INTRODUCTION
It’s a miracle! Multiple miracles! The waters of holy baptism have healed us. The body and blood of Jesus in holy communion have made us clean. We have died with Christ and been raised with him. For all this we have returned to offer thanks. From this place we are sent on our way rejoicing to share the good news.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE Praise to the Lord the Almighty
* CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, our maker, our helper, and our keeper. Amen.
Trusting in God’s mercy, let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Merciful and loving God, we are your stiff-necked people. We trample on the needy. We grumble about your grace to others. We turn away from the poor. Have mercy on us and forgive our sins. Rejoice over us as ones who were lost and have been found. Amen.
Even when we are faithless, God remains faithful. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. You who were lost have been found. In the name of Jesus, your sins are forgiven! Amen.
* PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray.
Almighty and most merciful God, your bountiful goodness fills all creation. Keep us safe from all that may hurt us, that, whole and well in body and spirit, we may with grateful hearts accomplish all that you would have us do, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
*GATHERING SONG Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven (ELW 865)
FIRST READING: 2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c
1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master because by him the LORD had given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from a skin disease. 2 Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his skin disease.”
7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his skin disease Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me.”
8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, “Why have you torn your clothes Let him come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and halted at the entrance of Elisha’s house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” 11 But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, “I thought that for me he would surely come out and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God and would wave his hand over the spot and cure the skin disease! 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel Could I not wash in them and be clean ” He turned and went away in a rage. 13 But his servants approached and said to him, “Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it How much more, when all he said to you was, ‘Wash, and be clean’ ” 14 So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean.
15a, b, c Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company; he came and stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel.”
PSALM: Psalm 111
1 Hallelujah! I will give thanks to the LORD with | my whole heart,
in the assembly of the upright, in the | congregation.
2 Great are your | works, O LORD,
pondered by all who de- | light in them.
3 Majesty and splendor | mark your deeds,
and your righteousness endures forever.
4 You cause your wonders to | be remembered;
you are gracious and full | of compassion.
5 You give food to | those who fear you,
remembering forever your covenant.
6 You have shown your people the power | of your works
in giving them the lands | of the nations.
7 The works of your hands are faithful- | ness and justice;
all of your precepts are sure.
8 They stand fast forever and ever,
because they are done in | truth and equity.
9 You sent redemption to your people and commanded your covenant forever;
holy and awesome | is your name.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who practice this have a good understanding. God’s praise
endures forever.
SECOND READING: 2 Timothy 2:8-15
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, 9 for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 11 The saying is sure:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he will also deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
he cannot deny himself.
14 Remind them of this, and warn them before the Lord that they are to avoid wrangling over words, which does no good but only ruins those who are listening. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.
*GOSPEL: Luke 17:11-19
The holy gospel according to Luke. Glory to you, O Lord.
11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village, ten men with a skin disease approached him. Keeping their distance, 13 they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16 He prostrated himself at Jesus’s feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean So where are the other nine 18 Did none of them return to give glory to God except this foreigner ” 19 Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
MEDITATION
*HYMN OF THE DAY Now Thank We All Our God (ELW 840)
* 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.
*PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Renewed in God’s everlasting grace, let us pray for the church, the world, and all creation.
Gracious God, you lead your people to faith. Remind the church that your word flows into the world. By your Spirit, teach the church to share the word of God for the sake of the world. God of grace, receive our prayer.
Creating God, you provided cleansing and healing waters for Naaman. Water the earth’s lands in parched places. Restore clean water to all communities, and guide the work of all who advocate for safe and abundant water supplies. God of grace, receive our prayer.
Righteous One, you bring justice and wholeness throughout the world, and your righteousness endures forever. By your spirit, guide leaders of all nations and lands to right relationship with you and with one another. God of grace, receive our prayer.
Merciful God, you know the needs of your people. Show mercy to those suffering in the world. Comfort those in need of your healing. We pray especially for the Folcroft Police and Fire Company members, the family of Tiona, family and friends of Dan, Pastor Wende, Ray, Richie, Jules, Derek, Chris, Bill, Donna, Trena, Keyasi, Sorie, Bill, Carol, Vince, Danielle, Barbara, Deb, Connor, Dawn, Elaine, Robert, Anna, Don, Bryant, Lois, Curt, Calvin, Robin, Helen, Hoon, Pat, Joe, Ruth, Lisa, Jacklyn, Lillian, Alexis, and those we now raise before you in our hearts. We pray for those affected by the Covid virus in mind, body or spirit. Grant them healing and wholeness. God of grace, receive our prayer.
Life-giving God, you free us by your word. Help us, by your Spirit, to be transformed to live your word of freedom honestly and uprightly in our teaching, preaching, and serving. God of grace, receive our prayer.
Holy God, thank you for the witness of those who have died in faith. Guide us to trust in the baptismal promise of resurrection in Christ. God of grace,
receive our prayer.
We offer our prayers, O God, trusting in your everlasting grace and mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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.
*PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.
OFFERING OF TITHES AND GIFTS TO GOD
Please place your offering in the plate near the Sanctuary door any time during or following worship. Your offering and tithes may be made on line through our website: stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org or sent by mail to
St. John’s Lutheran church, 1500 Glen Avenue, Folcroft, PA 19032.
* OFFERING PRAYER
*BLESSING
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.
* SENDING SONG Go, My Children, with My Blessing (ELW 543)
DISMISSAL - Go in peace. Live by the Spirit. Thanks be to God.
The ETERNAL CANDLE is sponsored for the month of October by the Shortt family in memory of Virginia and Warren Lewis.
YOU CAN HELP! You can be a good steward AND get your grocery shopping done. Did you know that if you purchase a grocery food gift card from St. John’s, our congregation will receive 5% of all sales of gift cards. Please see MaryAnne Rossi if you wish to purchase and gift cards. Thank you for helping us raise that 5% for helping to continue our ministry.
Each week, we collect food for our hungry neighbors in need in our SHARING GOD'S BOUNTY WAGON. Hunger doesn’t take a vacation. Please consider making a donation of a food item each week. If you are in need of food, please notify Pastor Wende and she will let you know what we have available.
The Social Ministry Committee would love to hear from you if you have any ideas for small fundraising and/or social ministry events that we could pull off with minimal effort. Challenge us with your ideas!!
With our church building getting older, we need everyone’s eyes and ears to help keep her in good repair. If you see any problems like a burnt out light bulb, please let Barb or Bud know or drop a note in the offering plate on Sunday. We need to get a jump on current or upcoming problems.
Our Financial Response (September)
CURRENT
Budgeted costs per month $ 7,263.55
Offering last month $ 5,131.14
Budget required to date (9 months) $ 65,371.95
Total received to date $ 49,736.26
MISSION SUPPORT
Budget required to date (9 months) $ 3,600.00
Total received to date $ 3,427.48
Please continue to support St. John's. Our expenses continue each month.
Your offering and tithes may be made on line through our website: stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org or sent by mail to
St. John’s Lutheran church, 1500 Glen Avenue, Folcroft, PA 19032.
