The Service in PDF format is at: July 26,2020 Service
Video of service is at: Facebook Video
Peace Lutheran Church
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
July 26, 2020
AS WE GATHER: Treasures are hard to find and even harder to hold on to. Jesus describes the kingdom of God as a great treasure hidden in a field, a pearl of great price, and a net full of fish. But this treasure is one of God’s own making. He esteems us His treasured possession and delivers up His own Son that we might be His own and live under Him in His kingdom without end. On earth that treasure is hidden in the dirt, found side by side among cheap trinkets, and in nets that hold good and bad fish. But one day, it will all be clear. They will be set apart and the false treasures exposed. For now, it is enough to believe His Word and trust in His promise and hold steadfast to His Son.
PREPARATION
OPENING CHIOR SONG: “ I am Your Servant O Lord”
Recording of Peace Lutheran Church Choir – January 19, 2020
Words by Don Besig and Nancy Price (ASCAP) Music by Don Besig (ASCAP) ©2008, Harold Flammer Music (a division of Shawnee Press, Inc., Nashville, TN 37212)
I start ev’ry day with a prayer,
O Lord, drawing me closer to you.
Help me to know I’m never alone;
guide me in all that I do.
I grow ev’ry day in Your grace, O Lord,
knowing I’m safe in Your sight.
Show me the way to follow my faith;
help me to walk in Your light.
My heart ever grateful, my voice I will raise;
my spirit rejoices in glory and praise.
For I will be faithful all of my days.
I am Your servant, O Lord.
I look all around me, what do I see;
the bountiful gifts you have given to me,
the kindness and friendship of people who care,
and the blessing of music to share.
I sing ev’ry day of Your love,
O Lord, sharing the joy in my song.
Teach me to live, to trust and forgive;
help me be steadfast and strong.
My heart ever grateful, my voice I will raise;
my spirit rejoices in glory and praise.
For I will be faithful all of my days. I am Your servant,
Your faithful servant, I am Your servant, O Lord.
L: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
L: Do good, O Lord, to those who hold fast to Your name
C: and to those upright in heart.
L: But those who turn aside to their crooked ways,
C: the Lord will lead away with evildoers.
~~~Silence for self-examination~~~
L: Let us confess our sins to God, our Father.
C: O Lord, have mercy upon us poor, miserable sinners. We have offended You in thought, word, and deed. We have sinned against our neighbor. Spare us, O God, who confess our sins to You and who hide not our faults from Your eyes. Restore the penitent and forgive us all our sins according to the promise of Your mercy revealed to us in Jesus Christ, our Lord. As He suffered and died to cover our sins, cover us with His righteousness, and grant us grace that today and every day we live upright, sober, and godly lives to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
L: Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. Through the mercy of God in Christ Jesus, our Savior, you have been made children of God in Baptism and live because of His mercy. 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.
C: Amen.
L: May He who began this good work within you bring it to completion on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. Peace be with you.
C: And also with you.
Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ our Savior.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord
L: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
The kingdom of God is like a hidden treasure.
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
“Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
L: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to You, O Christ.
MESSAGE Vicar Christian Dollar
L: Lord of mercy, hear the prayers of Your people who call upon You in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Almighty God, Your love once created all things and set apart a people of Your promise. Grant to us faith that we believe Your Word, heed the call of Your love, and find peace in Your gift of salvation. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
L: Blessed Father, Your love is our great treasure and Your kingdom Your gift. Grant that we with bold voice make known Your salvation to all the ends of the earth. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
L: Merciful God, You established Your Church and endowed her with Your Word and Your Sacraments. Bless all pastors and missionaries as they serve us in Your name with Your gifts and grace. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
L: Mighty God, You have set over us leaders who exercise the authority of the state for our protection against enemies and for justice against evildoers. Bless our president, the Congress of these United States, and all who make, administer, and judge our laws. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
L: Compassionate God, Your Son was wounded for our transgressions, and in His wounds are healing and strength. Hear us on behalf of all the sick, those who suffer, the grieving, and the dying, [especially . . .]. Grant them all that is needed to support them in their hour of need. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
L: God of grace, You have given to us the gift of work and the privilege of using the fruits of our labors for the support of our families and ourselves. Give us a generous heart that we give aid to the poor and honor to You with the worship of our hearts and the tithes and offerings of our hands. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
L: Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend ourselves and all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C: Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9–13
ALL: 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.
CLOSING SONG: “I Love to Tell the Story” TOSB 93
By: Katherine Henkey & William G Fisher ©1971 by William J. Gaither The Fellowship Publications Edina, MN 55435
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
Refrain:
I love to tell the story; I’ll sing this theme in glory
And tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love.
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. Refrain
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. Refrain
L: 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 + give you peace.
C: Amen.
DISMISSAL
L: Go in peace to love and serve the Lord!
C: Thanks be to God.