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Welcome to Worship
Sunday after Pentecost
10:00 AM Service July 21, 2024
Prelude
Welcome and Announcements
Ringing of the Bell
Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, the God of manna, the God of mir-acles, the God of mercy.
Amen.
Drawn to Christ and seeking God’s abundance, let us confess our sin.
Silence is kept for reflection.
God, our provider, help us. It is hard to believe there is enough to share. We question your ways when they differ from the ways of the world in which we live. We turn to our own understanding rather than trusting in you. We take offense at your teachings and your ways. Turn us again to you. Where else can we turn? Share with us the words of eternal life and feed us for life in the world. Amen.
Beloved people of God: in Jesus, the manna from heaven, you are fed and nourished. By Jesus, the worker of miracles, there is always more than enough. Through Jesus, the bread of life, you are shown God’s mercy: you are forgiven and loved into abundant life. Amen.
Hymn #676 “Lord, Speak to Us, That We May Speak”
Greeting:
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.
Hymn of Praise
L: Let us pray.
C: O God, powerful and compassionate, you shepherd your people, faithfully feeding and protecting us. Heal each of us, and make us a whole people, that we may embody the justice and peace of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
WORD
First Reading: Jeremiah 23: 1—6
A reading from Jeremiah
Jeremiah prophesied before the exile in 587 BCE. In this passage, he uses the metaphor of a shepherd to describe the bad kings who have scattered the “flock” of Israel. God promises to gather the flock and to raise up a new king from David’s line to save Israel and Judah.
1 Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. 2 Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concern-ing the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. 3 Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4 I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord. 5 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for Da-vid a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”
R: The Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God.
Psalm: Psalm 23 Pg. 862
Refrain:
PS 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
PS 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
Refrain:
PS 23:3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
PS 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will
fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Refrain:
PS 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You
anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
PS 23:6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever
Refrain:
Second Reading: Ephesians 2: 11-22
A reading from Ephesians.
The author of this letter reminds his audience that originally they were not part of God’s chosen people. Through Jesus’ death, however, they are in-cluded in God’s household of faith, whose cornerstone is Jesus Christ.
11 Remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called “the uncircumcision” by those who are called “the circumcision”—a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands—12 remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. 15 He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16 and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. 17 So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; 18 for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22 in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.
R: The Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God.
Children’s Sermon Pastor Chris Steubing
Gospel Acclamation
The Gospel according to Mark.
(After the Gospel is announced, we sing)
Gospel Mark 6: 30—34, 53—56
When Jesus sends his disciples out to teach and heal, they minister among large numbers of people. Their work is motivated by Christ’s desire to be among those in need.
30 The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34 As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. 54 When they got out of the boat, people at once recog-nized him, 55 and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.
The Gospel of the Lord
(After the reading of the Gospel, we sing)
Sermon Pastor Chris Steubing
Hymn # 612 “Healer of Our Every Ill”
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:. . . .In Your mercy
C: Hear 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 #789 “Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us”
L: Let us pray,
All: Holy God, gracious and merciful, you bring forth food from the earth and nourish your whole creation. Turn our hearts toward those who hunger in any way, that all may know your care; and prepare us now to feast on the bread of life, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
MEAL
P: It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise. . . We praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Eucharistic Prayer
Holy, mighty, and merciful Lord, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
In great love you sent to us Jesus, your Son, who reached out to heal the sick and suffering, who preached good news to the poor, and who, on the cross, opened his arms to all.
In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Remembering, therefore, his death, resurrection, and ascension, we await his coming in glory.
Pour out upon us the Spirit of your love, unite the wills of all who share this heavenly food, the body and blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord; to whom, and glory, now and forever.
Amen.
P: Remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray…
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.
Invitation to Communion
P: Christ has set the table with more than enough for all. Come!
Communion Distribution---All are welcome at the Lord’s table. The cups contain wine (red) or grape juice (white). Those who do not normally receive communion, are free to come forward for a blessing.
Communion Hymns
Hymn #487 “What Feast of Love”
Hymn #472 “Eat This Bread” 3X’s
Blessing
P: The body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
Amen.
Prayer after Communion
P: Let us pray. O God, we give you thanks that you have set before us this feast, the body and blood of your Son. By your Spirit strengthen us to serve all in need and to give ourselves away as bread for the hungry, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Benediction
P: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen
Hymn #843 “Praise the One who Breaks the Darkness”
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::
Our Reader—Dottie Gilbert
Our Liturgist—Don Gillett
Organist—Angela Lau
Music Accompanist—Doris Menke
Choir and Hand Bell Director—Wendy Kuenemann
Pastor—Rev. Chris Steubing