Eighth Sunday a. Pentecost 7/13-14
EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
JULY 13/14, 2024
IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WELCOME TO ST. PAUL’S!
✠ ✠ ✠
THE ENTRANCE RITE
PRELUDE Trio No. 1 Josef Rheinberger
WELCOME
ENTRANCE HYMN (Stand) By All Your Saints in Warfare Sts. 1, 24, 3 LSB 518
1 By all Your saints in warfare,
For all Your saints at rest,
Your holy name, O Jesus,
Forevermore be blest!
For You have won the battle
That they might wear the crown;
And now they shine in glory
Reflected from Your throne.
24 Our thanks for John the Baptist
Who, till his dying day,
Made straight paths for the Savior
And heralded His way!
In witnessing to Jesus
Through times of threat or shame
May we with faith and courage
The Lamb of God proclaim.
3 Then let us praise the Father
And worship God the Son
And sing to God the Spirit,
Eternal Three in One,
Till all the ransomed number
Fall down before the throne,
Ascribing pow’r and glory
And praise to God alone.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION LSB 151
In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.
Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.
Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. 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 justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
KYRIE LSB 152
In peace let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For this holy house and for all who offer their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Amen.
THIS IS THE FEAST LSB 155
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Power, riches, wisdom, and strength, and honor, blessing, and glory are His.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Sing with all the people of God, and join in the hymn of all creation:
Blessing, honor, glory, and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
For the Lamb who was slain has begun His reign. Alleluia.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray. O Lord,
You granted Your prophets strength to resist the temptations of the devil and courage to proclaim repentance. Give us pure hearts and minds to follow Your Son faithfully even into suffering and death; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
✠ ✠ ✠
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
FIRST LESSON (Be seated) Amos 7:7-15 This is what [the Lord God] showed me: behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. And the Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said,
“Behold, I am setting a plumb line
in the midst of my people Israel;
I will never again pass by them;
the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate,
and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste,
and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.”
Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words. For thus Amos has said,
“‘Jeroboam shall die by the sword,
and Israel must go into exile
away from his land.’”
And Amaziah said to Amos, “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there, but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.”
Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM 85:8-13 (Sung responsively)
SECOND LESSON Ephesians 1:3-14
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
(10:00) CHILDREN’S SERMON
ALLELUIA VERSE (Stand) LSB 156
Alleluia.
Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.
Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL Mark 6:14-29
The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark the 6th chapter
Glory to You, O Lord.
King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.
But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, O Christ.
SERMON
Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus. Amen. Dear friends in Christ:
The Gospel lesson just read is quite a story. And it’s disturbing on many levels. But it gets our attention and certainly sticks with us.
Because of its salacious details, the temptation is to see it focusing more on John than Jesus. But as the account’s beginning makes clear, this is yet another a story telling us primarily about Jesus.
Even a quick read-through of those early verses confirms this. And yet it’s the fine detail which truly makes the case. In the sermon today I will point these details out and help us understand the text’s greater messages.
Two chapters before this reading, Jesus’ disciples gave voice to something that had been building since the beginning of the Gospel account and which speaks to today’s reading as well. This is the question of Jesus’ identity. There at the end of chapter four, after Jesus calmed the storm, the disciples said to one another: “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (4:41)
By that point the disciples must have been wondering about this question for a while, for they had seen a number of amazing things. And for those reading through the Gospel, this is the question which naturally arises as well. Who is this man who preaches so effectively and works such great miracles? From where does he get such power and authority?
Last week’s Gospel lesson included a story of people struggling with this very question. And these people also came to a definite conclusion. When Jesus preached in his hometown, his friends and neighbors – while initially being pleased by his presence there – couldn’t get over the fact that he had grown up among them. So when he started to say some challenging things, they quickly concluded that he was no one special, and they rejected him.
Immediately after this, Jesus sent out his disciples on a mission of preaching and healing to expand his work. By doing this the people got to observe something else about his identity. They got to see that he was a builder too. For Jesus was not only gathering followers but also building them up for the carrying out of his purposes.
Today’s reading continues this progression of revelation by telling us that the question of Jesus’ identity was even on the mind of the land’s rulers. “King Herod,” says the text, “heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known.” The “it” here is the spreading of Jesus’ teaching and healing that was just described.
As the text makes clear, Herod was not only curious about Jesus but also concerned. For when other people offered their take on Jesus – saying that maybe he was John the Baptist come back from the dead or perhaps one of the other former prophets like Elijah – Herod asserted unequivocally that he knew the answer. He said: “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” The people’s conclusion: “That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him,” was his too. We know this from Matthew’s telling of the story.
Herod’s conclusion about Jesus obviously came from his belief that God was aware of his sins and would not let him forget them. John had called out Herod’s sins, and not even death could silence this voice.
This voice was now given through Jesus, and it troubled Herod. And here we should stop and consider what this voice means to those in positions of worldly authority today. Jesus’ mere presence poked at Herod’s conscience. Is that the way it works today as well?
In some ways it most certainly does. Those leaders who profess faith in Jesus, even if they don’t always live the faith, will be confronted by his calls upon their conscience. For Jesus calls people to repent, and he gives strong warning to those who don’t.
And even those who don’t profess faith in Jesus will have to contend with his presence as long as his message is still being proclaimed in their midst. They may not choose to listen to him. But as the Old Testament reading from last Sunday pointed out (Ezekiel 2:1-5), they will know that a prophet has been among them.
Jesus teaches that God see our sins and judges us accordingly. God will not be mocked, and those without a savior will pay dearly for those sins when the day of judgment comes.
Today’s text continues the revelation of Jesus’ identity by showing him as one whose message will not be stopped. It won’t be stopped by powerful rulers, nor will it be stopped by death. Jesus has the power and authority to keep his message alive.
That being said, the text is telling us even more than this as well. And it does so in a very subtle way.
Mark calls the ruler in the story “King Herod.” But Herod is not really a king. This Herod – for there were a few of them at this point – was a Tetrarch, as labelled by Matthew, Luke and other contemporary historians. A Tetrarch was one of four leaders who equally ruled over a realm – in this case the realm of the deceased King Herod, known also as Herod the Great.
Mark decides to call this Herod – known to us as Herod Antipas – a king anyway. And he does this to make a point – one which comes through a contrast. When Jesus is in his final hours of life, he will be called a “king” too. Six times. Pilate will call him a king; the people will call him a king in mockery; and the cross will bear a sign saying that he is the king of the Jews. Knowing
this, Mark wants us to see in today’s story the contrast between Jesus and Herod and to notice which is the better king.
Here we should do some extra thinking about this contrast. And not just between Jesus and this Herod, but between Jesus and all the Herods out there; and their respective kingdoms too. For this Herod and his kingdom are not all that different than most of today’s leaders and lands.
As we do this thinking, we’ll note four specific points of contrast. And I would ask that as we do this you take note of which kingdom’s values most shape and influence you, and to which kingdom you most conform.
In the first of these contrasts, we take note of how Herod knew but still clearly defied the law of God. He did this by committing adultery and marrying his living brother’s wife. His immoral action served the desires of his own flesh and showed him to be quite unconcerned with the will of God.
In the same way, we note how the kingdoms of today’s world seem completely unconcerned about these kinds of sins too. Very few of our leaders voice any kind of protest against things which are deemed personal and appear to extend no immediate harm to the public. And many of those leaders engage in similar behavior themselves.
Jesus on the other hand lived in perfect obedience to the whole will and law of God. And he spoke against the sins of the flesh too. In his kingdom sins are forgiven but never flaunted or glorified. Repentance is continually proclaimed and always expected.
Secondly, Herod built his palace and his whole capital city of Tiberius to imitate the imperial glory and splendor of Rome. In this we see that he was deeply concerned with fitting in and with conforming to the culture he admired so much.
Likewise, most of our leaders today are eager to build and to live in earthly temples to honor themselves and their people. And they love to show how they embrace the secular culture, even when it declares or leads one to believe that God is not needed. Those who are citizens of these lands often embrace these attitudes and priorities too.
Jesus on the other hand lived humbly, not in splendor. He built no temple other than a community of people. And even with that temple he seemed curiously unconcerned that it fit into the culture of his day. Jesus claimed no land for his reign but rather said that his kingdom was not of this world. He was adamant only that people build their lives on faith in God.
Thirdly, our text today showed how Herod threw a wretched party for himself and surrounded himself with “his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee” (v 21). And in this we see that he was deeply concerned with power and prestige.
Similarly, leaders and kingdoms today seem primarily concerned with keeping their own power and position. Instead of sharing these with others, they cling to them tightly by surrounding themselves with those who give big donations and by promising to fulfill everyone’s desires.
Jesus on the other hand associated with sinners and outcasts. He dined with them, listened to them and healed them. And when he did converse with his world’s leaders it was not to curry their favor but to challenge them. Jesus was moved by compassion and mercy, not opportunity for personal advancement. And he shared his power freely with all who followed him.
Fourthly, Herod, as we read, caved to the pressure of his stepdaughter, wife, and noble guests and executed an innocent man whom he knew was sent by God. He did this because he was more concerned about his own honor and pride than about doing what was right.
In the same way, the leaders and peoples of today’s kingdoms are usually more concerned with polishing their image than they are with doing good things. They submit to polls and pressures instead of God’s holy word. And they quickly and heartlessly sacrifice others in order to further their interests or make themselves look better.
Jesus on the other hand submitted to the will of his Father. He endured scorn and humiliation, injury, suffering and even death. And he did this for those who opposed and rejected him. He did it for everyone – including you and me.
Jesus endured the pain and humiliation of the cross so that sinners might be purchased and taken out of this present evil age and made heirs of his kingdom – the best kingdom. In this kingdom, righteousness prevails and salvation is given.
Christ’s kingdom seems like foolishness to many. Why be a John the Baptist and lose one’s head when you could be a Herod and enjoy the comforts of Rome?
But the pleasures of Herod and his kingdom are temporary. They only last a short time. The blessings of Christ’s kingdom, on the other hand, are eternal.
As well, the pleasures of Herod and his kingdom usually come at the cost of someone else’s pain. But Christ’s kingdom teaches us to sacrifice self for the good of all.
Jesus would later state: “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it” (8:35). Jesus can say this because he is the resurrection and the life. He who resurrects God’s voice when it is silenced will also resurrect God’s people to life everlasting.
You may be interested to know that at one point in his career Herod Antipas travelled to Rome to beg to be given the title “king.” But he was refused. And he eventually died in exile.
Ironically, however, the authorities of Rome did grant this title to Jesus. As noted earlier, Pilate the Roman Governor had the title “King of the Jews” posted on Jesus’ cross at his crucifixion.
Those who follow the way of the cross – repenting of their sin and trusting in Jesus – will be vindicated in the end. They will share with their Master the blessing of life eternal in the fullness of his kingdom.
May this then be our desire and our goal. And may God grant it for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
HYMN OF THE DAY (Stand) The Church’s One Foundation LSB 644
1 The Church’s one foundation
Is Jesus Christ, her Lord;
She is His new creation
By water and the Word.
From heav’n He came and sought her
To be His holy bride;
With His own blood He bought her,
And for her life He died.
2 Elect from ev’ry nation,
Yet one o’er all the earth;
Her charter of salvation:
One Lord, one faith, one birth.
One holy name she blesses,
Partakes one holy food,
And to one hope she presses
With ev’ry grace endued.
3 Though with a scornful wonder
The world sees her oppressed,
By schisms rent asunder,
By heresies distressed,
Yet saints their watch are keeping;
Their cry goes up, “How long?”
And soon the night of weeping
Shall be the morn of song.
4 Through toil and tribulation
And tumult of her war
She waits the consummation
Of peace forevermore
Till with the vision glorious
Her longing eyes are blest,
And the great Church victorious
Shall be the Church at rest.
5 Yet she on earth has union
With God, the Three in One,
And mystic sweet communion
With those whose rest is won.
O blessèd heav’nly chorus!
Lord, save us by Your grace
That we, like saints before us,
May see You face to face.
APOSTLES’ CREED Hymnal, back cover
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life ✠ everlasting. Amen.
OFFERING
Offerings support the church’s mission work – both here and through our many partners. Offerings may be placed in the box at the sanctuary entrance or sent to the church through our website or the mail. Fellowship Cards help us welcome new people and track participation. Please fill one out and place it in the offering box following the service.
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For Christ’s holy Church, that the Lord would preserve her for His name’s sake and answer her prayers in His righteousness and faithfulness, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the testimony of Christ’s Word, opposed by the world; and for conviction and confidence in our confession that salvation is found through Christ Jesus alone, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all ministers, that God would make them zealous and faithful in their service; and for Matthew, our Synod president; Bill, our district president; and for our congregation’s leaders, that God would grant them wisdom in their work and joy in their callings, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the blessed estate of marriage, that God would cause chastity to be prized among Christians and honored in the world; for husbands and wives, that God would bind them together in love and forgiveness; and for parents, that God would equip them by His Spirit with every good gift to care for and teach the children He gives, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our nation’s leaders, that God would guide and direct them; for our civil servants and our people, that their conduct would be wise, just, and honorable in accord with the Lord’s revealed will; and for those who oppose God’s Word, that the Lord would be merciful to them for the sake of Christ, turn their hearts, and remember that He desires all to be saved, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those in need of healing in either body or in soul, including those on our prayer list and those we name in our hearts at this time… that God would lavish the riches of His grace upon them, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all of us who commune today, that by Christ’s redemption we may receive the forgiveness of our trespasses and be strengthened through His body and blood to life everlasting, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who mourn, that they would be comforted; and for a proper respect of the bodies of the saints in life and death, that as the disciples of John took his body and laid it in a tomb, we, too, would confess our expectation of the resurrection in word and deed, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
O Lord, heavenly Father, join these, our prayers and praises, with those of Your faithful people in every time and in every place. Unite them in the ceaseless petitions of our great High Priest until He comes again on the Last Day. To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor and worship, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
OFFERTORY (Stand) Let the Vineyards Be Fruitful LSB 955
Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord,
And fill to the brim our cup of blessing.
Gather a harvest from the seeds that were sown,
That we may be fed with the bread of life.
Gather the hopes and the dreams of all;
Unite them with the prayers we offer now.
Grace our table with Your presence, and give us
A foretaste of the feast to come.
✠ ✠ ✠
THE LITURGY OF HOLY COMMUNION
PREFACE (Stand) LSB 160
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who, out of love for His fallen creation, humbled Himself by taking on the form of a servant, becoming obedient unto death, even death upon a cross. Risen from the dead, He has freed us from eternal death and given us life everlasting. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:
SANCTUS LSB 161
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of pow’r and might:
Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
Hosanna. Hosanna.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING LSB 161
Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have had mercy on those whom You created and sent Your only-begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior. With repentant joy we receive the salvation accomplished for us by the all-availing sacrifice of His body and His blood on the cross.
Gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, we beg You, O Lord, to forgive, renew, and strengthen us with Your Word and Spirit. Grant us faithfully to eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us do in His own testament. Gather us together, we pray, from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Graciously receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and worship, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
THE WORDS OF OUR LORD
Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My ✠ body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”
In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My ✠ blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
O Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, in giving us Your body and blood to eat and to drink, You lead us to remember and confess Your holy cross and passion, Your blessed death, Your rest in the tomb, Your resurrection from the dead, Your ascension into heaven, and Your coming for the final judgment. So remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:
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
forever and ever. Amen.
PAX DOMINI LSB 163
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Amen.
AGNUS DEI LSB 163
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.
DISTRIBUTION (Be seated)
DISTRIBUTION HYMN O Living Bread from Heaven LSB 642
1 O living Bread from heaven,
How well You feed your guest!
The gifts that You have given
Have filled my heart with rest.
Oh, wondrous food of blessing,
Oh, cup that heals our woes!
My heart, this gift possessing,
With praises overflows.
2 My Lord, You here have led me
To this most holy place
And with Yourself have fed me
The treasures of Your grace;
For You have freely given
What earth could never buy,
The bread of life from heaven,
That now I shall not die.
3 You gave me all I wanted;
This food can death destroy.
And You have freely granted
The cup of endless joy.
My Lord, I do not merit
The favor You have shown,
And all my soul and spirit
Bow down before Your throne.
4 Lord, grant me then, thus strengthened
With heav’nly food, while here
My course on earth is lengthened,
To serve with holy fear.
And when You call my spirit
To leave this world below,
I enter, through Your merit,
Where joys unmingled flow.
POST-COMMUNION COLLECT
BENEDICTION
SENDING HYMN Praise the Almighty LSB 797
1 Praise the Almighty, my soul, adore Him!
Yes, I will laud Him until death;
With songs and anthems I come before Him
As long as He allows me breath.
From Him my life and all things came;
Bless, O my soul, His holy name.
Alleluia, alleluia!
2 Trust not in rulers; they are but mortal;
Earthborn they are and soon decay.
Vain are their counsels at life’s last portal,
When the dark grave engulfs its prey.
Since mortals can no help afford,
Place all your trust in Christ, our Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia!
3 Blessèd, oh, blessèd are they forever
Whose help is from the Lord Most High,
Whom from salvation can nothing sever,
And who in hope to Christ draw nigh.
To all who trust in Him, our Lord
Will aid and counsel now afford.
Alleluia, alleluia!
4 Penitent sinners, for mercy crying,
Pardon and peace from Him obtain;
Ever the wants of the poor supplying,
Their faithful God He will remain.
He helps His children in distress,
The widows and the fatherless.
Alleluia, alleluia!
5 Praise, all you people, the name so holy
Of Him who does such wondrous things!
All that has being, to praise Him solely,
With happy heart its amen sings.
Children of God, with angel host
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
Alleluia, alleluia!
ANNOUNCEMENTS (Be seated)
DISMISSAL
POSTLUDE Praise the Almighty Setting: Robert Lind
FELLOWSHIP – Board of Property
Those serving:
Saturday, July 13, 5:00 p.m.:
Greeter: Bob Juenger
Comm. Assist. : Jill Hecht
Reader: Melissa Hecht
Sunday, June 14, 10:00 a.m.:
Greeter: Lynn Jacquez
Comm. assist: Judy Koucky
Reader: Lynn Jacquez
Acolyte: Kadyn Godbee
AV Assist: Hannes Buuck, Andreas Buuck
Apprentice Organist: Nora Wallschlaeger
Acknowledgements
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2024 Concordia Publishing House.
955 Let the Vineyards Be Fruitful Text: John W. Arthur, 1922–80 Text: © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326 Tune: Richard W. Hillert, 1923–2010 Tune: © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326
518 By All Your Saints in Warfare Text (sts. 1, 3): Horatio Bolton Nelson, 1823–1913, alt.; (st. 24): Gregory J. Wismar, 1946
Tune: English; coll. and arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1872–1958 Text (sts. 1, 3): Public domain Text (st. 24): © 2006 Gregory J. Wismar. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326 Tune: Public domain
644 The Church’s One Foundation Text: Samuel J. Stone, 1839–1900, alt.Tune: Samuel S. Wesley, 1810–76 Text and tune: Public domain
642 O Living Bread from Heaven Text: Johann Rist, 1607–67; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827–78, alt. Tune: Musae Sioniae, 1609, vol. 7, Wolfenbüttel, ed. Michael Praetorius Text and tune: Public domain
797 Praise the Almighty Text: Johann Daniel Herrnschmidt, 1675–1723; tr. Alfred E. R. Brauer, 1866–1949, alt. Tune: New-vermehrte Christliche Seelenharpf, 1665, Ansbach Text and tune: Public domain
