30 Jul BULLETIN – SUNDAY, JULY 30, 2023

Posted at 12:09h in Bulletins by Messiah Lutheran Church

WELCOME to MESSIAH & ST. PETER LUTHERAN CHURCHES

Reverend Nancy Brody, Pastor

Greta Wright, Music Director

Sunday, July 30, 2023

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE

CONFESSION and FORGIVENESS Page 56

ENTRANCE HYMN

Father, We Praise You #267

APOSTOLIC GREETING Page 57

KYRIE and HYMN OF PRAISE Pages 57-59

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Beloved and sovereign God, through the death and resurrection of your Son you bring us into your kingdom of justice and mercy. By your Spirit, give us your wisdom, that we may treasure the life that comes from Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

FIRST READING 1 KINGS 3:5-12

At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant therefore an under-standing mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.”

PSALM 119:129-136

Your decrees are wonderful; therefore I obey them with all my heart.

When your word is opened it gives light; it gives under-standing to the simple.

I open my mouth and pant because I long for your commandments.

Turn to me and be gracious to me, as you always do to those who love your name.

Order my footsteps in your word; let no iniquity have dominion over me.

Rescue me from those who oppress me, and I will keep your commandments.

Let your face shine upon your servant and teach me your statutes.

My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your teaching.

Note: Today’s Second Reading follows the Sermon.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Page 62

GOSPEL MATTHEW 13:31-35, 44-52

[Jesus] put before [the crowds] another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.” Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing. This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth to speak in parables; I will proclaim what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.” “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. “Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

SERMON

SECOND READING ROMANS 8:26-39

The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

HYMN of the DAY

Beautiful Savior #518

PROFESSION of FAITH

The Apostles’ Creed Page 65

PRAYERS of INTERCESSION

Confident that God receives our joys and concerns, let us offer our prayers for the church, those in need, and all of creation. A brief silence.

Almighty God, we pray for the church and all who seek to preach and live out the gospel. Help us verbally proclaim and demonstrate by our actions that nothing can or will separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. For all to enter the kingdom of God please hear us, your mercy is great.

Gracious God, we pray for the well-being of creation. Safeguard the environment, clean polluted bodies of water, preserve the mighty tree and the tiny mustard seed, and send advocates for sustainable practices. For all to enter the kingdom of God please hear us, your mercy is great.

Compassionate God, we pray for the nations. Instill in all who govern the ability to discern between good and evil, free those who are oppressed, and protect those facing danger. Promote peace across the world and in our towns and neighborhoods. For all to enter the kingdom of God please hear us, your mercy is great.

Merciful God, we pray for all in any need. Protect those fleeing from war, shelter any who are in poverty, clothe the naked, soothe all who grieve, and heal the sick (especially those on our prayer list). For all to enter the kingdom of God please hear us, your mercy is great.

Holy God, we pray for this congregation, both those gathered today and those absent from our assembly. Grant safety to travelers and refreshment and safety for children attending summer camps or community programs. Give direction to any experiencing life transitions. For all to enter the kingdom of God please hear us, your mercy is great.

Eternal God, we give thanks for your saints who now rest from their labors. Inspire us by their witness to treasure the gospel; and offer wise reflections on your word. Continually nourish us with your grace and gift us with discernment. For all to enter the kingdom of God please hear us, your mercy is great.

Into your hands, O God, we commend all you have created and those for whom we pray, in the name of the one who died to reconcile all creation to himself, Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

EXCHANGE of PEACE

OFFERING & OFFERTORY

Create in me… Page 75

THE LORD’S PRAYER

BENEDICTION Page 74

CLOSING HYMN

This Is My Father’s World #554

DISMISSAL Page 74

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.

BULLETIN – SUNDAY, JULY 30, 2023