The Ringing of the Bell
Hymn This is my Father’s world Nancy Long
Opening Sentences
People of God, let us gather to worship and praise God’s name. We give thanks to you, O God, with our whole heart. We will glorify your name forever! For great is your steadfast love for us. You have delivered our souls from the depths. God is with us, and keeps us wherever we go.
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known and from you no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your Holy Name, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray.
Sower of the Field, continue to be gracious with us that we may mature into the children of God’s realm and live with you forever, shining like the sun in God’s heavenly home. Amen.
A reading from the Prophet Isaiah, Chapter 44:6-8
Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel,
and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
I am the first and I am the last;
besides me there is no god.
Who is like me? Let them proclaim it,
let them declare and set it forth before me.
Who has announced from of old the things to come?
Let them tell us what is yet to be.
Do not fear, or be afraid;
have I not told you from of old and declared it?
You are my witnesses!
Is there any god besides me?
There is no other rock; I know not one.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Psalm 86:11-17 Inclina, Domine
11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
and I will walk in your truth; *
knit my heart to you that I may fear your Name.
12 I will thank you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, *
and glorify your Name for evermore.
13 For great is your love toward me; *
you have delivered me from the nethermost Pit.
14 The arrogant rise up against me, O God,
and a band of violent men seeks my life; *
they have not set you before their eyes.
15 But you, O Lord, are gracious and full of compassion, *
slow to anger, and full of kindness and truth.
16 Turn to me and have mercy upon me; *
give your strength to your servant;
and save the child of your handmaid.
17 Show me a sign of your favor,
so that those who hate me may see it and be ashamed; *
because you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
A Reading from Paul’s Letter to the Romans, Chapter 8:12-25
Brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh– for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ– if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
A Reading from the Gospel according to Matthew, Chapter 13:24-30, 36-43
Jesus put before the crowd another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”
Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!”
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Sermon and discussion
Affirmation
We are not alone; we live in God’s world.
We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus,
the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the Church:
to celebrate God’s presence,
to love with respect in creation,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.
In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us.
We are not alone. Thanks be to God.
The Confession
Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor.
Most merciful God,
we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done,
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us;
that we may delight in your will,
and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, keep you in eternal life. Amen.
The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you.
Announcements
BJ Anderson’s Birthday July 21
Watch over your child, BJ, O Lord, as her days increase. Bless and guide her wherever she may be. Bless and guide her wherever she may be. Strengthen her when she stands; comfort her when discourage or sorrowful; raise her up if she falls, and in her heart may your peace abide all the days of her life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Happy Anniversary, TC and Jennifer Collins July 25
The Prayers
The Lord’s Prayer
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, for ever and ever. Amen.
O God, you led your ancient people through the wilderness with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. You have led us through valleys of sorrows and troubles and continue to lead us on: Grant that we, who serve you now on earth and follow in your steps, may come to the joy of your heavenly city Jerusalem, where sorrow and sighing are no more and where your saints for ever sing your praise. We turn to you now in prayer.
Loving God, thank you for adopting us as your beloved children, coheirs with Christ, sisters and brothers of one another, bearing witness with the Spirit that we are your sons and daughters, and that you are our Abba God.
We pray for your church around the world, that in the field of this world, we and the whole church may be the good seed that grows up into your harvest, and shine with your glory.
We pray for your whole creation that is waiting in eager longing to be set free from everything that holds it in bondage. May we care for all you have created with love and patience as you care for each of us.
We pray, in this time of great need, for the gift of rain, so that the thirsty earth may drink deeply and be satisfied, and that we may receive the fruits of the earth, to our comfort and for your glory.
We pray for earth’s people, its nations and leaders, that all may come to know your ways that lead to peace. We pray that our president and all who hold authority may desire to know your ways, and to walk only in your truth. May our leaders knit their hearts to you and so be slow to anger, and full of kindness and truth for the common good.
We pray for those who serve in the armed forces of our nation, that they may work for justice and peace and defend us in danger, especially those on our prayer list; Cheyenne, Cliff, Alexis, Scott, Steven, Michael, George and Greg; that in war you would inspire them to serve our country well; in peace hold them ready and alert. IN their lives may they bring honor to our country’s name. We pray for their safe return when their work is done.
We pray for all refugees, immigrants, and for those who have no home. We pray for those who are hungry and helpless. We pray for all people who come to the St Peter’s food distribution. Open our hands in generosity and their hearts to your comfort and your love for each of them.
We pray for those who are ill, for Marilyn Newman, who has been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer, for all on our prayer list, and for Wayne, who is suffering from COVID.
We give thanks for the ongoing recovery of Daniel, and for the healing of Roberta and Charles.
We pray for those who have died, Orean Higgs and Frank Carosella. Grant them your peace; let light perpetual shine upon them; and in your loving wisdom and almighty power, work in them the good purpose of your perfect will; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We pray for those we know and love, that they may know that they are your beloved children, and that wherever they go, you are with them.
Blessed are you, eternal Presence, who, with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, lead us to life everlasting. Amen.
Closing Hymn Shine Jesus Shine Share Screen
Blessing
May the Spirit of God make within us a dwelling place and a home.
May the Spirit dispel our darkness with the fire of God’s light,
Calm our troubles by the breath of God’s peace;
Redeem all evils through the power of God’s love,
Transform all pain through the suffering of Christ
And glorify all dying by Christ’s risen life. And the blessing of Abba God, our brother Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit be with you now and always. Amen
Go and grow in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.