Everyone is Always Welcome at
Sion Lutheran Church


Sunday, September 29th, 2024


Pastor Andy Graves

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.
Most merciful God, 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 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.

Gathering Song O Day Full of Grace (ELW 627)

GREETING
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.

KYRIE (ELW p. 203) & CANTICLE OF PRAISE (ELW p. 204)

Prayer of the Day
Let us pray.Generous God, your Son gave his life that we might come to peace with you. Give us a share of your Spirit, and in all we do empower us to bear the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.

First Reading: Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29
The rabble among them had a strong craving; and the Israelites also wept again, and said, “If only we had meat to eat! We remember the fish we used to eat in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; but now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.”
Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, all at the entrances of their tents. Then the Lord became very angry, and Moses was displeased. So Moses said to the Lord, “Why have you treated your servant so badly? Why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me? Did I conceive all this people? Did I give birth to them, that you should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a sucking child, to the land that you promised on oath to their ancestors’? Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they come weeping to me and say, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ I am not able to carry all this people alone, for they are too heavy for me.  If this is the way you are going to treat me, put me to death at once—if I have found favor in your sight—and do not let me see my misery.”
So the Lord said to Moses, “Gather for me seventy of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tent of meeting, and have them take their place there with you.”
So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord; and he gathered seventy elders of the people, and placed them all around the tent. Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders; and when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But they did not do so again.
Two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the spirit rested on them; they were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” And Joshua son of Nun, the assistant of Moses, one of his chosen men, said, “My lord Moses, stop them!” But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!”



Psalm: Psalm 19:7-14
The teaching of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure and gives wisdom to the simple.
The statutes of the Lord are just and re joice the heart; the commandment of the Lord is clear and gives light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean and endures forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, more than much fine gold, sweeter far than honey, than honey in the comb. 
By them also is your servant enlightened, and in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can detect one’s own offenses? Cleanse me from my secret faults.
Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins; let them not get dominion over me; then shall I be whole and sound, and innocent of a great offense.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. 

Second Reading: James 5:13-20
Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest.
My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
The word of the Lord.  Thanks be to God.


GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (ELW p. 205)

Gospel: Mark 9:38-50
The holy gospel according to Mark.
Glory to you, O Lord.
John said to [Jesus], “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.
“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.
“For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
The gospel of the Lord.  Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON

Hymn of the Day Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones (ELW 424)

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 into hell.
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

Prayers of Intercession
Drawn together in the power of the Holy Spirit, we pray with confidence for the church, God’s good creation, and all who are in need.
We pray for the people of God in all places. Shape our witness to the good news of Jesus that we joyfully share your transforming love with all whom we encounter. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
We pray for the healing of the earth. Renew oceans and seas, marshes and estuaries. Uphold the work of conservationists, oceanographers, and all who care for fragile ecosystems and habitats. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
We pray for peace and cooperation among local and global communities. Bless the efforts of community organizers, international aid workers, and all those who work for justice and peace around the world. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
We pray for all who are in any need. To all who grieve, bring consolation; to all who are weary or lonely, bring solace. By your grace, make your presence known among all who call to you for healing. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
We pray for caregivers: doctors and nurses, home health aides and counselors, and those who care for loved ones. Sustain them in their work and help us to build a health care system that supports all. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
We give thanks for the saints who now rest in your eternal presence. In thanksgiving for their lives of faithful service and witness, we commend them to your loving care. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
We entrust these and all our prayers to you, holy God, in the name of your beloved child, Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

EXCHANGE OF PEACE AND OFFERING

CANTICLE OF THANKSGIVING
Salvation belongs to our God and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever. Great and wonderful are your deeds, O God of the universe; just and true are your ways, O Ruler of all the nations. Who can fail to honor you, Lord, and sing the glory of your name? Salvation belongs to our God and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever. For you alone are the Holy One, and blessed is the one
whose name is the Word of God. All praise and thanks to you, holy God!
Salvation belongs to our God and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever.

THANKSGIVING FOR THE WORD
Let us pray.
O God of justice and love, we give thanks to you that you illumine our way through life with the words of your Son. Give us the light we need, awaken us to the needs of others, and at the end bring all the world to your feast; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory forever. Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us. 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.

Sending
God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world.

BLESSING
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor and ☩ give you peace. Amen.

Sending Song What a Fellowship, What a Joy Divine: Leaning on the Everlasting Arms (ELW 774)

Dismissal
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.


ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRAYER LIST
Continue to remember all who are experiencing health problems in our prayers:​  Michael Lindeman; Greg Peterson; Hoyt Gatheridge, Sandy Alper, Chad Anderson, Debbie Groves, Sahriah (Lois Wilson's granddaughter), Neil Vagle, Sheryl Bernstrom's Daugher,
Please pray for the families of: Kenny Gryskiewicz;  Darleen Olson; Terri Christopherson; Brad Beck, JoAnn Hanson; John Money;  Lowell Gunderson; Roy Stenmark;  and all families who have recently lost loved ones.
​We continue to pray for those serving in our Armed Forces, our Law Enforcement, our Fire Departments, our Highway Road Crews and our First Responder Units.

Coffee Servers and Readers:
09/29 – Coffee served by “F-J”                                   Megan will read
10/06 – Coffee served by “K-N”                                 Geri will read
10/13 – Coffee served by “OQR”                                No reader needed
10/20 –  NO COFFEE – LUTEFISK DINNER                      Shirley will read

Kenny Gryskiewicz funeral will be Tues 10/01 at 11 am

Things to look forward to:
Faith Forward Workshops – see flyer in Parish Hall
The first Family Fun Night at the Parish Hall will be October 2nd 
Confirmation Classes started on 09/11
Coffee at Senior Housing began again on September 18th.  Will be the first and third Wednesdays at 10 am.  Contact Pat for any details.
Lutefisk Dinner (Sunday, Oct 20th – contact Candy to volunteer)
October 27th – Blessing of the Costumes during worship.  It appears, at this time, that Trunk or Treat will be on October 31st.
Daylight Savings Time will end at 2 am on Sunday, November 3rd.  Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour.
And…what seems like it is way in the distant future – Thanksgiving Service will be the Sunday before Thanksgiving – November 24th.  Following service, we will probably be having a pie social to celebrate the Holiday (much as we did last year – still in the planning stages)