11TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST 08-09-2026 10:00AM Worship (in person and online)
11TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
08-09-2026 10:00AM Worship (in person and online)
+ We Rejoice in God’s Presence +
OPENING SONG: “GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU” Tan #137
THE OPENING RITE (based on today’s Gospel): Pastor Neil
L O God of mighty power and tender mercy, I love that song! I love to hear it and sing it.
But I confess that sometimes my hope is weak and my faith is wavering.
And – when I face trials, troubles, tragedy, and terror – I anxiously cry out to your beloved Son,
“Lord Jesus, save me!”
C Sometimes I feel awash and so far from dry land,
and the waves batter against me
and the wild winds rage all about me,
and my boat seems too small,
and I doubt YOU and I doubt ME,
and I become discouraged, desperate, despairing, and drowning…
and then I think I’m going right down the drain!
HELP ME, LORD!
L Saint Paul reminds us today: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
And Jesus speaks to us: “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid,”
Sisters and brothers, know that God cares, trust that God reaches out and delivers, believe that God loves you
throughout this life’s sorrows and beyond this life’s end through his Son and our Savior (+) Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!
PRAYER OF THE DAY (together):
God of our present trouble and our promised triumph,
Open our eyes to see you in the midst of our struggles and storms.
Open our ears to hear your words of comfort and assurance.
Open our minds to remember your wonderful works and mighty miracles.
Open our hearts to glory in your name and to find strength in your Word.
We pray In the name of the One who is mightier than every wave and every wind, Jesus Christ, Amen!
+ We Rejoice in God’s Saving Word +
FIRST READING: 1KINGS 19:9-18 Trudi Wright
[ELIJAH – hiding, scared, and weak of faith. Is the noise in your own heart and mind so loud sometimes that you cannot hear the
sound of God in the silence? And remember, God’s perspective is different from our own.]
SONG SELECTION: Juanita Williams
SECOND READING: ROMANS 10:5-15 Joyce Gay
[PAUL – saddened and confused about the response of his Jewish people to Jesus. But he holds on in trust that the God who made covenants with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the twelve tribes of Israel – the Jewish believers – in the past has reached out in Christ to embrace all persons. Paul believes that God’s plan is not to exclude bur rather to include – Jews, Greeks, Romans, barbarians, both male and female, “free” people as well as “slaves”. No one is too good or too bad for God’s salvation.]
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 14:22-33 Ida Swindle
[PETER – sinking, scared, and weak of faith. Are you “drowning” or “dancing” in the midst of the waves that batter and the winds
that oppose? Take heart… the Lord can, has, did, and will save you!]
THE SERMON: Pastor Gwen or Pastor Neil
SONG RESPONSE: “JESUS, SAVIOR, PILOT ME” Tan #460
THE PRAYERS… We pray for NEW LIFE in the Spirit and for the MISSION of the Church to the world! Pastor David Maddox
+ 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… You don’t have to “walk on water” to prove your faith. Offer your time, abilities, and finances in witness 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: Juanita Williams
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: Tanya Morris
Lord God, we thank you for making a way out of no way in our life! During this summer may we dedicate
our leisure and our work, our rest and our travel, our service and our spending, our health and our
wealth, our worship and our 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: Tan #108 Tan #431
THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER by the Communion Assistant. Stephanie Fluellen
+ We Rejoice in Our Mission +
THE BENEDICTION by the Pastor:
L The winds and the waves will continue to threaten and frighten us in the days ahead. But Christ has encouraged us, “Take heart, I am here, have no fear!”
The ghosts of past and present dangers will continue to haunt us and cause us terror. But Christ has commanded us, “Take heart, I am here, have no fear!”
Leave in the assurance of God’s abiding love, the confidence of (+) Christ’s command, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
In the name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
C (sing)) “AMEN… AMEN… A—MEN!”
CLOSING SONG: “WE’LL UNDERSTAND IT BETTER BY AND BY” Tan #418