Midweek Service of Word and Sacrament
Telling Our Story : We Live by Faith
August 27 2025
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Standing CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
In the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
God of all mercy and consolation, come to the help of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another. Kneeling or Seated
Gracious God, have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned from you and given ourselves into the power of sin. We are truly sorry and humbly repent. In your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things we have done and things we have failed to do. Turn us again to you, and uphold us by your Spirit, so that we may live and serve you in newness of life through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin, and made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. In the name of ☩ Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Almighty God strengthen you with power through the Holy Spirit, that Christ may live in your hearts through faith.
Amen.
Standing
HYMN: ELW 561 Joyous Light of Heavenly Glory
Seated
WORD: Hebrews 11:1-7
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death, and “he was not found, because God had taken him.” For it was attested before he was taken away that “he had pleased God.” And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would approach God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.
CONVERSATION WITH PASTOR MARK
Standing
HYMN: ELW 635
Kneeling or seated
PRAYERS
We Walk by Faith
Let us pray for the church, the creation, and the whole people of God, for God is near.
A brief silence.
For the leaders of the church, we pray. Inspire deacons, pastors, Sunday school teachers, and Christian education directors with a passion for speaking the word of God. Equip all the baptized to share your word of grace. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
For the well-being of creation, we pray. Sustain farm workers and all who labor in fields and vineyards to grow the food we eat. Revive plains and pastures, and provide for the cattle and creatures who rely on the land for their sustenance. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
For the leaders of towns, cities, provinces, states, and nations, we pray. Guide them to enact equitable laws and policies for all. On this upcoming Labor Day weekend, make us mindful of workers whose labor often goes unnoticed. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
For the lowly and those who are ignored, we pray. Provide for the needs of vulnerable communities, those who are unemployed, burdened by debt, or struggle to make ends
meet. Accompany all who need reassurance of your loving presence especially those we now name.... Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
For the hospitality ministries of this congregation, we pray. Give ushers and greeters a spirit of welcome for visitors, and bless the work of those who feed and nourish us. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
For all the saints who from their labors rest, we give thanks. With them, we offer our sacrifice of praise to you, O God, the same yesterday and today and forever. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Confident in God’s presence and promise, we entrust our prayers to the one who always receives them; through Jesus Christ, our wisdom and companion. Amen.
PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you always. | And also with you.
HOLY COMMUNION
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.
Holy, mighty, and merciful Lord, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
In great love you sent to us Jesus, your Son, who reached out to heal the sick and suffering, who preached good news to the poor, and who, on the cross, opened his arms to all.
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.
Remembering, therefore, his death, resurrection, and ascension, we await his coming in glory.
Pour out upon us the Spirit of your love, O Lord, and unite the wills of all who share this heavenly food, the body and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all glory and honor, now and forever.
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray…
THE 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.
AFTER COMMUNION
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. Amen
Let us pray. | Mothering God, you gathered us to your table and we drank deeply of your grace. Send us out by your Spirit to love our neighbors as ourselves and proclaim your love in Jesus’ name. Amen
HYMN: ELW 860
BLESSING
I'm so Glad Jesus Lifted Me
The love of God abound in you; the grace of our Savior Jesus Christ fill your hearts; and the life of the Spirit ☩ bless you and give you peace. | Amen.
Go in peace. Care for others as God cares for you. | Thanks be to God.