Season of Creation

Nativity Worships September 25, 2022

Prelude	Prelude	Chopin
Opening Hymn	Immortal, invisible God only wise	H423
Sequence Hymn	Ye holy angels bright	H625
Offertory Hymn	(In bulletin) Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Communion Hymn	Jesus all my gladness	H 701
Post Communion	Christ the Lord is risen again!	H 184
Postlude	Sunflower House Rondo	Joe Hisaishi

The Collect

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Season of Creation Collect

Almighty and Everliving God, you bring forth and sustain every living thing; help us grow in compassion and care for the multitude of your creatures, that we may see them not as objects for our use, but as brothers and sisters that sing your never ending praise. Through Jesus Christ, our Sheperd and guide, who with you and the Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Old Testament: Amos 6:1a,4-7

Alas for those who are at ease in Zion,
and for those who feel secure on Mount Samaria.

Alas for those who lie on beds of ivory,
and lounge on their couches,

and eat lambs from the flock,
and calves from the stall;

who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp,
and like David improvise on instruments of music;

who drink wine from bowls,
and anoint themselves with the finest oils,
but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!

Therefore they shall now be the first to go into exile,
and the revelry of the loungers shall pass away.

The Psalm 146. Lauda, anima mea

1 Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord, O my soul! *
I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

2 Put not your trust in rulers, nor in any child of earth, *
for there is no help in them.

3 When they breathe their last, they return to earth, *
and in that day their thoughts perish.

4 Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help! *
whose hope is in the Lord their God;

5 Who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them; *
who keeps his promise for ever;

6 Who gives justice to those who are oppressed, *
and food to those who hunger.

7 The Lord sets the prisoners free;
the Lord opens the eyes of the blind; *
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;

8 The Lord loves the righteous;
the Lord cares for the stranger; *
he sustains the orphan and widow,
but frustrates the way of the wicked.

9 The Lord shall reign for ever, *
your God, O Zion, throughout all generations.
Hallelujah!

The Epistle: 1 Timothy 6:6-19

There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will bring about at the right time-- he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.

The Gospel: Luke 16:19-31

Jesus said, "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, `Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.' But Abraham said, `Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.' He said, `Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father's house-- for I have five brothers-- that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.' Abraham replied, `They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.' He said, `No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to him, `If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'"

Prayers of the People

We pray for our parish members: Jamie, Nancy, Marge, Donna, Dan, Nina A, Marian, Steve and our family and friends: Mary P, John, Miles, Deidra, Layla, Brigitte, Mary Lou, Seanna, Lauren, Karen, Cris, Andrew, Thomas, Jean, Rod, Ann, Linda, Lou Elsa and Ann.

We pray for those who have died and those who mourn remembering especially David Heine and those who have died in the war in Ukraine.

Announcements

Join Bible Study: The Book of Creation: An Introduction to Celtic Spirituality by J. Philip Newell. Thursday the 29th at 10:30, and we will read chapters 1 and 2.

Please put in your calendars and help us with outreach by inviting your friends, family and neighbors to join us for St. Francis Day Blessing of the Animals and “Nativity Goes to the Dogs”-hot dog BBQ and fundraiser party on October 2nd.

1) We need cooks to offer side dishes (see Rev. Kirsten or Susan Pick)

2) Set up volunteers (call Rich Wilson: rdwss77gmail.com or 415-225-8500)

3) Drink table volunteers (see Rev. Kirsten)

4) TICKET SALES (and publicity help)

Smart Cookies: Nativity sends cookies to our students who are away. Please send names and addresses of your college students to the office at nativityonthehill@gmail.com. We need bakers to deliver bar cookies (ones that won’t crumble in the mail) on October 16th. And volunteers to help pack them after church on that day. And donations to help with the mailing costs. See Ruth to offer your donations or your baking help.

Remember All Saints Day Memorial Garden Blessing and Commemoration on November 6th.

Nativity is looking for an Office Administrator. We are looking for someone outside our immediate parish who could work at the church for 10 hours a week (2 hours a day). See our website for the job description or speak with Rev. Kirsten about places to advertise. The job announcement is on our website.

We will with thanksgiving receive offerings of Nativity pledges and plate today. You can contribute by sending a check to the church or by using the “Give” button on our website,www.nativityonthehill.org.

All who participate in this Holy Eucharist virtually receive the full benefits of the sacrament by coming with the intention of being united with Christ and one another. (BCP 457).

Flowers today are given to the Glory of God by Duane Johnson for the celebration of his marriage to Kay.