August 25, 2019
TIME AFTER PENTECOST—LECTIONARY 21

INTRODUCTION
Remember the sabbath day. Call the sabbath a delight. This is the Lord's day, and the Lord will do for us what the Lord does: feed us, forgive us, help and heal us. Rejoice at all the wonderful things God is doing.

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.
Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God,
who forgives all our sin,
whose mercy endures forever.
Amen.

Seeking reconciliation with God and neighbor,
let us remember the gift of baptism and confess our sin.

Silence is kept for reflection.

God of mercy,
we confess that we have sinned against you,
against one another,
and against the earth entrusted to our care.
We are worried and distracted by many things,
and we fail to love you above all else.
We store up treasures for ourselves
and turn away from our neighbors in need.
Forgive us, that we may live in the freedom of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

When we were laid low by sin and guilt,
God made us alive together with Christ,
forgiving us + all our trespasses
by taking our sins to the cross.
For freedom Christ has set us free:
Rejoice in this good news!
Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY
O God, mighty and immortal, you know that as fragile creatures surrounded by great dangers, we cannot by ourselves stand upright. Give us strength of mind and body, so that even when we suffer because of human sin, we may rise victorious through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Alleluia. The crowd | was rejoicing* at the wonderful things that Je- | sus was doing. Alleluia. (Luke 13:17)

READINGS AND PSALM
Isaiah 58:9b-14
Psalm 103:1-8
The LORD crowns you with mercy and steadfast love. (Ps. 103:4)
Hebrews 12:18-29
Luke 13:10-17

FIRST READING: Isaiah 58:9b-14
The Lord promises those who have returned from exile that where justice and mercy prevail, the ruins will be rebuilt and light will rise in the darkness. It is a day for new beginnings.

9bIf you remove the yoke from among you,
	the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,
10if you offer your food to the hungry
	and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,
then your light shall rise in the darkness
	and your gloom be like the noonday.
11The LORD will guide you continually,
	and satisfy your needs in parched places,
	and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
	like a spring of water,
	whose waters never fail.
12Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
	you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
	the restorer of streets to live in.
13If you refrain from trampling the sabbath,
	from pursuing your own interests on my holy day;
if you call the sabbath a delight
	and the holy day of the LORD honorable;
if you honor it, not going your own ways,
	serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs; 
14then you shall take delight in the LORD,
	and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth;
I will feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Jacob,
	for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

PSALM: Psalm 103:1-8
The LORD crowns you with mercy and steadfast love. (Ps. 103:4)

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;   R
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 chil- | dren of Israel.
8LORD, you are full of compas- | sion and mercy,
	slow to anger and abounding in | steadfast love.   R

SECOND READING: Hebrews 12:18-29
Using images of Moses from the Old Testament, the writer presents a striking vision of the new covenant of God made possible in Christ. There is no longer fear; only awe in the new promise in Christ into which we are invited.

18You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, 19and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. 20(For they could not endure the order that was given, "If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death." 21Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with fear.") 22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
	25See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven! 26At that time his voice shook the earth; but now he has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven." 27This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of what is shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; 29for indeed our God is a consuming fire.

GOSPEL: Luke 13:10-17
Jesus heals a woman on the sabbath, offering her a new beginning for her life. When challenged by a narrow reading of the sabbath command, Jesus responds by expanding "sabbath work" to include setting people free from bondage.

10Now [Jesus] was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 11And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. 12When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Woman, you are set free from your ailment." 13When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. 14But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day." 15But the Lord answered him and said, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? 16And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?" 17When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
The prayers are prepared locally for each occasion. The following examples may be adapted or used as appropriate.
Treasuring your promise to hear us when we call, we pray for the church, those in need, and all of your creation.
A brief silence.
Lord of mercy, we cry to you for help, trusting in your compassion for your whole creation. Raise up the baptized to offer Christ's healing and forgiveness to all in distress. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
We rejoice in your creation: water that nourishes lands and creatures, gardens and fields with a diversity of plants. Bless scientists and artists who show us new ways of understanding the complex beauty around us. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
We seek the kingdom that cannot be shaken. Come to the rescue of those who are displaced by war, famine, or other disasters. Bless diplomats, peacekeepers, rescue workers, and all who are given aid through their efforts, so that peace and plenty prevail. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
You provide deliverance and justice for all who are oppressed. Free those in bondage to substances, gambling, or other forms of addiction. Release victims of human trafficking and bring them to safety. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
You know our needs in this community. Heal the hurts of all bent over with sickness, aging, or suffering (especially). Accompany those who visit homebound members, the hospitalized, and those who are in prison. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Here other intercessions may be offered.
You raise up witnesses in every generation. As we remember those who have passed into your peace before us, comfort us in the sure hope of your Son's resurrection. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
All these things and more we ask in the name of our risen Lord, Jesus Christ, by the power of your Holy Spirit.
Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER
Blessed are you, O God,
for the greening earth given for all,
for the talents we are given to share,
and for this bread and wine.
Transform us to be the body of Christ,
that, feasting on this food and drink,
our lives may reflect your generosity;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

INVITATION TO COMMUNION
God invites you to this table of bounty.
Come, the banquet is ready.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
O God, in this holy communion
you have welcomed us into your presence,
nourished us with words of mercy,
and fed us at your table.
Amid the cares of this life,
strengthen us to love you with all our heart,
serve our neighbors with a willing spirit,
and honor the earth you have made;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

SENDING OF COMMUNION
O God of tender compassion, 
as you healed the sick and welcomed the stranger, 
bless those who leave this assembly 
to share the gifts of this table 
with our sisters and brothers 
who are sick/homebound/imprisoned.
May they be sustained by the love and prayers 
of this community, 
and by the Bread of life that satisfies all hunger, 
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

BLESSING
Live your lives in Christ, rooted and built up in him,
and abound in thanksgiving;
and the blessing of the holy Trinity, + one God,
be upon you and remain with you forever.
Amen.

DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Christ is sending you.
Thanks be to God.

Reprinted from Words for Worship, copyright 2018 Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission. Scripture quotations (except psalms) from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. All rights reserved. Used by permission.