Third 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.

Almighty God and Lord of all, you have called each of us into the priesthood of faith. As such, you have chosen us, gifted us, and commissioned us with various duties — whether parents or children, husbands or wives, employers or employees, civil authorities or citizens, or pastors, preachers, missionaries, and the laity or support their work in so many ways — you have called us to the responsibility of two kingdoms, both temporal and spiritual. Help us through these left- and right-hand kingdoms to do our duties as though we were at work for you; for so we are. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Father, we are the work of your hand; we are yours. Forgive us when we pay no heed, giving little or no thought of you at all. Forgive us when we begin our days without so much as an “Our Father.” Change us right here, right now. Claim us anew and help us to honor the third petition of your Son’s prayer. Change our hearts, align our wills with yours, and strengthen and keep us firm in your Word and faith until the day we die. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus, you came into this fallen world to suffer and save sinners from sin and death; and this you have done. You have justified us by your shed blood and saved us from deserved and holy wrath. We rejoice that you have reconciled us to God, made us a kingdom of priests able to approach the throne of mercy and grace. Help us, therefore, to walk with you in the cool of the day as Adam did, enjoying your company. Help us look forward to that time each day when we may spend a moment in your Word and in prayer, giving thanks that we have the free gift of your grace. Sustain with your peace those among us who are suffering in body, soul, or spirit. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

So many of your churches suffer today, God. They are like sheep without a shepherd. Many congregations have gone without pastors for years. We have no answer but to pray as you told us: Lord of the Harvest, dispatch workers into the harvest. We sense and even seem to know with certainty that there are some here at St. Paul’s whom you are even now calling into ordained ministry at some point in their futures. Help them to hear your voice. Use us to encourage them in their faith. Move in us, Holy Spirit, to make us faithful as you have gifted each of us, and bless all of our efforts to enlarge your people here at St. Paul’s. To this point, Lord, we ask that you would bless our efforts to make this church building more useful for your work in the coming generation so that your name will be praised by those whom many of us may never meet. “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.” 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

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

Vespers this evening in the parsonage begins at 6pm. The readings for the Third Sunday after Pentecost: Ecclesiastes 1:1–11; Acts 8:26–40; Luke 11:1–13. These readings are also found on page 97 in For All the Saints, volume IV. Note this new page that offers a fuller text of readings that correspond to the Daily Lectionary.