Fifteenth Sunday after the Pentecost
September 27, 2020
Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
301 Scott Avenue Glenshaw, Pennsylvania 15116
(412) 486-5777
www.bethelglenshaw.org
Rev. Dr. Daniel Hahn, Vacancy Pastor Vicar Donn Woolweber
WELCOME! We extend a warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning, and a special
welcome to any who are visitors to our church. Visitors are asked to sign our guest book in the narthex and introduce themselves to the pastor. May God bless you with His love and strengthen you in your faith. Please return whenever the opportunity presents itself.
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Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost - September 27, 2020
Liturgy: Matins (pages 219-228)
*Hymns: #589, #738, #924
THE OLD TESTAMENT READING Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32 (ESV)The word of the Lord came to me: 2“What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? 3As I live, declares the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. 4Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine: the soul who sins shall die. . . .
25“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is My way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? 26When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. 27Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. 28Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are My ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?30“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. 31Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”
THE EPISTLE Philippians 2:1-4, 14-18 (ESV)If there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2complete my3joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. . . .
14Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.18Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
THE PSALM
Ps. 147:1-5; antiphon: Ps. 147:6
The Lord lifts up the / humble;
He casts the wicked / to the ground.
Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises / to our god; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is / fitting.
The Lord builds up Je- / rusalem; He gathers the outcasts of / Israel.
He heals the broken- / hearted and binds / up their wounds.
He determines the number / of the stars; He gives to all of / them their names.
Great is our Lord, and abun- / dant in power; His understanding is beyond / measure.
Glory be to the Father and / to the Son and to the Holy / Spirit;
as it was in the be / ginning,
is now, and will be forever. / Amen.
The Lord lifts up the / humble;
He casts the wicked / to the ground.
THE HOLY GOSPEL
Matthew 21:23-27 (ESV)When [Jesus] entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” 24Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell Me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” 27So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And He said to them,Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
COLLECT OF THE DAY
Pastor: Almighty God, You exalted Your Son to the place of all honor and authority. Enlighten our minds by Your Holy Spirit that, confessing Jesus as Lord, we may be led into all truth; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Congregation: AMEN.