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Meeting ID: 619 327 455
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Wilderness of Sin - Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
10:45 - Leader's Meeting
11:00 - Coffee Hour in 11 Minutes (Sip your coffee and discuss Exodus 17 or Numbers 20 or Matthew 21 ... and how God might reach a Wide Range of People through us during this season of Pentecost ... or what are your thoughts about the NFL playing Lift Every Voice and Sing 20 minutes before the National Anthem ... or the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg?)
11:11 - WORSHIP BEGINS
Lift Every Voice and Sing (* offered by Pastor Todd)
Exodus 17:1-7 read by #1
1 From the WILDERNESS of SIN the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 The people quarreled with Moses, and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?" 3 But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?" 4 So Moses cried out to the Lord, "What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me." 5 The Lord said to Moses, "Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink." Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, "Is the Lord among us or not?"
A) FIRST SONG: Amazing Grace, led by Wintley Phipps
Please MUTE and SING (no lyrics)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
What is the mission of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church?
To Serve as a VEHICLE through which the Gospel is Spread!!!
about being a VEHICLE
that will deliver CONFIDENCE, COMPASSION, and COMPANIONSHIP
to a tremendously anxious COMMUNITY,
remembering that God is our REFUGE & STRENGTH.
1) THIS Wednesday September 30 @ 7 PM,
BIBLE STUDY on ACTS: The Prequel ... LUKE 24
led by Pastor Todd
2) NEXT Wednesday October 7 @ 7 PM ... with Christ Lutheran
BIBLE STUDY on ACTS: The Prequel ... Acts 1)
3) PRAYER CIRCLES (September 20) for 30 minutes after worship
Stay after today to hear more about that ... and this:
a) Need 5 for Clean HANDS Project ... A plan for returning to IN PERSON Worship
(Planning in Orange to implement in Yellow)
b) Need 5 for Clean HEART Project ... A plan for including the Health & Safety Conscious ONLINE (Planning in Yellow to implement in Green)
6) The WITNESS of the Acts of the Apostles at Mt Olive:
The VITAL LEGACY of the HISTORICAL BLACK CHURCH
Help with 2 things: A) I WOULD LIKE to SHARE a MESSAGE or a TESTIMONY
B) I WOULD LIKE to HEAR from this PASTOR .... or BROTHER .... or SISTER ...
B) SECOND LESSON: Numbers 20:1, 2, 9-13, read by #2
2) In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried. Now [again] there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron ... So Moses took the staff from the Lord’s presence, just as he commanded him. He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” These were the waters of Meribah,[a] where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord and where he was proved holy among them.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks Be to God!!
I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy Down in My Heart, a Listener Kids video
D) KYRIE, led by Carlos Leggett
In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Amen.
3) The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
AND ALSO WITH YOU
4) We gather together and share a CREED to remember that in God, we have a Companion who will never fail us and will be with us always. It is a CREED that reminds us that death is never the final answer, and the hope springs eternal for those who follow the God of Resurrection and Life.
I BELIEVE IN GOD,
the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST,
God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.* On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT,
the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
3) We take this moment to confess our sins: Do you confess that you are captive to sin and cannot free yourself from this trap of sin and death, at least not in this life? Do you confess that you have sinned against God in anger, rebellion, frustration, doubt and fear.
WE DO.
4) Do you confess that, because your neighbor fails to love in the way that God commands, that you also have not loved your neighbor as yourself? Do you confess that you struggle to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength?
WE DO.
3) Do you ask, with the help of Jesus Christ, Forgive us, Lord, 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.
WE DO. AMEN.
4) Brothers and sisters hear this grace: In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for you and for His sake, God forgives you all of your sins. As a called disciple of Christ I declare the entire forgiveness of all of your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
AMEN.
Halle, Halle, Halle-lujah, led by Tanya Browne & Dolphene Davis
Our Gospel Lesson comes from the Matthew in the 21st Chapter.
GLORY TO YOU, O LORD!
5) When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?" And they argued with one another, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' But if we say, 'Of human origin,' we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet." So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
6) "What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' He answered, 'I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, 'I go, sir'; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
PRAISE TO YOU, OH CHRIST
G) SECOND SONG: Shall We Gather at the River led by Pastor Todd
Please MUTE and SING along (lyrics below)
Refrain: Yes, we'll gather at the river, the beautiful, the beautiful river; gather with the saints at the river, that flows by the throne of God.
Shall we gather at the river, where bright angel feet have trod, with its crystal tide forever, flowing by the throne of God?
On the margin of the river, washing up its silver spray, we will walk and worship ever, all the happy golden day. (Refrain)
Soon we'll reach the shining river, soon our pilgrimage will cease; soon our happy hearts will quiver, with the melody of peace. (Refrain)
H) SERMON: We Need EACH OTHER to REACH the PROMISED LAND
In Covid, I am finding that I dearly, desperately need an OASIS where I can be revived. Don’t you? When every day we face the dangers and temptations of the WILDERNESS of SIN, we need a place where we can find the WATER of LIFE. And be renewed. By Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Those names. So sweet.
In the Wilderness of Sin, Moses and this Israilites knew, water is everything:
Without water there is no life. And today’s picture accentuates that. In the Wilderness of Sin, what you see most is dry, lifeless sand. DESICCATING, EXCORIATING, EVISCERATING sand. That takes the substances of life and leaves only dry, white, exposed bones. And it will take the Faith of Ezekiel to see life return to those dry bones.
Sermon Series:
EVERYBODY Benefits from the Truth of the BLACK CHURCH
1) LIFTED UP within an AFFIRMING COMMUNITY
You is good. You is kind. You is smart. You is important.
The Help, Powerful movie for white folk for a reason
2) SPEAKING to POWER with a POWERFUL VOICE
Civil Rights Movement, #BlackLivesMatter, Black Elected Leaders
3) REMEMBERING a LIFE GIVING STORY about FREEDOM
Exodus. Promised Land. Let My People Go. We Shall Overcome.
4) ORGANIZING to EFFECT ECONOMIC JUSTICE
Black Owned Homes. Growing, Apprenticing, and Patronizing Black Owned Business
5) ADVOCATING for PEOPLE whose VOICE is NOT HEARD
Companionship. Incarceration, Homelessness, Addiction, Dropping Out
6) DRAMATIC MOVEMENT in MUSIC, the ARTS, & SPORTS
Competition and cooperation; Solo expression & Ensemble harmony
J) THIRD SONG: I've Just Come from the Fountain, led by the combined Morgan State University Choir; I've Just Come from the Fountain, led by the combined River City Men's & Women's Chorus of Jacksonville; I've Just Come from the Fountain, led by Icy Rene Simpson and McCain, arranged by arr. U.S. Moore
(Please MUTE and SING (no lyrics)
K) LITURGY of HOLY COMMUNION Lord, God, Heavenly King .... Led by Tanya Browne
LORD, GOD, HEAVENLY KING, Almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory, Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Faither, Lord, God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us,
You are seated at the right hand of the Father, receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, You alone are the Lord, You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit, In the Glory of God the Father, Amen.
GREAT THANKSGIVING & Preface by #7
Please UNMute & RESPOND
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.
It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, Holy Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who on this day overcame death and the grave and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. And so with the Church on Earth and all the hosts of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn.
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord, led by Pastor Todd
Please MUTE & SING:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD, Lord God of power and might. Heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he, who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna, in the highest.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION & Lord's Prayer, led by #7
The Words of Institution are recorded for us in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke as well as by St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:
“Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night in which He was betrayed, took bread and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to His disciples saying: ‘Take and eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.’
“In the same way also He took the cup after supper, gave thanks, and gave it to them saying: ‘Drink of it all of you; this cup is the New Covenant in My blood, which is shed for you and for all people, for the remission of sins. This do as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.'”
When the disciples didn't know how to PRAY in the face of the challenges ahead of them, they asked Jesus for help. He said, "Pray this way!" Will you share with me the Lord's Prayer?
Please UNMute & RESPOND
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.
1) Lamb, Of God, led by Dolphene Davis & 2) Miracles and Blessings led by Tanya Browne
Please MUTE & SING:
1) Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us (repeat) ... Lamb of God, you take away, the sins of the world, grant us peace ... grant us peace.
* AND *
Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me. Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me. Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the living God, Fall afresh on me.
L) Post Communion Blessing & Prayer led by #7
ALL: May the body and blood of our Risen Lord, Jesus the Christ, strengthen you and keep you in His grace, now and always. Amen.
Let us pray. Life-giving God, in the mystery of Christ’s resurrection you send light to conquer darkness, water to give new life, and the bread of life to nourish your people. Help us to stand with Jesus as witnesses to your Son’s resurrection, that we may show your glory to all the world, through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. AMEN.
M) BENEDICTION: Victory in Jesus, led by Pastor Todd
Please MUTE and SING along (lyrics below)
(Refrain) Oh victory in Jesus, my Savior forever He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood He loved me 'ere I knew Him and all my love is due Him He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.
I heard an old, old story, how a Savior came from glory How He gave His life on Calvary to save a wretch like me I heard about His groaning, of His precious blood's atoning Then I repented of my sins and won the victory (Refrain)
I heard about His healing, of His cleansing power revealing How He made the lame to walk again and 'caused the blind to see And then I cried, "Dear Jesus, come and heal my broken spirit" And somehow Jesus came and brought to me the victory (Refrain)
I heard about a mansion, he has built for me in glory And I heard about those streets of gold, beyond the crystal sea, About the angels singing and the old redpemtion story, And some sweet day I'll sing up there the song of victory (Refrain)
SENDING: Led by led by #7
What is the mission of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church?
TO SERVE as a VEHICLE through which the Gospel is Spread!!!
Go in Peace and Serve the Lord!
Thanks be to God!! And WE WILL!!
EVERYBODY benefits from the BLACK CHURCH
1) LIFTED UP within an AFFIRMING COMMUNITY
You is good. You is kind. You is smart. You is important.
The Help, Powerful movie for white folk for a reason
2) SPEAKING to POWER with a POWERFUL VOICE
Civil Rights Movement, #BlackLivesMatter, Black Elected Leaders
3) REMEMBERING a LIFE GIVING STORY about FREEDOM
Exodus. Promised Land. Let My People Go. We Shall Overcome.
4) ORGANIZING to EFFECT ECONOMIC JUSTICE
Black Owned Homes. Growing, Apprenticing, and Patronizing Black Owned Business
5) ADVOCATING for PEOPLE whose VOICE is NOT HEARD
Companionship. Incarceration, Homelessness, Addiction, Dropping Out
6) DRAMATIC MOVEMENT in MUSIC, the ARTS, & SPORTS
Competition and cooperation; Solo expression & Ensemble harmony
NEXT THREE STEPS
A) THIS Wednesday September 30 @ 7 PM,
BIBLE STUDY on ACTS: The Prequel ... Luke 24
B) NEXT Wednesday October 7 @ 7 PM,
BIBLE STUDY on ACTS: with Christ Lutheran Church
C) Names for EZEKIEL EXPERIMENT: Clean Hands Project & Clean Hearts Project
POSTLUDE: I've Just Come from the Fountain, led by the combined Morgan State University Choir; I've Just Come from the Fountain, led by the combined River City Men's & Women's Chorus of Jacksonville; I've Just Come from the Fountain, led by Icy Rene Simpson and McCain, arranged by arr. U.S. Moore