10 Aug Bulletin – Sunday, August 10, 2025
WELCOME to MESSIAH & ST. PETER LUTHERAN CHURCHES PARISH PICNIC
Rev. Nancy Brody, Pastor
Greta Wright, Organist
Sunday, August 10, 2025
Ninth Sunday After Pentecost
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
ORDER OF CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
In the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Baptized into Christ, let us confess our sin. Silence is kept for reflection.
Merciful God, you free us to love others, but we neglect our neighbors and follow our own way. You lead us by the Spirit of joy and peace, but we turn away from the abundant life you offer. You surround us with patience, kindness, and generosity, but we grow weary in doing what is right. In your mercy, forgive us. Do not give up on us. Heal us, break our bonds, and show us the path of life. Amen.
You belong to Christ Jesus and you are God’s children through faith. In the cross of ☩ Christ, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, your sins are forgiven. Clothed with Christ, you are a new creation.
Amen.
GATHERING HYMN
Open My Eyes That I May See
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray. Almighty God, you sent your Holy Spirit to be the life and light of your church. Open our hearts to the riches of your grace, that we may be ready to receive you wherever you appear, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
FIRST READING GENESIS 15:1-6
After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no offspring, so a slave born in my house is to be my heir.” But the word of the Lord came to him, “This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir.” He brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed the Lord, and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.
PSALM 33:12-22
Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord! Happy the people chosen to be God’s heritage!
The Lord looks down from heaven, and sees all humankind.
God sits firmly enthroned and watches all who dwell on the earth.
God fashions all their hearts and observes all their deeds.
A king is not saved by the size of the army, nor are warriors rescued by their great strength.
The horse gives vain hope for victory; despite its great strength it cannot save.
Truly, your eye is upon those who fear you, O Lord, upon those who wait for your steadfast love,
to deliver their lives from death, and to keep them alive in time of famine.
Our innermost being waits for you, O Lord, our helper and our shield.
Surely, our heart rejoices in you, for in your holy name we put our trust.
Let your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us, even as we place our hope in you.
SECOND READING HEBREWS 11:1-3, 8-16
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance, and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith, with Sarah’s involvement, he received power of procreation, even though he was too old, because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.” All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better homeland, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.
GOSPEL LUKE 12:32-40
[Jesus said:] “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night or near dawn and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
SERMON
HYMN of the DAY
Sweet Hour of Prayer
PRAYERS of INTERCESSION
Let your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us, even as we place our hope in you for the whole church and the needs of the world. A brief silence.
Look down from heaven, and see all humankind, you who sits firmly enthroned and watches all who dwell on the earth. Keep your church set firmly in you so that your people are ready to respond with faithful action for the sake of the world. God of grace, hear our prayer.
Worlds were prepared by your word. Speak healing and protection upon the earth, especially where life and habitats are threatened. Guide the work of all who teach about creation. God of grace, hear our prayer.
Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord, and happy are the people chosen to be God’s heritage! You know the actions and deeds of nations. Turn humanity away from instruments of war and violence. Fashion the hearts of world leaders to work for peace. God of grace, hear our prayer.
Let your lovingkindness be on those in need (especially those on our prayer list). Truly, your eye is upon those who fear you and upon those who wait for your steadfast love, to deliver their lives from death, and to keep them alive. Assure all who are afraid or experiencing great uncertainty that your promises are sure. God of grace, hear our prayer.
The army, its horses and warriors are not rescued by its size or strength. Calm the fears of all who struggle to find a safe way to exist. Provide shelter, sustenance, protection from harm, and welcome. Bless the work of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, other means of support and advocacy. God of grace, hear our prayer.
We celebrate ancestors in the faith who built their lives on your promises and died having seen them only from a distance (especially Lawrence, deacon and martyr). Sustain us in our hope of things not seen. God of grace, hear our prayer.
Our innermost being waits for you, O Lord, our helper and our shield. Surely, our heart rejoices in you, for in your holy name we put our trust in your lovingkindness. We place our prayers and hope in you. Amen.
BLESSING
May the blessing of God, who provides for us, feeds us, and journeys with us [☩] be upon you now and forever. Amen.
CLOSING HYMN
O God, Our Help in Ages Past
DISMISSAL
Go forth in peace as the body of Christ to be fed and to fellowship among a variety of God’s creatures, not only with your delightful sisters and brothers, but with the marvelous animals here at Lake Tobias Wildlife Park.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE