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Prayer for Spiritual Formation (Reverend Nicole Collins)

Leader: Let us pray, Gracious and Loving God, Continue to teach us as we need to grow in order to go with Your Gospel Help us persevere against the empty temptations of the Evil One to lead us astray No matter what we have chosen to assist in feeding us Your Gospel Truth Please remind our hearts to listen to Your still speaking voice As long as we live. (Please observe a moment of Silence)

ALL: AMEN

BENDICTION Scattering Proclamation (Reverend Nicole Collins)

Leader: Gracious God seek, inspire, shape our hearts in these coming days.

Make our discipleship worthy of Your Name!

In the name of the Father, † Son & Holy Spirit

ALL AMEN (Please make the sign of the Cross)

Postlude † Thank you for worshiping with us! †

People Serving you weekly:

Reverend Eric L. Dawson † Senior Pastor Reverend Nicole Collins † Pastor of Spiritual Formation Reverend Debra Atkinson † Minister of Music

OUR FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/TheGatheringNorth4Christ OUR FACEBOOK SPIRITUAL FORMATION GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/613504585365283/ MAIN WEBSITE: http://thegatheringnorth4christ.weebly.com/ WEBMASTER: Pastor Nicole—macalusorama@gmail.com

Up & Coming Announcements Our Lessons this evening were from: Psalm 5; Genesis 4:1-15; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; Luke

18:9-17

Pastor Debbie’s Bible study Tuesday morning 10:30a.m 501 E Manchester Drive, Wheeling

Illinois. The Wired Word will be topic. 224-730-1942 for questions .

New Monthly Study at 4pm at Pr. Nicole’s home around ‘Understanding Spiritual Warfare.’

This book is available through Amazon for under $7. ISBN 978-0-8010-3936-2 Baker Press

2012. At the moment this study will only be offered at the end of the month. One chapter per

month. NEXT Study will be on October 30th, 4pm—See Pastor Nicole to see what sections of

the book will be discussed! Remember as well, this will be another Pizza Night!! And

REFORMATION Sunday!!! We’ll see the Luther film in church that Sunday~

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The Gathering North † Sunday Evening Worship †

October 23rd, 2016

Twenty Third Sunday After Pentecost

Prelude Music

Welcome & Announcements

GATHERING We Renew (Psalm 5; Oblate’s Prayer, Reverend Collins; & Setting 2 from the LCMS hymnal)

(Please stand if able) Leader: 1Give ear to my words, O Lord; give heed to my sighing. 2Listen to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you I pray. 7... I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house, I will bow down toward your holy temple in awe of you. 8Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. 11a... let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. 12For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover them with favor as with a shield.

Silence is kept for reflection.

ALL: Help us to become people of prayer and peace. Though scattered far and wide, help us to be together in the spirit of your love. Give us hearts wide enough to embrace each other as well as those whose lives we touch. Enable us to listen and to learn from each other and those around us each day.

Leader: Lead on O King Eternal! Help us always bear witness to your Gospel!

ALL: May we be models in our homes, neighborhoods, and communities of wise stewardship,

dignified human labor, sacred leisure, and reverence for all living things. Above all, O God, may

our presence among others be a constant witness of justice, compassion, and hope to all. Amen.

Please observe a moment of silence for reflection

Leader: Upon these reflections, let us know God is with us and will guide our hearts to action for His

sake and for the sake of the world.

In the Name of the Father, † Son & the Holy Spirit! Amen

(Please make the sign of the Cross) †

Scripture Lessons for the Evening (please be seated)

A Reading from the Book of Genesis 1Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have produced a man with the help of the Lord.” 2Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground.

3In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4and Abel for

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his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell.

6The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? 7If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.”

8Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel, and killed him.

9Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” 10And the Lord said, “What have you done? Listen; your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground! 11And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12When you till the ground, it will no longer yield to you its strength; you will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.”

13Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear! 14Today you have driven me away from the soil, and I shall be hidden from your face; I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and anyone who meets me may kill me.” 15Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! Who-ever kills Cain will suffer a sevenfold vengeance.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, so that no one who came upon him would kill him.

Leader: The Word of the Lord ALL: Thanks Be to God

A Reading from Second Timothy 6As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

16At my first defense no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! 17But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. 18The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Leader: The Word of the Lord ALL: Thanks Be to God

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke Please Stand Leader: A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Luke

ALL: Glory to You, O Lord 9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and re-garded others with contempt: 10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ 13But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

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15People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. 16But Jesus called for them and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. 17Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”

Leader: The Word of the Lord

ALL: Praise to You, O Christ

Sermon by: Pastor Debbie

Hymn of the Day Peace Prayer Circle

Rite of Laying on of Hands All God’s People: Care for God's people, bear their burdens and do not betray their

confidence. So discipline yourself in life and teaching that you preserve the truth, giving no

occasion for false security or illusory hope. Witness faithfully in word and deed to all people.

Give and receive comfort as you serve within the Church. And be of good courage, for God has

called you, and your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

The newly Consecrated kneels for the blessing

Holy Communion

Please take this opportunity to reflect in your heart how this Means of Grace—Christ actual presence feeds and restores your soul. As St. Paul would say: Listen with your heart wide open. Then, TASTE, SEE & DELIGHT that the Lord is Good!

LORD’S PRAYER: Please recite what version is comfortable for you. (Please be seated)

Affirmation of Commitment Leader: Will you continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in the prayers? ALL: With the help of God, I will.

Leader: Will you persevere in resisting evil and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord? ALL: With the help of God, I will.

Leader: Will you proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ? ALL: With the help of God, I will.

Leader: Will you seek and serve Christ in all people, loving your neighbor as yourself? ALL: With the help of God, I will.

Leader: Will you acknowledge Christ's authority over human society, by prayer for the world and its leaders, by defending the weak, and by seeking peace and justice? ALL: With the help of God, I will.