Order of Worship – 7th Sunday after Pentecost
7TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
07-12-2026 10:00AM Worship (in person and online)
+ We Rejoice in God’s Presence +
OPENING SONG: “COME, THOU FOUNT OF EVERY BLESSING” Brown #108
THE OPENING RITE:
L Church, today we are invited to think about God as a Great Sower and Life-Giver who lovingly, patiently, and hopefully
drops a tiny kernel of his word upon each of us. God looks and longs for us to be good soil for the seed that is offered.
God waits and hopes for us to respond with strong roots, healthy growth, and fruitful results. But it doesn’t always
develop as it might. And therefore let us confess…
C O Lord, I am sometimes like hardened ground and sometimes like shallow ground and sometimes like
thorny ground when your word arrives in my life.
Life’s troubles and tribulations dry up my faith,
and my attraction to this world’s fading treasures and fleeting pleasures choke my faith out.
So I don’t always think, speak, or act in a way that accepts and responds to your love.
Forgive my frail and faulty ways, and cultivate in me a spirit of greater trust and faithfulness.
Give me new birth, new life, and your message to show and tell as one who is full of Jesus Christ. Amen.
L The good news is this, offered by St. Paul: “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
For the law of the Spirit of Life in Jesus Christ has set us free from the law of sin and death.” God forgives you (+) for
your past failings and fears, and God waters your soul in its parched and hardened places. Come alive once more! Shout
and sing your praises! Be fruitful in thought, word, and deed! Amen now and Amen always!
PRAYER OF THE DAY (together):
Gardener of Creation, we offer you our thanks for planting the seed of your word in us.
Help us to be open to your Holy Spirit as you till, fertilize, and water us.
We want to be part of your beautiful garden of love, justice, and mercy.
Nurture and guide us to bear much fruit in the seasons of life you have given each and all of us. Amen.
+ We Rejoice in God’s Saving Word +
FIRST READING: ISAIAH 55:10-13
[God’s Word is like rain watering the dry earth – restoring and renewing us.]
SUNDAY SCHOOL CHILDREN… We are so grateful for faith, hope, and love growing in young followers of Jesus!
SECOND READING: ROMANS 8:1-11
[God’s Living Word, Jesus, is freedom from condemnation, new life for us sinners.]
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 13:1-9, 18-23
[God’s Word is a seed of good news bearing good results – when we are the right soil.]
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE SERMON: Pastor Gwen or Pastor Neil
SONG RESPONSE: “LORD, LET MY HEART BE GOOD SOIL” Brown #131
Lord, let my heart be good soil, open to the seed of your Word. Lord, let my heart be good soil, where love can grow
and peace is understood. When my heart is hard, break the stone away. When my heart is cold, warm it with the day.
When my heart is lost, lead me on your way. Lord, let my heart, Lord, let my heart, Lord, let my heart be good soil.
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 give gratefully and generously to ease burdens, offer mercy, and share good news of God’s love!
In the Sanctuary, place your offering in the offering plate or scan the QR code on the screen.
At home, mail a check or money order to St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2169 74th Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19138 or scan the QR code on the screen. You can also 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. Thank God, praise God, and serve God with your faithful giving.
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!
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. CHRIST
OFFERS US PEACE, POWER, AND PROMISE FOR FAITHFUL LIVING AND FERVENT LOVING!
COMMUNION SONGS: Brown #234 Brown #283
THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER by the Communion Assistant.
+ 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: “LET US TALENTS AND TONGUES EMPLOY” Brown #232
Farming trivia: A seed of grain can yield 100 times its weight in crops.
What “crop” does Jesus want believers to yield?
What can you do to increase your “crop productivity”? Will you try?