Today we hear James warn against selfish ambition, while the disciples quarrel over

which one of them is the greatest. Jesus tells them the way to be great is to serve. Then, to
make it concrete, he puts in front of them an actual flesh-and-blood child. We are called
to welcome the particular children God puts in front of us, to make room for them in
daily interaction, and to give them a place of honor in the assembly.

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday, September 20, 2015
ST PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH
409 W 2nd Ave, PO Box 137, Humboldt, SD 57035

Pastor Denise Broveak

(605) 371-0661 (cell) or email: splchurch@goldenwest.net Wednesdays 1:30pm-4:30pm.
Church Office Assistant Lacey Healys email: Lacey.Healy@goldenwest.net.
www.splchurch.weebly.com www.facebook.com/humboldtsaint.paul.7

WELCOME!
. join us as we encounter the living Christ
through worship, learning, fellowship, and service.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, whose name is majestic in all the earth, who
rescues and heals in every time of trouble, who does all things well.
Amen.
Let us come before God, seeking forgiveness and life. Silence is kept for reflection.
Steadfast and saving God,
have mercy on us. We confess to you all the ways we turn from you and harm one
another. In your compassion, forgive our sins and heal our hurts. Bring forth from
us a harvest of righteousness, the fruits of gentleness and peacemaking, the sheaves
of wisdom and justice; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
In the name of + Jesus, the Son of God, receive mercy and find grace in your time of
need. Your transgressions are forgiven; God's love is healing balm for your wounds.
Rejoice, for God raises you up to new life in Christ.
Amen.
GATHERING HYMN: O Word of God Incarnate (#514)
PRAYER OF THE DAY
O God, our teacher and guide, you draw us to yourself and welcome us as beloved
children. Help us to lay aside all envy and selfish ambition, that we may walk in
your ways of wisdom and understanding as servants of your Son, Jesus Christ, our
Savior and Lord. Amen.
FIRST READING: Jeremiah 11:1820
18
It was the LORD who made it known to me, and I knew; then you showed me their evil
deeds. 19But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. And I did not know it was
against me that they devised schemes, saying, "Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, let us
cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name will no longer be remembered!"
20
But you, O LORD of hosts, who judge righteously, who try the heart and the mind, let
me see your retribution upon them, for to you I have committed my cause.
~The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! ~
2

PSALM (ELW): Psalm 54

1
Save me, O God, | by your name;
in your might, de- | fend my cause.
2
Hear my | prayer, O God;
give ear to the words | of my mouth.
3
For strangers have risen up against me, and the ruthless have | sought my life,
those who have no re- | gard for God.
4
Behold, God | is my helper;
it is the Lord who sus- | tains my life.
5
Render evil to those who | spy on me;
in your faithful- | ness, destroy them.
6
I will offer you a | freewill sacrifice
and praise your name, O LORD, for | it is good.
7
For you have rescued me from | every trouble,
and my eye looks down | on my enemies.
SECOND READING: James 3:134:3; 4:78a
13
Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are
done with gentleness born of wisdom. 14But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition
in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. 15Such wisdom does not come
down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. 16For where there is envy and
selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. 17But the
wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy
and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. 18And a harvest of
righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
1

Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come
from your cravings that are at war within you? 2You want something and do not have it;
so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in
disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3You ask and do not
receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.
7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Draw
near to God, and he will draw near to you.
~The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! ~
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (sung: melody on p. 151)
Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia
~The Holy Gospel according to Mark. Glory to you, O Lord.~
3

GOSPEL: Mark 9:3037

30
They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know
it; 31for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is to be betrayed
into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise
again." 32But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.
33
Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them,
"What were you arguing about on the way?" 34But they were silent, for on the way they
had argued with one another who was the greatest. 35He sat down, called the twelve, and
said to them, "Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all." 36Then he
took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them,
37
Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes
me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.
~The Gospel of our Lord. Praise to you, O Christ! ~
SERMON
HYMN OF THE DAY: Jesus Loves Me (595)
(be seated)
BAPTISMAL SERVICE
Hear the Word of the Lord. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed
yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female,
for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3: 27-28)
P: God, who is rich in mercy and love, gives us a new birth into a living hope through the
sacrament of baptism. By water and the Word, God delivers us from sin and death and
raises us to new life in Jesus Christ.
C: We are united with all the baptized in the one body of Christ, anointed with the
gift of the Holy Spirit, and joined in Gods mission for the life of the world.
P: Justin and Erin, called by the Holy Spirit, trusting in the grace and love of God, do you
desire to have Duke Thomas baptized into Christ?
Parents respond: We do.

P: As you bring Duke to receive the gift of baptism, you are entrusted with
responsibilities: to live with him among Gods faithful people, bring him to the word of
God and the holy supper, teach him the Lords Prayer, the Creed and the Ten
Commandments, place in his hands the holy scriptures, and nurture him in faith and
prayer, so that he may learn to trust God, proclaim Christ through word and deed, care for
others and the world God made, and work for justice and peace. Do you promise to help
Duke grow in the Christian faith and life?
Parents Respond: We do.
P: Tony and Rachel, do you promise to nurture Duke in the Christian faith as you are
empowered by Gods Spirit, and to help him live in the covenant of baptism and in
communion with the church?
Sponsors Respond: We do.
P: People of God, do you promise to support this family and pray for them in Dukes new
life in Christ?
C: We do.
(please stand if you are able)
P: I ask you all to profess your faith in Christ Jesus, reject sin, and confess the faith of the
church.
Do you renounce the devil, the powers of this world, and the ways of sin that defy God,
rebel against God and draw you from God?
C: We renounce them.
P: Do you believe in God the Father?
C: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
P: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
C: I believe in Jesus Christ, Gods 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.
P: Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
C: 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.
5

P: Let us pray. We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning your Spirit moved over
the waters and by your Word you created the world, calling forth life in which you took
delight. Pour out your Holy Spirit, the power of your living Word, that those who are
washed in the waters of baptism may be given new life. To you be given honor and praise
through Jesus Christ our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
C: Amen (please be seated)
*Baptism*
P: Duke Thomas Stofferahn, child of God, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen
P: Let us Pray: We give you thanks, O God, that through water and the Holy Spirit you
give your daughters and sons new birth, cleanse Duke from sin, and raise him to eternal
life. Sustain this child with the gift of your Holy Spirit: the spirit of wisdom and
understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the
Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence, both now and forever.
C: Amen
P: Dear little Duke, in Christ you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with
the cross of Christ forever.
C: Amen (light candle)
P: Jesus said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will have the light of life.
Let us welcome our newest member in Christ.
C: We welcome you into the body of Christ and into the mission we share: join us in
giving thanks and praise to God and bearing Gods creative and redeeming word to
all the world. (gifts and welcome applause)
P: The peace of Christ be with you always.
C: And also with you. (Share the Peace with each other)
Shalom My Friend and SHARE THE PEACE
OFFERING / OFFERING PRAYER
Merciful God, as grains of wheat scattered upon the hills were gathered together to
become one bread, so let your church be gathered together from the ends of the
earth into your kingdom, for yours is the glory through Jesus Christ, now and
forever. Amen.
6

DIALOGUE
The Lord be with you.
Lift up your hearts.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,..

And also with you.

We lift them to the Lord.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

. and join their unending hymn: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY (sung: melody on p. 153)
Holy, holy, holy Lord, Lord God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of
your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the
Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE
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.
COMMUNION SONG (sung: melody p. 154)
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. (repeat)
Lamb of God you take away the sin of the world; Grant us peace, grant us peace.
DISTRIBUTION HYMN: "Let Us Break Bread Together" (471)
PRAYER AND BLESSING
SENDING HYMN: "Baptized in Water" (456)
DISMISSAL: Go in peace. Serve the Lord. Thanks be to God!
From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2015 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #46946.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the
Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

____________GIVING

US OPPORTUNITY TO TESTIFY __________

The Sanctuary Lamp, a symbol of Gods constant presence, burns throughout the
month of September in memory of Doris & Roy Olson and Mary & Leo Kramer given
by Rod & Ricki Kramer.
Every Sunday Through October 18th
Bread of the World Noisy Can donations will be taken during service.
Donations will be given to the congregations choice of food service organization,
i.e. Feeding South Dakota, The Banquet, Food Pantry or ELCA Hunger Appeal.
Todays Noisy Can Total: $108.22!
Harvest Food Delivery
Harvest is soon upon us! For those wishing to receive sustenance during this time of work, please
sign up for harvest food deliveries in the area!
Sign-up sheet for the call list in Laceys office.
See Casey for full details!
September 26th 6:30pm-8:30pm
Childrens Movie Night Please RSVP to Lacey if attending!
October 6th 1:30pm
Brew unto others fellowship for coffee and tea & discussion
October 7th 6:30pm
Church Council Meeting
October 11th
Ham Dinner
October 31st
Halloween Bazaar and Trunk or Treat
Want to be a part of the Halloween Bazaar committee?
We have ideas, just need helpers! See Lacey or Casey for more details!