INTRODUCTION

Pray always. Do not lose heart. This is Christ’s encouragement in the gospel today. Wrestle with the word. Remember your baptism again and again. Come regularly to Christ’s table. Persistence in our every encounter with the divine will be blessed.

ANNOUNCEMENTS   

PRELUDE Largo

* 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. 

O Lord God, tireless guardian of your people, you are always ready to hear our cries. Teach us to rely day and night on your care. Inspire us to seek your enduring justice for all this suffering world, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

*GATHERING SONG Rise Up, O Saints of God! (ELW 669)

FIRST READING: Genesis 32:22-31

22 The same night [Jacob] got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. 24 Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” 27 So he said to him, “What is your name ” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name ” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, yet my life is preserved.” 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.

PSALM: Psalm 121

 1 I lift up my eyes | to the hills;

  from where is my | help to come 

 2 My help comes | from the LORD,

  the maker of heaven and earth.

 3 The LORD will not let your | foot be moved

  nor will the one who watches over you | fall asleep.

 4 Behold, the keeper of Israel

  will neither slumber nor sleep; 

 5 the LORD watches | over you;

  the LORD is your shade at | your right hand;

 6 the sun will not strike | you by day,

  nor the | moon by night.

 7 The LORD will preserve you | from all evil

  and will | keep your life.

 8 The LORD will watch over your going out and your | coming in,

  from this time forth forevermore. 

SECOND READING: 2 Timothy 3:14—4:5

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have known sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that the person of God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

  4:1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: 2 proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage with the utmost patience in teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound teaching, but, having their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. 5 As for you, be sober in everything, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.

*GOSPEL: Luke 18:1-8

The holy gospel according to Luke. Glory to you, O Lord.

1 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my accuser.’ 4 For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’ ” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night  Will he delay long in helping them  8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth ”

The gospel of the Lord.  Praise to you, O Christ.

MEDITATION

*HYMN OF THE DAY Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word (ELW 517)

* 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.

We pray for the church universal. O God, who unites the church across the globe, bring unity and peace to a world divided by hatred and opposition. Turn our hearts toward the gospel of Jesus Christ. God of grace, receive our prayer.

We pray for creation. O God, who made heaven and earth, draw us to the beauty of the whole creation. Turn us toward a right relationship with the entire cosmos. God of grace, receive our prayer.

We pray for all nations, states, cities, and towns. O God, you rule over all the earth. Grant our elected officials humility in their decision-making for the sake of the entire world. God of grace, receive our prayer.

We pray for those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit. O God, who heals and strengthens, our help comes from you in times of need. Support, comfort, and heal those who suffer. 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.

We pray for those who guide this congregation, encourage us to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Nurture our relationships with the community, that we serve and advocate for those who come to us in need. God of grace,

receive our prayer.

We offer thanksgiving for the faithful departed. O God, whose promises never end, we thank you for all the saints who have shown us the way of your Son, Jesus 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 Jesus, Still Lead On (ELW 624)

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.

UPCOMING EVENTS: 
   10/19 Worship and Music meeting - postponed

Our annual Thanksgiving Food Collection begins on Sunday, October 19 through November 9. Here is the list of items:

 

October 19...stuffing, rice, elbow macaroni or ziti, instant mashed potatoes.

October 26...canned cranberry sauce, cans of vegetables, jars of applesauce and peanut butter. 

November 2...flour, sugar, cooking oils, gravy packets.

November 9...canned meats, like chicken or spam, canned beans, soup, chili or stew.

 

We hope to deliver to Mt. Zion on Saturday, November 15 so please get your donated goods into Church by November 9th.

Sunday, November 2nd is All Saints' Sunday - If you wish us to remember someone who passed in the last year, please either call the church office and leave a message with the full name of the person, or email to the office before October 29. You may also put the list of names in the offering plate.