No recordings available for this week – but here is the bulletin and service information.
The Bulletin is at: 06-23-2019 – Bulletin
The Service in PDF format is at: 06-23-2019 – Service AM
Second Sunday After Pentecost
June 23, 2019
AS WE GATHER… We are held captive by many things in this earthly life, but three main enemies emerge: sin, death and Satan. In the Gospel for today, Jesus encounters a man who is possessed by many demons. This man had been chained so he wouldn’t hurt himself or others, but chains could not stop the demons. Jesus comes to this man in his captivity and sets him free. We are reminded too today that we have been set free—nothing can hold us down!
WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
STARTING WITH PRAISE Psalm 145:1-3
C: I will extol you, my God and King,
P: and bless your name forever and ever.
C: Every day I will bless you
P: and praise your name forever and ever.
C: Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
P: and his greatness is unsearchable.
OPENING SONG: “Children of the Heavenly Father”
Children of the heav’nly Father
Safely in his bosom gather,
Nestling bird nor star in heaven
Such a refuge ne’er was given.
God his own doth tend and nourish,
In his holy courts they flourish,
From all evil things he spares them,
In his mighty arms he bears them.
Neither life nor death shall ever
From the Lord his children sever;
From all evil things he spares them,
In his mighty arms he bears them.
Though he giveth or he taketh,
God his children ne’er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.
OPENING UP TO GOD AND ONE ANOTHER
P: Jesus invites you: “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.
C: 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.”
P: Let us come to Jesus in a time of silent prayer.
We reflect upon our need for Jesus’ rest and forgiveness.
P: Almighty God, heavenly Father,
C: We confess that we are burdened by our sin. What we want to do, we don’t do. What we end up doing, we know that we are not supposed to do. We feel trapped. Your Word teaches us that we cannot escape our sinfulness. Only in Your mercy is there rest for our souls and relief from the burdens of our hearts. Father, fill us again with the assurance of the cross and empty tomb so that we may receive again the victory that is ours through Jesus. Amen.
P: The burdens that are so heavy for you are light for Jesus! As you have now confessed your sins, it is my privilege and joy to announce to you that Jesus has taken away your burdens by His death and resurrection. According to His own command, I, as a servant of Jesus and Your pastor, forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
SONG: “Seek Ye First”
Seek ye first the Kingdom of God
and his righteousness,
And all these things shall be added unto you.
Allelu, alleluia.
Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by ev’ry word
That proceeds from the mouth of God.
Allelu, alleluia.
Ask, and it shall be given unto you.
Seek, and ye shall find.
Knock, and the door shall be opened unto you.
Allelu, alleluia.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Let us Pray. Lord Jesus Christ, You are the liberator and defender of all people. Free us from the powers that hold us down. We pray this today so that we may serve You and our neighbors with joy and gladness, for You reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSONS
First Lesson: Galatians 3:23-4:7
In Christ we are liberated from the Law and adopted as heirs.
Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
Gospel: Luke 8:26-39
Jesus liberates a man possessed by many demons.
They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places. Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left. The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
Children’s Message
SERMON HYMN: “Amazing Grace”
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
Thro’ many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come;
‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
When we’ve been there 10,000 years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise Then when we first begun.
Sermon
WE SHARE OUR FAITH
C: I believe in God, who has created all things and continues to create new life within us.
I believe in Jesus, son of God, son of man, the Savior of the world. By His life, His death and resurrection, I can know the true
depth of human possibility, and experience the true joy of an
abundant life.
I believe that the Holy Spirit is present, now and always, calling us to faith, giving us gifts and empowering us for service. I believe that the community of believers called the church can experience the fullness of life through the word, the
sacraments, and all that we do. Amen.
OFFERING
We offer our thanksgiving for what God has first given us—ourselves, our time, our possessions.
OFFERTORY
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
P: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
P: Dear heavenly Father, place Your wise hand upon all the nations of the earth, give them leaders who seek after justice and peace, and lead all people to the freedom that You offer. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Lord, lift up all those who are weighed down by the guilt and shame of sin. Release them from their bondage and point them to forgiveness as the feet of Jesus. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Lord, strengthen all those who are fighting against the power of Satan. Remind them of Your presence. Empower them to resist Satan’s lies with the Your truth. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Lord, give hope to all those who are isolated and lonely. Bring them into the presence of the loving community of Your Church that they find help and hope among Your people. Today we pray for the fellowship gathered at Living Faith Community Church. We thank you, Lord, for their commitment to follow you and love one another. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Lord, look with favor upon all who are sick, injured, and recovering, (especially…). Have mercy upon them and heal them according to Your will. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C: Amen.
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
BENEDICTION Numbers 6:24-26
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: “Go, My Children, with My Blessing”
Go, My children, with My blessings, Never alone.
Waking, sleeping, I am with you; You are My own.
In My love’s baptismal river I have made you Mine forever.
Go, My children, with My blessing—You are My own.
Go, My children, sins forgiven, At peace and pure.
Here you learned how much I love you, What I can cure.
Here you heard My dear Son’s story;
Here you touched Him, saw His glory.
Go, My children, sins forgiven, At peace and pure.
Go, My children, fed and nourished, Closer to Me;
Grow in love and love by serving, Joyful and free.
Here My Spirit’s power filled you;
Here His tender comfort stilled you.
Go, My children; I will keep you And give you peace.
I the Lord will bless and keep you And give you peace;
I the Lord will smile upon you And give you peace:
I the Lord will be your Father, Savior, Comforter, and Brother.
Go, My children; I will keep you And give you peace.
DISMISSAL
P: Go in Peace. Serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.