Prelude
Announcements
Call to Worship based on Matthew 7 and Confession and Forgiveness
Here in this place of holiness, we can come with our fears, our doubts, and all the questions of our hearts.
People of God: We come to this place of holiness to hear the words of peace, of hope, and of joy that God speaks to us.
Here in this place of discovery, we can come searching.
People of God: We come to this place to find the One who has been looking for us.
Here in this place of openness, we can come knocking.
People of God: We come to this place to be embraced by the One whose heart is never locked. Amen.
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who makes all things new, whose mercy endures forever.
People of God: Amen.
Trusting in God’s mercy, let us confess our sin.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Holy One, source of our renewal,
People of God: we confess that we are wrapped up in sin, and cannot free ourselves. We have not practiced your righteousness. Our hearts have turned away from you. For the sake of the world you so love, forgive us, that we may be reconciled to one another for the glory of your holy name. Amen.
Thus says our God: “The former things have come to pass and new things I now declare.” God’s mercy makes us new. We are forgiven in the name of ☩ Christ our Savior.
People of God: Amen.
Prayer of the Day
Assisting Minister: Let us pray. God of wisdom and groundedness, you have encouraged us to live our lives grounded in faith, patience, and love. Help us to love others without judgment, but with a solid foundation of acceptance for the sake of Jesus Christ. People of God: Amen.
Reading Matthew 7:1-14, 24-29
Assisting Minister: [Jesus preached to the gathered crowd,] 1“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. 2For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. 3Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye. 6Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you. 7Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 9Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? 10Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? 11If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! 12In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. 13Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. 14For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it. 24Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. 26And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell — and great was its fall!” 28Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, 29for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. The word of the Lord. People of God: Thanks be to God
Sermon Rev. Sarah Wilson
Prayers of the People
Assisting Minister: Sisters and brothers, let us lift our hearts in faith to the one who hears all prayers and holds close all those in need.
A brief silence.
Assisting Minister: Teach the church, O God, to avoid judging others and to shine forth with your love and grace. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: Teach the people, O God, to care for the earth and to be better stewards of your glorious creation. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: Teach the leaders of nations, O God, to follow in your ways of peace and justice. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: Teach us all, O God, to treat others as you would have us treat them, with love and compassion. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: Teach comforters, O God, to better serve the needs of those in pain and to offer hope to the hopeless, especially Brian, Scott, Jessica, Alicia, the Knaack Family, the McDonough family, Jeanne, Barb, Cecil, Stan, Marlene, Ryleigh, Dylan, Sandy, Hopie, the Lang family, the Mauger family, Susan, the Bredemus family, Allen, Bunny, the Vogt family, Richard, Pat, Pete, Dick, Karen, Patricia, Michael, Nicholas and his family, Beth, Jim, Kara, Betty, Tom, Lorie and her family, Pastor Kara and those we name silently or aloud, Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: Teach this congregation, O God, to seek your will above all else and to strive for blessed community in all that we do. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Please offer your own prayers of joy or concern, ending with “Lord, in your mercy,”
We respond with “hear our prayer.”
Assisting Minister: Teach us who are still on this earthly journey, O God, to follow in your way, the way of countless saints before us for whom we give you thanks. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Holy God, you gather the whole universe into your radiant presence and continually reveal your Son as our Savior. Bring healing to all wounds, make whole all that is broken, speak truth to all illusion, and shed light in every darkness, that all creation will see your glory and know your Christ. People of God: Amen.
Hymn ELW #652 Built on a Rock Played by Ashley Puenner Sung by Lorena Skelley
Children’s Sermon Mike Parmele
The Peace (Please share peace by waving or showing the peace sign.)
The peace of Christ be with you always. People of God: And also with you.
Offering
Let us pray. Liberating God, you break the bonds of injustice and let the oppressed go free. Receive these offerings in thanksgiving for all your works of merciful power, and shape us as people of your justice and freedom. You we magnify and adore, through Jesus our Savior, People of God: Amen.
Communion
The Lord be with you.
People of God: And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
People of God: We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People of God: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread and gave thanks; he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.
And now let us pray with confidence in the words that Jesus taught us:
People of God: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Invitation to Communion
Assisting Minister: Come and taste the joy of God!
For our at-home worshippers, you may take communion using these words:
The body of Christ, given for you.
The blood of Christ, shed for you.
Table Blessing
And now may the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, strengthen you and keep you in his grace. People of God: Amen.
Prayer after Communion
Assisting Minister: Let us pray. Holy One, we thank you for the healing that springs forth abundantly from this table. Renew our strength to do justice, love kindness, and journey humbly with you. People of God: Amen.
Blessing
The God who faithfully brings forth justice and breaks the oppressor’s rod ☩ bless, strengthen, and uphold you, today and always. People of God: Amen.
Sending Hymn ELW#596 My Hope is Built on Nothing Less Played by Ashley Puenner Sung by Lorena Skelley
Dismissal
Assisting Minister: Go in peace. Follow the way of Jesus. People of God: Thanks be to God.
Thank you to those serving us today
Pastor: Rev. Sarah Wilson
Worship Assistant: Rachel Brewer
Acolyte: Michael Parmele
Music: Ashley Puenner~ Song Leader: Lorena Skelley
Altar Guild: Challyn Hyde
Usher/Greeter: John and Denise Ulaszek
Production Crew: Producer: Mark Gates,
Graphics: Dawna Gates, Sound: Sally Skalany
Counters: Marianne Barstow and Karen McKune
From sundaysandseasons.com. Copyright © 2023 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved
Call to worship based on work by The Presbyterian Church at Woodbury
Found at https://www.pcwoodbury.com/multimedia-archive/worship-notes-july-24-2022-luke-111-13/