Fourth 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.

Merciful Father, you have led us in this life as through a wilderness, always—even daily— bringing us into a place of abundance and peace. You have made readily available concord and harmony with you. You comfort us every day in the remembrance of that peaceful river of Holy Baptism. We pray you continue to make your hand known to your servants that our hearts may rejoice in you. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Great is your power and awe inspiring your works, Lord Jesus. Give us hearts that are watchful for the changes you produce for our sakes. You have made a way through the chaos, giving us safe passage to the land of promise. The challenges we feel in our modern lives, the sufferings of the present, are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. This is true also for those who know such heartbreak and loss in Texas and still in the mountains of North Carolina. Give them strength and courage to face today and tomorrow. May we all fix our eyes on the promise of your power. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Holy Spirit, inspire us to sow to the Spirit, carefully watching ourselves so that we are not tempted to despair. Knowing our own frailties, give us courage to extend mercy to others, restoring them to the path of following Jesus. Help us to bear one another’s difficulties, fulfilling the Mosaic law to love our neighbor as ourselves—but more importantly, to love each other as Christ loved us. We ask this especially for those suffering and mourning among us, our homebound, as well as the family of Helen Howe. In this way of love, we pray you would manifest Jesus in his whole body so that his cross is lifted before the world through the love of the Israel of God for each other. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord of the harvest, we have great concern for the future of your church in our land. We have been negligent in finding new pastors and church workers in our congregations. We have allowed our universities and seminaries to indoctrinate our young with dogmas that are not worthy of the name of Christ. So, we pray that you would send out laborers into your harvest, even workers from St. Paul’s. Use us to raise them up, knowing that they are sent as lambs in the midst of wolves. Yet the kingdom of God continues to come near; the time is now. Raise and send, Lord of the harvest, that Christ Jesus may be lifted up and proclaimed among the nations and here at home in the United States. 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. 

Vespers Tonight

The readings for discussion this evening are Deuteronomy 29:16–29; Revelation 12:1–12; Matthew 15:29–39. We begin with fellowship and finger food at 6pm in the parsonage across the street from the church. Evening Prayer begins at 6:30. Come to both for a blessed time.