Sunday, July 19, 2020 @ 8AM
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
Prelude: Meditation on “Picardy”
Welcome and Announcements
Gathering Hymn: “Come You, Thankful People, Come” – LBW # 407,
vs 1- 4
Confession & Forgiveness
Greeting & Kyrie
Canticle of Praise: “Glory to God…”
Prayer of the Day
First Reading, Isaiah 44:6-8
Psalm # 119:57-64
Second Reading, Romans 8:18-27
Holy Gospel, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Sermon
Hymn of the Day: “O Living Bread from Heaven” – LBW # 197, vs
1 - 4
Apostle’s Creed
Prayers of the Church
The Lord’s Prayer
Blessing
Dismissal
Sending Hymn: “Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound” - LBW # 448,
vs 1 – 4
Postlude: Voluntary on “Moultrie”
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Service Supplement
(Congregational
responses are in bold print)
Prelude Meditation on “Picardy”
Welcome and Announcements Pastor John
Gathering Hymn “Come, You Thankful
People, Come” LBW # 407, vs
1 – 4
Come,
you thankful people, come; Raise the song of harvest home. All is safely
gathered in Ere the winter storms begin. God, our maker, does provide For our wants to be supplied. Come to God's own temple,
come, Raise the song of harvest home.
All
the world is God's own field, Fruit unto his praise to yield. Wheat and tares
together sown, Unto joy or sorrow grown. First the
blade, and then the ear, Then the full corn shall appear. Lord of harvest,
grant that we Wholesome grain and pure may be.
For
the Lord our God shall come And shall take his harvest
home. From his field shall in that day All offenses purge away, Give his angels charge at last In the fire the tares to
cast, But the fruitful ears to store In his garner evermore.
Even
so, Lord, quickly come To your final harvest home.
Gather all your people in, Free from sorrow, free from sin, There, forever
purified, In your garner to abide. Come, with all your
angels, come, Raise the glorious harvest home!
Confession & Forgiveness
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.
Let us confess our sin in the presence of
God and of one another. 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.
Greeting
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
love of God, and the communion of the Holy
Spirit be with you all. And also with you.
Kyrie
In peace, let us pray to the Lord. Lord,
have mercy. For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us
pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. 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. Lord, have mercy. For this holy house, and for all
who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord. Lord,
have mercy. Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious
Lord. Amen.
Canticle of Praise “Glory to God…”
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God’s people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we
praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God,
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are
seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are
the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most
High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the
Father. Amen.
Prayer of the Day
Let us pray… Let your merciful
ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of your humble servants; that you may hear
our petitions. In all things, help us to ask for what will please you; through
your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
First
Reading Isaiah 44:6-8
Isaiah used
the backdrop of an imaginary courtroom scene to make the dramatic declaration
that the God of Israel is the only God. This affirmation of the supremacy of
Israel’s God means that Israel need not fear, nor should we.
6Thus says the
Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: “I am the first
and I am the last; besides me there is no god. 7Who is like me? Let
him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an
ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen. 8Fear
not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you
are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any.”
This is the word of the Lord, thanks be to God.
Psalm # 119:57-64
The
psalmist entreated God to be gracious to him, asserting the ways in which he
has loved God’s Word and kept God’s commandments.
You only are
my portion, O Lord; I have promised to keep your words.
I entreat
you with all my heart, be merciful to me according to your promise.
I have
considered my ways and turned my feet toward your decrees.
I hasten
and do not tarry to keep your commandments.
Though the
cords of the wicked entangle me, I do not forget your law.
At midnight
I will rise to give you thanks, because of your righteous judgments.
I am a companion
of all who fear you and of those who keep your commandments.
The earth,
O Lord, is full of your love; instruct me in your statutes.
Second
Reading Romans
8:18-27
Paul
acknowledged that the whole creation is under stress and experiencing the pain
of childbirth. He proclaimed that current sufferings are nothing compared to
the future glory that will be revealed at Christ’s return. He reminded the
Roman Christians that their hope lies in the promised redemption for the
children of God. We have the firstfruits of the Spirit, let us not forget how
those serve us well.
18For I consider that the sufferings of this present
time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19For
the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For
the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly,
but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation
itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom
of the glory of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole
creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23And
not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the
Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption
of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is
seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25But if we hope
for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26Likewise the
Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we
ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for
words. 27And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the
saints according to the will of God. This is the Word of God, word of life, thanks be to God.
Holy Gospel Matthew 13:24-30,
36-43
The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew
the 13th Chapter. Glory to you, O Lord.
Jesus used the parable of the weeds to help his
followers understand the reality of the existence of evil in the world. When
the landowner was asleep, Jesus taught, an enemy came and sowed weeds with the
good seed. Rather than uprooting the weeds as they sprouted, the landowner
insisted that they be separated at harvest time. Later, when they were alone,
the disciples asked Jesus for the explanation of the parable. He explained that
at the end of time it will all come out in the harvest.
24Jesus put
another parable before the disciples, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be
compared to a man who sowed good seed in his
field, 25but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed
weeds among the wheat and went away. 26So when the plants came up
and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27And the servants of
the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28He
said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the
servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29But
he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with
them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest
time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles
to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”
36Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And
his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of
the field.” 37He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the
Son of Man. 38The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons
of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39and the enemy
who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers
are angels. 40Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire,
so will it be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send his
angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42and throw them into the fiery
furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then
the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who
has ears, let him hear.” This is the gospel of the Lord, praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon Pastor
Bill Wallace
Hymn of the Day “O Living Bread from Heaven…” LBW # 197, vs
1 – 4
O Living Bread from heaven, How well you feed your guest! The gifts that you have given
Have filled my heart with rest. Oh, wondrous food of blessing, Oh, cup that
heals our woes! My heart, this gift possessing, With praises overflows!
My Lord, you here have led me Within
your holiest place, And here yourself have fed me With treasures of your grace;
For you have freely given What earth could never buy, The bread of life from
heaven, That now I shall not die.
You gave me all I wanted; This food can
death destroy. And you have freely granted The cup of
endless joy. My Lord, I do not merit The favor you
have shown, And all my soul and spirit Bow down before your throne.
Lord, grant me then, thus strengthened With heav'nly food, while here My
course on earth is lengthened, To serve with holy fear. And when you call my
spirit To leave this world below, I enter, through
your merit, Where joys unmingled flow.
Apostle’s Creed
Let us join together in
confessing our faith with the saints who have gone before us, in the words of
the Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of
heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord. He
was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and
born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died,
and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He
ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand
of the Father. He will come again 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. Amen.
Prayers of the Church:
(P):
Strengthened by the Spirit who gives us words to speak and hearts that care, let
us bring our hopes and needs to God who listens. A brief silence.
(W): O Lord, our Rock
and Redeemer, there is no one like you. You alone are God. As you have called
the whole Church to be your witnesses, proclaiming to the world the good news
of him who has been prophesied since ancient times, give us all boldness to
declare your salvation and sow the seeds of your Word wherever we go. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
(W): Gracious God, give your holy Church a heart for you alone, that we
may keep your commandments, and bring you honor so that your glorious name may
be praised in all the earth. May the lives of your people mirror your own
steadfast love and mercy. Lord
in your mercy, hear our prayer.
(W): God of all hope,
sometimes it seems like everything around us is futile. Help us to rely on
faith instead of feelings, upon what we know to be true because of your
promises, instead of the false signals given through the sorrows of this
present time. Cause us to consider these trials in light of
the glory that awaits us through Christ. Give the hopeless courage to wait with
patience for what they do not see yet know to be true because of the witness of
your Spirit. Lord
in your mercy, hear our prayer.
(W): Lord God, you are the sower of good seed in our lives. Pour out
your Holy Spirit upon that the seed of your holy Word would fall on fertile
soil within us and take root and grow. Grant us the amazing gift of faith, that
we would follow Jesus in obedience, joy, and love. Lord
in your mercy, hear our prayer.
(P): We lift our
prayers to you, God of mercy, confident that all things are in your hands. In
Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Let us pray the prayer our Savior taught
us…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.
Blessing
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.
Dismissal
Go
in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God.
Sending Hymn “Amazing Grace” LBW # 448, vs 1 – 4
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!
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come; 'Tis grace has brought me safe
thus far, And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me; His
Word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be As
long as life endures.
Postlude Voluntary on “Moultrie”
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2020 Virtual VBS: “Jesus’ Instruction Book of Life” will start on Monday, July 13th and run for
5 weeks on Facebook. The lessons will be on our private “St Matthew Lutheran
Church Sunday School” page. To register for the VBS please visit our website www.stmatthewbq.org and click on the “Ministries” tab at the top of the
page, and visit our “Parish Education” page for information on our virtual VBS
this Monday on Facebook. To receive an invite for our private Facebook page,
please contact the office at (410)335-4210.
Current weekly services:
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