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Welcome to Worship
Time after Pentecost
10:00 AM Service June 23, 2024
GATHERING
Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Ringing of the Bell
(Please Stand)
Confession and Forgiveness
L: Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, who forgives all our sin whose mercy endures forever.
Amen.
God of all mercy and consolation, come to the help of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Gracious God, have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned from you and given ourselves into the power of sin. We are truly sorry and humbly repent. In your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things we have done and things we have failed to do. Turn us again to you, and uphold us by your Spirit, so that we may live and serve you in newness of life through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin, and made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. In the name of Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Almighty God strengthen you with power through the Holy Spirit, that Christ may live in your hearts through faith. Amen.
Hymn # 767 “Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me”
L: The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.
C: And also with you.
Kryie
L: In peace let us pray to the Lord
L: For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
L: For the peace of the whole world, for the well being of the Church of
God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
L: For the holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise,
let us pray to the Lord.
L: Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
L: Let us pray
O God of creation, eternal majesty, you preside over land and sea, sunshine and storm. By your strength pilot us, by your power preserve us, by your wisdom instruct us, and by your hand protect us, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
WORD
First Reading Job 38: 1—11
At the end of the book of Job, after Job and his companions have argued about the cause of the great suffering Job endures, God finally speaks. These verses begin that speech, which is a grand vision of creation, describing God’s ordering of the cosmos and inviting Job to marvel at its beauty.
1The Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind: 2“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me. 4“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. 5Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone 7when the morning stars sang together and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy? 8“Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb?— 9when I made the clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band, 10and prescribed bounds for it, and set bars and doors, 11and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stopped’?”
R: Word of God, Word of Life. C: Thanks be to God.
Psalm Psalm 107: 1—3, 23—32 Pg. 947
Refrain:
PS 107:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
PS 107:2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say this--those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
PS 107:3 those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.
Refrain:
PS 107:23 Others went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the
mighty waters.
PS 107:24 They saw the works of the LORD, his wonderful deeds in the deep.
PS 107:25 For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves.
Refrain:
PS 107:30 They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their
desired haven.
PS 107:31 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his
wonderful deeds for men.
PS 107:32 Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in
the council of the elders.
Refrain:
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 6: 1—13
Paul and his fellow workers experience great hardships and even rejection while carrying out their missionary work. Nevertheless, Paul continuously proclaims that God has not rejected us but is graciously working for our salvation.
1As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. 2For he says, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.” See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! 3We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5beat-ings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, 7truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good re-pute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; 10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 11We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. 12There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. 13In return—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also.
R: Word of God. Word of life. C: Thanks be to God.
Children’s Sermon Pastor Chris Steubing
(Please rise for the Gospel)
The Gospel according to Mark, the fourth chapter.
After the Gospel is announced, we sing
Gospel Reading Mark 4: 35—41
Jesus’ calming of the storm on the sea reveals his power over evil, since the sea represents evil and chaos. The boat on the sea is a symbol of the church and invites us to trust God amid life’s turbulence.
35When evening had come, [Jesus said to the disciples,] “Let us go across to the other side.” 36And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
After the reading of the Gospel, we sing
(Please be seated)
Sermon Pastor Chris Steubing
(Please Stand)
Hymn # 756 “Eternal Father, Strong to Save”
L: Together with the whole church, we confess our faith:
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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 to the dead.*
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
The Prayers
L: . . .Merciful God
C: Receive our prayer.
The Peace
L: The peace of Christ be with you always.
C: And also with you.
L: You may share the peace with one another.
Offering
Offering Hymn #773 “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”
(The offering is collected as the hymn is sung. Please stand on the last verse as the offering is brought forward.)
L: Let us pray,
All: Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts: our selves, our time, and our possessions. Use us, and what we have gathered, in feeding the world with your love, through the one who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer: (Sung)
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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen
Celebration of High School Graduates 2024
(Graduates and parents gather around the Baptismal font)
Deacon Andrew recognition of graduates and blessing
Let Us pray:
ALL: God of creation, pour out your Spirit on Krissie, Gabby, Caitlyn, and Raegan as each of them enters this new period of their life and faith. Remind them of your constant presence in their lives. Surround each of them with people and situations that will help them live full of joy and gratitude as your beloved children. Encourage them in all things. Keep them always in your grace and love and mercy. Bless their days, from this day forward, that everything they do may be to your glory. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, who loves each of them very much. Amen.
Benediction
P: The blessing of God, who provides for us, feeds us, and journeys with us, bless you now and always.
Hymn # 763 “My Life Flows On in Endless Song”
Dismissal
L: Go in peace. You are the body of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
Postlude.
Our thanks to those who serve as our worship leaders today:
Our Reader—Kirsten Meyer
Our Liturgist—Deacon Andrew More
Organist—Angela Lau
Hand Bell Director—Wendy Kuenemann
Pastor—Rev. Christopher Steubing