19th Sunday After Pentecost
19TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST / World Communion Sunday
10-04-2026 10:00AM Worship (in person and online)
+ We Rejoice In God’s Presence +
THE OPENING RITE:
L God cared enough about the world to send his Son. But the people cared more about themselves and, in their
selfishness, they murdered the Son. Let us confess our personal and our shared participation in the sin, the failure,
and the guilt of our broken lives and rebellious world.
C Dear God, you have planted us like a vineyard on a fertile hill, provided good seed for us, and protected us.
But we have yielded sour and wild grapes.
You have entrusted life, time and abilities, and unlimited possibilities and blessings to us.
But we have been unfaithful tenants, full of rebellion, violence, and injustice.
Is there any hope for us for the future? We bow our heads and humble our hearts in humility.
L The answer, my friends, will not be in blindly ignoring your situation and continuing your pursuit of the “small g” gods of
this world’s fading treasures and fleeting pleasures. Your salvation, my friends, will not depend on anything good you
have done or try to do. You are dependent on God’s grace. If you are sincere in your confession, then forget the sin that
lies behind and strain forward to what lies ahead… regard everything else as nothing, as rubbish compared to the
surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord. Amen.
OPENING SONG: “GATHER US IN”
Here in this place, new light is streaming, now is the darkness vanished away;
See in this space our fears and our dreamings, brought here to you in the light of the day.
Gather us in, the lost and forsaken… gather us in, the blind and the lame.
Call us to now, and we shall awaken, we shall arise at the sound of our name.
We are the young, our lives are a mystery, we are the old, who yearn for your face.
We have been sung throughout all of history, called to be light to the whole human race.
Gather us in, the rich and the haughty… gather us in, the proud and the strong.
Give us a heart so meek and so lowly, give us the courage to enter the song.
Here we will take the wine and the water, here we will take the bread of new birth.
Here you shall call your sons and your daughters, call us anew to be salt of the earth.
Give us to drink the wine of compassion… give us to eat the bread that is you.
Nourish us well, and teach us to fashion lives that are holy and hearts that are true.
(4) Not in the dark of buildings confining, not in some heaven, light years away –
here in this place the new light is shining, now is the kingdom, now is the day.
Gather us in, and hold us forever… gather us in, and make us your own.
Gather us in, all peoples together, fire of love in our flesh and our bone.
PRAYER OF THE DAY (together):
Holy God, without Christ all that we have is nothing… and with Christ all that we have is everything.
Forgive us, renew us, and restore us, so that we may be the people of your vineyard and bear good fruit,
pressing forward, looking upward, living faithfully and loving fervently. Amen.
+ We Rejoice in God’s Saving Word +
FIRST READING: ISAIAH 5:1-7
[The prophet’s sad song about Israel, God’s vineyard, gone sour and wild.]
SECOND READING: PHILIPPIANS 3:4b-14
[The rubbish of Paul’s merits and achievements next to the worth of Christ.]
GOSPEL VERSE: “There is strength in the name of the Lord…
There is power in the name of the Lord…
There is hope in the name of the Lord…
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
HOLY GOSPEL: MATTHEW 21:33-46
[Jesus’ sad song about those who would reject God’s cornerstone and murder God’s Son.]
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE SERMON: Pastor Gwen or Pastor Neil
SONG RESPONSE: “I KNOW IT WAS THE BLOOD” Brown #75
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 LIVE for Christ and SHARE God’s generosity with others!
Without Christ we have nothing. With Christ we have everything. Let us offer all that have to the Lord.
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
THE OFFERTORY SONG: “More about Jesus would I know, more of his grace to others show,
More of his saving fullness see, more of his love who died for me.
MORE, MORE ABOUT JESUS… MORE, MORE ABOUT JESUS…
MORE OF HIS SAVING FULLNESS SEE, MORE OF HIS LOVE WHO DIED FOR ME.
More about Jesus let me learn, more of his holy will discern;
Spirit of God, my Teacher be, showing the things of Christ to me.”
OFFERING PRAYER (see PHILIPPIANS 3:10-11) led by the Communion Assistant:
Dear God, I want to know Christ inside and out. I want to experience the power of his resurrection and join him
in his suffering. I want to be like him in his death and be raised like him from death. As I grow in the grace of
Christ, make me strong in my faith, bold in my witness, and fervent in my servant-love. There is no better life
than life in Christ! Amen.
THE PREFACE:
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 We are the Body of Christ! C His Spirit is in us! Alleluia!
L [continues the Preface]… we praise your name and join their 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 (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 forward 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.
If you cannot physically come to the altar but want to receive Holy Communion, please tell one of our ushers.
COMMUNION SONGS: “TO GOD BE THE GLORY” Brown #686
“MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING LESS” Brown #192
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: “WE ARE MARCHING IN THE LIGHT OF GOD” Brown #63