Sunday Worship + August 29, 2021

+ In today’s gospel many people take offense at Jesus’ invitation to eat his flesh and drink his blood; even many of Jesus’ disciples peel off. This is the backdrop in John’s gospel for Peter’s confession of faith. “To whom can we go?” asks Peter, in words we sometimes sing just before the gospel is read. “You have the words of eternal life.” In order to take such a stand, as Peter and Joshua did, Paul tells us to arm ourselves with the word of God. We pray in the Spirit that we might be bold ambassadors of the gospel. +

CONFESSION & FORGIVENESS

Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God,
the God of manna,
the God of miracles,
the God of mercy.
Amen.

Drawn to Christ and seeking God’s abundance,
let us confess our sin.

+ Silence is kept for reflection. +

God, our provider,
help us.
It is hard to believe there is enough to share.
We question your ways when they differ from the ways
of the world in which we live.
We turn to our own understanding
rather than trusting in you.
We take offense at your teachings and your ways.
Turn us again to you.
Where else can we turn?
Share with us the words of eternal life
and feed us for life in the world.
Amen.

Beloved people of God:
in Jesus, the manna from heaven,
you are fed and nourished.
By Jesus, the worker of miracles,
there is always more than enough.
Through Jesus, ☩ the bread of life,
you are shown God’s mercy:
you are forgiven and loved into abundant life.
Amen.

GATHERING HYMN: Gather Us In (ELW #532 + Verses 1 & 3)

1 Here in this place the new light is streaming,
now is the darkness vanished away;
see in this space our fears and our dreamings
brought here to you in the light of this day.
Gather us in, the lost and forsaken,
gather us in, the blind and the lame;
call to us now, and we shall awaken,
we shall arise at the sound of our name.

3 Here we will take the wine and the water,
here we will take the bread of new birth,
here you shall call your sons and your daughters,
call us anew to be salt for the earth.
Give us to drink the wine of compassion,
give us to eat the bread that is you;
nourish us well, and teach us to fashion
lives that are holy and hearts that are true.

Text: Marty Haugen, b. 1950
Text © 1982 GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.

GREETING

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.

HYMN OF PRAISE: Glorify Your Name (W&P #42 + Verse 1)

Father we love You.
We worship and adore You.
Glorify Your name in all thee earth.
Glorify Your name.
Glorify Your name.
Glorify Your name in all the earth.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

O God our strength, without you we are weak and wayward creatures. Protect us from all dangers that attack us from the outside, and cleanse us from all evil that arises from within ourselves, that we may be preserved through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

READINGS

Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-9

+ The Israelites believed the law was a divine gift that provided guidelines for living out the covenant. Moses commands the people to obey the law and to neither add to nor subtract from it. The Israelites are also to teach the law to their children and their children’s children. +

The first reading comes from Deuteronomy beginning at the 4^th chapter.

¹Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. ^2aAnd Joshua said to all the people, ¹⁴“Now therefore revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. ¹⁵Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
  ¹⁶Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; ¹⁷for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; ¹⁸and the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”

Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

Psalm 15

+ Lord, who may dwell in your tabernacle? (Ps. 15:1) +

 ¹Lord, who may dwell in your tabernacle?
  Who may abide upon your holy hill?
 ²Those who lead a blameless life and do what is right,
  who speak the truth from their heart;
 ³they do not slander with the tongue, they do no evil to their friends;
  they do not cast discredit upon a neighbor.
 ⁴In their sight the wicked are rejected, but they honor those who fear the Lord.
  They have sworn upon their health and do not take back their word.
 ⁵They do not give their money in hope of gain, nor do they take bribes against the innocent.
  Those who do these things shall never be overthrown.

Ephesians 6:10-20

+ The letter of James was intended to provide first-century Christians with instruction in godly behavior. Here Christians are encouraged to listen carefully and to act on what they hear, especially by caring for those least able to care for themselves. +

The second reading comes from James beginning at the 1^st chapter.

¹⁷Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. ¹⁸In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

  ¹⁹You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; ²⁰for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. ²¹Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.
  ²²But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. ²³For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; ²⁴for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. ²⁵But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.
  ²⁶If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. ²⁷Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

+ Mark’s gospel depicts Jesus as challenging traditional ways in which religious people determine what is pure or impure. For Jesus, the observance of religious practices cannot become a substitute for godly words or deeds that spring from a faithful heart. +

The Holy Gospel according to Mark beginning at the 7^th chapter. 
Glory to you, O Lord.

¹Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around [Jesus], ²they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. ³(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; ⁴and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) ⁵So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” ⁶He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,
 ‘This people honors me with their lips,
  but their hearts are far from me;
 ⁷in vain do they worship me,
  teaching human precepts as doctrines.’
⁸You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.”
  ¹⁴Then he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: ¹⁵there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.”
  ²¹For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, ²²adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. ²³All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

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

SERMON Pastor Analyse Triolo

HYMN OF THE DAY: O Jesus, I have O God, My Faithful God ( ELW #806 + Verses 1 & 2 )

1 O God, my faithful God,
true fountain ever flowing,
without whom nothing is,
all perfect gifts bestowing:
give me a healthy frame,
and may I have within
a conscience free from blame,
a soul unstained by sin.

2 Give me the strength to do
with ready heart and willing
whatever you command,
my calling here fulfilling–
to do it when I ought,
with all my might–and bless
whatever I have wrought,
for you must give success.

Text: Johann Heermann, 1585-1647; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827-1878, alt.

THE APOSTLES’ CREED

Let us confess our faith saying the words of the 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 THE PEOPLE

Made children and heirs of God’s promise, we pray for the church, the world, and all in need.

A brief silence.

We pray for the church, that it is a safe haven for all who seek your presence. Fill it with pastors, deacons, and leaders who echo your expansive and generous welcome. Lord, in your mercy,
receive our prayer.

We pray for the whole of creation, that plants and animals have the habitat and resources to thrive and flourish. Inspire us to protect threatened habitats and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come. Lord, in your mercy,
receive our prayer.

We pray for individuals in positions of authority. Raise up wise and discerning leaders in federal, state, and local governments and guide them to seek the benefit of every person. Lord, in your mercy,
receive our prayer.

We pray for all who are in need.  We pray for the Afghanistan refugees.  Be with the families who lost loved ones, heal the injured, guide the Haitian government and relief organizations as they begin the work of recovery after the earthquake. We pray for the victims of the hurricanes this past weekend. God in your mercy,
receive our prayer.

Support and encourage those who are unemployed, underemployed, or experiencing poverty. Bring food, shelter, clothes, and stability for daily life. Lord, in your mercy,
receive our prayer.

We celebrate with those with birthdays or anniversaries this month; for the people of God in this place and for other needs in our community. We celebrate with the members with birthdays in August, especially Richard Kunz, Ed Unz, Rose Kalloneck, Ruth Loomis, Sophia Albasini, Rekesh Rajbali, Brandon Ng, Amy Sibley, Ashley Lemmo, Jackie Sanfedele, Harper Schmidt, and Kai Blom. Lord in your mercy,
receive our prayer

We pray for this congregation, especially those beginning a new school year. Empower teachers and school administrators. Guide students in their learning and development. Accompany parents, foster parents, and caregivers who provide encouragement and love. Lord, in your mercy,
receive our prayer.

Comforting God, we pray for those who cry out to you. Surround everyone in need of healing with your tender presence. Come to our aid in this Coronavirus pandemic, heal those who are sick, support and protect their families from being infected, grant access to vaccines for all. We pray for those who are sick or in need, especially Bob Sarro, Kara Innella, Peter Klarman, Don Kelly, Virginia Servas, Chad Aragona, Carole Zahner, Larry McEvoy, Al Zahner, Harry Lund, Evelyn Lund, Tim VanWormer, Daniel, Rachel, and Winn Potter, and Kristina Turri. Lord, in your mercy,
receive our prayer.

God of justice, we pray for those who experience racism as part of their daily realities, who fear for their lives and that of those whom they love. May we do our part to learn about racism’s presence in our world, to accompany, and to advocate when members of your beloved community are not treated with the respect deserving of one created in your image. Lord, in your mercy,
receive our prayer.

We give thanks for the faithful departed who showed us how to honor God with our heart. Inspire us by their example and renew our faith, trusting that we will be united with them in glory. Lord, in your mercy,
receive our prayer.

Receive these prayers, O God, and those in our hearts known only to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

SHARING OF CHRIST’S PEACE

The peace of Christ be with you always!
And also with you!
Let us share Christ’s peace with one another.

OFFERING MESSAGE

Please consider continuing to mail in your offering or giving online!  We continue to have expenses that need to be covered during this time. We are most grateful for your generosity.

OFFERTORY HYMN: We Plow the FIelds and Scatter (ELW #681 + Verses 1 & 3)

1 We plow the fields and scatter
the good seed on the land,
but it is fed and watered
by God’s almighty hand,
who sends the snow in winter,
the warmth to swell the grain,
the breezes and the sunshine,
and soft refreshing rain.

Refrain
All good gifts around us
are sent from heav’n above.
We thank you, Lord, 
we thank you, Lord,
for all your love.

3 We thank you, our creator,
for all things bright and good,
the seedtime and the harvest,
our life, our health, our food.
No gifts have we to offer
for all your love imparts,
but what you most would treasure—
our humble, thankful hearts.  Refrain

Text: Matthias Claudius, 1740-1815; tr. Jane M. Campbell, 1817-1878, alt.

OFFERTORY PRAYER

Let us pray.

Jesus, Bread of life,
you have set this table with your very self,
and called us to the feast of plenty.
Gather what has been sown among us,
and strengthen us in this meal.
Make us to be what we receive here,
your body for the life of the world.
Amen.

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.

PREFACE  

It is indeed right our duty and our joy that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ; who on this day overcame death and the grave and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

Holy, holy, holy 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.

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Remembering, therefore, his birth and life among us, his death and resurrection, we await his coming again when all things will be restored in him.

By your Spirit bless us and this bread and cup, that, held and nourished by you, we may live as your children, shining with the light of your Son.

Through him all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church, now and forever.
Amen

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray:

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.

INVITATION TO COMMUNION

Christ has set the table with more than enough for all. Come!

TABLE BLESSING & COMMUNION PRAYER

The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
Amen

Jesus, Bread of life,
we have received from your table
more than we could ever ask.
As you have nourished us in this meal,
now strengthen us to love the world with your own life.
In your name we pray.
Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

IN PERSON WORSHIP

In person services begin at 10:00am each Sunday. Reservations are not necessary, but masks are. We will continue to stream while we are open.

CONFIRMATION

Next Class is September 26th at 11:30am. Details forthcoming.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

Virtual Sunday School will take place on via Zoom at 11:30am. Julia Klarman will send out more information closer to that date so look out for her email. The expectation is that Sunday School will resume in person in the fall. Diane Gilroy will lead a summer program for kids over the summer. Stay tuned for more information.

FLOCKING
It’s Flocking Season at Holy Trinity! A flock of pink flamingos have begun gracing the yards of Holy Trinity members and friends. The fundraiser supports the Holy Trinity Youth Group trip to the ELCA Youth Gathering. Contact Diane Gilroy for more information on how to flock someone’s yard or to purchase Flocking insurance!

T-SHIRT FUNDRAISER

The Youth will be selling Holy Trinity t-shirts for $15 a shirt to raise money for the Youth Gathering. Please contact Sharon Seemadray to place your order. Her information is printed on the T-shirt order form below.

Flyers: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11PL5RD8ZjSRSmphletCrXnfulBfuCou6/view?usp=sharing

FIVE BELOW FUNDRAISER

With Back to School season in full swing and the Holy Trinity Youth begin a fundraising partnership with Five Below starting August 22 and going through September 19th. Present the fundraiser flyer at checkout and the Youth will receive 10% of your purchase total for the entire month! 

Flyers: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11PL5RD8ZjSRSmphletCrXnfulBfuCou6/view?usp=sharing

RALLY DAY

Sunday, September 12 is Rally Day! After the 10am service, you are invited to join us for a picnic on the church lawn. We will supply hot dogs and hamburgers, and ask that you bring a dish to share.

SNAP

SNAP Senior Center (Services Now for Adult Persons, Inc.) is open on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00am-2:00pm. Reservations are required – 917-745-2203.

COFFEE HOUR
Downstairs after worship concludes. We ask that you wear your mask near food and while walking around. You may remove it while seated to eat.

COUNCIL MEETING
9/14 at 7:30pm + meeting at HTLC.

CELL PHONE DONATIONS

Holy Trinity is in need of a few more spare smartphones for Worship live streaming. If you have a spare iPhone or Android phones that you would be willing to donate please contact the church office, Ruth, Pastor Analyse, or Carol R. to make arrangements to drop them off. We can wipe the memory from the phone for you and it will be used to record video and audio. Thank you to those who have already donated. We really appreciate it.

NEW PARAMENTS

We are in the process of buying some much needed paraments for the altar. We welcome any gifts to purchase them as they are quite expensive.

WOMEN’S GROUP

August 18^th @ 7:00pm

COVID VACCINE

As of May 13^th, 2021 all New York residents over the age of 16 are eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Residents over the age of 12 are eligible for the Pfizer vaccine only at this time.

To see if you qualify click here, find the location for your vaccination, and to make an appointment visit nyc.gov/vaccinefinder, turbovax.info, the NY State Vaccine website or you can call 1-877-VAX-4NYC (1-877-829-4692) NOTE: When you make an appointment you must fill out the form at https://forms.ny.gov/s3/vaccine.

Get real time updates for appointment openings straight to your phone by following TurboVax’s Twitter Account. ( Click the link, then the follow button and then click the notification bell). TurboVax tracks appointment availability for the 5 boroughs, Long Island, and Upstate.

If you need to find a COVID test, locations are updated by zip code weekly at nyc.gov/covidtest or by calling 1-212-COVID19 (1-212-268-4319).

Holy Trinity is happy to help you with this process. Please contact Pastor Analyse at pastoranalyse@holytrinitybellerose.org or 516-400-2438.

Other announcements are located in the downloadable bulletin at the top of this webpage.

BLESSING

The blessing of God,
who provides for us, feeds us,
and journeys with us,
☩ be upon you now and forever.
Amen.

SENDING HYMN: For the Beauty of the Earth (ELW #879 + Verses 1 & 4)

1 For the beauty of the earth,
for the beauty of the skies,
for the love which from our birth
over and around us lies:

Refrain
Christ, our God, to thee we raise
this our sacrifice of praise.

4 For the joy of human love,
brother, sister, parent, child,
friends on earth and friends above;
for all gentle thoughts and mild:  Refrain

Text: Folliott S. Pierpoint, 1835-1917, alt.

DISMISSAL

What is our Mission?  Welcoming all to grow in faith; living Christ’s message of serving and loving neighbors near and far.
Go in peace. You are the body of Christ.
Thanks be to God.

Contact Us

holytrinitybellerose.org