WORSHIP- 6th Sunday of Pentecost -7/20/2025
PENTECOST 6
07-20-2025 10:00AM Worship (in person and online)
+ We Rejoice in God’s Spirit +
THE OPENING RITE:
L Greetings in the name of Jesus! The Holy One gathers us in this place and welcomes us to this time of worship.
God counts each person – you! – precious and irreplaceable, a unique creation, beloved and valued.
But sometimes we forget the love God offers us, we turn from the life that God calls us to live.
With humble and trusting hearts, let us focus ourselves and confess…
C Merciful God, we confess that we are busy, busy, oh so busy –
busy doing this, busy doing that, and busy trying not to be busy.
We confess that we have been distracted with many things.
We confess that we have allowed our lives to be filled with anxiety.
We confess that we have lived as if the world revolved around us – our feelings, our desires, and our hurts.
We confess that all this busy-ness makes us less attentive to your Word and less patient with one another.
Slow us up and forgive us. Help us to focus on the presence, the peace, and the teachings of Christ. Amen.
L God meets us where we are, forgives us through [+] Jesus Christ, and inspires us by what we may become.
Let this time of worship be a renewing breath of new life, of peace and power and promise for faithful living. Amen.
OPENING SONG: “WE HAVE COME INTO HIS HOUSE” Tan #174
PRAYER OF THE DAY (together):
Almighty God, here we are, flesh and blood, spirit and life – created, redeemed, and empowered by your love.
As we sit at the feet of Jesus this morning, open our ears to hear your Word, open our eyes to see your truth, and open our hearts to receive your grace.
Only then can we open our lives in faithful witness and loving service to you. Amen.
+ We Rejoice in God’s Saving Word +
FIRST READING: GENESIS 18:1-10a
[Welcoming strangers, Abraham receives God’s assurance of a promise to be kept. Their lives will be changed!]
SECOND READING: COLOSSIANS 1:15-28
[Those who have received Christ fully in their lives will never be the same!]
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 10:38-42
[Welcome Christ with an undistracted heart… serve Christ with a joyous spirit. Your life will be changed!]
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE SERMON: Pastor Robert Holum, St. Peter’s member
SONG RESPONSE: “MORE ABOUT JESUS” Tan #565
AN AFFIRMATION OF OUR FAITH… We confess our FAITH in the God who has given us life, love, and new life…
I trust in God who has made me his own. I know that God loves me. To God I am as precious as his own
Son, Jesus Christ, who lived and died in obedience to his Father’s will. Jesus suffered our pain, and
through his suffering and death has brought us into fellowship with God.
I believe that God through his Spirit will give me strength when I am oppressed and weary… will give me love
when I am afraid and lonely… and will guide his Church to make people free at last.
I believe that God lives in the fellowship of those who trust him, and that God wants all people to be brought
into that fellowship.
I believe that nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
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 [Let us allow our joy in Christ Jesus to become joy in extending his love to others through humble service!.]
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 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 that celebrates Christ’s presence, peace, power, and promises in or lives and in our community of faith!
COMMUNION SONGS: Tan #438 Tan #396
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: “SWEET, SWEET SPIRIT” Tan #326
(1) There’s a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place, and I know that it’s the Spirit of the Lord.
There are sweet expressions on each face, and I know they feel the presence of the Lord.
SWEET HOLY SPIRIT, SWEET HEAVENLY DOVE,
STAY RIGHT HERE WITH US, FILLING US WITH YOUR LOVE.
AND FOR THESE BLESSINGS WE LIFT OUR HEARTS IN PRAISE;
WITHOUT A DOUBT WE’LL KNOW THAT WE HAVE BEEN REVIVED
WHEN WE SHALL LEAVE THIS PLACE!”
(2) There are blessings you cannot receive till you know God in his fullness and believe.
You’re the one to profit when you say, “I am going to walk with Jesus all the way!”