPARATION +

 

OPENING HYMN                                                                                                       Hymn #261

 

“We Sing the Almighty Power of God”

 

INVOCATION

 

Pastor:      In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

People:    Amen.

 

Pastor:      Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples.

People:    For great is His love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

                 Praise the Lord.

 

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

 

Pastor:      If You, Lord, kept a record of our sin, who could stand before You?

People:    But with You there is forgiveness; therefore, You are worshiped.

 

Pastor:      Let us confess our sins to God. 

People:    Faithful Lord, we confess that we are sinful from conception. We have sinned in the ways we have thought, spoken, and acted.   We have not loved You with all our passion and prayer and intelligence and energy, nor have we loved others as we love ourselves.  Forgive us for the sake of Jesus.  Amen.

 

Pastor:      Rejoice, for your names are written in heaven, because Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant, has shed His blood that you might have forgiveness of sins. God has declared you not guilty through Jesus Christ.  In His name and at His command I forgive you all your sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

People:    Thanks be to God!  Amen.

 

PRAYER

 

Pastor:      O Almighty God, to know You is eternal life.  Give us Your Holy Spirit that we may know without doubt that Your Son Jesus, is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that following steadfastly in His steps, we may enter by the narrow door that leads to eternal life. We pray through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen.

 

+ WORD +

 

OLD TESTAMENT                                                                                               Isaiah 66:18-24

(God will make new heavens and earth.)

 

"And I, because of their actions and their imaginations, am about to come and gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory.  I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who survive to the nations-- to Tarshish, to the Libyans and Lydians (famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to the distant islands that have not heard of My fame or seen My glory. They will proclaim My glory among the nations.  And they will bring all your brothers, from all the nations, to My holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the Lord-- on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels," says the Lord. "They will bring them, as the Israelites bring their grain offerings, to the temple of the Lord in ceremonially clean vessels.  And I will select some of them also to be priests and Levites," says the Lord.

"As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before Me," declares the Lord, "so will your name and descendants endure.  From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before Me," says the Lord.  “And they will go out and look upon the dead bodies of those who rebelled against Me; their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind."

 

RESPONSE                                                                            Hymn #103, stanza 1 (please sing)

Glory be to Jesus, Who in bitter pains

Poured for me the lifeblood From His sacred veins.

 

EPISTLE LESSON                                                                                          Hebrews 12:18-24

(We come to Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant.)

 

You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,        because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned." The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear."

But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

 

RESPONSE                                                                            Hymn #103, stanza 4 (please sing)

Abel’s blood for vengeance Pleaded to the skies,

But the blood of Jesus For our pardon cries.

 

GOSPEL LESSON                                                                                                Luke 13:22-30

(Enter through the narrow door.)

 

Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as He made His way to Jerusalem.

Someone asked Him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.  Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' "But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'

"Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.'

"But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!'

"There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.  People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.  Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last."

 

RESPONSE                                                                            Hymn #103, stanza 6 (please sing)

Life we, then, our voices, Swell the mighty flood;

Louder still and louder Praise the precious blood!

 

NICENE CREED                                                                         page 18-19 in front of the hymnal

 

HYMN                                                                                                                       Hymn #456

“Forth in Your Name, O Lord, I Go”

 

PASTOR’S MESSAGE                                                                                          Luke 13:22-30

“Labor To Squeeze Through The Door”

 

GATHERING OF THE OFFERINGS

 

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

 

Pastor:      Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs:

For the holy Christian Church, that Your Word, Lord, would be an active force in its growth in America, China, Cameroon, India, Peru, and all around the world, let us pray to the Lord:

People:    Lord, have mercy.

 

Pastor:      For people in our country and around the world whose lives have been turned upside down by calamity, loss, and hardship, that You, O Lord, would use the strength of Your Church to give comfort and aid, let us pray to the Lord:

People:    Lord, have mercy.

 

Pastor:      For the will to put aside our wants and wishes for material things as we strive for the eternal things that truly matter, let us pray to the Lord:

People:    Lord, have mercy.

 

Pastor:      That Your Holy Spirit come down on us with power. Use each one of us in Your divine plan to bring the message of salvation to those lost in unbelief.  No matter our background or circumstance, give all of us boldness to speak of Your Son, the crucified and risen Savior.  Lord, in Your mercy

People:    Hear our prayer.

 

Pastor:      That our eyes be opened to the many opportunities to share the message that you, Lord Jesus, are the narrow Door that leads to heaven. Open our mouths to speak boldly about the true love You have for all people. That we may be used by You to keep others from going to hell, Lord, in Your mercy

People:    Hear our prayer.

 

Pastor:      That our beloved nation may once again live in peace, and that the forces of evil may be stopped and rendered powerless, be with our troops and service personel who fight on foreign soil and stand guard within our shores.  Keep them safe from harm and protect their families.  Lord, in Your mercy

People:    Hear our prayer.

 

Pastor:      Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, in whose name we also pray…

People:    Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name...

 

+ SACRAMENT +

 

PREFACE                                                                  sung responsively to the tune of hymn #195

 

Pastor:      May the Lord be with you.

People:    And be with you also.

 

Pastor:      Lift your hearts and hands in praise,

People:    we lift them to the Lord.

 

Pastor:      Let us bring thanksgiving, in all times and places,

People:    for it is good and right our song to raise.

 

Pastor:      It is truly good, right and proper everywhere and always to give thanks to You, loving Father, holy and almighty Lord, eternal God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, the Mediator of the new covenant, through whom we have access through the narrow door to take our place at the feast in the kingdom of God.  Therefore by Your Spirit, with angels and archangels, the saints in heaven and those on earth, we glorify Your name, praising You and singing:

 

SANCTUS                                                                                     sung to the tune of hymn #195

 

People:    Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty,

Heav'n and earth are filled with glory from Your shining throne.

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty

Hail and hosanna, Blest are You alone.

 

JESUS INSTITUTES THE SACRAMENT                                                               (in prayer form)

 

Pastor:      O Lord Jesus, we are about to commemorate Your death for us as we celebrate the Sacrament of Your Holy Supper.  We remember that on the night You were betrayed, You took the bread, and when You had given thanks, You broke it and gave it to Your disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me."  In the same way, after supper, You took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.   This is My blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."

People:    Bless this sacred meal, Lord, that as we receive the bread and wine, and with them Your very body and blood, You may give each communicant the personal assurance of forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.  Amen.

 

AGNUS DEI                                                                                  sung to the tune of hymn #195

 

People:    Lamb of God, Lord Jesus, Lamb of God have mercy.

                 You who take away the sin of all the world, grant peace.

                 Lamb of God, Christ Jesus, Lamb of God, Redeemer,

                 Have mercy on us, grant to us Your peace.

 

DISTRIBUTION

 

POST-COMMUNION PRAYER

 

Pastor:      Having received the blessing of Your body and blood for our forgiveness as a gift from Your hand, O Lord, we ask that You would strengthen our faith that we may trust only in You.  Enable us to live each day as Your faithful people, and love You and all whom You bring into our lives.  Bless us to this end with these Your gifts, for we ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

 

BENEDICTION

 

CLOSING HYMN                                                                                                       Hymn #620

“To You, Our God, We Fly”

 

tttttttttt

 

 

 

This Week At Mt. Olive

 

 

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

                             9:00am           Family Worship

                           10:00am           Social Time

Monday:                                     Have a Relaxing Labor Day!

Wednesday:         7:00pm           Sunday School Teachers’ Meeting

Thursday:           12:00pm           Women’s Guild Meets / Fireside Room

Friday - Sunday:                        Mt. Olive’s Annual Camp Croix Weekend

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

                             9:00am           Family Worship Service

                             7:00pm           Coordinating Council Meets / Fireside Room

 

 

 

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!

 

Be Sure To Pick Up copies of “Linkage” and “Meditations” from the back of church this morning.  Many other publications are also available on the table in the narthex.

 

The Mt. Olive Women’s Guild meets this Thursday noon in the Fireside Room.  All ladies of the congregation are cordially invited to attend.  Bring a friend along too!  Please bring a sack lunch along with you and we’ll have lunch before studying our Bible topic and having a short business meeting.  Do come!

 

Camp Croix Weekend:  It's time for some R&R lakeside in the Wisconsin woods. Camp Croix is again beckoning. This coming weekend, Sept. 7-9 is the weekend reserved for our congregation. Come for canoeing, fishing, games, jigsaw puzzles, swimming, volleyball, bonfires, chapel, and lots of laughs and fellowship. There are bedrooms upstairs in the lodge or bunks available in the small cabins. You do have to provide your own bedding. We all take turns with KP duty - the food is provided for all meals Saturday and brunch Sunday. However, snacks and desserts are always appreciated!  Please sign up on the sheet in the church narthex. If you have any questions, contact Marcia Schuyler at 651.748.0654.

 

The Cantabilé Singers are looking for a few good men!  Auditions are currently being scheduled for tenors and basses.  If you are interested in joining our group, please contact Becca Henry at 651.343.8314, or email Jason Snodie at jsnodie@comcast.net to set up an audition.

 

AA Meetings (The Firing Line) will be held on Sunday evenings here at Mt. Olive from 5:00 to 6:15pm.  Contact Dustin B. at 612.483.3198.

 

Mission Boxes for the Lutheran Women's Missionary Society that you have been filling with change can be turned in to Mae Schmidt, our LWMS Reporter, before the end of September to ensure being counted before the Fall Rally. New boxes are available in the back of church.  Thank you!

 

The Wildung Society of St. Croix Lutheran High School is having their annual dinner meeting on Sunday, Sept. 23 at the Southview Country Club.  Invitations have been sent out, but we don't want to miss anyone who should be included in the Society.  If you or someone you know has remembered St. Croix Lutheran High School in your estate plans or would like to plan or make an endowment gift to the SCLHS Foundation, please contact Pastor Bill Schaefer at 612-789-0100. He is the Gift Planning Counselor for the SCLHS Association congregations.  He also is available at no charge to advise and assist you with your estate plans.