Third Sunday after Pentecost
June 14, 2026
Scripture Texts: Exodus 19:2–8; Psalm 100:1–5; Romans 5:6–15; Matthew 9:35–10:20
Sermon: The Free Gift of God
Join us in our service of worship at 10:30am which includes a sermon on God's free gift from Pastor Lord. We will have sacred music, readings from the Bible, the Lord's Supper, and a chat with our children with Pastor Ryman.
Crossword Puzzle based on today's readings
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.
Announcements
• Youth and Family Water Sports Event, June 19
• Father's Day, June 21
• Vacation Bible School, June 26–28
• VBS volunteer cookout on June 27th
Visitors Info
If you live in the area or are passing through, please worship with us in-person. We also livestream our services on this page.
Expect traditional worship with liturgy and Holy Communion each Sunday and a message grounded in the Scriptures and guided by the Lutheran Confessions — all in a friendly, multigenerational environment.
We welcome and encourage children to worship with us. Just before the sermon, our children take up a spare change offering for mission. Then they join one of our pastors on the chancel steps for a chat about today's Scriptures. We think you will love this part of the service.
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.
Morning Prayer
Join us for Morning Prayer in the chapel, Monday through Friday at 8:30am, where we read and discuss Scripture and pray together. The readings from the Daily Lctionary for the week of the Third Sunday after Pentecost are listed below. These may also be found beginning on page 97 in For All the Saints, volume IV. Click here for a list of the week's readings that includes a fourth reading that ties together thematically each day's readings.
Sunday: Ecclesiastes 1:1–11; Acts 8:26–40; Luke 11:1–13
Monday: Ecclesiastes 2:1–15; Galatians 1:1–17; Matthew 13:44–52
Tuesday: Ecclesiastes 2:16–26; Galatians 1:18–2:10; Matthew 13:53–58
Wednesday: Ecclesiastes 3:1–15; Galatians 2:11–21; Matthew 14:1–12
Thursday: Ecclesiastes 3:16–4:3; Galatians 3:1–14; Matthew 14:13–21
Friday: Ecclesiastes 5:1–7; Galatians 3:15–22; Matthew 14:22–36
Saturday: Ecclesiastes 5:8–20; Galatians 3:23–4:11; Matthew 15:1–20
*We do not meet in the chapel on Saturdays. On Sundays, we meet in the parsonage at 6pm to discuss the readings.
Giving
You may give an offering online to the General Fund and to some specific funds, using this secure link. If you do not have an account with Tithely, it will only take a few minutes to set that up. If you need help, please call the church office at 704-633-0922. Please note that a small, typical percentage is retained by Tithely.
You may also mail offerings to:
St. Paul's Lutheran Church
205 St. Paul's Church Road
Salisbury, NC 28146
License
Streaming License: Licensee: St. Paul's Lutheran Church 205 St Paul Church Rd Salisbury, NC 28146 Term: Dec 22, 2021 - Dec 22, 2022 Average Weekly Attendance: 1 - 199 License #: 14408 URL: stpaulslutheran.church GRANT OF LICENSE. St. Paul's Lutheran Church is granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable license during the term of the agreement to publicly play, perform, and transmit via the website noted above, any musical composition controlled by one or more of the domestic Performing Rights Organizations (ASCAP, BMI and SESAC),as stated in the CCS WORSHIPcast License Terms and Conditions.
Performance License: Licensee: St. Paul's Lutheran Church 205 St Paul Church Rd Salisbury, NC 28146 Term: Dec 22, 2021 - Dec 22, 2022 Average Weekly Attendance: 1 - 199 License #: 14408 GRANT OF LICENSE. St. Paul's Lutheran Church is granted a non-exclusive, non-transferable license during the term of the agreement to publicly play and perform in any of the Licensee’s facilities within the United States any musical composition controlled by one or more of the domestic Performing Rights Organizations (ASCAP,BMI and SESAC), as stated in the CCS PERFORMmusic License Terms and Conditions.
CCLI License # 11395633