The Bulletin is at: 07-29-2018 – Bulletin
The Service in PDF format is at: 07-29-2018 – Service
or the service is as follows:
TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
July 29, 2018
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
AS WE GATHER…God cares for us, but we aren’t always aware of it. When Jesus stilled the storm that was hindering the disciples in the boat, all they saw was His power, and they were terrified. But when other people saw Him, they recognized a healer and brought the sick to Him. God always cares, of course; the rainbow is a reminder He won’t flood the earth again—out of care for us. In today’s Epistle, Paul prays that God’s love in Christ would fill us. God will do that; He cares that much for us. We ask today that God would strengthen us to care for the people around us. May they see His love through our caring.
P: In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
STARTING WITH PRAISE Psalm 136
P: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good
C: For his steadfast love endures forever.
P: Give thanks to the God of gods,
C: For his steadfast love endures forever.
P: Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
C: For his steadfast love endures forever.
P: To him who alone does great wonders,
C: For his steadfast love endures forever.
P: To him who by understanding made the heavens,
C: For his steadfast love endures forever.
P: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good
C: For his steadfast love endures forever.
OPENING UP TO GOD AND ONE ANOTHER I John 1:8-9
P: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
C: But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Silent Reflection
P: Let us then confess our sins to God.
C: Heavenly Father…We confess that we have not lived with a confident faith. Knowing that You have a cure for the problems in our lives, we have forgotten to trust. Knowing that all things are possible for You, we have failed to rely upon You for strength and support. Forgive us for a faith that is lacking perseverance. Grant us newness of life!
SONG OF CONFESSION: “White as Snow”
White as snow, white as snow,
though my sins were as scarlet
Lord I know, Lord I know,
that I’m clean and forgiven.
Through the power of your blood,
through the wonder of your love
Through faith in you I know that I can be…white as snow
(Repeat x1)
P: In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for His sake God forgives us all our sins. In our reading from Genesis, God gave Noah a sign to show His commitment to him and his family. God gives us a sign too to show His forever commitment to us—the cross. The cross clearly communicates God’s good intentions for us in the forgiveness of our sins. I announce this forgiveness, in the stead and by the command of Jesus—your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
P: Let us pray. Almighty and most merciful God, the protector of all who trust in You, strengthen our faith and give us courage to believe that in Your love You will rescue us from all adversities; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
Old Testament: Genesis 9:8-17
God delivers a sign to Noah showing His commitment.
Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
Epistle: Ephesians 3:14-21
God is able to do more than what we can even imagine.
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Jesus stills the storm and heals the sick.
Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.
SERMON HYMN: “Leaning On The Everlasting Arms”
What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning, Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning, Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, Leaning on the everlasting arms.
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning, Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, Leaning on the everlasting arms.
C: We believe in God, the Creator of all things, the source of all goodness and love. We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, true God yet true man. He was crucified, died and was buried for our sin that we might be free and know the joy of life. He was raised on the third day and ascended to heaven, and will come again in power and glory to judge both the living and the dead. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the power of God at work inside of us. We believe in the church of God, the people of faith throughout the world. We believe that our sin is forgiven and that we will live together with God for now and throughout eternity. Amen.
OFFERING
We offer our thanksgiving for what God has first given us—our selves, our time, our possessions.
OFFERTORY
P: Let us pray for the Church around the world, all people in their various circumstances, and ourselves as we respond to God’s Word.
P: For the Church, wherever the faithful are enduring persecution, official or personal, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Heavenly Father, grant them to be strengthened with power through Your Spirit.
P: For God’s people as they find opportunities to spread the Gospel, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Christ, our Lord, dwell in their hearts through faith that they have strength to comprehend Your love and be filled with all the fullness of God.
P: For people in every land when faced with harm and danger from natural disasters, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Creator God, see the bow in the clouds and remember Your covenant with all living creatures. Use Your almighty power to protect us and all the descendants of Noah from flood—and from fire and wind, quake and drought—that we give You praise for this good earth.
P: For ourselves and those near and dear to us, (including…), let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord Jesus, open the eyes of all who are dealing with a sudden crisis or chronic ills in their lives or in those for whom they care. Open the eyes of all who call out to You that they recognize You in their midst. Cause caregivers to bring the sick into Your loving power; grant comfort and health as fits Your gracious plans for them.
P: For nations and governments, armed forces and local police and first responders, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Heavenly Father, You are able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think. Order the powers that be in all the nations of this world that all people are granted peace and dignity, justice and freedom. Guide all in authority, and protect all who work for peace, that here and everywhere praise and thanks comes before Your gracious throne.
P: These and any other things You would have us ask of You, heavenly Father, grant to us for the sake of Jesus, our Lord.
C: To You be glory in the Church throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
LORD’S PRAYER
DISTRIBUTION
“Glorify Thy Name”
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.
“Let us Break Bread Together”
- Let us break bread together on our knees,
Let us break bread togeter on our knees;
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me!
- Let us drink wine together on our knees,
Let us drink wine together on our knees;
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me!
- Let us bow ’round the altar on our knees,
Let us bow ‘round the altar on our knees;
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me!
- Let us praise God together on our knees,
Let us praise God together on our knees;
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me!
“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 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’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’ve got joy like a fountain,
I’ve got joy like a fountain,
I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul.
P: 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.
CLOSING HYMN: “All People That on Earth Do Dwell”
- All people that on earth do dwell,
sin to the Lord with cheerful voice;
Him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell;
Come ye before him and rejoice.
- Know that the Lord is God indeed;
Without our aid he did us make.
We are his folk, he doth us feed,
And for his sheep he doth us take.
- Oh, enter then his gates with praise;
Approach with joy his courts unto;
Praise, laud, and bless his name always,
For it is seemly so to do.
- For why? The Lord our God is good:
His mercy is forever sure;
His truth at all times firmly stood,
and shall from age to age endure.
- To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
The God whom heav’n and earth adore,
From us and from the angel host
Be praise and glory evermore.
P: Go in Peace. Serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.