The Service in PDF format is at: July 5,2020 Service
Video of service is at: Facebook Video
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday, July 5 – 9:30 am
AS WE GATHER…Rest is elusive, but Zechariah wrote of a day when the battle would be over, thanks to a coming king, who would set the prisoners free. His description points us to Jesus on Palm Sunday; His death and resurrection have set us free from our bondage to sin. His compassion for us shows in His prayer of thanksgiving to our heavenly Father. In our Savior, we find the rest we need each day. Compared to the failing struggle we engage in daily; His yoke is easy; His burden is light. As David wrote in the psalm, “The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.” He gives rest for the soul!
P: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
BEGINNING IN HONESTY
P: Although we are given many blessings by God, we do not live as we should. We often misuse the good things that God has given us. We are broken, and so we reach out to our Heavenly Father for healing and wholeness.
C: Almighty God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean, undeserving of Your mercy. We admit that we have sinned against You in countless ways. We have left undone those things we ought to have done; we have done those things we ought not to have done. By the renewing work of the Holy Spirit, lead us to change what is sinful in our lives that each day we grow in righteousness and godly living to the glory of Your Holy name.
P: Jesus said, “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He offers full and free pardon for all your sins and even your sinful condition. By His death and resurrection, He provides rest, not only from physical turmoil and emotional stress; in Him, we find rest for the soul! I tell you that this forgiveness is for you in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
SONG: “God of our Fathers” LBW 567
Text: Daniel C. Roberts, 1841-1907, alt. Tune: George W. Warren, 1828-1902. © 1978 by Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis and Board of Publication, Lutheran Church in America, Philadelphia
- God of our fathers, whose almighty hand
Leads forth in beauty all the starry band
Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies:
Our grateful songs before your throne arise.
- Your love divine has led us in the past;
In this free land by you our lot is cast;
Oh, be our ruler, guardian, guide and stay;
Your Word our law, your paths our chosen way.
- From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence,
Make your strong arm our ever sure defense.
Your true religion in our hearts increase;
Your bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.
- Refresh your people on their toilsome way;
Lead us from night to never-ending day;
Fill all our lives with heav’n born love and grace
Until at last we meet before your face.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Zechariah 9:9-12
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you,
I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.
P: This is the word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God
GOSPEL READING: Matthew 11:25-30
At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
P: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to You, O Christ.
P: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs: We pray for the Church, that the message of salvation be proclaimed joyfully throughout all the world. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: We pray for the nations of the world, that all would know times of peace and security. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: We pray for all workers in the Church, asking the blessings of holy wisdom and heavenly grace to all Leaders, deaconesses, and teachers. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: We pray for our nation as we rejoice in the freedoms we enjoy. Grant that we live out our citizenship with dedication and gratitude. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: We pray for special conditions and circumstances. By Your Word and Holy Spirit comfort all who are in sorrow or need, sickness or adversity, [especially . . .]. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: All these things, and whatever else You know that we need, grant us, Father, for the sake of Him who died and rose again and now lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever.
C: Amen.
WORDS OF INSITUTION
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
DISTRIBUTION
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 X give you peace.
C: Amen.
