PENTECOST 5 07-13-2025 10:00AM “Hybrid” Worship

PENTECOST 5
07-13-2025 10:00AM “Hybrid” Worship

+ We Rejoice in God’s Spirit +

THE OPENING RITE:
L Let us gather this morning in the presence, the peace, the power, and the promises of Almighty God, Amen.
O Lord, we seek to obey what the Scripture tells us – to love you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
C And, Lord, we also try to love our neighbor as our self. That’s in the Bible too!
L But must I love evil people and those who have personally harmed me?
C Must I love people of a different skin color, economic class, or educational level?
L And must I love people whose bodies are broken or twisted or marred by disease or injury or nature?
C Must I love gay and lesbian and transgendered people?
L Lord, must I love persons who have relied on charity or depended on welfare most of their life?
C Must I love people in prison and people who ought to be in prison?
L And should I love people who practice poor hygiene or have outrageous habits?
C Must I love refugees, immigrants, boat people, migrant workers, and other “foreigners”?
L Lord, must I love people with AIDS or people who are HIV positive?
C Must I love people who ought to be in a mental hospital or just came from one?
L Do I need to love drug dealers and drug users and rapists and anybody who would abuse a child?
C Must I love Trump and MAGAs, “woke” leftists, or any people whose politics are different from mine?
L And must I love those young people who sit on my steps and lean on my car?
C Must I love my neighbors and family members who test my patience and understanding?
L Lord, must I really love the non-Christians of this world?
C Lord, must I really love that Christian sitting right next to me who doesn’t seem to be a true Christian?
L Tell me, Lord, who is deserving of my love?
C Tell me, Lord, who is it that I am to love as I love myself?
L Forgive us for asking, Almighty God, for the answer is in the words and the example of Jesus Christ, the One who came
to serve and to love us and was willing to die for us. Now he (+) forgives us our failings of the past and calls upon us to
transform our belief in him into action on behalf of others.
C Instead of asking, “Who deserves my love and help?”, guide us to ask, “Who needs my love and help?”
Then help us to live out that answer in our deeds. Amen.
OPENING SONG: “I LOVE YOU, LORD” Brown #288
PRAYER OF THE DAY (together):
Almighty God, here we are, flesh and blood, spirit and life – created, redeemed, and empowered by your love.
Today we confess that we have passed by many persons that we could and should have loved.
Please forgive us and take away both our guilt and our fear.
Open our eyes, ears, hearts, and hands to bear the name, spirit, and compassionate love of Jesus Christ.
Make us willing to cross the road to show mercy, to offer love. Amen.

+ We Rejoice in God’s Saving Word +

FIRST READING: DEUTERONOMY 30:9-14
[Moses calls the people, who are about to enter the “Promised Land” to renew the covenant that God made with their ancestors.
Through this covenant God gives life and asks for obedience. God’s Word is near enough to know… and obey!]
SECOND READING: COLOSSIANS 1:1-14
[This letter was written to warn its readers of various false teachings. The first part of the letter is an expression of thanks to God
and encouragement to those who are pleasing God by staying and growing in faith, hope, and love.
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: LUKE 10:25-37
[Jesus is asked to explain how to obey a great commandment. Jesus tells a parable that changes the theme from defining my
neighbor to being a neighbor. To those who get the point he says, “Go and do likewise.”]
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE SERMON: Pastor Gwen or Pastor Neil
SONG RESPONSE: “LORD, WHOSE LOVE IN HUMBLE SERVICE” Green #423
(1) Lord, whose love in humble service bore the weight of human need,
Who upon the cross, forsaken, worked your mercy’s perfect deed:
We, your servants, bring the worship not of voice alone, but heart;
Consecrating to your purpose every gift which you impart.
(2) Still your children wander homeless; still the hungry cry for bread;
Still the captives long for freedom; still in grief we mourn our dead
As you, Lord, in deep compassion healed the sick and freed the soul,
By your Spirit send your power to our world to make it whole.
(3) As we worship, grant us vision , till your love’s revealing light
In its height and depth and greatness dawns upon our quickened sight,
Making known the needs and burdens your compassion bids us bear,
Stirring us to ardent service, your abundant life to share.
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 +

OFFERING [All the paths of the Lord include servant love and faithfulness. Share compassion with those left on the side of the road!]
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!
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… We prepare to celebrate the LORD’S SUPPER with humble joy!
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 Christ are welcome at the Lord’s Table! We will have “continuous
distribution” with wafers and the option of wine or grape juice. Praise the Lord for this meal of peace and promise!
COMMUNION SONGS: Brown #119 Brown #185
THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER by the Communion Assistant.
+ We Rejoice in God’s Mission +

THE BENEDICTION by the Pastor… We are sent forth to be and become and BODY OF CHRIST for the world!
CLOSING SONG: “SEND ME, JESUS” Brown #244