1

The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

The Church’s Mission is to Forgive as God Forgives

October 1, 2017

elcome and thank you for joining us for worship today! In our service we gather before our

almighty and saving God to offer him our worship and praise. We also assemble to hear God’s

holy and powerful word and celebrate his life-giving sacraments. Through these means, God

strengthens our faith and walks us ever closer to our eternal home with him.

The Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion)

The Bible tells us that those who take Communion together are to:

Recognize that Christ’s true body and blood are present in the Sacrament (1 Cor. 11:29),

Examine themselves as Scripture instructs (1 Cor. 11:28), and

Be one in faith and belief with the congregation with which they commune (1 Cor. 10:17).

For these reasons, it is our practice that only those who are members of our congregation or a

congregation of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) join us for Holy Communion. If

you are interested in learning more about becoming a member of our body of believers or want to

find out more about our Communion practice please speak to Pastor Schroeder after the service.

PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP

How often shall others sin against me and I

forgive them, Lord? How often shall I sin and

you forgive me? Make me merciful as you are

merciful, gracious Lord, and let your loving

kindness fill my very heart. I pray this in the

name of him who won my forgiveness—my

Savior Jesus. Amen.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Flowers adorning our altar this morning are given

to the glory of God by Billy and Kolette

Williams in celebration of Katie Harlan’s and

Kolette’s birthdays.

Minister: Pastor Daniel Schroeder

Pianist: Karen Adams

Flutes: Jeannine Dennis, Linka Schroeder

Guitar: Trenton Tablit

The following were reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-706579: Psalm 103: Columba Kelly. © 1986 GIA Publications, Inc., Chicago, IL.

All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Artwork by Ian M. Welch. Copyright 2015 Ian M. Welch. All Rights Reserved. paramentics.com

The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version® (EHV®) copyright © 2017 The Wartburg Project. All rights reserved.

www.wartburgproject.org

W

3461 Merle Ave

Modesto, CA 95355

(209) 551-0563

www.stpetermodesto.org

2

PREPARING FOR WORSHIP Having reviewed the great events of the life of Christ, the second half of the Christian Year gives us

opportunity to focus on Christ's Church. That Church has an ongoing mission, and that mission is to

freely offer God's forgiveness. After speaking words of rebuke, it is tempting to hold a grudge or seek

revenge. However, just as we have been freely forgiven, Jesus calls us to freely forgive.

OPENING HYMN This Day at Your Creating Word

Christian Worship #229

CALL TO WORSHIP

Minister: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Congregation: Amen.

CONFESSION OF SINS

M: How blessed is the person whose rebellion is forgiven,

C: whose sin is covered.

M: I said, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord,”

C: and you forgave the guilt of my sin. (Psalm 32:1,5)

M: Almighty and all merciful God,

C: we confess that we are sinners, sinful from birth. Because we are lost, we sin against you in

thoughts, words, and actions, breaking your commands. We have not forgiven others from

our hearts; we have held petty grudges; we have not shown gratitude for the forgiveness of

others or you. Forgive us our sin, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

LORD, HAVE MERCY (KYRIE)

3

ABSOLUTION

M: Yes, as high as the heavens are above the earth, so powerful is his mercy toward those who fear

him. As distant as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our rebellious acts from us

(Psalm 103:11,12). As God’s called servant, by the command of Jesus and for his sake, I forgive you

all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C: Thanks be to God! Amen.

M: In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord.

THE GLORIA

4

5

PRAYER OF THE DAY

M: The Lord be with you.

C: And also with you.

M: Let us pray.

Lord, we pray that your mercy and grace may always go before and follow after us that, loving

you with undivided hearts, we may be ready for every good and useful work; through your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and

forever.

C: Amen.

THE WORD OF GOD

FIRST LESSON Genesis 50:15-21

Joseph forgives those who have wronged him

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that

Joseph will hate us and will pay us back in full for all of the evil that we did to him.”

16They sent the following message to Joseph: “Before he died your father

commanded us, 17

‘You are to tell Joseph, “Please forgive the offense of your brothers

and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ Now, please forgive the offense of the

servants of the God of your father.”

Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

18His brothers also came and fell down in front of him, and they said, “See now, we

are your servants.”

19Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?

20You meant

evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring this to pass and to keep many

people alive, as it is this day. 21

Now therefore do not be afraid. I will nourish you and

your little ones.” He comforted them and spoke to them in a kind way. (EHV)

6

PSALM OF THE DAY Psalm 103 - Sung in Unison

Praise the LORD, O my soul;

all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

He forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases;

he redeems your life from the grave

and crowns you with love and compassion.

Refrain

The LORD is compassionate and gracious,

slow to anger, abounding in love.

He does not treat us as our sins deserve

or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth

so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Refrain

As a father has compassion on his children,

so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed,

he remembers that we are dust.

Our days are like grass, like a flower of the field;

the wind blows over it and it is gone.

But the LORD’S love is with those who fear him

from everlasting to everlasting.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

And to the Holy Spirit,

As it was in the beginning,

Is now, and will be forever. Amen. Refrain

7

SECOND LESSON Ephesians 4:29-5:2

Paul urges Christians to forgive as they have been forgiven

Do not let any unwholesome talk come from your mouths. Say only what is

beneficial when there is a need to build up others, so that it will be a blessing to

those who hear. 30

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were

sealed for the day of redemption. 31

Get rid of every kind of bitterness, rage, anger,

quarreling, and slander, along with every kind of malice. 32

Instead, be kind and

compassionate to one another, forgiving one other, just as God in Christ has

forgiven us.

5:1Therefore, be imitators of God as his dearly loved children.

2And walk in love,

just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us, as a fragrant offering and sacrifice

to God. (EHV)

VERSE OF THE DAY Sung to the Tune of CW 401

8

GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 18:21-35

Jesus uses a parable to illustrate the connection between being forgiven and forgiving

Then Peter came up and asked Jesus, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my

brother when he sins against me? As many as seven times?”

22Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but I tell you as many as seventy-seven times.

23For this reason the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts

with his servants. 24

When he began to settle them, a man who owed him ten thousand

talents was brought to him. 25

Because the man was not able to pay the debt, his

master ordered that he be sold, along with his wife, children, and all that he owned to

repay the debt.

26“Then the servant fell down on his knees in front of him, saying, ‘Master, be patient

with me, and I will pay you everything!’ 27

The master of that servant had pity on

him, released him, and forgave him the debt.

28“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him

one hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began choking him, saying, ‘Pay me what

you owe!’

29“So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, saying, ‘Be patient with me, and I

will pay you back!’ 30

But he refused. Instead he went off and threw the man into

prison until he could pay back what he owed.

31“When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were very distressed. They

went and reported to their master everything that had taken place.

32“Then his master called him in and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you

all that debt when you begged me to. 33

Should you not have had mercy on your

fellow servant just as I had mercy on you?’ 34

His master was angry and handed him

over to the jailers until he could pay back everything he owed.

35“This is what my heavenly Father will also do to you unless each one of you

forgives his brother from his heart.” (EHV)

M: This is the gospel of the Lord. C: Praise be to you, O Christ.

9

CATECHISM Fifth Petition of the Lord’s Prayer

Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.

What does this mean?

We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look upon our sins or because of

them deny our prayers; for we are worthy of none of the things for which we ask, neither have

we deserved them, but we ask that he would give them all to us by grace; for we daily sin much

and surely deserve nothing but punishment.

So we too will forgive from the heart and gladly do good to those who sin against us.

HYMN OF THE DAY Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive

Christian Worship #493

SERMON Matthew 18:21-35

Forgiveness 101

10

CREATE IN ME

OFFERING

The members of St, Peter Congregation have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this community

and around the world. Guests at St. Peter are welcome to participate in the offering but need not feel

obligated to do so.

11

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH M: With all that is within us, O Lord, we bless your holy name. You forgive all our iniquities and

heal our diseases. You redeem our life from destruction and crowns us with loving kindness and

tender mercies.

C: For all these blessings, O Lord, we give you thanks.

M: Your mercies remind us that we have not always treated others with the same undeserved love.

We live too much for ourselves and not enough to your honor and glory. We become impatient

with others, but expect them to be patient with us.

C: We often forget that it’s not up to us to settle all accounts, but that you have the power to

bring good out of evil. For these, our many sins, forgive us, O Lord.

M: Continue to remind us in your Word of your grace and forgiveness you have shown to us. By

your Spirit, help us to reflect your mercy toward others.

C: Be with the lonely, comfort the sick, and bring the assurance of your forgiveness to the

penitent.

Special prayers of intercession may follow.

M: Hear us, Lord, as we bring to you our private petitions.

Silent prayer.

M: This we ask in the name of and for the sake of Jesus Christ, who taught us how to forgive.

C: Hear us, we pray, O heavenly Father. Amen.

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.

12

THE SACRAMENT St Peter Lutheran Church practices “member communion.” We invite confirmed members to come

forward to partake of the Sacrament. Thank you for your consideration.

M: The Lord be with you.

C: And also with you.

M: Lift up your hearts.

C: We lift them to the Lord.

M: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C: It is good and right so to do.

M: It is good and right for us to give thanks and praise to you, O Lord, for the mercy you have shown

us in your Son, Jesus Christ, whose body and blood we now receive for the forgiveness of our

sins. May we celebrate your grace and goodness as we add our voices to all those who have gone

before, who are gathered around your throne:

13

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY (SANCTUS)

THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION M: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night 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. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it all of you; this is

my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this,

whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

M: The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C: Amen.

14

O CHRIST, LAMB OF GOD (AGNUS DEI)

DISTRIBUTION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

During the distribution you are invited to join in singing the indicated hymns or to use the time for

private prayer and meditation. Appropriate prayers are found on page 11 in the front of the hymnal.

A personal preparation for the Lord’s Supper is found on page 156.

DISTRIBUTION HYMNS Not unto Us

Christian Worship #392

Chief of Sinners Though I Be

Christian Worship #385

Love in Christ Is Strong and Living

Christian Worship #490

15

THANKSGIVING

M: O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

C: And his mercy endures forever.

M: O God the Father, the fountain and source of all goodness, who in loving-kindness sent your

only-begotten Son into the flesh, we thank you that for his sake you have given us pardon and

peace in this Sacrament, and we ask you not to forsake your children but always to rule our hearts

and minds by your Holy Spirit that we may be enabled to serve you constantly; through Jesus

Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and

forever.

C: Amen.

M: The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.

C: Amen.

SONG OF SIMEON