This Week’s Bulletin
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Sunday, September 14, 2025 | Holy Cross Day
+ THE LITURGY OF THE GATHERING +
8:15AM Building Hope for the Future Prayer Gathering
8:55AM The Ringing of the Valley of Hope Spire Bells
WORDS OF WELCOME
THE VOLUNTARY
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Please stand as you are able and face the cross as it processes down the aisle, leading us into worship.
P In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
P 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 will perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord
C Amen
P Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Silence is kept for reflection.
P Most Merciful God,
C we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and 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 will delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
P 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.
C Amen.
THE GATHERING HYMN | ELW 803 | When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
THE APOSTOLIC GREETING
P The grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C And also with you.
THE KYRIE
THE HYMN OF PRAISE
THE COLLECT | PRAYER OF THE DAY
P The Lord be with you.
C And also with you.
P Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ was lifted high upon the cross so that he might draw the whole world to himself. To those who look upon the cross, grant your wisdom, healing, and eternal life, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C Amen.
Please be seated.
+ THE LITURGY OF THE WORD +
We hear readings from Holy Scriptures. A lesson from the Old Testament (or Hebrew Bible), a Psalm, a lesson from the New Testament, and a reading from one of the four Gospels are read.
THE FIRST READING | Numbers 21:4b-9
When the people spoke against God and Moses, the Lord sent poisonous snakes against them. Moses interceded for the people, and the Lord ordered him to erect a serpent of bronze on a pole. All who looked at it after having been bitten by a serpent would live.
[From Mount Hor the Israelites set out,] 4b but the people became discouraged on the way. 5 The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we detest this miserable food.” 6 Then the Lord sent poisonous serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord to take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a serpent of bronze and put it upon a pole, and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.
After the reading: Word of God. Word of Life.
After the reading: Word of God. Word of Life.
All respond: Thanks be to God.
THE PSALMODY | Psalm 78:1-2,34-38
1 Hear my teaching, O my people;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth | in a parable;
I will declare the mysteries of ancient times.
34 Whenever God slew them, they would seek God,
and repent, and diligently search for God.
35 They would remember that God was their rock,
and the Most High God their redeemer.
36 But they flattered God with their mouths
and lied to God | with their tongues.
37 Their heart was not steadfast,
and they were not faithful to the covenant.
38 Yet God, being merciful, forgave their sins and did not destroy them;
holding back anger many times and not giving way to wrath.
THE SECOND READING | 1 Corinthians 1:18-24
At the heart of the Christian message is the word of the cross. This proclamation seems foolish to many because it reveals true divine power in the absolute weakness of Christ’s crucifixion. True wisdom understands how ours is a God who suffers for and with humankind in the cross.
18 The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” 20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of the proclamation, to save those who believe. 22 For Jews ask for signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to gentiles, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
After the reading: The word of the Lord.
All respond: Thanks be to God.
THE GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
We stand to welcome the good news from the Gospel:
THE READING OF THE GOSPEL | John 3:13-17
P The Holy Gospel for this day is according to St. Luke, the 14th chapter.
C Glory to you, O Lord.
After explaining to Nicodemus that one must be born of water and Spirit, Jesus speaks of being lifted up on the cross, with reference to the bronze serpent lifted up by Moses in the desert. Here the Son of God is revealed as the source of healing.
[Jesus said:] 13 “No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
After the Gospel is read,
P The Gospel of the Lord.
C Praise to you, O Christ.
THE GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Please be seated.
THE HOMILY Pastor Randy Pabst
A time for reflection.
THE HYMN OF THE DAY | ELW 342 | There in God’s Garden
Please stand as you are able.
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
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.
THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
A With the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, let us pray for the church, those in need, and all of God’s creation.
After each petition…
A …God of grace,
C hear our prayer.
A Let us pray together.
C God of Hope, you have always been with your people. We now seek the same promise you made to Jeremiah, wanting to know the plans you have for us. And so we pray, knowing you listen. Help us expand our space so that with it, we will continue to serve as Your body and Your church. We give thanks to our church community for both current and future gifts as we continue to raise the resources needed, in measure with your abundant gifts to us, and persevere in Building Hope for the Future. Continue teaching us to show our faith through
our deeds. We ask that you bless our efforts, so that we will continue to be a vibrant beacon of Christ’s love to the world.
A …God of grace,
C hear our prayer.
P Trusting in your lovingkindness, we place our prayer and hope in you, in the name of Jesus Christ..
C Amen.
THE SHARING OF THE PEACE
As forgiven people, we share the peace of Christ with one another.
P The peace of Christ be with you always.
C And also with you.
The ministers and congregation may greet one another with a gesture of peace, using these or similar words: Peace be with you.
Please be seated.
GREETINGS FOR THE DAY
+ THE LITURGY OF THE MEAL +
THE GIVING OF OUR TITHES AND OFFERINGS TO GOD
We bring our offerings at the front of the altar. The basket on the left (closest to the piano) is for BLAST! offerings. The basket on the right (closest to the pulpit) is for adult offerings.
OFFERTORY MUSIC
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Please stand as you are able.
A Let us pray. Creator God, in your wisdom you bring forth all that is good and the harvest is plentiful. Strengthen us at your table with these gifts of the earth and our labor, that we will work for the good of all; through Jesus Christ, our Savior.
C Amen.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
THE PREFACE
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times…we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
SANCTUS
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
THE LORD'S PRAYER
We pray together the prayer Our Lord taught to his disciples:
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.
Please be seated.
INVITATION & DISTRIBUTION OF THE HOLY & BLESSED SACRAMENT
All are welcome to Christ’s table. Whatever happens, you cannot do it incorrectly. Gluten-free, rice-free, and non-alcoholic options are available. Prayer Ministers will be available during Holy Communion on either side of the front part of our worship space.
THE AGNUS DEI
COMMUNION HYMN | ELW 324 | In the Cross of Christ I Glory
THE POST COMMUNION BLESSING AND PRAYER
Please stand as you are able.
P The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen and keep you in His grace.
C Amen.
A Let us pray. Living God, you gathered us to your table and we drank deeply of your grace. Send us out by your Spirit to love our neighbors and proclaim your love in Jesus’ name.
C Amen.
+ THE LITURGY OF THE SENDING +
THE BENEDICTION
A The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine upon you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor, and + give you peace.
C Amen.
THE SENDING HYMN | ELW 660 | Lift High the Cross
THE SENDING PRAYER
Draw your church together, O God, into one great company of disciples, together following our teacher Jesus Christ in every walk of life, together serving in Christ’s mission to the world, and together witnessing to your love wherever you will send us; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE DISMISSAL
P Go in peace. Live by the Spirit!
C Thanks be to God!
THE POSTLUDE
Liturgy reprinted by permission of Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2025 Augsburg Fortress license #23630. All rights reserved. Hymns reprinted by permission Sundays and Seasons #23630, OneLicense #A-705758, and CCLI#2530682. Other hymns printed by permission as noted. New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.Permission to Podcast the music in this service obtained from OneLicense.net, Augsburg Fortress, and CCLI.
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