Mary, Mother of Our Lord – August 15, 2021 The Order of Worship at 9:00 am As the spread of COVID-19 in our community has slowed, we have gradually offered in person, small group gatherings following the guidelines provided by our COVID-19 Taskforce. We continue to offer communion over Zoom for those who cannot gather in-person. As we open worship to in-person attendance, we will continue to exercise the same care that has protected us through the past year: limiting the number of people, the duration of the service, and providing safe seating. At the same time, we will continue to stream our services live for those who cannot be present. We will use the same bulletin for in-person and remote participants. Please use the links available on the viewing page to let us know that you are worshiping with us, to submit any prayer requests, to let us know if you need help or are available to help a neighbor, and to continue giving financially to support the ongoing ministries of Redeemer. As always, we pray that worship at Redeemer is a blessing for you, even as your participation blesses us, whether we gathering in the name of Christ inperson or online. As you are comfortable, we encourage you to sing the hymns and to sing or speak the congregational portions of the liturgy in bold type. This bulletin contains content protected by copyright and is provided only for you to participate in worship. Please delete or destroy any physical or digital copy of the material following the service.
WELCOME ANNOUNCEMENTS 1
Standing Fully vaccinated congregants in the sanctuary are encouraged to sing while masked. Those who are not fully vaccinated should “sing in spirit” reading the words to our hymns and liturgy as they are sung by the choir/musicians.
HYMN 479
We Come to the Hungry Feast
CONFESSION In the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit. | Amen. Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Let us confess our sin in the presence of God. Kneeling or seated
Most merciful God, | we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and 2
deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen. In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit. | Amen. Standing
PRAYER OF THE DAY The Lord be with you. | And also with you. Almighty God, in choosing the virgin Mary to be the mother of your Son, you made known your gracious regard for the poor, the lowly, and the despised. Grant us grace to receive your word in humility, and so to be made one with your Son, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. | Amen Please use the Prayer Request link on the webpage to submit your requests. Seated
CHILDREN’S SERMON Standing
THE GOSPEL Luke 1:46-55 Mary’s song, the Magnificat, serves as a thematic anthem for God’s work in the world and therefore for the ministry of her son, Jesus. In Mary’s praise we hear of a saving God who remembers the humble, scatters the proud, lifts up the lowly, and fulfills all things. 3
The Holy Gospel according... | Glory to you, O Lord. Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” The Gospel of the Lord. | Praise to You, O Christ. Seated
SERMON
Pastor Jenny McLellan
Standing
HYMN 597
4
My Hope is Built on Nothing Less
Kneeling or Seated
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION Rooted in Christ and sustained by the Spirit, we offer our prayers for the church, the world, and all of creation. God of eternal wisdom, enrich your church. Guide theologians, biblical scholars, authors, seminary professors, rostered and lay leaders as they seek greater knowledge and invite others into deeper understanding of your abiding love and power. Teach us to ask faithful questions and open our minds to your new ideas. God, in your mercy | hear our prayer.
5
God of creation, mend the earth. Cool warming oceans and preserve melting ice caps. Increase our awareness of changing climate patterns and reveal new approaches to the ecological challenges we face. Shield those in the path of hurricanes, tropical storms, or wild fires. God, in your mercy | hear our prayer. God of all nations, direct our representatives. Grant them courage to lay aside political grudges and renew their determination to peacefully resolve conflicts. Guide them in the work of reconciliation. God, in your mercy | hear our prayer. God of compassion, help us to tend to the wounded. Rescue those tormented by mental illness or mired in addiction. Ease the anxiety of those struggling with dementia. Come quickly to help all who are grieving and all those who suffer especially: God, in your mercy | hear our prayer. God of beauty, inspire artists. Bless those whose visual and musical gifts enliven our congregation, Redeemer, assembly. Bless the creative work of poets, hymn writers, composers, painters, sculptors, and others that enrich our worship and daily life. God, in your mercy | hear our prayer. Here other intercessions may be offered. God of resurrection, bring us to new life. Give us the living bread from heaven through which we abide in your love. Bring peace to the families of those who have lost loved ones: The Robert Sims family, The Gayle Ide family, the Dr. Jim Hodnett family, and the Mel Wilde family. Holy God, on the last day of days, raise our dearly departed, us, and all the saints to eternal life. God, in your mercy | hear our prayer.
6
We lift these and all our prayers to you, O God, confident in the promise of your saving love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Standing
PEACE The peace of Christ be with you always. | And also with you. Please share a sign of blessing with your fellow worshippers while maintaining proper distancing.
Please let us know you worshiped with us today by using the I’m Worshiping link as you would the attendance pad at church. Seated
GATHERING OF GIFTS Please use the Help and Give links to support the ministry of Redeemer. MUSIC by Redeemer Jazz Trio Standing
OFFERING PRAYER Jesus, Bread of life, you have set this table with your very self, and called us to the feast of plenty. Gather what has been sown among us, and strengthen us in this meal. Make us to be what we receive here, your body for the life of the world. Amen. LORD’S PRAYER 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. 7
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. BLESSING The blessing of God, who provides for us, feeds us, and journeys with us, ☩ be upon you now and forever. | Amen. HYMN 537
8
On Our Way Rejoicing
SENDING Go in peace. You are the body of Christ. Thanks be to God. POSTLUDE by Redeemer Jazz Trio Following the postlude join us for communion via Zoom. Link LAST WEEK AT REDEEMER Attendance for August 8, In-person 113, Livestream 277, Facebook 39 NEXT WEEK AT REDEEMER Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
As we welcome back worshippers to the sanctuary, we need ushers and greeters to help with our homecoming. If you are willing to join the team, please contact rdurdin@redeemer.org
9
The Altar flowers are given in loving memory of Pastor Robert Sims by his family. Today, 12 pm – 3pm and Wednesday, August 18 1:30 pm – 3 pm we are hosting open houses as an opportunity to grieve and remember Pastor Sims. There will be several spaces available for you to pray and be in community: The columbarium will be available for one household to visit at a time The sanctuary will be open for silent prayer The Good Shepherd Chapel will be available for one-on-one prayer with a Stephen Minister or Visitation Minister The Sims Atrium will be available for visiting with one another and a memory book will be on a table for people to write in
10
THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER 731 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30308 www.redeemer.org | 404.874.8664 | Emergency Line: 404.874.9759 The Rev. Mark H. Larson ...................................................................... Senior Pastor, ext. 201 The Rev. Ronald Bonner ................................... Pastor for Community Engagement, ext. 203 The Rev. Jonathan Trapp ................................................. Pastor for Faith Formation, ext. 233 The Rev. Jenny McLellan......................................... Pastor for Congregational Care, ext. 224 STAFF Bob Boyd ........................................................... Director of Operations and Finance, ext. 232 Seth Brown................................................................... Facilities and Media Director, ext. 218 Robin Durdin ............................................................ Office Administration Director, ext. 204 Kate Elkins .................................................................................... Preschool Director, ext. 252 David Hansen ........................................................................... Adult Choral Director, ext. 236 Sarah Hawbecker ...........................................Organist & Children’s Music Director, ext. 206 Deacon Mary Houck .....................................Children & Family Ministries Director, ext. 227 Jennifer Isaacson ........................................................Financial Information Director, ext. 237 Hillary Nelson ............................................................ Youth Director, hnelson@redeemer.org Tawanda Searcy ................................................ Receptionist and Wedding Director, ext. 200 Stacey Williams .............................................................................................. Head of Security
11