09/04/2026
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
1375 Grand Avenue
Baldwin, NY 11510
516-223-3400 [email protected] www.blcbaldwin.com
Rev. James D. Smith-Pastor
Baptized People of God, Ministers
Stuart Waters - Keyboardist
Sunday, September 6, 2026
Time after Pentecost
Copyright: #731 Earth and All Stars Text: Herbert F. Brokering Music David N Johnson #836 Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee Text: Henry van D**e Music: Ludwig van Beethoven #543 Go My Children With My Blessing Text: Jaroslav J Vajda Music Wesh Traditonal arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams. ONE LICENSE LICENSING PERMISSION
CONFESSION & FORGIVENESS
P: Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, our creator, our protector, our wellspring of life. Amen.
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and one another. (pause for silence and self reflection).
Most Merciful God, we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us.
Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
Prayer of the Day: O Lord God, enliven and preserve your church with your perpetual mercy. Without your help, we mortals will fail; remove far from us everything that is harmful, and lead us toward all that gives life and salvation, through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Opening Hymn: #731 Earth and All Stars
WORD
First Reading: Ezekiel 33: 7-11
So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, “O wicked ones, you shall surely die,” and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.
Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel: Thus you have said: “Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?” Say to them: As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?
Psalm 119: 33-40(congregation please respond in the bold text)
Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes, and I will observe it to the end.
Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.
Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.
Turn my heart to your decrees and not to selfish gain.
Turn my eyes from looking at vanities; be gracious to me according to your word.
Confirm to your servant your promise, which is for those who fear you.
Turn away the disgrace that I dread, for your ordinances are good.
See, I have longed for your precepts; in your righteousness be gracious to me.
Second Reading: Romans 13: 8-14
Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; you shall not murder; you shall not steal; you shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law. Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is already the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone; the day is near. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us walk decently as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in illicit s*x and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
*Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia. In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. Alleluia. (Eph. 1:17,18)
Response after announcement: Glory to you, O Lord.
GOSPEL: Matthew 18: 15-20
“If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If you are listened to, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If that person refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church, and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
Response after the conclusion: Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON: Pastor James D. Smith
Hymn of the Day: #836 Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee
*Apostles Creed, p. 105
*Prayers of Intercession
Reminded of God’s gracious and abundant love, we offer our prayers, confident that God hears us.
A brief silence.
Proclaiming God, empower your church throughout the world to announce the words you give to us. Open us to receive your word in unexpected ways. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
Forming God, renew the cycles of your creation that provide for the needs of all. Protect grasslands, marshes, swamps, and all places of transition. Heal communities crying out after disaster. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
Governing God, turn all who create, enforce, or interpret legislation away from selfish gain and toward your promise of good for all, especially the good of all who labor. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
Attending God, wake us up to any around us who are in need. Restore broken relationships, failing health, frayed emotions, and hurts we carry with us. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
Gathering God, resolve conflicts in this community through your righteousness and grace. Reconcile us to each other, making your Good News known through our imperfections. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
We especially pray today for: Our military and their families, Peace Corps workers, our First Responders (Fire, Police, EMS), Healthcare Workers, Transit Workers, teachers, Sophia, Symons Family, McPherson Family, Derkatch family, Peragine family, Michelle, Frank, Gloria Holke, Pat Tucker, the Offley family, Shirley Byer and family,
McSwain Family, the Broadhead Family, the Zamparelli family, the Nicholas family, the Simpson family, the Roulston family, Charles Hale, Roberta Neidballa, Kim McManus, the Lebby family, the Robinson family, Yanni and Sydell Saddler and family, Orvia Williams, Winston Flowers, Olga Young, Joyce Scott, The Cotton and Victor family, the Norcia family, the Kogan family, Rosalie Connor, the Petito family, Stephanie Scott, Linda Odom, the Washington and Flowers family, Mack Smith, John and Jean Anne Miller and family, Michael Branker, Broderick family, the Ayling family, Mack Baker, Matthew and Diana Pietrzak, Shaan Shivdasani, the Wynn family, the Dunbar, Humphrey & Jackson families, the Tesoriero family, the Stepteau family, Ishmael and Yvonne Barthley, Phyllis Taylor, the Staton family, the Applewhite family, Bev Mitchell and family, Ortman family, Juanita Cunningham, Melhado family, Charlene Coyne, Lawrence Jordan, Leonard and Alma Cunningham, Cheryl Myles & family, Althea Robinson & family, Vonda Campbell & family, Carmen Alvarez Holmes & family, Cumberland family, Val Thomas & family, Eliano and Evans family, Bill Stoll, Ted & Laura Fackelman, Antoinette Allen, the Conforti family, John Kelly, George & Fran Doerrbecker, Ysabel Frias, the family of Mortimer Wortman, Janet Gabler, Colleen, Antoinette Sherrington & family, Balraj family, Shields Family the families seeking asylum who have fled danger in their country, war victims throughout the world, those who have been displaced from natural disasters, and the families of the victims of past and recent shootings. We pray for peace. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
Loving God, all who die in faith have life in you. We give you thanks for the nearness of your salvation and all who have gone before us. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
Grant the prayers we have offered, what we have forgotten to ask, and whatever else you see we need. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
*Lord’s Prayer
*Sharing of the Peace
Offering
Offering hymn: Lamb of God, p.146
*Offering Prayer
Blessed are you, Holy One, for all good things come from you. In bread and cup you open heaven to us. Meet us at this table, that we receive what we seek and follow your Son, Jesus in whose name we pray. Amen.
*Eucharistic Prayer
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, you have brought us this far along the way. In times of bitterness you did not abandon us, but guided us into a path of love and light. In every age you sent prophets to make known your loving will for all humanity. The cry of the poor has become your own cry; our hunger and thirst for justice is your own desire. In the fullness of time, you sent your chosen servant to preach good news to the afflicted, to break bread with the outcast and despised, and to ransom those in bo***ge to prejudice and sin.
* Thanksgiving
* Holy Communion For remote listeners-please bring your own elements.
(In this time we gather around the eternal table wherever that may be in this time we are apart. We bring our own gifts so they can be lifted up and bring honor and glory to God. We lift up our prayers so that the Spirit is sent to us and the meal that we share, so that it and all of God’s acts and promises may come to fulfillment for us and the world. The prayer is that the life giving Spirit will make the meal effective in us. We join our prayers with those servants of every time and every place and unite them with the ceaseless petitions of our great High Priest until he comes as victorious Lord of all.)
SENDING
*Blessing
God who names you, Christ who claims you, and the Holy Spirit who dwells in you, + bless you and remain with you always. Amen.
Closing Hymn: #543 Go My Children With My Blessing
*Dismissal: Go in peace, you are God’s beloved. Thanks be to God.
Please remain at your seat as Pastor distributes communion.
*Offering- Please remember your church home during this time. Your donations are important in helping the church to fulfill its missions as well as pay bills. Please return your donation at the back of the sanctuary as you leave or go on our website and use the blue Donate button at the top of the page.
The Eternal Light is lit today in memory of loved ones.
The Flowers on the altar are in the memory of loved ones.
If you know of anyone who is ill, in the hospital, or in need of a home visit, please contact Pastor Smith or a Council member. Pastor can be reached by text or phone: 718-619-1333.
Calendar-Announcements
- We will be having a monthly Worship Service for Peace every second Sunday of the month. Our next Service for Peace will be held on September 13, 2026 at 5 pm. This is open to the entire community! Please invite your friends and family to join us!
- We will have a Congregational Meeting Coffee Hour on Sunday, September 27, 2026 immediately after our service. EVERYONE needs to attend!
- We had a very successful Clean-up Sunday, so we want to do it again! Our next Clean-up Sunday will be held immediately after church on Sunday, October 4, 2026! Please wear your cleaning clothes to church, and bring your rubber gloves. Many hands make light work!
- If you are interested in being a Lector, please see Dan D‘Antonio to sign up.
- There is a sign up sheet in the back of the church for Greeters! Isn’t it nice to have a greeter at the door each week to welcome visitors and members?
We only ask that you arrive 15 minutes early (10:15).
- We are collecting food for the pantry in the back of the church. Your donations greatly help people in our community. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
2026 BLC COUNCIL
Officers ____________ Members_______
President - Allison Nuñez Judith Borga
Vice President – Linda Pietrzak Barbara Dempster
Treasurer - Dan D’Antonio Patty Derkatch
Financial Secretary - Sita Ramsundar Kelli Dunbar
Recording Secretary - Aiisha Nembhard John Maraz
Carolyn Olson
Mission of the Month: Shepherd Fund
As a community of faith and a whole life ministry focused on Living God’s Word, we embrace and learn from the diversity in our midst. We seek to meet all people with God’s grace and eternal love shown to all God’s people through the life, death and resurrection of God’s only Son regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, culture, marital status, addictions, s*xual orientation, economic status, ability or label.
You are welcome here!
We serve in response to God’s love to meet human needs, caring for the sick and the aged, advocating dignity and justice for all people, working for peace and reconciliation among the nations, standing with the poor and powerless, and committing ourselves to their needs. Thank you to all who have ...
