5th Sunday After Pentecost 6/28/2026
5TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
06-28-2026 10:00AM Worship (in person and online)
+ We Rejoice in God’s Presence
OPENING SONG: “O GOD, OUR HELP IN AGES PAST” Tan #170
THE OPENING RITE (based on PSALM 89):
L Always and forever, O Lord!
Always and forever I will sing and shout about, I will praise and proclaim your steadfast love!
C Always and forever, O Lord!
Always and forever you are loving, you are kind, you are faithful to your people!
L Always and forever, O Lord!
Always and forever I will walk in the light of your presence, I will rejoice daily in your name!
C Always and forever, O Lord!
Always and forever you are my strength and my shield, my peace and my promise!
L Always and forever, O Lord!
Always and forever I will seek your will and serve you with an obedient heart!
C But sometimes, O Lord, I might not be so holy and righteous and obedient.
Sometimes, O Lord, I might sin and fail.
Will you be angry with me forever?
Will you punish me always?
L The Lord answers,
“If they violate my decrees and fail to keep my commands,
I will punish their sin with the rod, their iniquity with the whip.
But I will not take my love from them, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.
I will not violate my covenant or alter the word that my lips have uttered.” (Verses 31-34)
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY (together):
Almighty God, here we are, flesh and blood, spirit and life – created, redeemed, and empowered by your love!
Because you have freed us from the power of sin and death, help us live faithful lives of mercy and justice.
Teach us to overcome fear with hope, to meet hate with love, to welcome little ones with cups of cold water.
Amen.
+ We Rejoice in God’s Saving Word +
FIRST READING: JEREMIAH 28:5-9
[Jeremiah vs. Hananiah. Two prophets proclaiming the Word of the Lord. One speaks of God’s judgement, of submitting to the
invaders and accepting the punishment it brings. The other speaks glowingly of God’s love and mercy and promises an imminent
deliverance from the threat of Babylon, lasting peace, and a restoration to national greatness. Only one can be speaking truth –
God’s word – for that moment in history.]
SECOND READING: ROMANS 6:12-23
[Paul asserts that sin is an enslaving power that motivates us to live self-serving and disobedient lives. Sin’s final payoff is death.
In Christ, however, we have been set free from sin’s slavery to live obediently under God’s grace, whose end is the free gift of
eternal life.]
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.”
HOLY GOSPEL: MATTHEW 10:40-42
[Last Sunday, Jesus warned his disciples then and now that their ministry in his name will surely meet with persecution
and hardships. This week, he promises to reward those who aid his followers and support his ministry.]
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE SERMON: Pastor Gwen or Pastor Neil
SONG RESPONSE: “GOD IS A WONDER TO MY SOUL” Tan #132
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 our gifts and our lives, spreading God’s love as workers in the harvest!
In the Sanctuary put your offering in the offering plate. 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. Give generously in the name of the One who gave us all!
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:
Lord God, thank you for making a way out of no way in my life! During this summer may I dedicate
my leisure and my work, my rest and my travel, my service and my spending, my health and my
wealth, my worship and my witness to glorify You and to extend your Kingdom to others.
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 giving life to all of creation, 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.
We give you thanks, O God, for your Holy Spirit, for the community of faith you have built,
and for the witness of love you have empowered.
We join with all the saints on earth and all the angels in heaven
to praise your holy name and to sing with joy…
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 (spoken)
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: “KUM BA YAH” Tan #437
COMMUNION SONG: “JUST AS I AM” Tan #345
THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER by the Communion Assistant. Mailiek Patterson
+ We Rejoice in Our Mission +
THE BENEDICTION by the Pastor…We are sent forth to be and become the BODY OF CHRIST for the world!
CLOSING SONG: “GOD NEVER FAILS’ Tan #159
5TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 06-28-2026
Paul asserts that sin is an enslaving power that motivates us to live self-serving and disobedient lives. Sin’s final payoff is death. In Christ, however, we have been set free from sin’s slavery to live obediently under God’s grace, whose end is the free gift of eternal life. But we need to understand that grace is not a debit card to live any old way we desire! Old habits and values are tempting and easy. And Satan doesn’t give up on us, on our human nature. The life-giving way is to practice living into our new identity as Christians, living faithfully and loving fervently, becoming like Christ in character and in action.
“The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”(Romans 6:23). Always make the right choice in your journey of life. Accept the gift.
TODAY
9:00AM All Saints Choir warm-up.
10:00AM + PENTECOST SEASON WORSHIP + (in person and online).
LOVE, NOT HATE. PEACE, NOT VIOLENCE.
MERCY, NOT GREED. JUSTICE, NOT ABUSE.
HUMILITY, NOT ARROGANCE. GOD’S TRUTH, NOT LIES. THE WAY OF JESUS, NOT JUST “MY WAY”.
When heartstrings are touched and love pours out!
Beyond support of our 2026 Budget ($187,927 is what we envision spending this year) are those opportunities for special giving on behalf of others. They include:
ELCA World Hunger Appeal (responding to international, national, and local hunger and poverty).
We received $170 last Sunday and $1,837 to date. Thank you for caring that shares survival!
Lutheran Charities Appeal (assisting three local social ministry organizations – KenCrest Services, Lutheran
Settlement House, and Gemma Services – that serve thousands of neighbors with various needs). We have received $496 to date. Lives are being changed! You are offering health and help to others!
St. Peter’s Church Mission Offering (For January 1 – June 30 it is Sisters of St. Joseph Refugee Housing Project, so TODAY is the last opportunity to respond.) We have received $512 to date. Thanks so much for reaching out to someone searching for adequate housing! We also gave them $579.65 in 2024.
“God’s Global Barnyard” is an ELCA development project to help families and villages fight poverty. It involves sending chickens, goats, cows, and other animals and items somewhere in the world Children often are eager to help with this project. We have received $20 to date.
Lutheran Disaster Response (walking with communities before, during, and after specific tragedies such as fires, floods, and storms… often staying for years) and Lutheran World Relief (addressing suffering, poverty, and injustice throughout the world) are both responses of love and compassion in action.
ThiS week At st. peTer’s
Monday, 7:00PM Scholarship Committee meeting on Zoom.
Wednesday, 9:30AM Senior Ministry “Sister Talk” Discussion and Study. Men are also invited.
Wednesday, 10:30AM Whole Foods fresh produce distribution in Rhoda Hall to the community.
Thursday… Congratulations to Robbie Pollock, Jr. and Natalie, wedding in Portugal.
(Robbie grew up here; his grandfather, Bobbie Pollock, died May 17.)
Thursday, 7:30PM AL-ANON STEP GROUP. Find and share support to overcome codependence!
Friday, 8:30AM We don’t know if the holiday will delay the distribution of Senior Food Boxes.
Saturday, July 4 In these days of war and rumors of war, hurt and hate, chaos and corruption, a declining President and divided “kingdom”,
make America human again. Value peace, love, and justice.
BEAR CREEK CAMP! Children, get close to God’s created world in the Pocono Mountains, to new friends and old, and to the experience of sharing Christ’s love with others. The “Philly Connect” base fee will again be $75; additional items (Camp Store, photo or video) will cost extra. You can register online or on paper. See the Pastors if you have any questions. There are 8 sessions. A few members of St. Peter’s have offered to sponsor a child’s full week of camp.
What’s Happening…
July 5… PENTECOST 6. Hybrid Worship in person and online at 10:00AM.
July 13… CHURCH COUNCIL meeting, 7PM, hybrid (in person or online).
July 18… Rental event in Rhoda Hall, 4:00PM.
August 1… “Community Day” at St. Peter’s, planned by Stephanie Fluellen and Carol Chatman… read today’s
flyer for more information.