Thirteenth 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.

Lord God, you have set before us life and death, blessing and curse. Give us faith to choose life, that we and our families may live our lives loving you, obeying your voice, and holding fast to you, for you are our life and length of days. Multiply your grace—grace upon grace—that we may dwell in the land that you have promised through Christ Jesus. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

You have given us a desire to know you and have provided us with delight in your Word. We know the benefits of spending time with you. Yet the easy allures of colorful screens and recreation and hobbies steal time that might have been spent with the One who has promised eternity. Give us the patient discipline to go deep with you, to meditate on your Word—if only the Catechism—throughout the day and when you awaken us, Holy Spirit, in the middle of the night. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We are blessed to hear of the early church, how it began in the homes of the faithful like Philemon. We ask this morning that the church would still meet in our homes, effectively sharing faith at meals and bedtimes. Turn our homes into little chapels that generate true knowledge of you through teaching and prayer—even as we have promised in the baptisms of our children—so that every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ might be known well and enjoyed. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Father, on our worst days we might admit that this life is a cross to bear. More difficult to confess is that when days are lovely and carefree, the cross is still there for us to bear. For on those days, we are tempted to pay you no mind, you who have given us these lives to live with you. Help us to bear this cross and follow you every day, renouncing even our lives on the worst days and the best. 

For those among us who feel that most days are the worst of days, those whose days are lived around suffering and mourning, give them the courage and the grace to complete the course of their lives with faith in Christ Jesus until the end. 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. 

Teaching

Feel free to open or download this week's preview of the lessons. We send this to our homebound with a bulletin each week and thought you might like to have a copy as well. You may read it online or print it out. It includes prayers, brief teaching on each of the four lessons for Sunday, an overview, and an additional Word Search based on the Gospel Lesson. 

Vespers Tonight

The readings for discussion this evening are 2 Samuel 13:1–22; Romans 15:1–13; John 3:22–36. 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. We'll be looking for you.