18 Aug BULLETIN – SUNDAY, AUGUST 18, 2024
ANNUAL CHURCH PICNIC
MESSIAH & ST. PETER’S LUTHERAN CHURCHES
Reverend Nancy Brody, Pastor
Greta Wright, Music Director
August 18, 2024
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, [☩] one God, Amen.
Let us approach Christ in humility and seek God’s abundant mercy by confessing our sin.
Dear Lord, help us. We find it hard to believe everything that you say. We prefer doing things our own way rather than trust in you. We’d rather not be told what to do and resist having to change.Turn us again to you, Lord, for there is no one else from whom we wish to gain forgiveness, favor, wisdom and righteousness. Grow your Spirit in us to better bear your light and show your love throughout the world.
God is always listening to the yearnings of our hearts and graciously hears our confession. He sent his Son, Jesus to feed and nourish with the bread of life, to heal and work miracles, to make sure there would be enough for all. When God looks at you, God sees you through the lens of Christ. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit [☩] you are shown God’s mercy, are forgiven and loved into abundant and everlasting life. Amen.
GATHERING HYMN When Morning Gilds the Skies
When morning gilds the skies,
my heart awaking cries:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
When evening shadows fall,
this rings my curfew call:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Let all of humankind
in this their concord find:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Let all the earth around
ring joyous with the sound:
may Jesus Christ be praised!
Sing, sun and stars of space,
sing, all who see his face,
sing, “Jesus Christ be praised!”
God’s whole creation o’er,
today and evermore,
shall Jesus Christ be praised!
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray. Ever-loving God, your Son gives himself as living bread for the life of the world. Help us to experience his presence today so we may be strengthened and sustained by the power of his resurrection to better love and serve you continually in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
FIRST READING PROVERBS 9:1-6
Wisdom is portrayed as a woman who invites people to partake of her banquet. Just as ordinary food is necessary for physical life, Wisdom’s food—insight and understanding—is necessary for fullness of life with God. Partaking of Wisdom’s banquet is the way to life.
Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn her seven pillars. She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine, she has also set her table. She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls from the highest places in the town, You that are simple, turn in here!” To those without sense she says, “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.
Lay aside immaturity, and live, and walk in the way of insight.”
PSALM 34:9-14
🎶Fear the Lord, you saints | of the Lord, for those who fear the | Lord lack nothing.
🎶The lions are in want and | suffer hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack nothing | that is good.
🎶Come, children, and lis- | ten to me; I will teach you reverence | for the Lord.
🎶Who among you takes plea- | sure in life and desires long life to en- | joy prosperity?
🎶Keep your | tongue from evil and your lips from | lying words.
🎶Turn from evil | and do good; seek peace | and pursue it.
SECOND READING EPHESIANS 5:15-20
Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
TEN BIBLE VERSES ABOUT WISDOM FROM THE ESV
-
- The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7
- Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5–6
- If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5
- Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore, do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Ephesians 5:6–10
- Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1
- Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2
- Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:13–18
- Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:24
- And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. Philippians 1:9–10
- Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” Romans 11:33–35
GOSPEL JOHN 6:51-58
[Jesus said,] “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.”
SERMON
HYMN OF THE DAY He Leadeth Me
He leadeth me: oh, blessed thought!
Oh, words with heav’nly comfort fraught!
Whate’er I do, where’er I be,
still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me.
Refrain
He leadeth me, he leadeth me,
by his own hand he leadeth me.
His faithful foll’wer I would be,
for by his hand, he leadeth me.Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom,
by waters calm, o’er troubled sea,
still ’tis God’s hand that leadeth me. RefrainAnd when my task on earth is done,
when by thy grace the vict’ry’s won,
e’en death’s cold wave I will not flee,
since God through Jordan leadeth me. RefrainPRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Calling on the spirit of Wisdom to guide our hearts and our minds, let us pray for the church, the world, and all in need. A brief silence.
Wisdom has built her house. May the church be a house of wisdom for all who enter. May we continue to grow and stretch in ways we never thought possible. Those who seek the Lord lack nothing that is good.
Wisdom has mixed her wine. May the harvest seasons be plentiful this year. We pray for orchards, vineyards, farms, and all of creation. Protect and conserve the earth.Those who seek the Lord lack nothing that is good.
Wisdom has employed her laborers. Be with all who seek adequate employment. Guide our economic and governmental leaders to support the people of our world with fair wages and safe working conditions. Those who seek the Lord lack nothing that is good.
Wisdom has invited her guests. Make your presence known to all who feel lost, abandoned, or hurting at this time. Direct your spirit of care to all who seek healing and comfort (especially those on our prayer list). Those who seek the Lord lack nothing that is good.
Wisdom has set her table. May this congregation be a welcome table to all who seek the refuge of God. Break down walls and barriers that prevent us from offering a seat at this table to anyone who comes. Those who seek the Lord lack nothing that is good.
Wisdom has shown her path of insight. May we journey on her paths, looking toward a bright future while remembering from where we have come. We give our thanks for those who have gone before us. Those who seek the Lord lack nothing that is good.
We lift up these prayers to you, gracious God. Receive them into your holy keeping. Amen.
BLESSING
The blessing of God, who provides for us, feeds us, and journeys with us,[☩] be upon you now and forever. Amen.
CLOSING HYMN I Love to Tell the Story
I love to tell the story
of unseen things above,
of Jesus and his glory,
of Jesus and his love.
I love to tell the story,
because I know it’s true;
it satisfies my longings
as nothing else would do.Refrain
I love to tell the story;
I’ll sing this theme in glory
and tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.I love to tell the story:
how pleasant to repeat
what seems, each time I tell it,
more wonderfully sweet!
I love to tell the story,
for some have never heard
the message of salvation
from God’s own holy word. RefrainI love to tell the story,
for those who know it best
seem hungering and thirsting
to hear it like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory,
I sing the new, new song,
I’ll sing the old, old story
that I have loved so long. RefrainDISMISSAL
Go forth in peace as the body of Christ to be fed and to fellowship among a variety of God’s fascinating creatures, not only with fellow human beings, but with the animals of Lake Tobias Wildlife Park. Thanks be to God.
Copyright © 2024 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.