3rd Sunday After Pentecost
June 21, 2020
Emmanuel & St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Churches Mecan & Montello, WI
✠P R E P A R A T I O N F O R W O R S H I P ✠
We prepare ourselves to worship the one Savior God by expressing our humble repentance, offering our fervent prayers and singing our thankful hymns of praise.
Please note: Worship Service Restart Plans (Bulletin pages 21, 22) Worship f.) There will be limited congregational singing and speaking. A cantor will assist with the singing and liturgical responses.
OPENING HYMN Blessed Jesus, at Your Word Solo sung by cantor. Christian Worship #221 v. 1,2,3,4
✠G A T H E R I N G R I T E O N T H E W O R D O F G O D ✠
God’s people long ago gather together for strength from God and for mutual encouragement. This alternate beginning for worship may be used on any occasion to remind God’s people of the blessings of his Word.
Please stand.
M: In the name of the Father and of the Son ✠ and of the Holy Spirit.
C: (spoken) Amen.
M: Oh, how I love your law!
C: I meditate on it all day long.
M: Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
C: for they are ever with me.
M: I have more insight than all my teachers,
C: for I meditate on your statutes.
M: How sweet are your words to my taste,
C: sweeter than honey to my mouth!
M: All scripture is God- breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
C: so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim. 3:16,17
M: Yes so often we have despised God’s Word and failed to gladly hear and learn it. For this and all our sins, we bow before God and humbly ask his forgiveness.
C: Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity. But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.
M: God gave his Word so ”that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). The Scriptures testify about Jesus, who lived a perfect life for you, died on the cross to pay for all your sins, and rose again to assure you of your salvation. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son ✠ and of the Holy Spirit.
C: (spoken) Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
M: Let us pray.
O God, the strength of all who trust in you, mercifully hear our prayers. Be gracious to us in our weakness and give us strength to keep your commandments in all we say and do; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: (spoken) Amen.
Be seated.
✠S E R V I C E O F T H E W O R D ✠
This service offers the congregation a form of worship that focuses on the proclamation of God’s Word. Believers respond to this divine gift with prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.
FIRST LESSON Hosea 5:15–6:6
Summary: God desires mercy, not sacrifice
Then I will go back to my place until they admit their guilt. And they will seek my face; in their misery they will earnestly seek me.”
“Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”
“What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears. Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets, I killed you with the words of my mouth; my judgments flashed like lightning upon you. For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
PSALM 119c
Refrains sung by cantor, pastor reads verses.
Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long.
I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your statutes.
I have more understanding than the elders,
for I obey your precepts.
Refrain
I have kept my feet from every evil path
so that I might obey your Word.
I have not departed from your laws,
for you yourself have taught me.
How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Refrain
EPISTLE LESSON Romans 4:18-25
Summary: God credits faith in the Savior to us as righteousness
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” {Gen. 15:5} Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead– since he was about a hundred years old– and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness– for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
VERSE OF THE DAY 2 Corinthians 5:19
M: Alleluia. God was in Christ reconciling the world himself, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Alleluia.
Stand.
GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 9:9-13 (today’s sermon text)
Summary: The calling of Matthew
As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and `sinners’?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: `I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ {Hosea 6:6} For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Be seated.
HYMN OF THE DAY Let Me Be Yours Forever
Christian Worship #596
SERMON Matthew 9:9-13
“Follow Me!”
- An invitation meant for those only sick with sin
- A call meant only for those saved from sin
Stand.
APOSTLES’ CREED
Sung to tune of CW 486 “Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us”
I believe in God the Father, Maker of the heav’n and earth. And in Jesus Christ, our Savior, God’s own Son of human birth. Virgin-born, the Lord incarnate, whom the Spirit did conceive; Suffered under Pontius Pilate; he’s the God whom I believe.
Crucified, was dead and buried, down to hell in victory, From the dead he rose the third day; up to heav’n triumphantly. There at God’s right hand he’s ruling, by his will the world is led. He will come to judge the nations, both the living and the dead.
I believe in God the Spirit, in his Church, his chosen band. They are joined in sweet communion, holy in his sight they stand. I believe in sins forgiven; I believe I’ll rise again; I believe in life eternal. Amen, Amen, Amen.
Be seated.
✠ O F F E R I N G S O F G I F T S & P R A Y E R S ✠
THE OFFERING
Members of this congregation show their thanks to God for all he has done for them by returning a portion of their income to the Lord. Through these free will offerings, this congregation and its ministries are maintained. Please deposit your offering on the plate located near the church entry.
MISSION OF THE CHURCH PRAYER
M: Eternal God and Father, we give you thanks for the blessings we share as members of your holy Church, for your gracious Word and sacraments, for opportunities to worship and to grow in faith and knowledge, for occasions to serve and be served, for fellowship with believers in our congregation and in our synod.
C: Help us to rejoice in these blessings, dear Lord, and to use them faithfully.
M: Jesus Christ, Lord of the Church, you give grace to your people by calling us to be your witnesses in the world. Open our eyes to see the great and noble mission that lies before us. In the hurting eyes of the lonely, in the pained eyes of the sick, and in the searching eyes of the lost, help us to see your face, O Jesus, and to serve others as we would serve you.
C: Awaken us to the opportunities you give to proclaim your message of love.
M: Holy Spirit, giver of life, through Word and sacrament bestow on us the wisdom and power we need to witness clearly and to act boldly. Help us to speak the truth in love, to give the reason for the hope we have, and to conduct ourselves with gentleness and respect.
C: Set our hearts on fire as we work and witness for Christ.
M: Hear us, Lord, as we pray for a family member, an acquaintance, a neighbor, or a friend who does not believe in you, or whose faith is weak or troubled.
Silent prayer.
M: Bless the Church with men and women who are willing to proclaim your Word in places where we cannot go. Keep them and their loved ones in your care, and let nothing hinder their work. By the power of the gospel, restore their spirits each day, so that they do not lose heart as they serve us and others.
C: Move us to support them with our sincere prayers and generous offerings.
Special prayers and intercessions may follow.
M: Wherever your Word is proclaimed, O Lord, grant it success. Let your kingdom come to us and others, so that we and many more might join the assembly of saints and angels to sing your praise forever.
C: Savior of all, hear our prayer and help us in our mission. Amen.
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.
CLOSING HYMN A Father’s Prayer Is to the One
v. 1,2,3,4
M: Almighty God, we thank you for teaching us the things you want us to believe and do. Help us by your Holy Spirit to keep your Word in pure hearts that we may be strengthened in faith, guided in holiness, and comforted in life and in death, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
M: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with gladness.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look on you with favor and ✠ give you peace.
CLOSING HYMN A Father’s Prayer Is to the One
v. 5,6,7,8
Annoucements
Next week’s theme June 28, 2020 4th Sunday after Pentecost:
“God Saved Us That We Might Serve Him”
KATLYNN TINDALL ACCEPTANCE LETTER
Dear Members of St. John’s Lutheran Church and School,
On May 16, I received the divine call extended to me through the WELS Assignment Committee to serve as your 3rd-5th grade teacher.
I am really looking forward to this wonderful opportunity to serve the congregation, school and most importantly our God. Thank you very much for your thoughts and prayers. I look forward to meeting all of you. God’s Blessings.
In Christ,
Katlynn Tindall
“Hello! My name is Katlynn Tindall. I grew up in Waukesha, WI and graduated from WISCO in 2014. I attended MLC and graduated in December 2018. Upon graduation I taught grade 2 at Trinity in Brillion for a semester. Then I was assigned grades 2-4 at Zion in Toledo, OH. For fun I enjoy baking, drinking coffee, game nights, outdoor activities and spending time with family and friends. I am excited to meet all of you and continue sharing Jesus’ love to the students at St. Johns!”
CONTACT INFORMATION
Katlynn Tindall
Send a card, call, text or e-mail your words of encouragement!
2960 W Central Ave. Apt. #122
Toledo, OH 43606
262-352-7021
Our Life of Faith Depends
On God’s Promises
The Third Sunday after Pentecost – A
God’s Word for Today
Trusting people isn’t easy, because people tend to let us down when we’re depending on them. It’s also hard to confess our sinfulness to others because we’re afraid that those people will use our sins and mistakes against us and hold a grudge. We shouldn’t have the same concerns with our Savior! Jesus is totally reliable, entirely trustworthy. He keeps his promises! Most of all, he keeps his promise of forgiveness through the gospel. We can confidently confess our sin to him, knowing that in him we have certain forgiveness and eternal life.
First Lesson (Hosea 5:15 – 6:6)
- What did the Lord want his Old Testament people to do?
- Why can we confidently acknowledge our sin to the Lord?
Second Lesson (Romans 4:18-25)
- What promise of God to Abraham is Paul referring to in these verses?
- True or false: Abraham simply ignored the physical evidence which suggested that there was no way he and his wife could have a child.
- Upon what did Abraham base his faith?
Gospel (Matthew 9:9-13)
- Why were Jesus’ actions so repulsive to the Pharisees?
- What did Jesus want the Pharisees to learn?
Answers:
- He wanted them to confess their sins.
- Because he promised us that he will heal us and bind up our wound, that we may live in his presence.
- God promised Abraham a son in his old age.
- False. Paul says that Abraham indeed “faced the fact that his body was as good as dead … and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.” Despite this evidence, however, Abraham “against all hope … in hope believed” God’s promise.
- Abraham was “fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.”
- They couldn’t believe that Jesus would eat with tax collectors and sinners. Neither could they believe that Jesus would call a tax collector to be his disciple.
- He wanted them to learn what the Lord meant through the prophet Hosea when he said: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” Jesus’ meaning is this: God has been merciful and forgiving to us, and he wants us to be merciful and forgiving toward one another. Jesus was showing mercy to these “sinners,” something the Pharisees didn’t want to do.
| Attendance | Emmanuel | St. John’s |
| 6-14 6-17 | 38 | 37 6 |
| St. John’s Altar CommitteeJune 2020 | Diane Eisermann&Delores Cotte |
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