BethesdaLutheran Church
The Murdock and DeGraff Area Mission Cluster
Buffalo Lake Lutheran and Bethesda Lutheran Mission Points of the ACT Parish
Sunday September 20, 2015 “Isaac Born of Sarah” 17th Sunday After Pentecost
We Gather Together
WELCOME
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
God is fully aware of all that we seek to hide. There is no profit in claiming otherwise. Knowing this, we confess our sins before God and one another.
Pause for silence and reflection
Faithful One,
You invite us to make room within us for the fulfillment of your promises, but it is difficult to prepare ourselves for what seems impossible. Something within us is wedded to doubt. Even when we long to believe, we cannot. Forgive us. We believe. Help our unbelief. Amen.
God is gracious and forgiving, to the thousandth generation. Christ who has stood at the very center of impossibility says to us, even today: you are loved, and forgiven. Amen.
OPENING HYMN Children of the Heavenly Father ELW781/LBW474
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Holy and Faithful One,
You appear before us daily. Teach us to receive you as a welcome guest, and to delight in the fulfillment of all you have promised. Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
PRIMARY READING - Genesis 18:1-15; 21:1-7
18 The Lord appeared to Abraham* by the oaks* of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. 2He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. 3He said, ‘My lord, if I find favour with you, do not pass by your servant. 4Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.’ So they said, ‘Do as you have said.’ 6And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, ‘Make ready quickly three measures* of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.’ 7Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. 8Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.9They said to him, ‘Where is your wife Sarah?’ And he said, ‘There, in the tent.’ 10Then one said, ‘I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.’ And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. 11Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. 12So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, ‘After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?’ 13The Lord said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh, and say, “Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?” 14Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son.’ 15But Sarah denied, saying, ‘I did not laugh’; for she was afraid. He said, ‘Oh yes, you did laugh.’
The Birth of Isaac
21The Lord dealt with Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as he had promised. 2Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the time of which God had spoken to him. 3Abraham gave the name Isaac to his son whom Sarah bore him. 4And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him. 5Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. 6Now Sarah said, ‘God has brought laughter for me; everyone who hears will laugh with me.’ 7And she said, ‘Who would ever have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.’
GOSPEL - Mark 10:27
27Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.’
Bottom of Form
SERMON
HYMN OF the Day God, Who Stretched the Spangled Heavens ELW771/LBW463
CONFESSION OF FAITH Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord.He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He 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, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 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.
Offering
OfferTORY
Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with your free Spirit.
PRAYERS for Others, Ourselves and our World
Each ends Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
The 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
We Are Sent To Serve
Announcements
Blessing
Sending HYMN Lord of All Hopefulness ELW765/LBW469
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
Welcome to Area Churches Together Parish
Pastoral Staff Contact Information:
Rev. Daniel CroonquistRev. Mari Thorkelson
Email: Email: marimusic@earthlink.net
Cell Phone: 220-3055Cell Phone: 444-1238
ALL PARISH ANNOUNCEMENTS
If you have an announcement that you want shared in all the churches please get it to Mamrelund/St. John’s Secretary, Bernadette Fuchs by 9am on Tuesday. You can email it to Bernadette at
Bernadette’s Mamrelund office hours are Tuesday & Fridays 9am-1:30pm.
Mamrelund Office 599-4548, Bernadette’s Cell 894-9305 & Home Email:
Please contact Bobbie Jones at: f you have information for her to add to the ACT Parish website or the ACT Parish Facebook page. To view the ACT Parish website go to:
September 2015 Preaching Schedule
Rev. Dan CroonquistRev. Mari ThorkelsonNarrative Lectionary Readings
Sept. 20 Buffalo Lake – 8:15am St. Johns – 8am Mark 10:27 and Genesis 18:1-15; 21:1-7
Bethesda – 9:30amWest Lake – 9:30am
Mamrelund – 11am Hope – 10:45am
Sept. 27 St. Johns – 8amBuffalo Lake – 8:15amMark 14:32-36 and Genesis 32:22-30
Monson Lake – 9:30amBethesda – 9:30am
Hope – 10:45amMamrelund – 11am
October 2015 Preaching Schedule
Rev. Dan CroonquistRev. Mari ThorkelsonNarrative Lectionary Readings
Oct. 4Buffalo Lake – 8:15am St. Johns – 8amExodus 1:8-14; 3:1-15 and Mark 12:26-27a
Bethesda – 9:30amWest Lake – 9:30am
Mamrelund – 11am Hope – 10:45am
Oct. 11 St. Johns – 8amBuffalo Lake – 8:15amDeuteronomy 5:1-21; 6:4-9 and Mark 12:28-31
Monson Lake – 9:30amBethesda – 9:30am
Hope – 10:45amMamrelund – 11am
Oct. 18 Buffalo Lake – 8:15am St. Johns – 8am Ruth 1:1-17 and Mark 3:33-35
Bethesda – 9:30amWest Lake – 9:30am
Mamrelund – 11am Hope – 10:45am
Oct. 25 St. Johns – 8amBuffalo Lake – 8:15am2 Samuel 5:1-5; 6:1-5; Palm 150 and
Monson Lake – 9:30amBethesda – 9:30amMark 11:8-10
Hope – 10:45amMamrelund – 11am
Remember in Prayer
Connie Peterson (B) Nancy Gafkjen Virgil Ronholdt (H)
Florence Grendahl (M) Jessica Stai Mary Jane Stredde (S)
Morgan Collins Camie Fernholz Shirley Rand
Gilbert Hacker Sheila Stredde (S) Audrey Sondrol (H)
Dawn Larson
Coming Events
Any group or individual(s) interested in taking on a project to sell olive wood from Bethlehem in the Holy Land at ACT activities can call Patrick's cell 320.444.1214. This would be a great mission or fundraising opportunity.
Today Sunday, September 20
5-6:30pm – Mamrelunds Annual Fall Churchmen’s Fish Fry. Adults $8, Kids 6-12 $4 and Under 6 eat free. "Take Outs"
$8, Call 599-4548 by 4pm to have a meal delivered to you!
6pm – ACT Council meeting at Bethesda to discuss the options that are available for the call of a second pastor.
Wednesday, September 23
6pm – Confirmation for 6th graders and 7th graders at Hope Lutheran Church in Sunburg
6:30pm - ACT Adult Halloween party planning meeting at Bethesda. One or twomembers from each ACT church would
be appreciatedat this meeting.
7pm - Confirmation for 8th – 9th graders and 10th graders at Hope Lutheran Church in Sunburg
7pm – Hope’s Choir Practice
Thursday, September 24
4:45pm - Annual Fall Gathering of the Lakeland Conference Women of the ELCA will be held at Hope Lutheran
Church, Sunburg. Theme of the Gathering is "God's Wardrobe." Registration begins at 4:45 pm - cost of
registration is $9.00 which includes dinner. Dinner will be served at 5:30 and the Gathering will begin at 6:30pm.
The speaker is Marge Lundeen of Annandale, MN. There will also be door prizes. All women are welcome!
If you have any questions please contact Karol Markfelder, President of the Lakeland Conference Women of the
ELCA Board at 231-3274 or email r.k.markfelder.com
Friday, September 25
4-8pm - Country Quilters Quilt Show at the Willmar Civic Center. Admission is $5. Displays of 300 quilts, Door prizes,
Demonstrations and Quilt Raffle! Will be held also on Saturday, September 26thfrom 9-5, and
Sunday, September 27th from 11-4.
Sunday, September27 -Tuesday September 29
Pastors Fall Theological Conference in Okoboji, Iowa
Sunday, September 27
11am-1pm – “Meatball Dinner” at First Lutheran Church of Norway Lake. Adults $9, Ages 6-12 $4, Ages 5 & under-free
4-7pm – Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Murdock “Annual Fall Turkey Dinner”. Adults (age 11 & up) $10, Ages 5-10 $5,
Ages 4 & Under FREE! Take-Outs Meals $10.
Wednesday, September 30
6pm – Confirmation for 6th graders and 7th graders at Hope Lutheran Church in Sunburg
7pm - Confirmation for 8th – 9th graders and 10th graders at Hope Lutheran Church in Sunburg
7pm – Hope’s Choir Practice
Saturday, October 3
10am-1pm - St. John's Lutheran Church Autumn Bazaar. Grandma’s Attic, Craft’s, Bake Sale, Lunch and a new this
year: The Bar Bar. People will be able to pick their own dozen bars from an assortment of bars to purchase.
If you have any Grandma’s Attic items we need them to the church bySeptember 26th. Bake Sale & Craft
need to at the church by 9:15 the day of the bazaar. We also need everyone to bring a pan of bar. If you are not
going to be able to be at the bazaar to work please let the committee know.
10:30am-1pm – Hope Lutheran’s Picture of the Past Fall Event!
Thursday, October 8
8:30am-5:30pm - Mental Health First Aid Class being held at the Kandiyohi County Area Family YMCA. The class is
designed to improve mental health literacy and teach the basic first aid skills needed to help a person who is
experiencing a mental health problem or crisis. The training helps participants identify, understand, and
respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. The class is free but registration is required.
Please register on line at . Please bring a bag lunch.
4-7:30pm – Tripolis Lutheran Church Fall Ham Supper, (located 3 miles south of Kandiyohi on County Road 8).
Adults $8, Ages 5-10 $4.
Friday, November 20-Saturday, November 21 (or Saturday, Nov. – Sunday, Nov. 22)
Junior High Youth Gathering at the Best Western Plus & Conference Center, Willmar. “Can You Hear Me? My God Will Hear Me-But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. Micah 7:7”
Guest speaker David Hunstad and with the band, Tanner Clark. It’s for grades 6th-9th, Cost is $47 per person. For more information please contact Pastor Dan or Pastor Mari.
tHtG