Outdoor Worship & Worship-In-PlaceAdvent Lutheran Church, Citrus Heights

OCTOBER 11, 2020

How it all hangs togetherAnnual Theme: Our God, Revealed in the Story (through May 2021)

The story of the Bible reveals a God of promise, relationship, mercy, and new life. God is revealed in the rocky relationship with God’s covenant people. The prophets look back to the history of Israel’s relationship with their Creator, and forward toward the coming of the promised Messiah. God is revealed fully in Jesus, the Messiah. Jesus shows us a loving God in his teachings, healings, and relationships with outcasts. Jesus’ commitment to love leads him to Jerusalem and the cross. Finally, God is revealed in a church that was born in the good news first proclaimed by faithful women. We all have news to tell, and this story of the early church shows us that we can spread the gospel in all circumstances, with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Unit Theme: Promises Made, Promises Broken (September 13 - October 25) Throughout the history of God’s people, God has made covenants (agreements with promises on both sides) with God’s beloved people. But a tragic pattern emerged. God and the people made promises to each other, and then the people failed to live God’s way. God made promises to Adam and Eve at creation, but they ate the forbidden fruit. God delivered the people of Israel from slavery and gave them the Torah, but they worshipped a golden calf. However, God always keeps God’s promises, as God did with Abram, Joseph, Hannah, and David. Even when the people have broken their part of the covenant, God is faithful, and renews the promise again and again.

Today’s Theme: The Golden Calf Today, we hear about what happens when Moses goes up a mountain to spend time with God. We will learn what they talk about, and what happens down in the

wilderness while Moses is gone.

Key Verse: Exodus 32:7-8 “And the LORD changed [God’s] mind about the disaster that [God] planned to bring on [God’s] people.

Spiritual Practice: Worship We praise and worship God for creating all of the beautiful earth. One of the ways in which we do this is through worship. During today's worship, we thank God for creating all of the wonders of creation—including us, too. 1

Music & Bell Ringing

Gathering

Gathering Song “How Great Is Our God” (artist)

Call to Worship & Welcome

One: We begin in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. All: Amen.

Confession All: Living God, you brought the Israelites out of Egypt and toward a

land of promise. But their fear and uncertainty led them to doubt you and to worship on their own terms. Hear our prayers of confession for the things that we worship instead of you.

[silent individual confession] Hear now our confessions of the specific times that we have

worshipped these false gods… [silent individual confession]

Declaration of Forgiveness One: The good news is that God is a faithful, forgiving God. We are each

forgiven of our sinful worship, and are invited back into God’s love, to worship with grace and integrity. Amen.

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Opening Song “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)” (Chris Tomlin)

Apostolic Greeting

One: 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.

Opening Prayer One: The Lord be with you. All: And also with you.

One: Let us pray… All: Patient, loving God, you never give up on us, even when we

give up on you. Renew our worship this morning, as we recommit to loving only you. We pray in your holy name. Amen. 3

Amazing grace How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me I once was lost, but now I'm found Was blind, but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear And grace my fears relieved How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed

My chains are gone I've been set free My God, my Savior has ransomed me And like a flood His mercy rains Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me His word my hope secures He will my shield and portion be As long as life endures

My chains are gone I've been set free My God, my Savior has ransomed me And like a flood His mercy rains Unending love, Amazing grace

My chains are gone I've been set free My God, my Savior has ransomed me And like a flood His mercy rains Unending love, Amazing grace

The Earth shall soon dissolve like snow The sun forbear to shine But God, Who called me here below Will be forever mine Will be forever mine You are forever mine

Kyrie (Alleluia Liturgy, Kent)

WordScripture Lesson Exodus 32:1-14

One: A reading from Exodus.

1 When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered around Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make gods for us, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” 2 Aaron said to them, “Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.”

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3 So all the people took off the gold rings from their ears, and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took the gold from them, formed it in a mold, and cast an image of a calf; and they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” 5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a festival to the Lord.” 6 They rose early the next day, and offered burnt offerings and brought sacrifices of well-being; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to revel.

7 The Lord said to Moses, “Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; 8 they have been quick to turn aside from the way that I commanded them; they have cast for themselves an image of a calf, and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’” 9 The Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, how stiff-necked they are. 10 Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them; and of you I will make a great nation.”

11 But Moses implored the Lord his God, and said, “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce wrath; change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self, saying to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’” 14 And the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he planned to bring on his people.

One: Word of God. Word of Life! All: Thanks be to God!

Sermon in Two Parts Kids & Adults

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Hymn of the Day “Mighty To Save” (Hillsong)

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Well, everyone needs compassion A love that's never failing But let mercy fall on me Well everyone needs forgiveness The kindness of a Savior The hope of nations

My Savior He can move the mountains My God is Mighty to save He is Mighty to save Forever Author of salvation He rose and conquered the grave Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as You find me All my fears and failures And fill my life again I give my life to follow Everything I believe in And now I surrender (I surrender)

Savior He can move the mountains My God is Mighty to save He is Mighty to save Forever Author of salvation He rose and conquered the grave Jesus conquered the grave (2x)

Shine your light and let the whole world see We're singing for the glory of the risen King Jesus

Shine your light and let the whole world see We're singing for the glory of the risen King

Savior He can move the mountains My God is Mighty to save He is Mighty to save Forever Author of salvation He rose and conquered the grave Jesus conquered the grave (2x)

Shine your light and let the whole world see We're singing for the glory of the risen King Jesus (5x)

Shine your light and let the whole world see We're singing for the glory of the risen King

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, *) universal the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayers of the People

One: We have confessed our sins and shortcomings, the ways and times in which we worship false idols instead of the true God. We have immersed ourselves in the story of our ancestors in faith who did the same thing. What we learn from them is that God always forgives us and invites us back into relationship.

Now, let us pray for God’s guidance to always lead us into true worship of the true God. At this time, offer prayers that represent what you placed on your altar block. I will open and close the prayer, and leave time between for your prayers. Let us pray:

Living God, we thank you for your unrelenting love and constant forgiveness. Hear our prayers in which we commit to worshipping you with grace and integrity. Leave time for petitions. Hear all these prayers—spoken aloud, silently, or deep within our hearts..

All: Amen. 7

Meal Proclamation of Christ’s Peace

One: The peace of Christ is with you always! All: And also with you.

Offertory Prayer

One: Let us pray... All: Everlasting God, thank you that you are the light of the world,

guiding our steps on your path. Your word says that the earth is yours, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to you. We acknowledge that everything we have and our very lives themselves belongs to you. In a few short moments we will offer back to you a portion of what you have given us. May God the Father prepare our journey, Jesus the Son guide our footsteps and the Holy Spirit watch over us, on every path that we follow. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right to give you our thanks and praise, O God, for your mysteries well up from ancient depths, assuring us that we will be with you forever.

In the first of your mighty works, you created the earth and filled it with life. You rescued a people from slavery and called them to choose between wisdom and foolishness, between serving you and making their own gods.

In your child, Jesus, you have again called us to choose - to live in readiness for the promised return of the one who died and rose again, or to waste our opportunities and squander what you have given us.

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We choose to serve you, and with hearts full of gratitude we trust in your protection and look for the day when at the trumpet’s sound the dead will arise and all will be embraced in the marriage of earth and heaven.

Therefore with all those who have trusted in you in the past, with prophets and martyrs, saints and sinners, we praise you and join their unending hymn:

Holy, Holy (Alleluia Liturgy, Kent)

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Eucharistic Prayer

One: God of creation, you spoke the world into being, and are the author of all that is in it. Your Spirit hovered over the earth and breathed life into all living creatures—animals that swim, fly, and walk—the tiny and fragile to the robust and massive. You made a promise to humanity, that you would always care for us, and you expected us to always care for your creation. We have broken that promise, and we continue to do so. But, at just the right time, Jesus Christ came to live, suffer, die, and rise for the redemption of creation and the reclamation of God's promise. In the midst of trial and tribulation, Jesus reclaimed God’s promise in the night in which he was betrayed when he reassured his friends that, even though their pain would one day pass away, his spirit and friendship would remain with them forever. Taking the bread and breaking it he said to them:

All: Take and eat. This bread is a symbol of my sacrifice and the lengths I will go to demonstrate my love for you. Each time you share it, remember me.

One: Lifting the cup, Jesus again looked tenderly upon his friends. Sensing their anxiety and fear, he tried to comfort them with a message of hope and a sign of love. He told them:

All: Take and drink. This cup is a symbol of a renewed relationship with you; a relationship, not based in fear but forgiveness. Whenever you share it, remember me.

One: Come, Holy Spirit, come. Open our minds and hearts to the mystery of Christ’s love, within these ordinary things, and within our ordinary lives. May they impart God’s love to us, so that we may share God’s love with others.

The Lord's Prayer

One: Let us pray the prayer that Jesus taught us.

All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

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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, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Elements Are Shared

Special Music ”Softly And Tenderly” (ELW 608)

Table Blessing

One: May this meal nourish us and refresh us, may it strengthen us and renew us, may it unite us and keep us in God’s gracious love, now and forever.

All: Amen.

SendingClosing Prayer

One: Let us pray together... All: God of the nations: You delivered the Israelites from slavery. You

delivered them from their idolatry. You provide for us and deliver us daily. Hear our prayers of thanks for all we have to be thankful for. Leave time for petitions. Thank you for keeping your promises in the past and today. Amen.

Benediction

Announcements (see last bulletin page)

Sending Song “Let The People Praise” (Artist)

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Our God is the God of gods And our Lord is the Lord of kings The revealer of secrets,

of mysteries unknown Let the people praise our God Let the people praise our God

His sovereign rule will last forever His Kingdom won't decline or fall He does as He pleases

both in Heaven and Earth Who am I that I should

question Him at all?

Sending

One: Go in peace, serve the Lord! `All: Thanks be to God!

Postlude

IN THIS SERVICE

Music Praise Band (Jon & Paul Schedler, Ed Mack, Tom Kent) Lector Carol Kent Camera Kumar Dasari Sound David Wammer Preacher/Presider Rev. Gabriele Schroeder 12

Our God is the God of gods And our Lord is the Lord of kings The revealer of secrets,

of mysteries unknown Let the people praise our God Let the people praise our God

He lifts up kings and brings them low again

He shows us what is right from wrong

God of all time we give You thanks and praise

For You have made us wise and You have made us strong

Our God is the God of gods And our Lord is the Lord of kings The revealer of secrets,

of mysteries unknown Let the people praise our God Let the people praise our God

Everything He does is right and all His ways are just

Those who walk in pride He is able to humble. (2x)

Our God is the God of gods And our Lord is the Lord of kings The revealer of secrets,

of mysteries unknown Let the people praise our God (2x)

Let the people praise our God Let the people praise our God

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Prayer Chain UpdatesCOVID-19 Phyllis Garrison, sister-in-law of Kathy and Ken Johnson in Minnesota, prayer that she may recover quickly and fully from her Covid-19 infection

ACUTE PRAYER CONCERNS IN THE IMMEDIATE ADVENT COMMUNITY Allison, one of Karen Sorenson's students, her condition is declining after she discontinued her

ovarian cancer treatments; prayers that she will continue to find peace as she turns to God for strength

Ken Bancroft, prayers that he gains strength and his condition might improve Tanya Bowers, nasal nasal surgery in Folsom on October 5, in order to stop her frequent nosebleeds Phil Davidson, prayers for patience and strength as he recovers at home Mattie Devereux, childhood friend of William Gariano; diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma cancer;

prayers for strength as she prepares for surgery in early October Jann Knutson, prayers for successful diagnosis and treatment of her symptoms at Mercy SJ Hospital Linda, Nancy King’s sister-in-law; prayers for healing, wholeness, courage, and hope as she (after the

recent end of her chemo therapy) prepares for her upcoming surgery and radiation therapy Maynard Johnson, prayers for the success of the infusions he receives; orthopedic surgery for his

arm fracture is on hold until after the end of chemo therapy Lois Sellers, continued prayers for strength, courage, and peace as she continues dialysis treatments Rod Sorenson, Karen’s brother-in-law, continues his cancer treatment, thankfully with a positive

attitude and exuberance Prayers for Gary Peterson’s former hunting buddy Dick (who suffers from advanced Alzheimer’s

and aphasia) and his wife Nancy (who is his primary care-giver); prayers that Nancy may not experience further adverse reactions occur and that plans can be developed in case Nancy needs to be taken to the hospital again her chemo therapy.

ONGOING PRAYER CONCERNS Carolyn Atwood, dear friend of Winnie Parish, her cancer has returned and she has begun

renewed treatments; may God bring healing and hope to Carolyn Terri Britt, friend of Karen Franz, continues treatment for stage 4 cancer, thankfully, her condition

has not deteriorated recently Bryan, 41-year old nephew of Twila Engler's son-in-law; prayers that he will heal quickly after his

foot and partial leg amputation, adjust to his condition and that he won’t need any further amputations

Julie Wright, cousin of Amy Gariano, who has been told that doctors have run out of options to slow the growth of her brain tumor. Pray that Julie and her family may they find strength in their love for one another during this difficult time.

PRAYERS FOR THE COMMUNITY-AT-LARGE Prayers for all whose homes and livelihood have been destroyed by the latests

natural disasters. May help come to them swiftly and may they have the resources and strength to rebuild their lives.

Please also pray for all teachers and their students. May God help them them thrive! 14

Announcements for October 11, 2020Church Address 5901 San Juan Avenue Citrus Heights, CA 95610 916-966-7242

Pastor Gabi’s Cell Phone & eMail 650-476-7641 schroeder.gabriele@gmail.com

UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS October 19 Book Club Meeting (Zoom, 7pm) October 25 Confirmation & Reformation Sunday (outdoors at 9am) Mortgage Burning (outdoors after worship) November 1 All Saints Sunday (Facebook at 9:30am)

WORSHIP DIRECTIONS To keep all of us (and those we come into contact with elsewhere) safe, we ask that you please observe the following directions: - worship from home, if you (or someone at home) are sick or fall into a higher-risk

group - bring your own chair, if possible - bring a face mask and keep it on throughout the service incl. hymn singing - please use hand sanitizer when you arrive for worship. Do not touch the dispenser. - have one of the ushers take your temperature - refrain from touching others who are not members of your immediate family - Keep a 6 feet distance throughout the service from anybody who is not

in your family or “bubble” - follow the ushers in directing you from and to your seat during communion - deposit the offering on your way to communion - open the communion cup once you are seated & discard the cup after worship

SUNRISE CHRISTIAN FOOD MINISTRY Hours: 8am-10am Donations are received and sorted 10am-3pm Open to the Public (drive-through only) 15

Church Website www.adventcitrusheights.org

Office eMail Address advent1@adventcitrusheights.org

Advent’s Facebook Page www.facebook.com/AdventCitrusHeights

Advents’ YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-W0S5nNW2gDYPDgw8wao-g/videos