6th Sunday after Pentecost – July 12th Service

The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost July 12, 2020

Announcements

  • COVID update- the church will be reopening for one service at 9:30 AM starting July 26th
    • We need time to get all necessary equipment and sanitization of the church
    • We need time also to gather enough volunteers to help with the organization of the service so that we can attempt to meet as many CDC guidelines as possible.
    • Emails will be sent out on re-opening procedure for all congregation members
    • Thank you all for your patience and we will see you soon!

INVOCATION

Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.

OPENING SENTENCES

Psalm 65 v. 1-8; antiphon: v. 5
Pastor: By awesome deeds You answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation,
People: the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.

Pastor: Praise is due to You, O God, in Zion, and to You shall vows be performed.
People: O You who hear prayer, to You shall all flesh come.

Pastor: When iniquities prevail against me, You atone for our transgressions.
People: Blessed is the one You choose and bring near, to dwell in Your courts!
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,
the holiness of Your temple!

Pastor: By awesome deeds You answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas;
People: the one who by His strength established the mountains, being girded with might;
who stills the roaring of the seas,
the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples,

Pastor: so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at Your signs.
People: You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy.

All: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Pastor: By awesome deeds You answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation,
People: the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

Pastor: Our help is in the name of the Lord,
People: who made heaven and earth.

Pastor: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,
People: and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Pastor: In the today’s Epistle, Paul reminds us that “the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” Let us therefore go to our gracious heavenly Father, confessing our sins.

Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.

Pastor: In the Old Testament Reading, God promises, “My word . . . shall not return to Me empty; it shall accomplish . . . and shall succeed.”
People: But we do not trust You in all things. We have sinned in thought, word, and deed. Forgive us, heavenly Father.

Pastor: Then God tells us, “You shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace.”
People: But we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. Hear us, free us, and lead us in paths pleasing to You, heavenly Father.

Pastor: In the Gospel, our Lord explains that “the one who hears the word and understands it . . . bears fruit.” By the grace of God, we believe and understand that Jesus, the Word of God in the flesh, succeeded in destroying death and rising victorious for us. For His sake, God forgives us and uses us to bear fruit for Him. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. May the Word planted inside you produce a great harvest for our gracious Lord.
People: Amen. Thanks be to God!

SHARING OF THE PEACE

HYMN OF PRAISE No. 578

“Thy Strong Word”

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Pastor: Let us pray.

Gracious God, who has given us this good earth in which to live and who sends rain and sun to cause plants to produce fruit and grain for harvest,
People: continue to send Your life-giving Word to us so that we resist the cares of this world and return to You a harvest of new sons and daughters,

Pastor: through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT READING

Isaiah 55:10–13 (God’s Word accomplishes His plans as surely as rain gives growth to plants.)
Lector: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

EPISTLE

Romans 8:12–17 (Because the Spirit leads us, we know we are children of God.)
Lector: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.

VERSE

Isaiah 40:8
Pastor: Alleluia. The grass withers, the flower fades,
People: but the word of our God will stand forever. Alleluia.

HOLY GOSPEL

Matthew 13:1–9, 18–23 (Whoever hears the Word and understands it will produce a great harvest for God in spite of worldly opposition.)
Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the thirteenth chapter.
People: Glory to You, O Lord.

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”

“Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ.

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

SERMON HYMN No. 577

“Almighty God, Your Word Is Cast”

SERMON

“Telling a Story”
Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

APOSTLES CREED

OFFERING

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

LORD’S PRAYER

Matthew 6:9–13
People: 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

Numbers 6:24–26
Pastor: 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.
People: Amen.

DISMISSAL

Pastor: Go in peace as you serve the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God!

CLOSING HYMN no. 923

“Almighty Father, Bless the Word”