RUSHFORD LUTHERAN CHURCH
THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
RALLY DAY
SEPTEMBER 7 & 8, 2025
SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES
Led by: Pastor Steve Chellew
Scripture Reader
8:00 AM: Carol Jeffers
9:15 AM: Mannix Darr
Organist
8:00 & 9:15 AM: Shary Evavold
Projectionist
8:00 AM: Lisa Chellew
9:15 AM: Sandy Rasmussen
Videographer
9:15 AM: David/Andrea Brand
Ushers
8:00 AM: Marv Bestul, Claire Olstad, Claire Shepard
9:15 AM: Eric Stocker, Donny Kjos
Altar Guild:
Faye Heiden, Jess Heiden, Kim Benson, Lacey Drinkall
(9:15 AM SERVICE IS LIVE STREAMED ON YOU TUBE.)
MONDAY COFFEE HOUSE WORSHIP
5:30 PM Led by: Pastor Steve Chellew; Pianist: Portia Lee
PRELUDE
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
MILESTONE MOMENT (9:15 AM) Preschool Bibles
GREETING ONE ANOTHER
OPENING HYMN (Please stand) Holy, Holy, Holy
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Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee!
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim, falling down before thee,
Which wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.
Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee!
Though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
Only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea,
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father, and of Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
RESPONSIVE PSALM Psalm 1 (ESV)
Pastor: Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
People: But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Pastor: He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
People: The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
Pastor: Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
People: For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Pastor: Most holy and merciful Father,
People: We confess to You, and to one another, and to the whole company of saints in heaven and on earth, that we have sinned by our own fault, in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
Pastor: We have not loved You with our whole heart and mind and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not forgiven others as we have been forgiven.
People: Have mercy and forgive us, Lord.
Pastor: We have taken for granted Your grace and mercy and lived as though You did not matter and we mattered most of all.
People: Have mercy and forgive us, Lord.
Pastor: We confess to You, O Lord, that we have done the evil Your Word prohibits and have not done the good You command.
People: Have mercy and forgive us, Lord.
Pastor: Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
CATECHETICAL REVIEW (The Ten Commandments and Luther’s Explanation)
Pastor: What is the First Commandment?
People: You shall have no other gods.
Pastor: What does this mean?
People: We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things.
OLD TESTAMENT (Please be seated) Deuteronomy 30:15-20 (ESV)
Lector: A reading from Deuteronomy chapter thirty, verses fifteen to twenty.
15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, 20 loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
Lector: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
EPISTLE Galatians 1:1-5 (ESV)
Lector: A reading from Paul’s letter to the Galatians, chapter one, verses one to five.
1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— 2 and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Lector: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
HOLY GOSPEL (Please stand) Luke 14:25-35 (ESV)
Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the fourteenth chapter.
People: Glory to You, O Lord.
25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. 34 “Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? 35 It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ.
HYMN OF THE DAY (Be seated) In Christ Alone My Hope Is Found
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In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone, who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev’ry sin on Him was laid,
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain.
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine,
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the pow’r of Christ in me.
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till he returns or calls me home,
Here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand.
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Galatians: Too-Good-To-Be-True
Galatians 1:1-5 (ESV)
MILESTONE MOMENT (9:15 AM) Installation of Teachers
PRAYERS OF GOD’S PEOPLE (Please stand)
Pastor: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.
Each petition ends with: Lord, in your mercy,
To which we respond: Hear our prayer.
COMMUNION PREPARATION
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
THE WORDS OF OUR LORD (Matthew 26:26–28; Mark 14:22–24; Luke 22:19–20; 1 Corinthians 11:23–25)
PROCLAMATION OF CHRIST
Pastor: As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
People: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
Pastor: O Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, in giving us Your body and blood to eat and to drink, You lead us to remember and confess Your holy cross and passion, Your blessed death, Your rest in the tomb, Your resurrection from the dead, Your ascension into heaven, and Your coming for the final judgment. So remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:
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.
CELEBRATION OF HOLY COMMUNION (Please be seated)
COMMUNION HYMN Great Is Thy Faithfulness
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Great is thy faithfulness,
O God my Father;
There is no shadow
Of turning with thee;
Thou changest not,
Thy compassions,
They fail not;
As thou hast been,
Thou forever wilt be.
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided;
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Summer and winter and
Spring-time and harvest,
Sun, moon, and starsIn their courses above,
Join with all natureIn manifold witness,
To thy great faithfulness,
Mercy, and love.
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided;
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
Pardon for sin and a
Peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence
To cheer and to guide;
Strength for today
And bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine,
With ten thousand beside!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided;
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!
COMMUNION BLESSING (Please stand)
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
BENEDICTION (Numbers 6:24-26)
Pastor: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and X give you peace.
People: Amen.
DISMISSAL
Pastor: Go in peace. Serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God!
CLOSING HYMN (Please be seated) Now Thank We All Our God
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Now thank we all our God,
With hearts and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom his world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms,
Hath blessed us on our way,
With countless gifts of love,
And still is ours today.
Oh, may this bounteous God,
Through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts,
And blessed peace to cheer us;
And keep us in his grace,
And guide us when perplexed,
And free us from all ills,
In this world and the next!
All praise and thanks to God,
The Father now be given,
The Son, and him who reigns
With them in highest heaven,
The one eternal God,
Whom earth and heav’n adore;
For thus it was, is now,
And shall be evermore!
OFFERING THANK YOU FOR WORSHIPPING WITH US TODAY
All songs and hymns CCLI 11170614. Parts of the liturgy © Creative Worship, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO, 1994 to today; or © Lutheran Book of Worship, Augsburg Fortress Publishers, Minneapolis, MN, 1978, or © Reclaim Resources, St. Paul, MN, 2013 Scripture references, unless otherwise noted, from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The following individuals have requested prayer:
Lu Peterson, Roberta Anderson, Nicole Schultz, Dawn Christensen (Jerry & Lois Rasmussen’s daughter), Rylee from WV, Wayne Wenzel, Emily Heiden-Michaelis, Deanna Stennes
Prayer Concerns: Please contact Pastor Steve by emailing steve.chellew@gmail.com or calling 507.703.1221. You may also call the church office at 507-864-7152
ANNOUNCEMENTS
YOUTH GROUP FALL KICK-OFF: All students grades 7-12 are invited to Creekside Park Sunday, September 7th at 4:00 PM for the community Fall Kick-off! Slap Happy Comedy will begin the afternoon with an improv comedy show, then there will be food, games, color wars, and water wars. Please dress to get messy and wet and be sure to bring a towel.
Jeannie Thompson, Director of Youth Programming and Outreach at the Women’s Shelter and Support Center in Rochester will be coming to RLC Youth Group at 6:30 PM on September 14th. The Women’s Shelter provides emergency housing not only for women but also children (and sometimes men) that are fleeing domestic violence. Ms. Thompson will be sharing about the work that they do, as well as ways students can support this work, and recognize signs of crisis in their peers. This will be excellent to learn before October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. All students in grades 7-12 are encouraged to attend. Adults are also encouraged to attend, but to give priority seating to students.
The RP Valley Community Youth Group: will be holding a community chore day on Sunday, September 28th beginning at 1:00 PM. If you or someone you know has a chore that they need help with, please fill out a form and place in the black mailbox, OR contact Kristin by 09/24. Tasks will be divided up between students and leaders throughout the community.
Students in grades 7-12: are invited to join the RLC Praise Team! Rehearsals will begin September 7th at 11:15 AM. Stay tuned for the start date for junior praise team for younger students!
MiEnergy Cooperative is hosting a Red Cross Blood Drive on Wednesday, Sept. 24 from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. Call 800-733-2767 or visit www.RedCrossBlood.org and enter: MiEnergy to schedule an appointment.
CALENDAR
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
8:00 AM & 9:15 AM Worship Service w/Communion
Coffee served by Adah Circle-Fellowship Hall
10:15 AM Sunday School & Adult Bible Study
11:15 AM Praise Team
4:00 PM Youth Group Fall Kick-off
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
1:00 PM Quilting
4:30 PM Worship Committee Meeting
5:30 PM Coffee House Worship w/Communion
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
9:00 AM Men’s Helping Hands & Ladie’s Mission Work
5:00 PM Choir Practice
5:30 PM First Communion Class
6:00 PM Youth Committee Meeting
6:30 PM Confirmation Class
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
8:00 AM & 9:15 AM Worship Service
Coffee served by Adah Circle-Fellowship Hall
10:00 AM Praise Team
10:15 AM Sunday School & Adult Bible Study
11:15 AM Praise Team 6:30 PM Youth Group