TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH INVITE * EQUIP * SEND

1

TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH INVITE * EQUIP * SEND

Sunday, September 12, 2021-16th Sunday of Pentecost

INTRODUCTION TO THE DAY—Creation by the Word

Everyone knows the Creation story, right? But do we really know the Creation story? What if there are better ways to get into the story—or to have the story get into us!—than the usual tired arguments over how old the earth really is

or evolution or God creating the earth in six 24- hour days?

Or, what if we were to see Genesis 1 less like a portrait of God—frozen in time, like

Michelangelo’s ceiling of the Sistine Chapel—

and more like a description of God’s relationship to us? It becomes less a picture of God and more an invitation to relationship with God.

That’s how Luther in the Small Catechism approaches God the Creator: “…God daily and abundantly provides—PRESENT TENSE—shoes and clothing, food and drink, house and farm, spouse and children, fields, livestock, and all property…” (Explanation to the 1^st Article of the Creed).

Or again—in the 4^th Petition to the Lord’s Prayer, the one about daily bread: “God gives daily bread without our prayer… but we ask in this prayer that God cause us to recognize what our daily bread is and to receive it with thanksgiving.” And as he does in the Creed, Luther sees the Creation story still unfolding in our daily lives: “What then does ‘daily bread’ mean?

Everything included in the necessities and nourishment for our bodies, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, farm, fields…” (Explanation to the 4^th Petition of the Lord’s Prayer).

What if we notice that the way God creates with a Word is also the way Jesus does what Jesus does? “Jesus said to the deaf, mute man, ‘Be opened,’ and at this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened, and he began to speak plainly” (Mark 7:31-37).

And what if we notice that the way God creates with a Word… And the way Jesus does what Jesus does… are STILL the way God creates among us? Does this matter when you hear words like, “…I declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins”? Or, “This is the Body of Christ… the Blood of Christ shed for you?”

INVITE

PRELUDE Harry Walsh

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

* BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION & FORGIVENESS (ELW P. 94)—All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.

2

P In the name of the Father, + and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

P Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C Amen.

P Brothers and sisters in Christ, if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

We pause in silence for reflection and self-examination.

Most Merciful God,

C We confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our

neighbors as ourselves. But for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us.

Forgive us. Renew us. And lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

P In the mercy of Almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake, God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by the authority Jesus has given his Church to proclaim the forgiveness of sins, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

3

* OPENING HYMN | #879 “FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH” (v. 1, 2, & 4)

EQUIP

* GREETING

P The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

C And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

P Let us pray. (A moment of silence is kept to gather us for prayer.) Grand designer of all things,

4

C The light and darkness, the dome in the midst of waters, the sky and dry land, the vegetation, the seasons, the swarms of living creatures, birds and great sea monsters, creeping things and wild animals, and us; all these were brought into being with a word on your lips. And it was good. That word continued to echo from the lips of your Son. And it was good. Open our ears, our hearts, our very lives to receive that word still now, that even now, it may be good. We ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.

THE WORD—Genesis 1:1 – 2:4

R The reading today comes from the first Book of Moses, the Book of Genesis, Chapters 1 & 2.

C Glory to you, O Lord.

R 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ² The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

3 Then God said, Men “Let there be light!”

R And there was light.

Women ⁴ And God saw that the light was good.

R Then God separated the light from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light Men “Day”

R And the darkness God called Women “Night.”

All So evening passed and morning came, marking the first day.

R ⁶ Then God said,

Women “Let there be a space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.”

R ⁷ And that is what happened. God made this space to separate the waters of the earth from the waters of the heavens. ⁸ And God called the space,

Men “Sky.”

All And evening passed and morning came, marking the second day.

R ⁹ Then God said,

Men “Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear.”

R And that is what happened. ¹⁰ God called the dry ground Men “Land.”

R And the waters, God called, Women “Seas.”

Men And God saw that it was good.

R ¹¹ Then God said,

5

Men “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.”

R And that is what happened. ¹² The land produced vegetation—all sorts of seed- bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit. Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind.

Women And God saw that it was good.

All ¹³ And evening passed and morning came, marking the third day.

R ¹⁴ Then God said,

Women “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years. ¹⁵ Let these lights in the sky shine down on the earth.”

R And that is what happened. ¹⁶ God made two great lights—

Women The larger one to govern the day,

Men And the smaller one to govern the night.

R God also made the stars. ¹⁷ And God set all these lights in the sky to light the earth, ¹⁸ to govern the day and night, and to separate the light from the darkness.

Men And God saw that it was good.

All ¹⁹ And evening passed and morning came, marking the fourth day.

R ²⁰ Then God said,

Men “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life.”

Women “And let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.”

R ²¹ So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird—each producing offspring of the same kind.

Women And God saw that it was good.

R ²² Then God blessed them, saying,

Men “Be fruitful and multiply. Let the fish fill the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.”

All ²³ And evening passed and morning came, marking the fifth day.

R ²⁴ Then God said,

Women “Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind—livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals.”

R And that is what happened. ²⁵ God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind.

Men And God saw that it was good.

R ²⁶ Then God said,

6

Men “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us.”

Women “They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”

R ²⁷ So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them;

Women Male,

Men And female,

R God created them. ²⁸ Then God blessed them and said, Men “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it.”

Women “Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”

R ²⁹ Then God said,

Women “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.”

Men ³⁰ And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life.”

R And that is what happened.

31 Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!

All And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.

R 2 So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed.

On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation.

All so he rested from all his work. ³ And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.

R ⁴ This is the account of the creation of the heavens and the earth.

All Thanks be to God.

KIDS’ TIME—BLESSING THE BACKPACKS (after Pastor Mike has some time with the kids, join him in this blessing)

P God of fresh starts and new beginnings,

C We bring ourselves, our big feelings, and our backpacks to you.

P Last year was different from what we expected.

C We couldn’t see our friends or play on playgrounds; we learned at home, in masks six feet apart, or both.

P In all these changes, we may have felt sad and alone.

C God, our friend who comforts us, hold us close and wipe our tears.

P In our backpacks, we carry blank pages, sharpened pencils, and pointy crayons.

C And in our hearts, we carry big feelings, unanswered questions, and hopeful expectations.

7

P There are endless possibilities of what this new year might bring—of what we might learn, who we might meet, and who we might become.

C God, our friend who is always with us, be with us through it all.

P Be with us as we ride the bus.

C Be with us as we walk.

P Be with us as we buckle seat belts, zip-up jackets, and tie shoes.

C However we get there, and whatever we wear, bless this journey into something new.

P For the grown-ups going back to school, With-Us God, be with them too.

C Thank you for our teachers, helpers, caregivers, and leaders, and for all they do to help us learn and grow. God, our friend who’s full of wonder, fill their hearts and bless their hands. Amen.

SERMON—PASTOR MIKE

8

* HYMN OF THE DAY |#684 “Creating God, Your Fingers Trace”

* 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 into hell. 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.

9

* PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH—P Lord, in your mercy, C Hear our prayer.

OFFERING & SPECIAL MUSIC|”RIVER OF GRACE” CORTNEY WALBRIDGE

THANK YOU for all your gifts and offerings of EVERY KIND—your time; your talent; and your resources, signs of God’s gracious love for you and for others. Please note that for the foreseeable future, we will continue not to pass our offering plates—but, of course, we still rely on the collection of those kinds of gifts. PLEASE VISIT OUR OFFERING PLATES EITHER AS YOU COME FOR WORSHIP, OR AS YOU ARE LEAVING. You can also give using your credit/debit card by visiting our Offering Ipads in the Narthex-Entry Way—step-by-step instructions are there; or, ask our pursers to give you a hand, if you need.

If you are worshiping on-line and would like to make gift: Visit: https://bit.ly/3cS5idt

• Or, using your hand-held device, use your camera on this QR Code.

• You can also download the “GivePlus+” app from your usual source of

phone/tablet apps. Look for “Trinity Lutheran Church—Princeton, MN” to set-up your giving there.

*OFFERING PRAYER

P Let us pray. Merciful Father,

C We offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us—ourselves; our time;

and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

* THE LORD’S SUPPER

* THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION & LORD’S PRAYER P In the night in which he was betrayed…

C Our Father, who art in heaven…

* INVITATION

P These are the gifts of God, for you the people of God. Come, for all is ready!

C Thanks be to God!

DISTRIBUTION HYMNS | “ONLY A SHADOW” CORTNEY WALBRIDGE & CHAR KRAMERSMEIER

* COMMUNION BLESSING

P The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen your faith and keep you in his grace, now and forever.

C Amen.

* COMMUNION PRAYER

P Let us pray. [A moment of silence is kept to gather us for prayer.]

O God,

C We give you thanks that you have set before us and have welcomed us to this feast of grace and mercy given to us in the body and blood of your Son. Now by your Spirit strengthen us to serve all in need and to give ourselves away as bread for the hungry, in whatever we may encounter hunger. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

10 SEND

* SENDING BLESSING

P Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you and keep you, now and forever.

C Amen.

* CLOSING HYMN | #880 “O GOD, BEYOND ALL PRAISING”

* DISMISSAL

P Go in peace! Serve the Lord! C Thanks be to God

11

POSTLUDE Harry Walsh

A

U

Immanuel & Trinity to Collaborate on Middle & High School Youth Ministry.

In August’s Pastor Mike’s Mash, PM wrote about a summer-long project exploring the potential for a joint,

collaborative youth ministry between our two congregations. Well...IT is happening. Pastor Mike, Pastor Paul, and youth director Kali Kadelbach have begun putting IT together.

We’re all really excited about IT, and want you to be excited about IT too!!! WHAT IS IT?

L

The Curriculum for this year is Living IT Biblically. In the Fall, we will be exploring the Old Testament and how we can live biblically as the Word commands us to live.

•We will be at Immanuel in the Fall.

•Then in the Winter-Spring, we will learn about the New Testament and how we can live biblically through the teachings and miracles of Jesus Christ.

•We will be at Trinity beginning in January.

•Confirmation will begin September 15, 2021 from 6:30 to 8:15 at Immanuel. Parents need to plan on attending a short introduction following 6:30pm worship.

•The gym and Church at Immanuel will be open starting at 4:00PM for the Youth. Come hangout, play games, or work on homework together.

•Dinner will be served from 5:30 to 6:15PM.

•Confirmation will begin at 6:30PM in the Sanctuary with worship.

Registration forms will be emailed out, if you have any questions or need to register as a new confirmand please email Kali at: [email protected].

L

High School Bible study will be Wednesday's from 7:15-8:15PM, but you are invited and encouraged to come and be a part of the whole evening, as well. WORSHIP IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR LIVES OF FAITH!

•Our location will mirror confirmation—at Immanuel in the Fall and Trinity beginning in January.

•Gym and Church will be open at 4:00PM to hangout, play games, or work on homework together.

•Dinner will be 5:30PM to 6:15PM and Youth Worship will be at 6:30PM.

•Once a month, High School youth will be doing a fun eventful activity. They may be either service related or fun activities.

•Summer 2022 High School youth will be attending the National Youth Gathering and NEMN Synod Journey.

•We will also be choosing an alternative trip, if you have any suggestions please let Kali know.

YOUR WORSHIP SERVANTS THIS MORNING:

Purser: Cory Miller

Piano/Organ: Harry Walsh

Special Music: Cortney Walbridge &

Char Kramersmeier Table Setter: Linda Zarns

Tech: Darcee Larsen

Greeters: Ken & Carol Carling

Coffee Hour: Needed Ushers: Needed

Acolyte: Meredith Ostlund

Counters: Judy Peterson & Becky Porter

Flowers: Char & Wally Kramersmeier – In memory of their parents.

12

Please Contact Kali, If you are interested in being involved in one or all of these programs.

O

Please join Us for an open house to celebrate Margaret Thiel’s 100 year birthday Saturday September 25th at 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. 507 S 2nd Street, Princeton, MN. Cards appreciated Please No gifts, Thank you.

S

•Men’s Breakfast—Men’s Breakfast back to their regular schedule September, 2nd and 4th Saturdays, 8am at the Church: Saturday, Sept. 11 and Sept. 25.

•Tuesday Morning Bible Study— Our Tuesday morning study will begin Tuesday, Sept. 14, 10am.

•Women’s Bible Study – Will resume September 16^th.

Y

Join Us on Monday nights at 6:30pm starting September 13 at Trinity Crossing with instructor JennieRuth Warren!

September 13- November 1: 8 weeks, $72 per participant ($9/week). Yogadevotion LLC classes begin in the breath, centering ourselves in the Presence of God…setting aside all that distracts us from the relationship God intends for us.

Our devotional time is at the beginning of the class, opening with scripture that speaks to a practice of faith, during the breath work. This class is for all levels as Yogadevotion LLC teaches that the primary teacher is your own body and that voice is the important one. Modifications are offered for all poses. To sign up visit https://bit.ly/2WZx8zj or call the office today!

S

This year our church member Becky Porter will again be participating in The Walk Out of Darkness in St. Cloud on October 2, 2021. This walk is sponsored by the American Foundation For Suicide Prevention. Becky writes, “I walk in memory of my son, Joe, who we lost 5 years ago, as well as for many others who have lost loved ones and for those struggling with mental illness. I hope to raise $2,000 this year.”

If you would like to support AFSP with a donation please go to OutOfTheDarkness.org and click on “Donate.” My team name is In Memory of Joe Porter. If you would like to give by check please make it out to AFSP and mail to me at 407 9^th Ave. S, Princeton, MN 55371. Thank you in advance for any donation you came make and your thoughts and prayers.

C

Our annual QUILT AUCTION will be back at camp this fall with oodles of quality quilts to choose from. PLUS the silent auction and bake sale returns as well, so there is something for everyone. This years main quilt up for raffle was made by our very own Trinity Women!! Don't miss your chance to be a part of the fun! All proceeds go directly to Camp Onomia. Watch for details, we hope of have an online function available as well. Let us make this the best one EVER!

Saturday Sept. 18, 2021 at Camp Onomia! Viewing at 11am with lunch at noon, Live auctions beginning at 1 pm, Raffle at 3pm--Need not be present to win, Overnight stay option

S

The annual exchange has begun and will continue through October! To get started, you are invited to bring in plants and seeds that you'd like to share! Please make sure plants are in containers sturdy enough that they can be transported to their new home. When the growing season is underway, we invite you to bring in your extra produce to share! Once again there will be a table in the narthex available to place the seeds, plants, and vegetables/fruits. Leave something you have an abundance of, and/or take something you like! Even if you don't have a garden you are invited to partake in the bounty that our local growers produce.

F

Join us for our Fall Hot Dish Luncheon Tuesday, October 12 at Trinity Crossing from 11am-1pm. The cost is $10

C

Green Tips for 2021 are researched and written by members of two congregations in our Northeast MN synod. They are published monthly in the Synod Announcements. These tips are timely and informative messages about environmental stewardship. Offering sound science, they range from practical tips for your own daily practices to needed policy.

During the last glacial age, retreating glaciers left the area between New Jersey across the Upper Midwest to the Pacific Ocean an earthworm-free zone, which changed when European colonists introduced nightcrawlers, red wigglers and other European worm species in their ships' ballast. According to Lee Frelich, director of the University of Minnesota Center for

13

Forest Ecology, these earthworms have become an invasive disaster in northern hardwood forests by eating moisture-rich leaf litter, and seeds and seedlings of trees and native plants that supply food for birds, insects and other woodland creatures. Spread by oil and gas development, fishing, logging and other human activities, the worms thrive as soils warm due to climate change, invading the northern boreal forests and even the far-northern tundra, threatening to expose permafrost and accelerate its thawing and release of carbon. U of M researchers have found areas in Alaska's Kenai Wildlife Refuge where the biomass of earthworms is hundreds of times higher than that of moose, a keystone species. WHAT YOU CAN DO: support leaders who are addressing climate change, and be an advocate for the Minnesota DNR's warning to fishermen to dispose of bait in the trash, never on the ground.

Prayer List Members

Jeri Ann Bredemus Joy Christenson Jim Dery Susan Deyle Katey Donais Lainey Druar Dale Dunham Marlene Foss Marlys Hanson Bruce Lacher Tad Larsen Lee Family Del Liestman Eric Lukkari Helen Lundgren Chellis Matz Jean Miller Emily Nelson Ed Peterson Bev Reed Warren Reed Dina Scandinato Wayne Senne Carol Skare Matt Skarohlid Brenda Smith Anne Stevenson Joyce Tessmer

Prudence Tessmer & family Ardy Tourville

Barb Wicktor Russ Wicktor Dean Winslow Ginny Winslow

Family Members & Friends Melaina Anderson (Joyce

Anderson’s grand daughter)

Ben (Judy & Bill Hilliard’s nephew son’s ) Peter Berry (Mary Berry’s

son)

Isabella Borunda (Roger &

Jan Gale’s grand daughter)

Diane Boser (Friend of Dan

& Jean Anderson)

Gene Brown (Pastor Mike's uncle)

Caitlin Christenson (Kenny

& Joy Christenson’s daughter in-law) David Doerfler (Pastor

Mike's uncle)

Rachel Fadden( friend of Ron & Judy Peterson/Jim

& Jan Dery)

Jan Gale's daughter Jamie Joan Gessar (Courtney

Hoppe's mother in-law) Dick Johnson(Barb Senne’s

brother)

Dale Kannegiesser (Elaine Storck’s friend)

Patrick Kavanagh (friend of Jan Wittnebel's family) Evelyn Kingma (June

Kunkel’s sister in-law) Drew Litecky (Jan

Wittnebel’s brother) Janice Luecks (Jeff Lueck's

mother)

Randall Lundgren (Debi’s Pederson’s nephew) Aubrey Mandt (mother of

Mike Mandt) Dale McLaen (Darcee

Larsen/Laurel

McKenney’s brother in- law)

Esther Neussendorfer (Danette Scepurek’s grandmother) Janice Omtvedt (Ingrid

Bavier’s mother) Elliott Pancoast (Pastor

Mike’s dad)

Tracy Pidde( Princeton 3rd grade teacher)

Amanda Ridout (friend of the Pancoast Family) Marion Rova (Chuck

Warner’s sister)

Rob Savage ( Friend of the Keller family)

John Schmid (family of Mike & Linda Baumann)

Andy Struthers (Maria Barlage’s brother) Mauricio Trujillo (friend of

the Patnode and Miller families)

Patty Thul’s Sister Sheri Scott Wallin (Char

Kramersmeier’s son) Eric Webster (friend of the

Morisset family)

Ronda Wetzel (daughter of Andrea & Ron Sandusky)

Serving in the Military Andrew Anderson Andrew Barthel Claire Barthel Jacob Benver Eden Betzler Lacee Broding Riley Broding Ronald Duresky Riley Forland Derek Hanson Hunter Lestrud Kenzi Lytle Anthony Mandt David McCarney John McCarney Zachary Morisset Ben Noard Parker Pedersen Mario Scandinato Jaden Thimmesch

Weekly Calendar

Sunday, September 12 9am Worship 10am Coffee Hour 10:30am Fall Kick Off w/

Immanuel Monday, September 13 8am WWW*

6pm Committee Mtgs 6pm YogaDevotion*

7pm Council Mtg Tuesday, September 14 10am Bible Study 11:30am Staff Mtg

12:30pm Living IT Staff Mtg Wednesday, September 15

Bulletin Deadline 9am TOPS

4pm Living IT Hangout Time @ IM 5:30pm Living IT Dinner @

IM

6:30pm Living IT Worship &

Small Groups @ IM Thursday, September 16 7pm AA Meeting Sunday, September 19 9am Worship—Davis

Baptism 10am Coffee Hour 12pm Aly Macziewski

Baptism Monday, September 20 8am WWW*

6pm District 5AA 6pm YogaDevotion * Tuesday, September 21 10am Bible Study 11:30am Staff Mtg

Wednesday, September 22 Bulletin Deadline 9am TOPS

12pm PCT Meal Prep*/PCT Meal prep

4pm Living IT Hangout Time @ IM 5:30pm Living IT Dinner @

IM

6:30pm Living IT Worship &

Small Groups @ IM Thursday, September 23 7pm AA Meeting

(Zoom) Saturday, September 25 8am Men’s Breakfast

14