Sunday Worship - September 20, 2020

16th Sunday after Pentecost
TODAY we are the church at worship in our own homes!

When you are ready to worship: 
Click to open the worship video for the Sixteen Sunday of Pentecost


This week’s Prints of Peace announcements are on www.peacelutheranlz.com
For Families with Children Today: Get ready for worship by opening Children’s Bulletin at www.peacelutheranlz.com and help your child(ren) join in todayhttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbvs6ALq7KPcXmhqdbs9-j6sfWUOivox0’s worship along with activities.
Join the LIVE “Virtual Coffee Hour” today at 10:00am to connect with each other in conversation and checking in! Come and go, stay as long as you like. Get link for Coffee Hour Zoom at www.peacelutheranlz.com .

Here is a brief tutorial if you need some help on YouTube.

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Now is the Time to Worship 
VIDEO: Prelude
VIDEO: Welcome and Introduction to the Day  
VIDEO and JOIN IN: CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS  All may make the sign of the cross, the sign that is marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.
 
Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, who creates, redeems, and sustains us and all of creation. Amen.  (Silence is kept for reflection).

Faithful God, have mercy on us. We confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We turn from your loving embrace and go our own ways. We pass judgment on one another before examining ourselves. We place our own needs before those of our neighbors. We keep your gift of salvation to ourselves. Make us humble, cast away our transgressions, and turn us again to life in you through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
 
God hears the cries of all who call out in need, and through his death and resurrection, Christ has made us his own. Hear the truth that God proclaims: Your sins are forgiven in the name of +  Jesus Christ. Led by the Holy Spirit, live in freedom and newness to do God's work in the world.
Amen.
 
VIDEO AND SAY (Prayer of the day):
Almighty and eternal God, you show perpetual loving kindness to us your servants. Because we cannot rely on our own abilities, grant us your merciful judgment, and train us to embody the generosity of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.


 VIDEO: Children’s Word
 
VIDEO: First Reading: Jonah 3:10—4:11

10When God saw what [the people of Nineveh] did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

4:1But this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry. 2He prayed to the LORD and said, "O LORD! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing. 3And now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live." 4And the LORD said, "Is it right for you to be angry?" 5Then Jonah went out of the city and sat down east of the city, and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, waiting to see what would become of the city. 6The Lord GOD appointed a bush, and made it come up over Jonah, to give shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort; so Jonah was very happy about the bush. 7But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the bush, so that it withered. 8When the sun rose, God prepared a sultry east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint and asked that he might die. He said, "It is better for me to die than to live." 9But God said to Jonah, "Is it right for you to be angry about the bush?" And he said, "Yes, angry enough to die." 10Then the LORD said, "You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals?"
 
VIDEO AND READ ALONG RESPONSIVELY: PSALM 145:1-8   (reader, reads responsively)

1I will exalt you, my God and king,
    and bless your name forever and ever.
2Every day will I bless you
and praise your name forever and ever.
3Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised!
    There is no end to your greatness.
4One generation shall praise your works to another
and shall declare your power.  
5I will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty
    and all your marvelous works.
6They shall tell of the might of your wondrous acts,
and I will recount your greatness.
7They shall publish the remembrance of your great goodness;
    they shall sing joyfully of your righteousness.
8The LORD is gracious and full of compassion,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.  

VIDEO: Second Reading: Philippians 1:21-30 

21For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. 22If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. 23I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; 24but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. 25Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, 26so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again. 27Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, 28and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God's doing. 29For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well--30since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

VIDEO: Gospel Acclamation 

VIDEO: Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16

[Jesus said to the disciples:] 1"The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3When he went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; 4and he said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went. 5When he went out again about noon and about three o'clock, he did the same. 6And about five o'clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, 'Why are you standing here idle all day?' 7They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard.' 8When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.' 9When those hired about five o'clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. 10Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. 11And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' 13But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? 14Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. 15Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?' 16So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

VIDEO: Sermon

VIDEO & SING ALONG – Hymn of the Day: “Lord of Light”

Lord of light, your name out-shining all the stars and suns of space, use our talents in your kingdom as the servants of your grace; use us to fulfill your purpose in the gift of Christ your Son.  Father, as in highest heaven so on earth your will be done.
 
By the toil of faithful workers in some far outlying field; by the courage where the radiance of the cross is still revealed; by the victories of meekness, through reproach and suffering won. Father, as in highest heaven so on earth your will be done.
 
Grant that knowledge, still increasing, at your feet may lowly kneel; with your grace our  triumphs hallow, with your charity our zeal; lift the nations from the shadows to the gladness of the sun. Father, as in highest heaven so on earth your will be done.
 
By the prayers of faithful watchers, never silent day or night; by the cross of Jesus bringing
peace to all, and healing light; by the love that passes knowledge, making all your children one. Father, as in highest heaven so on earth your will be done.

VIDEO & JOIN IN: 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 
 
VIDEO: PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE   
 
Drawn together in the compassion of God, we pray for the church, the world, and all those in need.

A brief silence.

Generous God, you make the last first, and the first last. Where this gospel challenges the church, equip it for its works of service. Strengthen those who suffer for Christ. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

Sun and wind, bushes and worms, cattle and great cities—nothing in creation is outside your concern, mighty God. Lord, in your mercy, tend to it all. Give us a spirit of generosity toward all you have made. Provide for all who have been devastated by hurricanes, wildfires, global warming, and other harmful weather. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

Where we find envy and create enemies, you provide enough for all. Bring peace to places of conflict and violence. Inspire leaders with creativity and wisdom. Bless the work of negotiators, peacekeepers, and development workers. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

Reveal yourself to all in need as you are gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, ready to relent from punishing. Accompany judges and lawyers, victims of crime and those serving sentences. Give fruitful labor and a livelihood to those seeking work. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

Even beyond our expectations, you choose to give generously. Grant life, health, and courage to all who are in need. Give every good gift to Mike, Sherri, Mike, Brad, Lizetta, Amanda, Kim, Kyle, Wendy, Tamara, Randy, Jan, Margeret, and Lia. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

Whatever else is in our heart and on our mind, our needs and our joys, we offer to you now as we pray for ourselves…(pause a moment)…. Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

All these things and whatever else you see that we need, we entrust to your mercy; through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
 
VIDEO: THE LORD’S PRAYER  Our Father, who art in heaven… 
 
VIDEO: Musical offering
 
How to give your offering now
Your friends and fellow members are sharing their gifts and talents to help us worship in this virtual setting. Through all that we are, all we say and all we do we endeavor to make Christ known. Please consider your contributions to the virtual offering plate we pass.  Send your offering through one of these 4 convenient methods:  Mail your check to church // Use your bank website “send-payment” feature // Go to PLC website www.peacelutheranlz.com and click on “make a donation” // Download and use the app we recommend: https://www.vancopayments.com/egiving/church-app
 
VIDEO AND JOIN IN:  OFFERING PRAYER
Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things. You have set before us these gifts of your good creation. Prepare us for your heavenly banquet, nourish us with this rich food and drink, and send us forth to set tables in the midst of a suffering world, through the bread of life, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

VIDEO: BLESSING
Mothering God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you and lead you into the way of truth and life. Amen.
 
VIDEO AND SING ALONG:  “Great is Thy Faithfulness”

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father; there is no shadow of turning with thee; thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not; as thou hast been, thou forever wilt be.
 
Refrain: Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; all I have needed thy hand hath provided; great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me.
 
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, sun, moon, and stars in their courses above join with all nature in manifold witness to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love. Refrain
 
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!  Refrain


VIDEO: DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Christ is with you.
Thanks be to God.
VIDEO:  Announcements

THANK YOU
So much gratitude for everyone who has contributed to worship today.  The young and old, readers, musicians, and the technical help are all making this possible.  Find all of this week’s announcements in the Prints of Peace on the PLC website.   Allison Hearst, Office Admin: office@peacelutheranlz.com  /  Deacon Tracy Katschke: tracy@peacelutheranlz.com  /  Pastor Daniel Morris: pastor@peacelutheranlz.com 

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