We are worshiping at 9 am.

October 19, 2025

Introduction & Welcome

Pastor -SHARING OF THE PEACE

The presiding minister and the assembly greet each other in the peace of the risen Christ.

The peace of Christ be with you today and always.

And also with you.

Congregation members greet each other by saying:

Peace be with you.

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,

our maker, our helper, and our keeper.

Amen.

Trusting in God’s mercy, let us confess our sin

in the presence of God and of one another.

Merciful and loving God,

we are your stiff-necked people.

We trample on the needy.

We grumble about your grace to others.

We turn away from the poor.

Have mercy on us and forgive our sins.

Rejoice over us as ones who were lost

and have been found.

Amen.

Even when we are faithless, God remains faithful.

Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.

You who were lost have been found.

In the name of ☩ Jesus, your sins are forgiven!

Amen.

HYMN “Day by Day”

1 Day by day, your mercies, Lord, attend me,

bringing comfort to my anxious soul.

Day by day, the blessings, Lord, you send me

draw me nearer to my heav'nly goal.

Love divine, beyond all mortal measure,

brings to naught the burdens of my quest;

Savior, lead me to the home I treasure,

where at last I'll find eternal rest.

2 Day by day, I know you will provide me

strength to serve and wisdom to obey;

I will seek your loving will to guide me

o'er the paths I struggle day by day.

I will fear no evil of the morrow,

I will trust in your enduring grace.

Savior, help me bear life's pain and sorrow

till in glory I behold your face.

3 Oh, what joy to know that you are near me

when my burdens grow too great to bear;

oh, what joy to know that you will hear me

when I come, O Lord, to you in prayer.

Day by day, no matter what betide me,

you will hold me ever in your hand.

Savior, with your presence here to guide me,

I will reach at last the promised land.

Text: Carolina Sandell Berg, 1832-1903; tr. Robert Leaf, 1936-2005

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Pastor - 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.

Canticle of Praise

Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain,

whose blood set us free to be people of God.

Power and riches and wisdom and strength,

and honor and blessing and glory are his.

This is the feast of victory for our God.

Alleluia.

Sing with all the people of God

and join in the hymn of all creation:

Blessing and honor and glory and might

be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.

This is the feast of victory for our God,

for the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign.

Alleluia. Alleluia.

Pastor - Prayer of the Day

O Lord God, tireless guardian of your people, you are always ready to hear our cries. Teach us to rely day and night on your care. Inspire us to seek your enduring justice for all this suffering world, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

Congregation is seated

Assistant-First Reading Genesis 32:22-31

A reading from Genesis beginning with the 32nd chapter.

22 The same night [Jacob] got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. 24 Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” 27 So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, yet my life is preserved.” 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.

Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.

Psalm 121 Read responsively

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills; from where is my help to come?
2 My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
3 The Lord will not let your foot be moved nor will the one who watches over you fall asleep.
4 Behold, the keeper of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep;
5 the Lord watches over you; the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will preserve you from all evil and will keep your life.
8 The Lord will watch over your going out and your coming in, from this time forth forevermore.

Assistant-2nd Reading 2 Timothy 3:14—4:5

A reading from 2 Timothy beginning with chapter 3

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have known sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that the person of God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.
4:1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: 2 proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage with the utmost patience in teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound teaching, but, having their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. 5 As for you, be sober in everything, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.

Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go?

You have the words of eternal life.

Alleluia.

Pastor - Gospel Luke 18:1-8

The holy gospel according to Luke, the 18th chapter.

Glory to you, O Lord.

1 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my accuser.’ 4 For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’ ” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

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

Congregation is seated

Sermon

Congregation stands for Hymn of the Day

Hymn of the Day “There Is a Longing in Our Hearts”

Refrain — All

There is a longing in our hearts, O Lord,

for you to reveal yourself to us.

There is a longing in our hearts for love

we only find in you, our God.

Leader or All

1 For justice, for freedom,

for mercy: hear our prayer.

In sorrow, in grief:

be near; hear our prayer, O God. Refrain

2 For wisdom, for courage,

for comfort: hear our prayer.

In weakness, in fear:

be near; hear our prayer, O God. Refrain

3 For healing, for wholeness,

for new life: hear our prayer.

In sickness, in death:

be near; hear our prayer, O God. Refrain

4 Lord, save us, take pity,

light in our deepest night.

We call you; we wait:

be near; hear our prayer, O God. Refrain

Text: Anne Quigley, b. 1955

Duplication in any form prohibited without securing permission from copyright administrator or reporting usage under valid license.

Apostles’ Creed

The presiding minister may introduce the Creed.

With the whole church, let us confess our faith 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.

Assistant-Prayers of Intercession

Renewed in God’s everlasting grace, let us pray for the church, the world, and all creation.

A brief silence.

We pray for the church universal. O God, who unites the church across the globe, bring unity and peace to a world divided by hatred and opposition. Turn our hearts toward the gospel of Jesus Christ. God of grace,

receive our prayer.

We pray for creation. O God, who made heaven and earth, draw us to the beauty of the whole creation. Turn us toward a right relationship with the entire cosmos. God of grace,

receive our prayer.

We pray for all nations, states, cities, and towns. O God, you rule over all the earth. Grant our elected officials humility in their decision-making for the sake of the entire world. God of grace,

receive our prayer.

We pray for those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit. O God, who heals and strengthens, our help comes from you in times of need. Support, comfort, and heal those who suffer especially Ed, Richard, Pastor Hadley, Candy, John, Steve, Lynne, Margaret, Jay, Cork & Cheryl, Rillys, Carol, Mary Lou, Tyler, Jessie and for those who we name aloud or silently in our hearts (pause for people in the congregation to add their prayers here). God of grace,

receive our prayer.

We pray for Mt Zion. O God, who guides this congregation, encourage us to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Nurture our relationships with the community, that we serve and advocate for those who come to us in need. God of grace,

receive our prayer.

We offer thanksgiving for the faithful departed. O God, whose promises never end, we thank you for all the saints who have shown us the way of your Son, Jesus Christ. God of grace,

receive our prayer.

We offer our prayers, O God, trusting in your everlasting grace and mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Offering “Build a Longer Table”

1 Build a longer table, not a higher wall,

feeding those who hunger, making room for all.

Feasting together, stranger turns to friend,

Christ breaks walls to pieces; false divisions end.

2 Build a safer refuge, not a larger jail;

where the weak find shelter, mercy will not fail.

For any place where justice is denied,

Christ will breach the jail wall, freeing all inside.

3 Build a broader doorway, not a longer fence.

Love protects all people, sparing no expense.

When we embrace compassion more than fear,

Christ tears down our fences: all are welcome here.

4 When we lived as exiles, refugees abroad,

Christ became our doorway to the reign of God.

So must our tables welcome those who roam.

None can be excluded; all must find a home.

Text: David Bjorlin, b. 1984

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Offertory Prayer

Together we pray.

Lord of the harvest,

we return to you a portion of what you have given to us.

Turn us to set our hope not on the uncertainty of riches,

but on you, who richly provides for us.

Multiply what we have gathered

to bless all who are suffering and in need,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Holy Communion

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.

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 Lord,

Lord God of pow’r and might:

Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

Eucharistic Prayer

In the night in which he was betrayed,

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.

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us. (Spoken)

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 debts,

as we forgive our debtors;

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.

Invitation to Communion

Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them.

Come to this meal of mercy.

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.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;

grant us peace, grant us peace.

Communion

The Body of Christ, given for you. Amen

The Blood of Christ, shed for you. Amen

Post Communion Blessing

The Body and Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, strengthen you and forever keep you in his grace. Amen.

Prayer after Communion

O God,

through this meal you have strengthened us

and appointed us to be your servants.

Send us to do good and to share our possessions

with all in need.

We ask this in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

Benediction

The God of righteousness,

who gives justice to the oppressed,

who gives food to the hungry,

who sets the prisoners free,

☩ bless you now and forever.

Amen.

HYMN “Let Justice Flow like Streams”

1 Let justice flow like streams

of sparkling water, pure,

enabling growth, refreshing life,

abundant, cleansing, sure.

2 Let righteousness roll on

as others' cares we heed,

an ever-flowing stream of faith

translated into deed.

3 So may God's plumb line, straight,

define our measure true,

and justice, right, and peace pervade

this world our whole life through.

Text: Jane Parker Huber, b. 1926

Text © 1984 Jane Parker Huber, admin. Westminster John Knox Press

Duplication in any form prohibited without permission or valid license from copyright administrator.

Dismissal

Go in peace. Do not lose heart.

Thanks be to God.

Permission for liturgies by Augsburg Fortress Liturgies License #SAS004206

Sundays and Seasons 2025