The Bulletin is at: 07-21-2019 – Bulletin
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SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
July 21, 2019
THEME: Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Jesus visits two sisters, Mary and Martha, in today’s Gospel reading. Martha is “distracted” while Mary sits at the Lord’s feet and listens to Him. Jesus visits us today in the giving of his body and blood in Holy Communion. This is our opportunity to put aside distraction and receive His grace, mercy and goodness.
L: In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
OPENING SENTENCES Psalm 119
L: Let Your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,
C: Your salvation according to Your promise.
L: Remember Your word to Your servant, in which You have made me hope.
C: This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your promise gives me life.
L: My soul longs for Your salvation;
C: I hope in Your word.
L: Forever, O Lord, Your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.
C: Your faithfulness endures to all generations.
CONFESSION & FORGIVENESS
L: Too often we have been distracted and forgotten about how good God is to us. Let us begin today by confessing our shortcomings and placing our trust in God’s forgiveness. Most merciful God,
C: Lord God of our tomorrows, we confess our sinful condition before You. We desire something better than what we have and what we are. We know ourselves too well and see our human frailty. We know that our temporary gods are vulnerable and will crumble under the test. We realize that our desires are fickle and backfire on us at the worst times. Let us see today the promise of something better in our lives.
Silence for reflection
L: God, our heavenly Creator, hears the prayers of all people and answers those prayers. Our prayer for forgiveness is answered in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who died for our sin that we might have new life. By the command of Jesus, I forgive you all of your sins—in the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
SONG OF CONFIDENCE: “What a Friend” TOSB 246
What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations, is there trouble any where?
We should never be discouraged, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who with all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Saviour, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In his arms he’ll take and shield thee, thou wilt find a solace there.
L: Let us pray. Lord Jesus, as You once entered the home of Martha and Mary both to share Your hospitality and to invite all to hear You, open our homes and hearts to welcome You in faith, our ears to listen to You in obedience, and our hands to serve You gladly and willingly in our callings. We pray these things in Your name, Lord Jesus, for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
Old Testament Reading: Genesis 18:1-10a
Abraham offers hospitality to his visitors
And the Lord appeared to him (Abraham) by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth and said, “O Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quick! Three seahs of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.” And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.
They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.” The Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him..
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Jesus at the home of Martha and Mary.
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
L: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to You, O Christ.
SERMON HYMN: “They’ll Know We Are Christians”
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord,
And we pray that all unity may one day be restored:
CHORUS: And they’ll know we are Christians
by our love, by our love,
Yes they’ll know we are
Christians by our love.
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand,
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand,
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land:
CHORUS
All praise to the Father, from whom all things come,
And all praise to Christ Jesus, his only Son,
And all praise to the Spirit, who makes us one:
CHORUS
“Hospitality: A Blessing and A Challenge”
Pastor Jeremy Lucke
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
And born of the virgin Mary.
He 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.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The Holy Christian Church,
The communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body
And the life everlasting. Amen.
OFFERINGS GATHERED
We give our offerings as a sign of our lives given to the Lord in humble service.
P: Let us come before our faithful God and Father in heaven in prayer.
O God our Father give us hope in the midst of suffering as we remember Your great faithfulness and mercy with each new day. Great is Thy faithfulness,
C: Lord, unto me!
P: O god our Father, bless Your people with zeal as we seek to make disciples of all nations, baptizing, preaching, teaching, and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Great is Thy faithfulness,
C: Lord, unto me!
P: O God our Father, grant wisdom to all Christian parents as they fulfill the vocation You have given to them. Help them to raise their children so that Your Word would be a lamp to their feet and a light for their path. Great is Thy faithfulness,
C: Lord, unto me!
P: O God our Father, according to your will, grant healing and restoration to those who are suffering, (especially…). Strengthen all caregivers that they would be encouraged in body and spirit as they care for those they love. Great is Thy faithfulness,
C: Lord, unto me!
P: O God our Father, strengthen the marriages of husbands and wives, that their selfless love for each other be a reflection of Your Son’s great love for the Church. Great is Thy faithfulness,
C: Lord, unto me!
P: Into Your hands, O God our faithful Father, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy.
C: Amen.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
THE LORD’S PRAYER
DISTRIBUTION
“Glorify Thy Name” TOSB 49
Father, we love Thee, we praise Thee, we adore Thee.
Glorify Thy name in all the earth,
Glorify Thy name, glorify Thy name.
Glorify Thy name in all the earth.
Jesus, we love Thee, we praise Thee, we adore Thee.
Glorify Thy name in all the earth,
Glorify Thy name, glorify Thy name.
Glorify Thy name in all the earth.
Spirit, we love Thee, we praise Thee, we adore Thee.
Glorify Thy name in all the earth,
Glorify Thy name, glorify Thy name.
Glorify Thy name in all the earth.
“Great is Thy Faithfulness” TOSB 55
“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 springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in 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,
Thy 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!
“He Leadeth Me, O Blessed Thought”
He leadeth me, O blessed thought!
O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where-e’er I be,
Still ‘tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
CHORUS: He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.
Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content whatever lot I see,
Since ‘tis my God that leadeth me.
CHORUS
And when my task on earth is done,
When by Thy grace the vict’ry’s won,
E’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
Still God through Jordan leadeth me.
CHORUS
P: Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
C: Amen.
CLOSING SONG: “On Our Way Rejoicing” LBW 260
On our way rejoicing Gladly let us go.
Christ our Lord has conquered; Vanquished is the foe.
Christ without our safety; Christ within our joy;
Who, if we be faithful, Can our hope destroy?
On our way rejoicing; As we forward move,
Harken to our praises, O blest God of Love!
Unto God the Father Joyful songs we sing;
Unto God the Savior Thankful hearts we bring;
Unto God the Spirit Bow we and adore,
On our way rejoicing Now and evermore.
On our way rejoicing; As we forward move,
Harken to our praises, O blest God of Love!
P: Go in peace! Serve the Lord!
C: Thanks be to God!