Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Fruit of the Spirit: Generosity

Welcome to worship this evening with Lutheran Church of the Redeemer. Our theme for this fall is A Harvest of Generosity. Through the Holy Spirit, God is continually growing diverse fruits of love, faithfulness, and many other varieties through us.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23a)

We are confident that God has planted Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Midtown so that others may taste bountiful life in Jesus. May God nurture you through this worship service so you may bear good and beautiful fruit in Midtown and beyond.

GATHERING

The Holy Spirit gathers us into a community of prayer.

Standing CALL TO WORSHIP

Come, rest from your labors in the vineyard

Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord

Come, let us gather the hopes and dreams and longing of all Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord

Come, receive a foretaste of the feast to come

We come to the abundant presence of the Lord

HYMN 685

Take My Life, That I May Be

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray.

Generous God, you graciously emptied yourself into human form. Form our minds and hearts to be like Jesus pouring out ourselves for the sake of others, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. | Amen.

WORD

God speaks to us in scripture reading, silence, reflection, and song.

Seated THE READING Philippians 2:1-13

If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross.

Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

AN INTERVIEW WITH PASTOR MARK Anne Ridenhour "Who taught you to be generous?"

Kneeling or remain seated PRAYER

As vines lift their leaves to the sun, let us lift our hearts in prayer to the Lord. We confess to you, Oh Lord, that we have consumed excessively to the edge and beyond. Stay our hands in the reaping of resources. May we take only what we need, leaving gleanings for the poor and foreigners among us. Strengthen us to work in the fields of justice so that all may have enough. What else do we confess to God?

[you may speak your own prayers and petitions]

Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We ask you, O Lord, to cultivate compassion, healing, and mercy in our community. Tend the sick, give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, comfort the afflicted. For whom do we ask for God’s tender mercy?

[you may speak your own prayers and petitions]

Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

We give you thanks, Oh Lord, for the bounty of your grace and love! For your word of forgiveness and life, for the universal church, for this faith community through Redeemer, for all the blessings you generously provide.

For what else do we give God praise?

[you may speak your own prayers and petitions]

Lord in your mercy,

We ask you, O Lord, that these prayers take root in us and bear fruit in your name. Harvest a season of generosity so that through Redeemer, the world may see Jesus and give glory to his name above all names.

Amen.

Standing PEACE

The peace of Christ be with you always | And also with you.

MEAL

GREAT THANKSGIVING

The Lord be with you. | And also with you. Lift up your hearts! | We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. | It is right to give our thanks and praise.

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

Holy God, mighty and merciful, your people praise you, saying: Your mercy endures forever. Your mercy endures forever.

By your promise you bound yourself to earth and all its creatures, granting them life and calling them to flourish, setting the sign of your bow in the clouds, the colors of your love and faithfulness. Your mercy endures forever. Your mercy endures forever.

By your promise you bound yourself to your people of old, blessing them with family outnumbering the stars and calling them to be a blessing to others, showing them steadfast love in every generation and calling them to be a light to the nations. Your mercy endures forever. Your mercy endures forever.

By your promise you joined us to Jesus, your Beloved, grafting us into your living Vine, and calling us to bear the fruit of your self-giving love.

In 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.

Again, 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 for the remembrance of me.

With this bread and cup we remember his life laid down and lifted up as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Send your Holy Spirit upon us and these gifts of bread and wine. Bless us to be a blessing. Make us a sign of your faithfulness. Send us to tend and cherish the earth and to serve the world with mercy and love.

With all the saints in light, with the earth and all its creatures, with sun and moon and stars, we praise you, O God, through Christ Jesus, in your Spirit, now and forever. | Amen.

Hear our prayer.

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. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

INVITATION TO COMMUNION

All people are called to Christ’s table. Come, eat what is good.

Seated

Standing

All who seek to meet the Risen Christ in the bread and wine are invited to receive Holy Communion.

The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. | Amen

BLESSING

Creating God, Sower, Grower, and Reaper, bless you now and forever. | Amen.

HYMN 678 God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending

SENDING

Live by the Spirit, guided by God. Thanks be to God.

From sundaysandseasons.com.

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