2ND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 06-07-2026
St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
2ND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 06-07-2026 10:00AM Worship (in person and online)
+ We Rejoice in God’s Presence +
THE OPENING RITE (based on PSALM 50):
L The Mighty One, the Lord our God, is moving all over the face of the earth.
Our God calls out to the heavens and earth to listen and judge, our God has an issue with the people here on earth.
C Our God comes and will not be silent.
Our God sends a destructive fire before him, and a mighty storm surrounds him.
Our God doesn’t seem too happy with us right now.
L The Mighty One, the Lord our God, is definitely not pleased with the people.
Our God rages with anger and thunders with judgment.
C Our God doesn’t need or want the people
to grill up some steaks,
to fry up some chicken,
or to broil up some fish
in order to satisfy God’s desire and hunger.
Our God doesn’t need or want
weak “Praise the Lords!”
empty “Hallelujahs!”
or half-hearted deeds of limited kindness
to come from our lips and our lives.
L The Mighty One, the Lord our God, is about to “go off” on the attitudes and the actions of humanity.
Our God is frustrated with those who are “playing religious”, and our God is angry with those who are “walking wicked”.
But our amazing God also continues to be patient and merciful, to reach out again, to offer love and a second chance.
We should never dare to underestimate God!
C We ought to listen to God’s voice with sorrow for our sin and with humble gratitude for God’s grace!
O let us be and become a people who know and seek the glory and splendor of God,
a strong and obedient people
a people truly able to share God’s love and mercy,
a people of joy, a living Body!
OPENING SONG: “REJOICE, O PURE IN HEART” Tan #537
PRAYER OF THE DAY (together) :
Almighty God, here we are, flesh and blood, spirit and life – created, redeemed, and empowered by your love!
Your Son Jesus declared that he came to call sinners into your kingdom.
We’re so glad he called us sinners, and we thank you for mercy, healing, and the grace of new life
May we follow the Christ and touch lives, heal diseases, and resurrect the dead. Amen.
+ We Rejoice in God’s Saving Word +
FIRST READING: HOSEA 5:15 – 6:6
[False trust in military power… and shallow repentance. God desires loyalty, not empty words or meaningless deeds.]
SECOND LESSON: ROMANS 4:13-25
[A trusting faith rather than a legalistic righteousness. Abraham shows us what it means to “hope against hope”.]
RECOGNITION AND CELEBRATION OF MINISTRY
GOSPEL VERSE: “Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.”
THE HOLY GOSPEL: MATTHEW 9:9-13, 18-2616-20
[Jesus loves “sinners”, “outcasts”, and other “losers”, including us. How might we extend the invitation to others?]
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE SERMON: Pastor Neil or Pastor Gwen
SONG RESPONSE: “NO, NOT ONE!” Tan #308
THE PRAYERS… We pray for NEW LIFE in the Spirit and for the MISSION of the Church to the world!
+ We Rejoice in God’s Nourishing Meal +
THE PEACE GREETING… We offer words and signs of GOD’S LOVE alive and real among us!
OFFERING… Let us offer who we are and what we have to help others have a “fresh start” through Jesus Christ!
In the Sanctuary put your offering in the offering plate to help do this. Or you can mail a check or money order to St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2169 74th Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19138. Or you can contribute online through bit.ly/stpetersgiving and set up a one-time donation or a recurring weekly gift to the categories you select. Or you can text Give+ at 833-914-0896 and
follow the instructions for your contribution.
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
OFFERING SONG: “Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
THIS IS MY STORY, THIS IS MY SONG,
PRAISING MY SAVIOR ALL THE DAY LONG! [sing the chorus 2 times]
We are God’s people, we are Christ’s Church, called by God’s Spirit into the world.
We have God’s power from heaven above, we’ll share God’s justice, mercy and love!”
OFFERING PRAYER led by the Communion Assistant:
O Lord our God, if your Spirit is alive within us, then stretch our time and abilities, our money and our mouths,
all that we are and all that we have, to testify to your amazing grace in Jesus Christ. Someone somewhere is in
need of your Good News. Amen.
THE PREFACE AND THE EUCHARISTIC WORDS:
L The Lord be with you. C And also with you.
L Lift up your hearts! C We lift them up in love for God!
L Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C It is right to give God our thanks and praise.
L Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful… C … and set us on fire with your love! Alleluia!
L We give you thanks, O God, for the gift of creation,
for earth and sky and sea, for the blessing of our own lives, and for your grace and mercy.
We give you thanks, O God, for the gift of Jesus Christ,
for the servant-love he showed us while living, and for the salvation he gave us by dying.
And we give you thanks, O God, for your Holy Spirit,
present in and among us to comfort, empower, and guide us as your servant people.
Today we join with all the saints on earth and all the angels in heaven
to praise your holy name and to sing the unending hymn…
C [singing…] “Holy, holy, holy, holy,
holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
and we lift our hearts before you as a token of our love,
holy, holy, holy, holy.
Precious Jesus, precious Jesus,
We’re so glad that you redeemed us, precious Jesus…
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit,
come and fill our hearts anew, O Holy Spirit…”
THE EUCHARISTIC WORDS by the Celebrant, who recalls and re-enacts Jesus’ Holy Meal.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
COMMUNION AND BLESSINGS… All believers in Christ are welcome at the Lord’s Table! You may come up by the center aisle and kneel or stand at the altar. Get an empty glass as you come up if you want wine from the chalice; we will also have a tray of pre-poured glasses of grape juice at the altar. You may return to your seats by the side aisles. PRAISE THE LORD FOR THIS COMMUNITY MEAL THAT RENEWS OUR SPIRITS, POWERS OUR FAITH, AND REMINDS US OF THE HEAVENLY BANQUET!
COMMUNION SONG: “THERE IS A BALM IN GILEAD” Tan #524
COMMUNION SONG: “GOD IS SO GOOD” Tan #156
COMMUNION SONG:“HIS NAME IS WONDERFUL”Tan #307
THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER by the Communion Assistant.
+ We Rejoice in Our Mission +
THE BENEDICTION:
L Go out, sisters and brothers, into the world with courage and conviction, bearing the love of God, the good news of Jesus
Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit in every word you speak, and in everything you do.
C (sing) A-MEN! A-MEN! A — — — MEN!
CLOSING SONG: “I’M SO GLAD” Tan #238