Calvary Lutheran Church | Worship Service Text

Worship Service Text

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost August 8, 2021

Welcome Everyone!

As we live out each day, we reflect on our faith in our words and actions. Each of us is an example of the Christian life as we struggle to live in forgiving love toward one another, and also as we continue to trust in the forgiveness Christ won for us. In today’s Old Testament Reading, Elijah almost gives up, but he is strengthened with miraculous food. Then in the Epistle, Paul provides a list of what our life in Christ should look like because of our new birth in Baptism. In the Gospel, Jesus spells out the connection between receiving His body and blood in the Lord’s Supper and living in hope each day. He is the bread of life from heaven, who enables each of us to discard our old ways, live in the new life of God’s forgiving love, and adorn ourselves with gladness.

Order of Service: LSB 203 Divine Service – Setting Four

Sermon Title: “Who’s Will is the Best Will?”

Opening Hymn: LSB 821 Alleluia! Sing to Jesus

Hymn of the Day: LSB 750 If Thou But Trust in God to Guide Thee

Communion Hymns: LSB 617 O Lord, We Praise Thee

LSB 628 Your Table I Approach

LSB 637 Draw Near

Closing Hymn: LSB 680 Thine the Amen, Thine the Praise

The Lord’s Supper is meant for baptized and confirmed believers who confess they are sinners in need of God’s mercy. As Lutherans, we believe that in, with, and under the bread and wine, we are receiving the body and blood of Christ for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of our faith. Visitors are asked to consult with the pastor or an elder prior to communing.

His Giving . . . Our Response in Giving

August 1: Attendance 43

Offerings: $ 1054.00

Pastor Brian is taking some holidays and will be leaving on Monday, August 9, and he will be back in the office on Thursday, September 2. We are currently working to arrange lay services for August 15, 22 & 29. In the case of pastoral emergency while Pastor Brian is away, please call:

August 9 – 22: Pastor Steven Bartlett (807) 707-3574

August 23 – September 1: Pastor Keith Blom (807) 629-5756

1 Kings 19:1–8

¹Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. ²Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” ³Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

⁴But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” ⁵And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” ⁶And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. ⁷And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” ⁸And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

Ephesians 4:17—5:2

¹⁷This I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. ¹⁸They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. ¹⁹They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. ²⁰But that is not the way you learned Christ!— ²¹assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, ²²to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, ²³and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, ²⁴and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

²⁵Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. ²⁶Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷and give no opportunity to the devil. ²⁸Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. ²⁹Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. ³⁰And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. ³²Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

¹Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ²And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

John 6:35–51

³⁵Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. ³⁶But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. ³⁷All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. ³⁸For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. ³⁹And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. ⁴⁰For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

⁴¹So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” ⁴²They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” ⁴³Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. ⁴⁴No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. ⁴⁵It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— ⁴⁶not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. ⁴⁷Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. ⁴⁸I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. ⁵⁰This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. ⁵¹I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost August 1, 2021

Welcome Everyone!

In today’s Gospel, the crowds are still trying to stay close to Jesus, but He says it’s for the wrong reason. They want to fill their stomachs, and He declares that He is the bread of life. As the manna in the wilderness wasn’t produced by Moses, but was a gift from God, so Jesus didn’t come to produce physical bread. He is God’s gift to us for what we need in every part of our lives here in time and for eternity. The Epistle focuses on our being part of the Body of Christ, with “one Lord, one faith, one Baptism.” Indeed, we are gifts of God to one another, called to faith to speak the truth in love and to work together to build up the Body to the measure of Christ Himself.

Order of Service: LSB 184 Divine Service – Setting Three

Sermon Title: “Jesus is Different, and He makes Us Different, Too”

Opening Hymn: LSB 822 Alleluia! Let Praises Ring

Hymn of the Day: LSB 712 Seek Ye First

Communion Hymns: LSB 625 Lord Jesus Christ, Life-Giving Bread

LSB 629 What Is This Bread

LSB 636 Soul, Adorn Yourself With Gladness

Closing Hymn: LSB 918 Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer

The Lord’s Supper is meant for baptized and confirmed believers who confess they are sinners in need of God’s mercy. As Lutherans, we believe that in, with, and under the bread and wine, we are receiving the body and blood of Christ for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of our faith. Visitors are asked to consult with the pastor or an elder prior to communing.

His Giving . . . Our Response in Giving

July 21/25: Attendance 9/50 Offerings: $ N/A

August 9 – 22: Pastor Steven Bartlett (807) 707-3574

August 23 – September 1: Pastor Keith Blom (807) 629-5756

Exodus 16:2–15

2The whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, 3and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

4Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. 5On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” 6So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, “At evening you shall know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 7and in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against the LORD. For what are we, that you grumble against us?” 8And Moses said, “When the LORD gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the LORD has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him—what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the LORD.”

9Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, ‘Come near before the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling.’” 10And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud. 11And the LORD said to Moses, 12“I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God.’” 13In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. 14And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. 15When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.”

Ephesians 4:1–16

1I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8Therefore it says,“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

John 6:22–35

22On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost July 25, 2021

Welcome Everyone!

God cares for us, but we aren’t always aware of it. When Jesus stilled the storm that was hindering the disciples in the boat, all they saw was His power, and they were terrified. But when other people saw Him, they recognized a healer and brought the sick to Him. God always cares, of course; the rainbow is a reminder He won’t flood the earth again—out of care for us. In today’s Epistle, Paul prays that God’s love in Christ would fill us. God will do that; He cares that much for us. We ask today that God would strengthen us to care for the people around us. May they see His love through our caring.

Order of Service: LSB 151 Divine Service – Setting One

Sermon Title: “Strains, Pains and Gains”

Opening Hymn: LSB 587 I Know My Faith is Founded

Hymn of the Day: LSB 754 Entrust Your Days and Burdens

Communion Hymns: LSB 620 Jesus Comes Today with Healing

LSB 638 Eat This Bread

LSB 643 Sent Forth by God’s Blessing

Closing Hymn: LSB 752 Be Still, My Soul

Genesis 9:8–17

8 God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9“Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, 10and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. 11I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

Ephesians 3:14–21

14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Mark 6:45–56

45Immediately [Jesus] made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 49but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 51And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

53When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. 54And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him 55and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. 56And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.

Eighth Sunday After Pentecost

July 18, 2021

Opening Hymn - 903 This Is the Day the Lord Has Made

This is the day the Lord has made; He calls the hours His own.

Let heav’n rejoice, let earth be glad; And praise surround the throne.

Today He rose and left the dead, And Satan’s empire fell;

Today the saints His triumphs spread; And all His wonders tell.

Hosanna to the_anointed King, To David’s holy Son!

Help us, O Lord; descend and bring; Salvation from Your throne.

Blessèd is He who comes to us; With messages of grace;

He, in the Lord’s name, comes to us; To save our fallen race.

Hosanna in the highest strains; The Church on earth can raise.

The highest heav’ns, in which He reigns, Shall give Him nobler praise.

Text: Public domain

Invocation

P In the name of the Father, and of the T Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Exhortation

P Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C who made heaven and earth.

P If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?

C But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.

P Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word, call upon Him in prayer and praise, and receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the fellowship of this altar, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

Confession of Sins

C Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.

Absolution

P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Kyrie

C Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.

Gloria in Excelsis

C To God on high be glory and peace to all the earth;

Goodwill from God in heaven proclaimed at Jesus’ birth!

We praise and bless You, Father; Your holy name, we sing—

Our thanks for Your great glory, Lord God, our heav’nly King.

To You, O sole-begotten, the Father’s Son, we pray;

O Lamb of God, our Savior, You take our sins away.

Have mercy on us, Jesus; receive our heartfelt cry,

Where You in pow’r are seated at God’s right hand on high—

For You alone are holy; You only are the Lord.

Forever and forever, be worshiped and adored;

You with the Holy Spirit alone are Lord Most High,

In God the Father’s glory. “Amen!” our glad reply.

Collect of the Day

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Let us pray. Heavenly Father, though we do not deserve Your goodness, still You provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may acknowledge Your gifts, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 23:1–6

1“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the LORD. 2Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the LORD. 3Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the LORD.

5“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading: Ephesians 2:11–22

11Remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Alleluia and Verse

C Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Holy Gospel: Mark 6:30–44

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the sixth chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

30The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 42And they all ate and were satisfied. 43And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.

Hymn of the Day - 641 You Satisfy the Hungry Heart

ref You satisfy the hungry heart; With gift of finest wheat.

Come give to us, O saving Lord, The bread of life to eat.

As when the shepherd calls his sheep, They know and heed his voice;

So when You call Your fam’ly, Lord, We follow and rejoice. Refrain

With joyful lips we sing to You, Our praise and gratitude

That You should count us worthy, Lord, To share this heav’nly food. Refrain

Is not the cup we bless and share; The blood of Christ outpoured?

Do not one cup, one loaf, declare; Our oneness in the Lord? Refrain

The myst’ry of Your presence, Lord, No mortal tongue can tell:

Whom all the world cannot contain; Comes in our hearts to dwell. Refrain

You give Yourself to us, O Lord; Then selfless let us be,

To serve each other in Your name; In truth and charity. Refrain

Sermon – “Are you Satisfied?”

Apostles’ Creed

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And 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 thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I 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 T everlasting. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

P Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

Lord’s Prayer

C 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.

Benedicamus and Benediction

P Let us bless the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

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: 730 What Is the World to Me

What is the world to me; With all its vaunted pleasure

When You, and You alone, Lord Jesus, are my treasure!

You only, dearest Lord, My soul’s delight shall be;

You are my peace, my rest. What is the world to me!

The world seeks to be praised; And honored by the mighty

Yet never once reflects; That they are frail and flighty.

But what I truly prize; Above all things is He,

My Jesus, He alone. What is the world to me!

The world seeks after wealth; And all that mammon offers

Yet never is content; Though gold should fill its coffers.

I have a higher good, Content with it I’ll be:

My Jesus is my wealth. What is the world to me!

What is the world to me! My Jesus is my treasure,

My life, my health, my wealth, My friend, my love, my pleasure,

My joy, my crown, my all, My bliss eternally.

Once more, then, I declare: What is the world to me!

Text: Public domain

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday, July 11, 2021

Opening Hymn - 908 Lord, Open Now My Heart to Hear

Lord, open now my heart to hear, And through Your Word to me draw near;

Let me Your Word e’er pure retain; Let me Your child and heir remain.

Your Word inspires my heart within; Your Word grants healing from my sin;

Your Word has pow’r to guide and bless; Your Word brings peace and happiness.

To God the Father, God the Son, And God the Spirit, Three in One,

Shall glory, praise, and honor be, Now and throughout eternity.

Text (sts. 1, 3): Public domain

Invocation

P In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Exhortation

P Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.

P Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C who made heaven and earth.

P I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,

C and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Confession of Sins

P O almighty God, merciful Father,

C I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.

Absolution

P Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Gloria Patri

C Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Kyrie

C Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.

Gloria in Excelsis

P Glory be to God on high:

C and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.

We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee,

we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee, for Thy great glory.

O Lord God, heav’nly King, God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ;

O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.

Thou that takest away the sin of the world, receive our prayer.

Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.

For Thou only art holy; Thou only art the Lord.

Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost,

art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Salutation

P The Lord be with you.

C And with thy spirit.

Collect of the Day

P Let us pray. O Lord, You granted Your prophets strength to resist the temptations of the devil and courage to proclaim repentance. Give us pure hearts and minds to follow Your Son faithfully even into suffering and death; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Amos 7:7–15

7This is what [the Lord God] showed me: behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. 8And the LORD said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said, “Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass by them;

9the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste,and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.”

10Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words. 11For thus Amos has said, “‘Jeroboam shall die by the sword,

and Israel must go into exile away from his land.’” 12And Amaziah said to Amos, “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there, 13but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.”

14Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. 15But the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading: Ephesians 1:3–14

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Alleluia and Verse

C Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

HOLY GOSPEL: Mark 6:14–29

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the 6th chapter.

C Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

14King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 17For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. 18For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

21But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise be to Thee, O Christ.

Hymn of the Day - 658 Preserve Your Word, O Savior

Preserve Your Word, O Savior, To us this latter day,

And let Your kingdom flourish; Enlarge Your Church, we pray.

O keep our faith from failing; Keep hope’s bright star aglow.

Let nothing from truth turn us, While living here below.

Preserve, O Lord, Your honor, The bold blasphemer smite;

Convince, convert, enlighten,The souls in error’s night.

Reveal Your will, dear Savior, To all who dwell below,

Great light of all the living, That all Your name may know.

Preserve, O Lord, Your Zion, Bought dearly with Your blood;

Protect what You have chosen, Against the hellish flood.

Be always our defender, When dangers gather round;

When all the earth is crumbling, Safe may Your Church be found.

Preserve Your Word and preaching, The truth that makes us whole,

The mirror of Your glory, The pow’r that saves the soul.

Oh, may this living water, This dew of heav’nly grace,

Sustain us while here living, Until we see Your face.

Preserve in wave and tempest, Your storm-tossed little flock;

Assailed by wind and weather, May it endure each shock.

Stand at the helm, our pilot, And set the course aright;

Then we will reach the harbor, In Your eternal light.

Sermon – “Listen to What the Lord God Almighty Has to Say”

Nicene Creed

C I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth

and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God,

begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light,

very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life T of the world to come. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

P Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

Lord’s Prayer

C 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.

Salutation

P The Lord be with you.

C And with thy spirit.

Benedicamus

A Bless we the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Benediction

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and T give you peace.

C Amen, amen, amen.

Closing Hymn: 656 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

A mighty fortress is our God, A trusty shield and weapon;

He helps us free from ev’ry need, That hath us now o’ertaken.

The old evil foe, Now means deadly woe; Deep guile and great might

Are his dread arms in fight; On earth is not his equal.

With might of ours can naught be done, Soon were our loss effected;

But for us fights the valiant One, Whom God Himself elected.

Ask ye, Who is this? Jesus Christ it is, Of Sabaoth Lord,

And there’s none other God; He holds the field forever.

Though devils all the world should fill, All eager to devour us,

We tremble not, we fear no ill; They shall not overpow’r us.

This world’s prince may still, Scowl fierce as he will, He can harm us none.

He’s judged; the deed is done; One little word can fell him.

The Word they still shall let remain, Nor any thanks have for it;

He’s by our side upon the plain, With His good gifts and Spirit.

And take they our life, Goods, fame, child, and wife, Though these all be gone,

Our vict’ry has been won; The Kingdom ours remaineth.

Text: Public domain

Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday, July 4, 2021

Opening Hymn - 802 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

Immortal, invisible, God only wise, In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,

Most blessèd, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,

Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light, Nor wanting, nor wasting,

Thou rulest in might; Thy justice like mountains high soaring above

Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all life Thou givest— to both great and small—In all life Thou livest,

the true Life of all; We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree

And wither and perish—but naught changes Thee.

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light, Thine angels adore Thee,

all veiling their sight; All laud we would render: O help us to see

’Tis only the splendor of light that hides Thee.

Text: Public domain

Invocation

P In the name of the Father and of the TSon and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Exhortation

P If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. C But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Confession of Sins

P Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

Absolution

C Amen.

Kyrie

P In peace let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P 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.

C Lord, have mercy.

P For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

C Amen.

This Is the Feast

C This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God.

This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Power, riches, wisdom, and strength, and honor, blessing, and glory are His.

This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Sing with all the people of God, and join in the hymn of all creation:

Blessing, honor, glory, and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.

This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

For the Lamb who was slain has begun His reign. Alleluia.

This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Let us pray. O God, Your almighty power is made known chiefly in showing mercy. Grant us the fullness of Your grace that we may be called to repentance and made partakers of Your heavenly treasures; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Ezekiel 2:1–5

1 He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” 2And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. 3And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. 4The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ 5And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them.”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:1–10

1I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. 6Though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7So to keep me from being too elated by the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Alleluia and Verse

C Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go?

You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia, alleluia.

Holy Gospel: Mark 6:1–13

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the 6th chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

1[Jesus] went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? 3Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” 5And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.

7And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.

Hymn of the Day - 840 Christ High-Ascended, Now in Glory Seated

Christ high-ascended, now in glory seated, Throned and exalted, victory completed,

Death’s dread dominion finally defeated, We are His witnesses.

Christ from the Father ev’ry pow’r possessing, Who on His chosen lifted hands in blessing, Sends forth His servants, still in faith confessing, We are His witnesses.

Christ, who in dying won for us salvation, Lives now the firstborn of the new creation;

To win disciples out of ev’ry nation, We are His witnesses.

Christ in His splendor, all dominion gaining, Christ with His people evermore remaining, Christ to all ages gloriously reigning, We are His witnesses.

As at His parting, joy shall banish grieving, Faith in His presence strengthen our believing; Filled with His Spirit, love and pow’r receiving, We are His witnesses.

Sermon – “Limited Omnipotence?”

Apostles’ Creed

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

I 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 T everlasting. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

P Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

Lord’s Prayer

C 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

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 T give you peace.

C Amen.

Hymn to Depart - 856 O Christ, Who Called the Twelve

O Christ, who called the Twelve; To rise and follow You,

Forsaking old, familiar ways; For ventures bold and new:

Grant us to hear Your call; To risk security

And, bound in heart and will to You, Find perfect liberty.

O Christ, who taught the Twelve; The truth for ages sealed,

Whose words and works awakened faith, The ways of God revealed:

Instruct us now, we pray, By Your empow’ring Word.

True teacher, be for all who seek; Their light, their life, their Lord.

O Christ, who led the Twelve; Among the desolate

And broke as bread of life for all; Your love compassionate:

Lead us along the ways; Where hope has nearly died

And help us climb the lonely hills; Where love is crucified.

O Christ, who sent the Twelve; On roads they’d never trod

To serve, to suffer, teach, proclaim; The nearer reign of God:

Send us on ways where faith; Transcends timidity,

Where love informs and hope sustains; Both life and ministry.

O Christ, the_apostles’ Lord, The martyrs’ strength and song,

The crucified and risen King; To whom the saints belong:

Though generations pass, Our tribute still we bring,

Our hymns a sacrifice of praise, Our lives an offering.

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

June 27, 2021

Opening Hymn - 733 O God, Our Help in Ages Past

O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come,

Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home:

Under the shadow of Thy throne, Thy saints have dwelt secure;

Sufficient is Thine arm alone, And our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood, Or earth received her frame,

From everlasting Thou art God, To endless years the same.

A thousand ages in Thy sight, Are like an evening gone,

Short as the watch that ends the night, Before the rising sun.

Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Soon bears us all away;

We fly forgotten as a dream, Dies at the op’ning day.

O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come,

Be Thou our guard while troubles last, And our eternal home!

Text: Public domain

Invocation

P In the name of the Father, and of the T Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Exhortation

P Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C who made heaven and earth.

P If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?

C But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.

P Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word, call upon Him in prayer and praise, and receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the fellowship of this altar, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinn ed in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

Confession of Sins

C Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.

Absolution

C Amen.

Kyrie

C Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.

Gloria in Excelsis

C To God on high be glory and peace to all the earth;

Goodwill from God in heaven proclaimed at Jesus’ birth!

We praise and bless You, Father; Your holy name, we sing—

Our thanks for Your great glory, Lord God, our heav’nly King.

To You, O sole-begotten, the Father’s Son, we pray;

O Lamb of God, our Savior, You take our sins away.

Have mercy on us, Jesus; receive our heartfelt cry,

Where You in pow’r are seated at God’s right hand on high—

For You alone are holy; You only are the Lord.

Forever and forever, be worshiped and adored;

You with the Holy Spirit alone are Lord Most High,

In God the Father’s glory. “Amen!” our glad reply.

Collect of the Day

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Let us pray. Heavenly Father, during His earthly ministry Your Son Jesus healed the sick and raised the dead. By the healing medicine of the Word and Sacraments pour into our hearts such love toward You that we may live eternally; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Lamentations 3:22–33

22The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;

23they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

24“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

25The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.

26It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

27It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

28Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him;

29let him put his mouth in the dust—there may yet be hope;

30let him give his cheek to the one who strikes, and let him be filled with insults.

31For the Lord will not cast off forever, 32but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion

according to the abundance of his steadfast love; 33for he does not willingly afflict

or grieve the children of men.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 8:1–9, 13–15

1We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, 4begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.

8I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. . . .

13I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Alleluia and Verse

C Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

Holy Gospel: Mark 5:21–43

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the fifth chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

21When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24And he went with him.

And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 25And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32And he looked around to see who had done it. 33But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

35While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.

Hymn of the Day - 755 In the Very Midst of Life

In the very midst of life Snares of death surround us;

Who shall help us in the strife Lest the foe confound us?

Thou only, Lord, Thou only! We mourn that we have greatly erred,

That our sins Thy wrath have stirred. Holy and righteous God!

Holy and mighty God! Holy and all-merciful Savior! Eternal Lord God!

Save us lest we perish, In the bitter pangs of death. Have mercy, O Lord!

In the midst of death’s dark vale; Pow’rs of hell o’ertake us.

Who will help when they assail, Who secure will make us?

Thou only, Lord, Thou only! Thy heart is moved with tenderness,

Pities us in our distress. Holy and righteous God!

Holy and mighty God! Holy and all-merciful Savior!

Eternal Lord God! Save us from the terror

Of the fiery pit of hell. Have mercy, O Lord!

In the midst of utter woe; When our sins oppress us,

Where shall we for refuge go, Where for grace to bless us?

To Thee, Lord Jesus, only! Thy precious blood was shed to win

Full atonement for our sin. Holy and righteous God!

Holy and mighty God! Holy and all-merciful Savior!

Eternal Lord God! Lord, preserve and keep us

In the peace that faith can give. Have mercy, O Lord!

Sermon – “Fear Vs. Belief”

Nicene Creed

C I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth

and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God,

begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light,

Prayer of the Church

P Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

Lord’s Prayer

C 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.

Benedicamus and Benediction

P Let us bless the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

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 T give you peace.

C Amen.

Closing Hymn: LSB 738 Lord of All Hopefulness

Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,

Whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy:

Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,

Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.

Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,

Whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe:

Be there at our labors, and give us, we pray,

Your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.

Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,

Your hands swift to welcome, Your arms to embrace:

Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,

Your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.

Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,

Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm:

Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,

Your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

June 20, 2021

Opening Hymn - 717 Eternal Father, Strong to Save

Eternal Father, strong to save, Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,

Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep, Its own appointed limits keep:

O hear us when we cry to Thee, For those in peril on the sea.

O Christ, the Lord of hill and plain, O’er which our traffic runs amain

By mountain pass or valley low; Wherever, Lord, Thy people go,

Protect them by Thy guarding hand; From ev’ry peril on the land.

O Christ, whose voice the waters heard; And hushed their raging at Thy word,

Who walkedst on the foaming deep; And calm amid its rage didst sleep:

O hear us when we cry to Thee; For those in peril on the sea.

O Spirit, whom the Father sent; To spread abroad the firmament;

O Wind of heaven, by Thy might; Save all who dare the eagle’s flight,

And keep them by Thy watchful care; From ev’ry peril in the air.

Most Holy Spirit, who didst brood; Upon the chaos dark and rude,

And bid its angry tumult cease, And give, for wild confusion, peace:

O hear us when we cry to Thee; For those in peril on the sea.

O Trinity of love and pow’r, Our people shield in danger’s hour;

From rock and tempest, fire and foe, Protect them wheresoe’er they go;

Thus evermore shall rise to Thee; Glad praise from air and land and sea.

Text (sts. 1–4): Public domain

Text (sts. 2–3): © The Church Pension Fund. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110006114

Invocation

P In the name of the Father, and of the T Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Exhortation

P Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.

P Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C who made heaven and earth.

P I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,

C and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Confession of Sins

P O almighty God, merciful Father,

Absolution

C Amen.

Gloria Patri

C Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Kyrie

C Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.

Gloria in Excelsis

P Glory be to God on high:

C and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.

We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee,

we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee, for Thy great glory.

O Lord God, heav’nly King, God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ;

O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.

Thou that takest away the sin of the world, receive our prayer.

Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.

For Thou only art holy; Thou only art the Lord.

Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost,

art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Salutation

P The Lord be with you.

C And with thy spirit.

Collect of the Day

P Let us pray. Almighty God, in Your mercy guide the course of this world so that Your Church may joyfully serve You in godly peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Job 38:1–11

1Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

2“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

3Dress for action like a man; will question you, and you make it known 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 sons of God shouted for joy? 8“Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, 9when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band,

10and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, 11and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 6:1–13

1Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

11We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Alleluia and Verse

C Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

HOLY GOSPEL: Mark 4:35–41

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the 4th chapter.

C Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

35On that day, when evening had come, [Jesus] said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?”

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise be to Thee, O Christ.

Hymn of the Day - 739 Precious Lord, Take My Hand

Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, let me stand;

I am tired, I am weak, I am worn. Through the storm, through the night,

Lead me on to the light. Take my hand, precious Lord; lead me home.

When my way grows drear, Precious Lord, linger near,

When my life is almost gone, Hear my cry, hear my call;

Hold my hand lest I fall. Take my hand, precious Lord; lead me home.

When the darkness appears; And the night draws near

And the day is almost gone, At the river I stand;

Guide my feet, hold my hand, Take my hand, precious Lord; lead me home.

Sermon – “Does Jesus Care?”

Apostles’ Creed

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

I 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 T everlasting. Amen.

Offertory

C Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and uphold me with Thy free spirit. A-men.

Prayer of the Church

P Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

Lord’s Prayer

C 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.

Salutation

P The Lord be with you.

C And with thy spirit.

Benedicamus

A Bless we the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Benediction

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and T give you peace.

C Amen, amen, amen.

Closing Hymn: 729 I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus

I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, Trusting only Thee;

Trusting Thee for full salvation, Great and free.

I am trusting Thee for pardon; At Thy feet I bow,

For Thy grace and tender mercy; Trusting now.

I am trusting Thee for cleansing; In the crimson flood;

Trusting Thee to make me holy; By Thy blood.

I am trusting Thee to guide me; Thou alone shalt lead,

Ev’ry day and hour supplying; All my need.

I am trusting Thee for power; Thine can never fail.

Words which Thou Thyself shalt give me; Must prevail.

I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus; Never let me fall.

I am trusting Thee forever; And for all.

Third Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday, June 13, 2021

Opening Hymn - 892 Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

Come, ye thankful people, come; Raise the song of harvest home.

All be safely gathered in; Ere the winter storms begin;

God, our maker, doth 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 Thy final harvest home;

Gather Thou Thy people in, Free from sorrow, free from sin,

There, forever purified, In Thy garner to abide:

Come with all Thine angels, come, Raise the glorious harvest home.