ORDER OF WORSHIP
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
September 20, 2026

Matthew narrates one of Jesus’ parables in which Jesus says that the reign of God is like a landowner paying thier workers the same wage no matter what time of day they began to work. When God changes God’s mind about punishing Nineveh for their evil ways, Jonah is angry. Yet God is gracious and merciful, abounding in steadfast love. In baptism we receive the grace of God that is freely given to all. As Martin Luther wrote, in the presence of God’s mercy we are all beggars.

  + GATHERING +

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE

Lord of All Hopefulness
arr. Albin C. Whitworth

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
All may make the sign of the cross, the sign that is marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.

Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, who pours love into our hearts 
and healing upon the earth. Amen.

Confident that God justifies us by grace through faith, let us confess our sin.

     Silence is kept for reflection.

Compassionate God,
we confess that we struggle to embody your goodness
in the world and in our own hearts. Creation groans from overuse.
Jealousy and bitterness strain our relationships.
Indifference keeps us from seeking justice.
Divisions disrupt your call to show genuine love to others.
Turn our hearts back to you. 
 Restore our world and reconcile us to one another. 
Renew us to live as your holy people,
following the way of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Hear the good news:
We have peace with God through Jesus Christ,
in whom there is no condemnation,
but only forgiveness and the promise of eternal life.
Receive freely this healing gift of grace.   Amen.

TEMPLE TALK

GATHERING HYMN

Lord of Light
ELW 688

Lord of light, your name outshining
all the stars and suns of space,
use our talents in your kingdom
as the servants of your grace;
use us to fulfill your purpose
in the gift of Christ your Son:

Refrain
    Father, as in highest heaven,
    so on earth your will be done.

By the toil of faithful workers
in some far outlying field,
by the courage where the radiance
of the cross is still revealed,
by the victories of meekness,
through reproach and suff'ring won:  Refrain

Grant that knowledge, still increasing,
at your feet may lowly kneel;
with your grace our triumphs hallow,
with your charity our zeal;
lift the nations from the shadows
to the gladness of the sun:  Refrain

By the prayers of faithful watchers,
never silent day or night;
by the cross of Jesus, bringing
peace to all and healing light;
by the love that passes knowledge,
making all your children one:  Refrain

APOSTOLIC 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.

KYRIE    (page 138)

In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the peace from above,
and for our salvation,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the whole world,
for the well-being of the Church of God,
and for the unity of all,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For this holy house,
and for all who offer here their worship and praise,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Amen.

CANTICLE OF PRAISE    (page 139)

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray.
Almighty and eternal God, you show perpetual lovingkindness to us your servants. Because we cannot rely on our own abilities, grant us your merciful judgment, and train us to embody the generosity of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.

+ WORD +  

FIRST READING:                

            Jonah 3:10—4:11

¹⁰ When God saw what [the people of Ninevah] did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them, and he did not do it.

  ^4:1 But this was very displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry. ² He prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord! Is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? That is why I fled to Tarshish at the beginning, for I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from punishment. ³ And now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” ⁴ And the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be angry?” ⁵ Then Jonah went out of the city and sat down east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, waiting to see what would become of the city.
  ⁶ The Lord God appointed a bush and made it come up over Jonah, to give shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort, so Jonah was very happy about the bush. ⁷ But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the bush, so that it withered. ⁸ When the sun rose, God prepared a sultry east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint and asked that he might die. He said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”

  ⁹ But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the bush?” And he said, “Yes, angry enough to die.” ¹⁰ Then the Lord said, “You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night. ¹¹ And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left and also many animals?”

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Psalm 145:1-8    (We will read the Psalm responsively by half verse.)

¹ I will exalt you, my God and king,
  and bless your name forever and ever.
² Every day will I bless you
  and praise your name forever and ever.
³ Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised!
  There is no end to your greatness.
⁴ One generation shall praise your works to another
  and shall declare your power.
⁵ I will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty
  and all your marvelous works.
⁶ They shall tell of the might of your wondrous acts,
  and I will recount your greatness.
⁷ They shall publish the remembrance of your great goodness;
  they shall sing joyfully of your righteousness.
⁸ The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,
  slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 

SECOND READING:    

             Philippians 1:21-30

²¹ For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. ²² If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me, yet I cannot say which I will choose. ²³ I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better, ²⁴ but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. ²⁵ Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, ²⁶ so that, by my presence again with you, your boast might abound in Christ Jesus because of me.
  ²⁷ Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel ²⁸ and in no way frightened by those opposing you. For them, this is evidence of their destruction but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing. ²⁹ For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ but of suffering for him as well, ³⁰ since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION   (page 142)      

Alleluia.
Lord, to whom shall we go? 
You have the words of eternal life.
Alleluia.

GOSPEL:  
            Matthew 20:1-16

The Holy Gospel according to Matthew, the 20^th chapter:
Glory to you, O Lord.

[Jesus said to the disciples:] ¹ “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. ² After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. ³ When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, ⁴ and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. ⁵ When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. ⁶ And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around, and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ ⁷ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ ⁸ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ ⁹ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received a denarius. ¹⁰ Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. ¹¹ And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, ¹² saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ ¹³ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? ¹⁴ Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. ¹⁵ Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ ¹⁶ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

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

SERMON           
        The Rev. Dr. Olga-Maria Cruz

     Silence is kept for reflection.

HYMN OF THE DAY    

Great God, Your Love Has Called Us
ELW 358

Great God, your love has called us here
as we, by love, for love were made.
Your living likeness still we bear,
though marred, dishonored, disobeyed.
We come, with all our heart and mind
your call to hear, your love to find.

We come with self-inflicted pains
of broken trust and chosen wrong,
half-free, half-bound by inner chains,
by social forces swept along,
by powers and systems close confined
yet seeking hope for humankind.

Great God, in Christ you call our name
and then receive us as your own
not through some merit, right, or claim,
but by your gracious love alone.
We strain to glimpse your mercy seat
and find you kneeling at our feet.

Then take the towel, and break the bread,
and humble us, and call us friends.
Suffer and serve till all are fed,
and show how grandly love intends
to work till all creation sings,
to fill all worlds, to crown all things.

Great God, in Christ you set us free
your life to live, your joy to share.
Give us your Spirit's liberty
to turn from guilt and dull despair,
and offer all that faith can do
while love is making all things new.

APOSTLES' CREED 

We now profess the faith we share using 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 INTERCESSION

Reminded of God’s gracious and abundant love, we offer our prayers, confident that God hears us.

     A brief silence.

Holy God, hold your church accountable for our failure to share and to be your good news to our neighbors. Nourish us by your grace to be witnesses to your love. Please bless presiding Bishop Curry, Bishop Suárez, and our synod staff.
Merciful God – lead us in your way.

Sovereign God, you love all that you have made. Guide scientists and researchers studying responses to the climate crisis so that all your creation may inspire us to give thanks for your great goodness.
Merciful God – lead us in your way.

Generous God, show employers the benefits of equal pay standards for all their employees. Reconcile conflicts between employees. Fill places of employment with camaraderie, and bring an end to employment disparity. 
Merciful God – lead us in your way.

Loving God, encourage any who cannot work or who cannot work a full day with the truth that their value comes from your everlasting love for them. Provide for those who are injured, ill, and for all in any need, especially Mary, Anne, Mabel, June, Willah, Ann, Julie, Christen, Carol, Judy, Jeff, Gloria, Brian, James & Gray, Wil, Amy, Al, Al, Bob & Jane, Scott, Lynda, Ron & Flo, Barbara, Monica, Avery, Art, John, Abby, Colline, Tim, Arleen & Richard, Betty, Linda, Sue, Natalie, Henry, Glenn, Gary, Connie, Greg, Beverly & Ray, Helen & Ron, and Max. 
Merciful God – lead us in your way.

Ever-present God, strengthen all those in this congregation whose labor serves the needs of others in the community, especially our partners at Talbot House. Inspire all in this congregation to support our church and our community with our time and talents.  
Merciful God – lead us in your way.

     Here other intercessions may be offered.

Compassionate God, comfort us with the promise of the resurrection as we remember all our loved ones whose desire to be with Jesus is fulfilled. 
Merciful God – lead us in your way.

Gracious god, grant the prayers we have offered, what we have forgotten to ask, and whatever else you see that we need. We ask this in Jesus’ name. 
Amen.

GREETINGS OF PEACE

The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.

  + MEAL +  

OFFERING
You may place your offerings in the offering plate as it is passed during the service.  Alternatively, some are using Tithe.ly for online giving or are using their bank’s online banking option.  Whichever way you choose to give, we are grateful for your stewardship and generosity.

OFFERTORY

Take My Life
Aaron J. McDermid

OFFERING SONG  

Let the Vineyards Be Fruitful
ELW 181

Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord,
fill to the brim our cup of blessing.
Gather a harvest from the seeds that were sown,
that we may be fed, we may be fed with the bread of life.
Gather the hopes and the dreams of all;
unite them with the prayers we offer.
Grace our table with your presence,
and give us a foretaste of the feast to come.

OFFERING PRAYER

God of creation, you send rain and the earth springs forth abundantly.
All blessings are from you; make us generous with what we have.
Use our gifts and our abilities, and turn our hearts to service to you 
and love to our neighbors, today and always.
Amen.

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

DIALOGUE    (page 144)
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
give 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   (page 144)

Holy, holy, holy Lord, 
Lord God of pow'r and might, 
heaven and earth are full of your glory.  
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the highest.

THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE 

Holy, mighty, and merciful Lord,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
In great love you sent to us Jesus, your Son,
who reached out to heal the sick and suffering,
who preached good news to the poor,
and who, on the cross, opened his arms to all.

In the night in which he was handed over,
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 death, resurrection, and ascension,
we await his coming in glory.

Pour out upon us the Spirit of your love, O Lord,
and unite the wills of all who share this heavenly food,
the body and blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord;
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be all honor and glory, now and forever.
Amen.

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.

All baptized children of God are invited to the Lord’s Table, where we receive Jesus’ very body and blood in, with, and under the bread and wine. We partake at the communion rail; gluten free bread and grape juice are available. If you wish to commune, but cannot come forward, let an usher know and we will come to you. If you do not wish to commune, you are welcome to come forward to receive a blessing. Anyone may remain at the rail for a time of personal prayer, following which you may return to your pew down the side aisle.

INVITATION TO COMMUNION

Christ invites you to this table.
All who are thirsty, all who are hungry, come!
Thanks be to God.

DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNION

LAMB OF GOD    (page 154) 

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
grant us peace.

COMMUNION HYMNS

In the Singing
ELW 466

In the singing, in the silence, 
in the hands expectant, open, 
in the blessing, in the breaking,
in your presence at this table,
    
Refrain
    Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ,
    be the wine of grace;
    Jesus, Christ, Jesus Christ,
    be the bread of peace.

In the question, in the answer,
in the moment of acceptance,
in the heart's cry, in the healing, 
in the circle of your people,  Refrain

God Be the Love
ACS 1084

God, be the love to search and keep me;
God, be the prayer to move my voice;
God, be the strength to now uphold me:

Refrain
    O Christ, surround me; O Christ, surround me.

Bind to myself the name of Holy,
great cloud of witnesses enfold;
prophets, apostles, angels witness:  Refrain

Brightness of sun and glow of moonlight,
flashing of lightning, strength of wind,
depth of the sea to soil of planet:  Refrain

Walking behind to hem my journey,
going ahead to light my way,
and from beneath, above, and all ways:  Refrain

Christ in the eyes of all who see me,
Christ in the ears that hear my voice,
Christ in the hearts of all who know me:  Refrain

POST COMMUNION BLESSING

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

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Let us pray.
Sustaining God, with this bread and cup,
you nourish us with mercy and abundant life.
By your Spirit, send us from this table to serve a needy world.
Make us living signs of your liberation, healing, and love,
following the way of Jesus, in whose name we pray.
Amen.

+ SENDING +  

SENDING HYMN      

Lord of All Hopefulness
ELW 765

Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
whose trust, ever child-like, no cares could destroy:
be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.

Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe:
be there at our labors, and give us, we pray,
your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.

Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace:
be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,
your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.

Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm:
be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.

BENEDICTION

The God of love draw you 
into full accord and one mind,
in the body of Christ Jesus.
The God of hope grant you strength 
and joy in all circumstances
through the interceding of the Spirit.
The God of grace bless you,
now and forever.
Amen.

DISMISSAL

Go out in joy.
 Be led forth in peace.
Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE  

 Rise Up, O Saints of God!
arr. Harold DeCou

---

Liturgical Text and Music from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, With One Voice, All Creation Sings, and sundaysandseasons.com, © 1995, 2006, 2020, 2022 Augsburg Fortress.  Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies License #SAS016761.  All rights reserved.

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Lord of All Hopefulness, Tune: SLANE, Music: John Goss, 1800-1880, arr. Albin C. Whitworth, b. 1938. Arr. © Beckenhorst Press, Inc.  All rights reserved.

Lord of Light, Text: Howell E. Lewis, 1860-1953, alt.  Music: Cyril V. Taylor, 1907-1991.  Text and music © 1942, ren. 1970 Hope Publishing Company. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274.  All rights reserved.

Great God, Your Love Has Called Us, Text: Brian A. Wren, b. 1936. Text © 1977, rev. 1995 Hope Publishing Company. Music: Norman Cocker, 1889-1953.  Music © Oxford University Press.  Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274.  All rights reserved.

Take My Life, That I May Be, Text: Frances R. Havergal, 1836-1879. Tune: PATMOS, William H. Havergal, 1836-1879. Arr. J. Aaron McDermid, b. 1974. Arr. © 2004 Birnamwood Publications (ASCAP), div. MorningStar Music Publishers. Streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274.  All rights reserved.

Let the VIneyards Be Fruitful, Text: Lutheran Book of Worship. Music: Marty Haugen, b. 1950. Text © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship admin. Augsburg Fortress. Music © 2004 Augsburg Fortress. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved.

In the Singing, Text: Shirley Erena Murray, b. 1931. Music: Carlton R. Young, b. 1926. Text and music © 1996 Hope Publishing Company.  Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved.

God, Be the Love to Search and Keep Me, Text and music: Richard Bruxvoort Colligan, b. 1967. Text and music © 2004 This Here Music, admin. Augsburg Fortress. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274.  All rights reserved.

Lord of All Hopefulness, Text: Jan Struther, 1901-1953, Text © Oxford University Press 1931., Text reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274.  All rights reserved.  Music: Irish traditional. Public domain.

Rise Up, O Saints of God, Tune: FESTAL SONG, William H. Walter, 1825-1893, Arr. Harold DeCou, 1932-2008. Arr. © 1965 Singspiration, Inc. All rights reserved.