Mt Olive Evangelical Lutheran Church
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS)
7979 Holdrege Street Lincoln, NE. 68505-3038 Office phone: 484-8711 Pastor’s Cell: 440-8145

        ministers: every member            President: Jarred Meyer                 Pastor: Tim Kemnitz

OUR MISSION STATEMENT:
“Mt. Olive exists to proclaim God’s Word in its truth and purity, so that each believer may GROW in faith and then GO with the good news of Jesus Christ to our community and world so that together we may GLORIFY God into eternity”

October 1, 2017                                                                                                             Pentecost 17
Worship Sunday 8&10:30 AM                                                   Family Bible Study Hour 9:15AM

Welcome!!! To all our guests and visitors we extend a warm and sincere welcome. We are happy to have you join us for worship this morning as we consider how God the forgiveness of our God enables and motivates us to forgive others from the heart.

Forgiven…we forgive!
Welcome
Opening Hymn: “Love in Christ Is Strong and Living” (CW 490)
Love in Christ is strong and living,
Binding faithful hearts in one;
Love in Christ is true and giving –
May his will in us be done!

Love is patient and forbearing,
Clothed in Christ’s humility,
Gentle, selfless, kind, and caring,
Reaching out in charity.

Love in Christ abides forever,
Fainting not when ills attend;
Love, forgiving and forgiven,
Shall endure until life’s end.

-1-
Confession of Sins
M:  God's Word tells us, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8,9)  Now, let us confess our sins to him and ask for his forgiveness.
C:  Dear Lord God, I confess with the psalmist David that I am “sinful from birth, sinful from the time that my mother conceived me.”  With the prophet Isaiah I confess that “my offenses are many in your sight, and my sins testify against me.”  In countless ways I have sinned against you and do not deserve to be called your child.  Forgive me for the times I have failed to share my faith.  Forgive me for the times I have acted as if I were ashamed of your ways and Your Word. Have mercy on me.  Wash away my sins and take away my guilt. 

M:  By living a perfect life in your place, dying on the cross to pay for sins, and rising from the dead on Easter morning, Christ has taken away all of your sins.  “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). You are forgiven.  May God give you strength to live according to his will and to share his Word in your life.
C:  Amen (spoken)

Responsive Hymn: “I Lay My Sins on Jesus” (CW 372) vs. 1&4
I lay my sins on Jesus, The spotless Lamb of God;
He bears them all and frees us From the accursed load.
I bring my guilt to Jesus To wash my crimson stains
White in his blood most precious Till not a spot remains.

I long to be like Jesus: Meek, loving, lowly, mild;
I long to be like Jesus, The Father's holy child.
I long to be with Jesus Amid the heav'nly throng
To sing with saints his praises, To learn the angels' song.

First Lesson: Genesis 50:15-21
15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. 18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.  19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

                                                                         -2-
Responsive Hymn: “If Your Beloved Son, O God” (CW 393 vs. 1-2)

If your beloved son, O God,
Had not to earth descended
And in our mortal flesh and blood
Had not sin’s power ended,
Then this poor, wretched soul of mine
In hell eternally would pine
Because of my transgression.

But now I find sweet peace and rest;
Despair no more reigns o’er me.
No more am I by sin oppressed,
For Christ has borne sin for me,
Upon the cross for me he died
That, reconciled, I might abide
With you, my God, forever.

Second Lesson: Ephesians 4:29-5:2
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 5 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Responsive Hymn: “If Your Beloved Son, O God” (CW 393 vs. 4-5)

All righteousness by works is vain;
The law brings condemnation,
True righteousness by faith I gain;
Christ’s work is my salvation.
His death, that perfect sacrifice,
Has paid the all-sufficient price;
In him my hope is anchored.

My guilt, O Father, you have laid
On Christ, your Son, my Savior.
Lord Jesus, you my debt have paid
And gained for me God’s favor.
O Holy Spirit, Fount of grace,
The good in me to you I trace;
In faith and hope preserve me.

                                                                        -3-                                                                    
Third Lesson: Matthew 18:21-35
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. 26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. 28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. 29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ 30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. 32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Hymn: “Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive” CW # 493

“Forgive our sins as we forgive,”
You taught us, Lord, to pray,
But you alone can grant us grace
To live the words we say.

How can your pardon reach and bless
The unforgiving heart
That broods on wrongs and will not let
Old bitterness depart?

In blazing light your cross reveals
The truth we dimly knew;
What trivial debts are owed to us;
How great our debt to you!

Lord, cleanse the depths within our souls
And bid resentment cease;
Then, bound to all in bonds of love
Our lives will spread your peace.

                                                                                   -4-
Sermon: Genesis 50:20-21

Theme: The Amazing Grace of God Has Had an Amazing Effect On Our Attitudes!!!

Offering (Visitors and guests please don’t feel obligated to place anything into the offering. We are not here to get your money, but to share with you the comfort and encouragement which our God freely gives to us through His Word. Thank you for joining us today!)

PRAYER FOR PEACE

All:  Lord God, all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works come 
from you.  Give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give that our hearts may be set to obey your commandments.  Defend us also from the fear of our enemies that we may live in peace and quietness, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Savior, in whose name we also join in praying…           

The 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.

Blessing
M: 	Brothers and sisters, we are the Lord’s witnesses. With his blessing we will reach more and more people with his saving love and His freedom from guilt in the cross of Christ.
	The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.
C: 	Amen. (spoken)
Closing Hymn: “By Grace I’m Saved” CW # 384 vs. 5

By grace! On this I’ll rest when dying;
In Jesus’ promise I rejoice.
For though I know my heart’s condition,
I also know my Savior’s voice.
My heart is glad; all grief has flown
Since I am saved by grace alone.

Our Week in the Lord at Mt. Olive
TODAY-8&10:30A.M. Worship
               9:30A.M. Family Bible Study Hour
               Noon- “New Life in Christ” Bible Information Class   
               6:30P.M. Women’s Bi-monthly Fellowship and Study           
MONDAY- 6P.M. Board of Education Meets
                     7P.M. Evening Worship at St. Mark
TUESDAY- 6:30P.M. Elders
WEDNESDAY-3P.M. Midweek Bible Study at Windcrest
                           4:30P.M. Catechism
THURSDAY- 7:00P.M. Evening Worship w/ Lord’s Supper (a preview of the Sunday service)                    
SUNDAY-8&10:30A.M. Communion Worship
                   9:15A.M. Youth Service Music Practice
                   9:30 A.M. Growth in the Word for all ages
                   
NEWS N NOTES
VISITORS AND GUESTS: Thank you for being here with us today on this special “Bring a Friend Sunday”. If someone invited you to join us today, then you can be very thankful for such a good friend. Ultimately, we all have found a friend in Jesus-who loves us and has granted us freedom from guilt through His guiltless death on the cross. Please sign our guest register located on the podium in the back 
and please…join us again for more good news from God’s Unchanging Word.
THANK YOU: Linda Tesch-for your faithful service to HIM as our organist this morning. Your willing and humble service to HIM has served as a wonderful blessing to us…and an example for us! You are very busy and yet not too busy to step forward to help out in this important way. May God fill you with 
joy for the opportunity to serve Him! 
TODAY’S BIBLE STUDY: Today we gather for “growth in the Word” between worship 
services. EVERYONE IS WELCOME to “plug in” for strength and empowerment! Adults will meet in the Sacristy and continue our engaging study called “Faces of the Reformation” which focuses us in the 
figures and personalities God used to bring about a reformation of the church. Come and grow!
Mt. Olive is looking for a Webmaster to assist in maintaining and improving Mt. Olive’s website. This 
will include graphics, calendars, and other information to keep the site consistently current.
‘Donut Sunday’ sign up.  If you are interested in providing donuts, or another treat, for the first Sunday of the month, there is a sign-up sheet in the narthex. Treats should be at church by 9:00 / 9:15. This has been 
good for fellowship for both members and guests.
A new cleaning list is being drawn up for the next few months starting in November. If you aren’t already on the list but would like to serve in this way, please sign up on the sheet on one of the round tables in the 
narthex. If you are no longer able to clean, please cross your name off. Many hands make light work!
SERVING IN GOD’S HOUSE TODAY/THIS WEEK: 
                                   Early Service                                                  Late Service
Altar Guild:   Margaret Hitz, Nicki Hopwood                     Emma Gettemy, Shawna Fox
Ushering: J.&I. Meyer, T. Richie, J. Donahoe         M. Schleusener, R. Krenke, B&J Satterthwaite
Mowers: Steve and Vicki Stribley, Jerry Mattox
Cleaning God’s House This Next week*: Downstairs-Costin Upstairs-Donahoe Narthex-Dennis
     *If you can’t clean please call Kevin Ferrell @ 430-7823 and he will find you a sub…