2022

Greetings!

First off, I encourage us all to be praying for those who have been suffering at the hands of the hurricanes in Puerto Rico, Cuba, and now in Florida. And if you wish to assist those in need, here is the internet link to Lutheran Disaster response: https://community.elca.org/givenow

Two important opportunities are happening this Sunday, October 2^nd. The first is our annual Blessing of the Animals right after worship. Dr. Gene Nightengale and his staff from Buena Pet Clinic will be with us to help us as we bestow God’s blessings on our beloved family members from the animal kingdom. So, bring your pet, or a picture of them, and we will bless each one individually.

And second, on this Sunday, October 2, we at Streams will be hosting the City-Wide Ultreya and Eve of Dedication for the team of the Via de Cristo weekend taking place October 13-16. Many Streams members are serving on that team which will lead this weekend retreat for Spiritual renewal. These weekends are life-transforming events for those who lead and those who participate. If you feel the Spirit tugging at you heart to attend, don’t hesitate to talk to me or Georgia Riggs, or Patricia Johnson, or Dan Curtis or any of the other members of Streams who are a part of this vital ministry. God wants you to come!!

The full week’s schedule is printed at the bottom of this email. Or you can check out the calendar and watch any of our worship services or read our newsletter on our website: https://streamsinthedesert.us

God bless & keep you safe,

Pastor Tom

Welcome

GATHERING SONGS I’VE GOT PEACE LIKE A RIVER

I’ve got peace like a river I’ve got peace like a river
I’ve got peace like a river In my soul

I’ve got love like an ocean I’ve got love like an ocean
I’ve got love like an ocean In my soul
I I’ve got love like an ocean I’ve got love like an ocean
I’ve got love like an ocean In my soul

I’ve got joy like a fountain I’ve got joy like a fountain
I’ve got joy like a fountain In my soul I

I’ve got joy like a fountain I’ve got joy like a fountain
I’ve got joy like a fountain In my soul

I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got love like an ocean

I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul.

I’ve got peace like a river, I’ve got love like an ocean

I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul.

EXALTED, GREAT I AM

1) Lord of all the universe, creator of all things,

Hear the words we raise to you, the song that our hearts sing.

Chorus: O Lord, to you we lift our voice of praise to magnify your name.

Come and fill us with your righteousness, exalted great I Am.

2) Lord, we bring our lives to you; we’ve come to lay them down.

Use us for your purpose, Lord; we seek a higher crown. Chorus (x2):

Exalted, great I Am. Exalted, great I Am. Exalted, great I Am.

COME, NOW IS THE TIME TO WORSHIP

Verse Come, now is the time to worship;

Come, now is the time to give your heart;

Come, just as you are to worship;

Come, just as you are before your God. Come

Chorus

One day every tongue will confess You are God;

One day every knee will bow;

Still the greatest treasure remains;

For those who gladly choose You now

Repeat verse and chorus

Come, now is the time, Come, now is the time, Come.

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THE CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: Let all who proclaim Jesus Christ as their Lord come now for worship!

People: We are children of the living God, adopted through the cross of Christ.

Leader: Let us proclaim the mighty power of Christ for all the world to hear.

People: The love of Christ has touched our souls and redeemed us before God.

Leader: Let us lift our praise to the Lord, whose love gives us life eternal.

People: Blessed be the name of the Lord!

WELCOME TO WORSHIP

Equip

PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

Leader: Gracious God,

People: so often when we could have boldly declared what Your love has meant in our lives we have instead been timid or even silent. When we could have shared Your Good News with a personal word of faith to a hurting world, we have instead chosen to speak in meaningless platitudes. Forgive us, Lord, and once again call us to proclaim Your Gospel. In Christ we pray. Amen.

(Silence for reflection and personal confession)

Leader:Through Christ Jesus we are saved, not according to our works but by God’s purpose and grace, for the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, and the mercies of God never come to an end. Sisters and Brothers, your sins are forgiven; be at peace.

People: Thanks be to God!

SONG OF PRAISE AS THE DEER

1) As the deer panteth for the water

So my soul longeth after Thee
You alone are my heart’s desire

And I long to worship Thee.

Chorus You alone are my strength my shield

To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire

And I long to worship Thee.

2) You’re my friend And You are my brother

Even though You are a King

I love You more than any other

So much more than anything. Chorus

3) I want You more than gold Or silver

Only You can satisfy

You alone are the real joygiver

And the apple of my eye. Chorus

TODAY’S BIBLE READING

Psalm 37

¹Do not be provoked by evildoers;
do not be jealous of those who do wrong.
²For they shall soon wither like the grass,
and like the green grass fade away.
³Put your trust in the Lord and do good;
dwell in the land and find safe pasture.
⁴Take delight in the Lord,
who shall give you your heart’s desire.

2 Timothy 1:1-14

This message written from Paul to Timothy is a personal message of encouragement. In the face of hardship and persecution, Timothy is reminded that his faith is a gift of God. He is encouraged to exercise that faith with the help of the Holy Spirit.

¹Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
²To Timothy, my beloved child:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
³I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. ⁴Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. ⁵I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. ⁶For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands; ⁷for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.
⁸Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, ⁹who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, ¹⁰but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. ¹¹For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, ¹²and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him. ¹³Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION THY WORD

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path

And a light unto my path; you’re the light unto my path

GOSPEL: Luke 17:5-10

On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus instructs his followers about the power of faith and the duties of discipleship. He calls his disciples to adopt the attitude of servants whose actions are responses to their identity rather than works seeking reward.

⁵The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” ⁶The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
⁷“Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, ‘Come here at once and take your place at the table’? ⁸Would you not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink’? ⁹Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? ¹⁰So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!’ ”

SPECIAL MUSIC

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

ADULT MESSAGE 17 PENTECOST—10.2.22—LUKE 17:5-10

I’ve got a pop quiz for you this morning. Prosthetic limbs, artificial body parts, have been around for thousands of years. Would you like to guess what is the oldest prosthetic body part that has ever been found? Do you have a guess? It’s a big toe.

Years ago, archeologists in Cairo, Egypt were excavating the tomb of an ancient Egyptian noblewoman who lived about 3,000 years ago. And they discovered that her body was fitted with a tiny, prosthetic toe made of wood with a leather strap that connected it to her foot. Historians refer to it as the Cairo Toe. By the way, if you’re ever a contestant on Jeopardy and that’s the game-winning question, I do expect you to share your prize money with me. Or at least buy me a cup of coffee.

So, why am I talking about prosthetic limbs this morning? What does that have to do with Jesus? Our scripture lesson for today begins with these words: The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” That’s a big demand. Have you ever prayed that prayer? “Lord, please increase my faith”? I think most of us have prayed that more than once.

The word the apostles use for “increase” in the Greek as in “increase my faith” is “prostithemi.” Jason Buckwalter, a pastor from Fulton, MO, in writing about this word says, “The word the disciples use here is the same word from which we get the word prosthetic, as in prosthetic leg or arm. A prosthetic leg or arm is not a natural appendage. A prosthetic is a manufactured piece added to the body to replace the natural limb which was lost. Essentially, the disciples are asking for a crutch.”

In essence, Jesus’ followers are saying, “We can’t do this on our own. We don’t have enough faith. We need you to give us something more, something supernatural in its power, if we are going to live the way you’ve called us to live.”

We may be ashamed to admit it, but for many of us faith is a struggle.That’s one of the first insights we get from this Bible passage. Authentic faith is a struggle. That’s why most of us pray this prayer more than once in our lives. In Mark 9, a desperate father comes to Jesus and asks him to heal his son who suffers from seizures. Jesus replies, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

And Mark writes, “Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!’” (NKJV)

So, if you’ve ever cried out through your tears, “I believe, Lord; help my unbelief!” then you are not alone. For many of us, life is hard; faith is a struggle. I want to tell you a true story that I believe will startle you and which you will appreciate.

Not long after the end of World War I, a young woman named Maria Kutschera was roaming the streets of Vienna, Austria, on Sunday afternoons. She was searching for free concerts at the local cathedrals. You see, that was the only reason Maria would ever enter a cathedral.

Maria’s parents had died when she was young, and she was placed, first of all, in the care of a cousin, then an abusive uncle. She ran away from this uncle’s home when she was old enough and worked various jobs to support herself and put herself through college. But her tragic childhood and teen years had left her understandably angry with society and with God.

But this one Sunday she settled in at a cathedral for the purpose of attending a concert. Unfortunately, she was upset to discover that no concert was scheduled for that day. Instead, a young Jesuit priest preached a sermon. After the service, Maria approached the priest and demanded, “How can you believe all this?”

He only responded, “Meet me here Tuesday at 4:00.”

Maria showed up on Tuesday and for two hours told the priest all the reasons why she did not believe in God, all the ways in which God had failed her.. Strangely, the priest received her angry rant as a form of confession. He said to her, “Take courage. I am going to pronounce the words, ‘thy sins are forgiven . . .’ God will forget them, and your soul will look like the soul of a newly baptized person.”

When the priest prayed those words over Maria, something indeed happened in Maria’s heart. She felt like a burden had been lifted. It was the beginning of a journey to healing from her past and returning to the faith.

“And now,” as broadcaster Paul Harvey used to say, “here is the rest of the story . . .” Maria’s return to faith in God has affected people all over the world. Maybe it has even touched and inspired your life. For Maria Kutschera after her marriage became Maria Von Trapp. Now think—who was Maria Von Trapp? Part of her life story is featured in the film and Broadway musical, The Sound of Music. Millions of people around the world have been inspired by Maria’s faith and love as part of the singing Von Trapp family. What a change in one young woman’s life!

It’s comforting to me that even the apostles struggled with their faith. And Jesus could have given them exactly what they asked for. He could have asked his Father to fill the apostles with a power and boldness that turned them into miracle machines! But he didn’t do that. Not yet. And we have to wonder why.

Let’s look at Jesus’ response to the apostles. In verse 6, it says, (Jesus) replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.”

Wouldn’t that solve all our problems, if Jesus just filled us with a faith that erases all our questions and doubts and gives us superhero powers to do jaw-dropping miracles? But faith is not a personal power source that can be plugged in whenever we face a difficult challenge. Faith is an ongoing relationship of trust with the God whose Spirit lives in us. That’s the second insight we get from this passage.

Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that faith is a gift of God, not the result of works, so that no one can boast about it. And Galatians 5:22-23 tells us that faith is one of the fruits of the Spirit, something that develops in our lives as the Holy Spirit renews our mind and changes us to be more like Jesus. And Romans 12:3 says to think of ourselves with humility and sound judgment because “God has allotted to each a measure of faith.” We cannot work up more faith with human effort; we can only increase our faith by drawing closer to God.

A client once asked his therapist, “How can I get God’s voice to be louder?”

The therapist replied, “His voice is as loud as it’s going to get. Some other places in the rest of your life have to become quieter if you’re going to hear God.” Is that what we’re missing? Have other voices become so loud in our lives that they have drowned out God’s voice? We equate faith with healings and miracles and flashy evangelistic crusades where people shout and faint and speak in tongues. We want a loud, miraculous display of power to prove our faith. Instead, God plants His Spirit in our hearts and minds and slowly grows us into a people who reflect God’s character.

The apostles do not understand it now, but after Jesus’ death and resurrection, he will send the Holy Spirit to live in them and guide them into all truth and comfort and faith. And yes, they will be able to do amazing miracles. But not yet. For now, Jesus does not give them what they ask for. We may demand the gift of faith; Jesus wants to give us the gift of himself.

The final insight we get from this scripture lesson is that our faith is increased in our obedient service to God.After Jesus shares this exciting image of commanding trees to be uprooted and planted in the sea, he follows it with a completely opposite image: that of a slave serving his master. And he concludes that example with these words, “So, you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

Here’s what Jesus is saying to the apostles and to us, “You want a superhuman faith, one that overcomes your weaknesses and erases your questions. But real faith looks like a servant doing the tough, necessary, daily work of obeying their master in whatever circumstances their master places them each day.” And Jesus would not ask us to walk in tough, necessary, daily faithfulness unless he was willing to do it himself.

In Philippians 2:6-8, the apostle Paul wrote these words about Jesus: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”

A miracle might be a great way to change someone’s mind. But obedience to God changes lives. And even though Jesus had every miraculous power available to him, he set them all aside in order to show us what faithful obedience to God looks like. Let me tell you what faithful obedience looks like.

A representative of the nonprofit group “Teach America” visited Duke University, a prestigious institution. She stood in front of the large group of Duke students and said to them, “I can tell by looking at you that I have probably come to the wrong place . . . Just looking at you, I can tell you are a success. Why would you be on this campus if you were not successful and heading for successful jobs?

“And yet here I stand, hoping to talk one of you into giving away your life in the toughest job you will ever have. I am looking for people to go into the hollows of West Virginia, into the ghettos of South Los Angeles and teach in some of the most difficult schools in the world. Last year, two of our teachers were killed on the job.

“I can tell, just by looking at you, that none of you are interested in that. So, go on to law school, or whatever successful thing you are planning on doing.

“But if by chance, some of you just happen to be interested, I’ve got some brochures here. Meeting over.”

With that, the crowd of students rushed up the aisles and began snatching up the brochures.

The next time you are tempted to pray that prayer, “Lord, increase my faith!” stop and consider what you are really asking for. Because faith is a gift from God. It’s an ongoing relationship of trust with the God whose Spirit lives in us. And our faith is proved in our ongoing, obedient service to God. It is in the daily disciplines of submitting our will to God that God uses us to do God’s work, to achieve God’s purposes and to bring God’s kingdom to the world. AMEN.

SERMON SONG I LOVE TO TELL THE STORY ELW #661

1 I love to tell the story of unseen things above,

of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love.

I love to tell the story, because I know it’s true;

it satisfies my longings as nothing else would do.

Chorus

I love to tell the story; I’ll sing this theme in glory

and tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love.

2 I love to tell the story: how pleasant to repeat

what seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet!

I love to tell the story, for some have never heard

the message of salvation from God’s own holy word. Chorus

3 I love to tell the story, for those who know it best

seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest.

And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song,

I’ll sing the old, old story that I have loved so long. Chorus

Respond

AFFIRMING OUR FAITH 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, and 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 THE CHURCH

L: Knowing the one in whom we trust, and with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us, we offer our prayers for the church, the world, and all in need.

A brief silence.

L: Increase the faith of your church. Give us courage when we are reticent in sharing your love. Renew in us your holy calling, according to your own purpose and grace. Lord, in your mercy,

C: hear our prayer.

L: You promise life and wholeness to those who wait patiently for you, and you hear those who cry out to you for help. Heal the sick, bind up the brokenhearted, and attend to all in need of your care (especially). Lord, in your mercy,

C: hear our prayer.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

L: Trusting and delighting in you, we commend all our lives into your loving hands. We offer these prayers in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

C: Amen.

WE WORSHIP GOD THROUGH OUR GIVING Next, we will receive the gifts of forgiveness of sin, life, and salvation from our Lord Jesus, and respond gratefully with our offerings. Offering plates are in the front next to the aisle for your gifts. You may also donate online on the website, by text (the phone number is on the website), by mail, or personally deliver it to the office. Lives are changed through the ministry enabled by your gifts. Thank you for your continued support and partnership in the Gospel. Let us pray:

PRAYER OF BLESSING

Leader: God of grace and glory, you have enriched our lives with so many gifts, the greatest of these being Jesus Christ our Lord. He taught us how to enrich the lives of others with a love expressed in practical and caring ways. We offer this money and the service of our lives as evidence of such love. In Jesus’ name we pray.

People: Amen.

PRAYER OF BLESSING

Leader: Faithful God, receive and bless these gifts which we bring as signs of our faithfulness. Bless us also as we seek not to be served, but to serve as Jesus did, humbly and wholeheartedly.

People: Amen.

HOLY COMMUNION

LORDS 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.

COMMUNION SONG SING ALLELUIA

1. Sing alleluia to the Lord, sing alleluia to the Lord

Sing alleluia, sing alleluia, sing alleluia to the Lord

2. Jesus is risen from the dead

3. Jesus is Lord of heaven and earth

4. He’s coming back to take us home

5. We give thanks to God our King

6. He died for us, we’ll live for Him

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BENEDICTION SONG AS YOU GO ON YOUR WAY

As you go on your way may Christ go with you.

May he go before you to show you the way;

May he go behind you to encourage you;

Beside you to befriend you;

Above you to watch over;

Within you to give you peace.

In the name of the Father, Son and Spirit. Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

STREAMS THEME SONG

See the streams of living waters,

springing from eternal love,

well supply your sons and daughters,

and all fear of want remove.

Who can faint while such a river

ever will their thirst assuage?

Grace which, like the Lord, the giver,

never fails from age to age.

SENDING BLESSING

Leader: Greet your worshiping neighbor.

Go in peace for God Loves a Cheerful Giver!

People: Thanks be to God!!!

Sunday, October 2

9:30 – 10:30am Sunday School & Adult Bible Study

10:45 – 11:45am Livestream Worship in-person

12:20 – 1:20pm Worship & Music Committee, Room A

12:30 – 1:30pm BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS

3 – 4:30pm NO Zoom Bible Study

4 – 6pm City-wide VdC Ultreya & Eve of Dedication, Streams in the Desert Lutheran

Tuesday, October 4

9 – 11am Streams Food Pantry

10:30am – 12pm Bible Study. Room A

6 – 7pm Communication Committee

Wednesday, October 5

8:30 – 11:30am Workday

9 – 11:30am Quilters – Large Fellowship Hall

12 – 1pm Via de Cristo Grouping, Room E

6 – 7pm Executive Meeting

Thursday, October 6

9 – 11am VdC Grouping

6 – 7pm Bell Choir practice

7:15 – 8:30pm Joy Choir Practice

Sunday, October 9

9:30 – 10:30am Sunday School & Adult Bible Study

10:45 – 11:45am Livestream Worship in-person

12 – 1pm Education Committee

3 – 4:30pm Zoom Bible Study