Fourth Sunday After Pentecost Worship Bulletin | 6-16-24 – St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church

06-16-2024 10:00AM “Hybrid” Worship

+ We Rejoice in God’s Glory +

THE OPENING RITE (based on Psalm 92): Pastor Bob Holum

L It is a mighty experience for me to be able to unload my heart,

and to spill out all my gratitude in thanksgiving to you, O Lord.

C I want to thank you early in the morning for your love!

I want to praise you late at night for your faithfulness!

I want to shout, sing, play a melody, and dance all day long to express my joy!

I want the entire world to know – each and every day – all about your greatness and glory!

L I realize that some on this earth do not really know you, and some on this earth do not ever understand you, and some on this earth have even boldly turned against you, claiming that their lives are totally successful without you.

C But I still am not swayed from believing that the better way, the blessed way,

the way that has deep, and sturdy roots,

the way that bears a legacy of green growth and fresh fruit,

comes from a life that seeks you, loves you, and serves you – even into my old age!

L So, Lord, be my Rock –

Give me strength in a topsy-turvy world.

C And, Lord, put me to good use –

that I may show forth your glory, justice, and love!

OPENING SONG: “MORE ABOUT JESUS” Tan #565

THE APOSTOLIC GREETING by the Pastor.

SONG OF PRAISE: “GOD IS” Tan #134

God is the joy and the strength of my life. He moves all pain, misery and strife.

He promised to keep me, never to leave me. He’s never, ever come short of His word.

I’ve got to fast and pray, stay in the narrow way. I’ll keep my life clean ev’ry day.

I want to go with Him when He comes back. I’ve come too far and I‘ll never turn back.

GOD IS… GOD IS… GOD IS… GOD IS… GOD IS MY ALL AND ALL.

THE PRAYER OF THE DAY (together):

Almighty God, here we are, flesh and blood, spirit and life – created, redeemed, and empowered by your love. Take our roots of faith and plant them deep… then grow and nurture our trust and obedience. We pray to grow into mighty oaks of righteousness and tall cedars of love, always and only by your power and grace through Jesus Christ. Amen.

+ We Rejoice in God’s Saving Word +

FIRST READING: EZEKIEL 17:22-24
[God will plant a mighty tree from Judah’s royal family to rule over creation.]

17:22 Thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of a cedar; I will set it out. I will break off a tender one from the topmost of its young twigs; I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.

17:23 On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it, in order that it may produce boughs and bear fruit, and become a noble cedar. Under it every kind of bird will live; in the shade of its branches will nest winged creatures of every kind.

17:24 All the trees of the field shall know that I am the LORD. I bring low the high tree, I make high the low tree; I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I the LORD have spoken; I will accomplish it.

SECOND READING: 2 CORINTHIANS 5:6-17
[Living or dying, Christians travel forward with a confident faith.]

5:6 So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord —

5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.

5:8 Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

5:9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

5:10 For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.

5:11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences.

5:12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart.

5:13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

5:14 For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.

5:15 And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them.

5:16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way.

5:17 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!

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: MARK 4:26-34
[The Kingdom – a hidden and uncontrolled growth, a great surprise!]

4:26 He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground,

4:27 and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how.

4:28 The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head.

4:29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.”

4:30 He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it?

4:31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth;

4:32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

4:33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it;

4:34 he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.

MUSIC SELECTION

THE SERMON: Pastor David Maddox II

SONG RESPONSE:

“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! Tami Hillsman

+ We Rejoice in God’s Nourishing Meal +

OFFERING [If we are in Christ, we are a NEW CREATION. Let’s BE it and SHOW it in our loving and our giving!]

Those in the Sanctuary can put their offering in the offering plate to share their gratitude and their generosity in response to Christ’s love. Those who are farther away might: mail a check or money order to St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2169 74th Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19138… contribute online through bit.ly/stpetersgiving and set up a one-time donation or a recurring weekly gift to selected categories… or text Give+ at 833-914-0896 and follow the instructions to register and record your contribution. God has blessed us to be a blessing!

Giving in 2024

A brief note. Our 2024 Budget envisions receiving and spending $179,787. At the end of March

we had a surplus of $5,586.75 in income. But April and May giving did not stay strong, and after

5 months we have a deficit of $6,948.50. Expenses have been as expected, income has not. We

know that past years often have economic highs and lows… let’s put our hearts and wallets to

the task this year.

MUSIC SELECTION

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: Micah Gillum

God our Creator, the fruit of your Holy Spirit is love and joy… peace and patience… kindness and goodness…faithfulness and gentleness… and self-control. Because your Son Jesus has set us free from self-concern and self-service, from nasty attitudes and harmful deeds, help us to live by the Spirit, to invest ourselves in service to others. We offer you our gifts and our lives for the sake of the world. 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 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

COMMUNION AND BLESSINGS… All believers in Jesus Christ are welcome at the Lord’s Table! The wine may be received from the pouring chalice; we also have grape juice on the tray. Praise the Lord for this community meal that renews our spirits, powers our faith, and reminds us of the future heavenly banquet that awaits us!

COMMUNION SONGS: Tan #409 Tan #573 Tan #577

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: “The Lord Is My Light” Tan #160