The Service in PDF format is at: June 28,2020 Service
Fourth Sunday After Pentecost
June 28, 2020, Sunday
AS WE GATHER…When Jesus was calling disciples, He had to warn them (and us!) that some of their own family members would actively oppose their following the Lord. We will hear about that today in our Gospel reading from Matthew 10. In the same moment, Jesus encouraged His disciples that if they followed Him, they would gain reward. Today we recognize the Peace Lutheran confirmands. We hear from them about how important their faith is. We hear too our Lord’s sure and certain promises to them. It is our prayer that they live for Jesus’ reward above all other things!
L: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
OPENING UP TO GOD AND ONE ANOTHER
L: As Christians, we do not make the claim that we know everything that there is to know about God. Much of who God is and why God acts is a mystery. One aspect of God that we do know, however, is that God is loving, merciful and forgiving. Each week we celebrate this known attribute of God by confessing our sin and receiving God’s forgiveness. Today is no different. Let us take a few moments of silence to reflect upon our need for God’s forgiveness.
Silent Reflection
L: We confess.
C: Lord, forgive us today for our arrogant ways. We think that we can live life without You and Your grace. We have lived as if You did not matter and as if we mattered the most. Let Your amazing love have its way with us today. Strengthen our faith through this forgiveness; we want to do better.
L: God is merciful. God never fails to help those who call upon Him in faith. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, our sin is no longer a weight that holds us down. We are free to live in victory, free from the sin of our self-deceit. Praise God for His goodness.
C: Amen.
P: Beloved in the Lord, our Lord Jesus said to His apostles: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” You have been baptized and trained in the Christian faith. Jesus said, “Whoever confesses Me before men, I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Lift up your hearts, therefore, to the God of all grace and joyfully give answer to what I now ask you in the name of the Lord.
P: Do you this day in the presence of God and of this congregation acknowledge the gifts that God gave you in your baptism?
Confirmands: Yes, I do.
P: Do you renounce the devil, all his works, and all his ways?
Confirmands: Yes, I do.
P: Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth?
Confirmands: Yes, I do.
P: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From then He will come to judge the living and the dead.
Confirmands: Yes, I do.
P: Do you 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?
Confirmands: Yes, I do.
P: Do you hold all the Scriptures to be the inspired Word of God?
Confirmands: Yes, I do.
P: Do you intend to hear the Word of God and receive the Lord’s Supper faithfully?
Confirmands: I do, by the grace of God.
P: Do you intend to live according to the Word of God, and in faith, word and deed to remain true to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, even to death?
Confirmands: I do, by the grace of God.
P: We rejoice with thankful hearts that you have been baptized and have received the teaching of the Lord. You have confessed the faith and been absolved of your sins. As you continue to hear the Lord’s Word and receive His blessed Sacrament, He who has begun a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
ALL: Amen.
SCRIPTURE LESSON
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”
L: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to You, O Christ!
SHARING OF FAITH STATEMENTS & AFFIRMATION
L: Let us pray.
L: Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank and praise You for Your great goodness in bringing these youth–Your sons and daughters–to the knowledge of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus, and enabling them both with the heart to believe and with the mouth to confess His saving name. Grant that, bringing forth the fruits of faith, they may continue steadfast and victorious to the day when all who have fought the good fight of faith shall receive the crown of righteousness. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
L: Heavenly Father, many in this world have rejected Your Son and His grace. Soften their hearts, Lord, that they hear You and receive You with joy and gladness. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
L: Lord, raise up faithful leaders who are committed to liberty and justice. Oppose all those who would use others for their own ambition and pride. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
L: 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, hope and freedom among Your people. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
L: Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C: Amen.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
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 BY FAMILY
Holy Communion is being celebrated today and will follow the order of service in the bulletin. Guests, if you are a baptized Christian and share our faith in Jesus as Savior and have been instructed in the meaning and use of the Lord’s Supper, you are invited to come to the altar. If you prefer grape juice to wine, take a cup from the center of the communion tray. We also have gluten-free wafers available. If you desire a gluten-free wafer, ask the server. May the body and blood of Jesus, present in the bread and wine, be a blessing to you. There are times during the service when you will be asked to stand if you are able. Please feel free to remain seated if standing is difficult.
L: Go in peace and joy. The almighty and most merciful God, the Father, the + Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with you, and bless and strengthen you for faithful service in His name.
C: Amen.