BULLETIN – SUNDAY, JULY 21, 2024

BULLETIN – SUNDAY, JULY 21, 2024

WELCOME to MESSIAH & ST. PETER LUTHERAN CHURCHES

The Reverend Nancy Brody, Pastor

Greta Wright, Organist

Sunday, July 21, 2024

Ninth Sunday After Pentecost

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE

BRIEF ORDER OF CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS     Page 56

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

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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

Most merciful God, we confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. 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. 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. 

Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and, for his sake, forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

GATHERING HYMN

Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us     #481

APOSTOLIC GREETING     Page 57

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

KYRIE     Pages 57-59

🎶In peace let us pray to the Lord.

🎶Lord have mercy.

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

🎶Lord have mercy.

🎶For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

🎶Lord have mercy.

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

🎶Lord have mercy.

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

🎶Amen.

HYMN OF PRAISE     Pages 58-59

🎶Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.

🎶Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father: we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God: You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. You are seated at the right hand of the Father; receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

🎶The Lord be with you.

🎶And Also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

O God, powerful and compassionate, you shepherd your people, faithfully feeding and protecting us. Heal each of us, and make us a whole people, that we may embody the justice and peace of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

FIRST READING      JEREMIAH 23:1-6

Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the LordTherefore, thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the LordThen I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord. The days are surely coming, says 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. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”

PSALM    23

🎶The Lord | is my shepherd; I shall not | be in want.

🎶The Lord makes me lie down | in green pastures and leads me be- | side still waters.

🎶You restore my | soul, O Lord, and guide me along right pathways | for your name’s sake.

🎶Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall | fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they | comfort me. 

🎶You prepare a table before me in the presence | of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil, and my cup is | running over.

🎶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days | of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the | Lord forever.   

SECOND READING     EPHESIANS 2:11-22

Remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called “the uncircumcision” by those who are called “the circumcision”— a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands —remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION     Page 62

🎶Alleluia, Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia. Alleluia.

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

🎶Glory to you, O Lord.

GOSPEL     MARK 6:30-34, 53-56

The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught.He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

The Gospel of the Lord.

🎶Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON

HYMN of the DAY

Lord, Speak to Us, that We May Speak     #403

PROFESSION of FAITH     Apostles’ Creed     Page 65

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He decended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life-everlasting. Amen.

PRAYERS of INTERCESSION

One in communion with the saints and one in gifting by the power of the Holy Spirit, we join our voices in prayer. A brief silence.

For the church of Christ in this and every land, we pray that Jesus will draw all people together uniting them in shared belief under the holy powers of mercy and peace. Like a shepherd lead us Lord, to receive of your goodness and grace. 

For all of creation: Cause new trees to be planted. Restrain the melting of polar ice caps. Save land from destruction. Raise up caretakers of all you have made. Like a shepherd lead us Lord, to renew your goodness and grace. 

For the leaders of all peoples, nations and tribes: Where peace seems far off, bring it near. Where justice seems fleeting, bring it to light. Where discord seems relentless, bring harmony. Like a shepherd lead us Lord, to show others your goodness and grace. 

For the health and well-being of family, friends, and neighbors: Heal those who are sick (especially those on our prayer list). Give courage to all who struggle with addiction. Touch with your tender care all who reach out to you in pain. Like a shepherd lead us Lord, to bring comfort through your goodness and grace. 

For this assembly and for the faith communities represented this week at the ELCA Youth Gathering: Nurture the faith of young people as they encounter many new experiences. Break down dividing walls and inspire collaboration among people of every age. Like a shepherd lead us Lord, to reveal your goodness and grace. 

In thanksgiving for those who have died: Make us certain that in Christ we are no longer strangers and aliens but citizens with the saints in the household of God. Like a shepherd lead us Lord, so that goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives and we dwell in your house forever. 

Oh Lord, you are our shepherd, who restores our souls and guides us along right pathways for thy name’s sake. Though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we fear no evil. Thou are with us; thy rod and staff provide protection and comfort. Take our every care, concern, and burden for we know that only you can help or save us. Amen.

EXCHANGE OF PEACE

OFFERING

OFFERATORY

🎶Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with your free Spirit.

LORD’S PRAYER

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 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

CLOSING HYMN

The Church’s One Foundation    #369

DISMISSAL     Page 74

Go in peace. Serve the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE

Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. Used by permission. Prayers adapted from Sundays and Seasons, copyright © 2019, Augsburg Fortress. Used with permission. Psalm readings from Lutheran Book of Worship, copyright © 1978. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual Subscription #SB160715 Other quotations from Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, National Council of Churches in Christ in the United States of America. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Altar flowers at St. Peter are presented by 

Ross & Nicole Miller in celebration of their 6th Anniversary.

Altar flowers at Messiah are presented by

Pam & Michael Jury in memory of 

Dee Hoffman and Randy Jury.