Order of Service for June 26, 2022: Outdoor Service:
Prelude: “O Master Let Me Walk with You,” Wood. One License #65298
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Meditation
We have no good apart from God. That makes Jesus’ call to follow him an invitation to freedom. This is freedom to revel in the Spirit’s fruit: love, joy, peace, and patience. This is freedom to not be imprisoned by anything that would keep us from the fullness of the life God has given us. This is the path of life.
Confession and Forgiveness
All may make the sign of the cross, the sign that is marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.
Blessed be the holy Trinity,☩ one God, whose steadfast love endures forever.
Amen.
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Merciful God,
we confess that we have not followed your path but have chosen our own way. Instead of putting others before ourselves, we long to take the best seats at the table. When met by those in need, we have too often passed by on the other side. Set us again on the path of life. Save us from ourselves and free us to love our neighbors.
Amen.
Hear the good news! God does not deal with us according to our sins but delights in granting pardon and mercy. In the name of ☩ Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. You are free to love as God loves.
Amen.
Opening Hymn: – ELW 786- “O Holy Spirit, Enter In.”
Kyrie
Hymn of Praise
Prayer of the Day
Sovereign God, ruler of all hearts, you call us to obey you, and you favor us with true freedom. Keep us faithful to the ways of your Son, that, leaving behind all that hinders us, we may steadfastly follow your paths, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
First Reading: 1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21
In the story preceding today’s reading, the prophet Elijah flees for his life to the security of God’s mountain. There God reveals to Elijah that there are still other faithful people in Israel and commissions him to anoint new leaders, including his own successor, Elisha.
15Then the Lord said to [Elijah,] “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. 16Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.
19So he set out from there, and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was plowing. There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle over him. 20He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” Then Elijah said to him, “Go back again; for what have I done to you?” 21He returned from following him, took the yoke of oxen, and slaughtered them; using the equipment from the oxen, he boiled their flesh, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out and followed Elijah, and became his servant.
Psalm: Psalm 16
I have set the Lord always before me. (Ps. 16:8)
1Protect me, O God, for I take refuge in you;
I have said to the Lord, “You are my Lord, my good above all other.”
2All my delight is in the godly that are in the land,
upon those who are noble among the people.
3But those who run after other gods
shall have their troubles multiplied.
4I will not pour out drink offerings to such gods,
never take their names upon my lips.
5O Lord, you are my portion and my cup;
it is you who uphold my lot.
6My boundaries enclose a pleasant land;
indeed, I have a rich inheritance.
7I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
my heart teaches me night after night.
8I have set the Lord always before me;
because God is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
9My heart, therefore, is glad, and my spirit rejoices;
my body also shall rest in hope.
10For you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor let your holy one see the pit.
11You will show me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy, and in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Second Reading: Galatians 5:1, 13-25
For Paul, the freedom Christ gives is not permission to do whatever we want. It is the invitation to be what we could not be otherwise. The power and guidance of Christ’s Holy Spirit produce a different kind of life, one marked by the fruit of this Holy Spirit.
1For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
13For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. 14For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
16Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, 21envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.
Gospel: Luke 9:51-62
Jesus is unwavering in his commitment to his mission in Jerusalem and will not be swayed by pettiness. In a series of striking cases in point, he calls his disciples to a similar single-mindedness.
51When the days drew near for Jesus to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. 52And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; 53but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. 54When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” 55But he turned and rebuked them. 56Then they went on to another village.
57As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Sermon: Pastor Chris Lee
Hymn of the Day: – ELW 584- “The Son of God, Our Christ.”
Prayers of Intercession
United in Christ and guided by the Spirit, we pray for the church, the creation, and all in need.
God of faithfulness, set the face of your church firmly on you. Rooted in your self-giving love, may the church find freedom in loving our neighbors. God of grace,
hear our prayer.
God of gentleness, strengthen the earth’s ability to heal. Where there are dangerous storms, bring calm. Where there are destructive fires, bring rain. Protect homes, habitats, and livelihoods threatened by climate disasters. God of grace,
hear our prayer.
God of peace, guide all who govern, that they place the good of their citizens above self-promotion. Anoint leaders of nations with your Spirit of neighborly love. Protect refugees and all who live under tyranny or conflict. God of grace,
hear our prayer.
God of kindness, reveal your healing presence to all who are sick or dying especially Julie Peters; Kenneth Bobb; Andrea Bobb; Chris Schaffter; Ruth Mortland; Richard Mowery; Melvin Neu; Gary Berg; Jeanna LaRue; Bruce and Sandy Wright; Julie Prenatt; Sheri Stoutt; Nan Hibbs; Richard Hotchkiss; Randy McIntyre; Karen Bemowski; Marilyn Hubbard; Helen Schubert, and all those we name before you now, aloud or in our hearts…
Uphold those who grieve, especially the family of Jeff Reilley. Support the needs of any who are unemployed, hungry, or have nowhere to lay their heads. God of grace,
hear our prayer.
God of love, attend to those struggling with addiction, depression, or uncontrolled anger. Provide support systems and loving companions as they work toward health, that they may rest in hope and know the fullness of joy in your presence. God of grace,
hear our prayer.
God of joy, we give thanks for all who have died and now celebrate the inheritance of life in you. Keep their examples of faithfulness always before us, that we trust your promises in life and in death. God of grace,
hear our prayer.
God of every time and place, in Jesus’ name and filled with your Holy Spirit, we entrust these spoken prayers and those in our hearts into your holy keeping.
Amen.
Peace
Great Thanksgiving
Lord’s Prayer (Sung)
Communion Hymns:
ELW 697- “Just a Closer Walk with Me.”
ELW 810- “O Jesus, I Have Promised.”
Prayer after Communion
Life-giving God, through this meal you have bandaged our wounds and fed us with your mercy. Now send us forth to live for others, both friend and stranger, that all may come to know your love. This we pray in the name of Jesus.
Amen.
Blessing
The God of peace, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you, comfort you, and show you the path of life this day and always.
Amen.
Sending Hymn: ELW 768- “Lead Me, Guide Me.”
Dismissal
Go in peace. Love your neighbor.
Thanks be to God.
Postlude: “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.” – arr. Carter.
Facebook link to the Sunday, June 26, 2022, outdoor worship service:
https://www.facebook.com/First-Lutheran-Church-Rock-Island-IL-190629367619921/videos/731399791393035
Image credits: Bird’s Nest with Eggs, Pixabay and Fox in Hole, disposable.net
Music credits:
Pam Edwards: Music Director/ Pianist
Miriam Anderson: Assisting Minister
Lector: Sylvia Martin
“O Master Let Me Walk with You.” One License #65298. Music – ©1993 Lorenz Publishing Corporation. Contributors: Dale Wood. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
“O Holy Spirit, Enter In.” Text: Michael Schirmer, 1606 – 1673; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827 – 1878, adapt.. Music: Philipp Nicolai, 1556 – 1608. Public domain.
“The Son of God, Our Christ.” Text: Edward M. Blumenfeld, b. 1927, alt. Music: Alfred M. Smith, 1879 – 1971. Text copyright 1957, ren. 1985 The Hymn Society, admin. Hope Publishing Company. Music copyright 1941 Historic Church of the Ascension, Atlantic City, NJ. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
“Just a Closer Walk with Me.” Text: North American traditional. Music: North American traditional. Public domain.
“O Jesus, I Have Promised.” Text: John E. Bode, 1816 – 1874, alt.. Music: Neuvermehrtes Gesangbuch, Meiningen, 1693. Public domain.
“Lead Me, Guide Me.” Words and Music – ©1953, 2011 Chappell & Co. (Unichappell) Contributors: Doris Akers. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
“I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.” One License #98376. Music – ©1985 Hope Publishing Company. Contributors: John Carter. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2022 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Reprinted/ streamed with permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS006904. Duplication in any form is prohibited without permission or valid license from the copyright administrator.