Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Order of Worship

Download today's bulletin PDF for the entire order of worship and more. 

Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.

We know we are a vineyard filled with wild grapes, bent so often on unfruitful and unfaithful ways. Cultivate your church, Lord, that we may bear fruit befitting your garden. Purge the wild grapes in each of us, that good wine may flow from your church into the world, that the world may know whose we are, and be drawn to you. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Let your fine light shine upon us, O God of hosts. Save us, not because we deserve salvation but because of your great love for your creation. Left to our own devices, we would fall before the invading armies of the devil, sin, death, and hell. Turn us again to you and keep us in your presence so that we may know your peace. We especially ask this for those who are suffering in body and soul among us, those whom we confidently name before you now… Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We may not be as confident as Paul, Father, but we imagine ourselves religiously self-assured in many ways. We read our Bibles — if something more urgent doesn’t come along. We pray — when we need you. We worship — but often enough from the sidelines or the other side of a screen. We are Lutheran — but have difficulty explaining what that even means. We come from good families who have been going to St. Paul’s for generations — though our own children may only be with us at Christmas or Easter. Whatever gain we imagine these things to be, help us to consider them rubbish compared to the surpassing value of knowing you, Christ Jesus — and being known by you. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Eternity stretches before us, Lord. We know ourselves to be eternal beings because you have created us to live forever. So, help us to not reject you which would mean dying forever in the fires of hell. Nor would we wish to be excluded from your kingdom or separated from you forever. So, keep us in the faith; help us to produce fruits in keeping with that faith — and when we do not, to bear the greatest fruit of all: faith in your mercy and forgiveness, for Christ’s sake. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy — through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen