Sunday, August 2, 2015The Holy Spirit

Tenth Sunday after PentecostHoly Communion

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESSBlessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, the creator

of wind and rain, field and ocean, the bread of life coming down from above, the

power at work within us and this world.Amen. 

Before God and in the company of our sisters and brothers, let us confess 

our sin.

God of wisdom and grace, C: Too often we have sought happiness in all the wrong places. We have put our own needs above the needs of others. We have ignored your pleas to care for one another, and have fought to care only for ourselves. We have forgotten to trust in you. Forgive us for our selfishness, our immaturity, and

our blatant disregard for others. Restore us by your grace. Amen.

Our Lord God sees and knows our sin. But God also sees and loves our humanity. On this day of worship, I proclaim to you the entire forgiveness of all your sin, given as a gift of joy by a wise and loving God.  Amen.

PEACEThe peace of Christ be with you always.And also with you.

GATHERING SONG: THE GATHERED SHALL CHOOSE!

GREETINGFrom God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, grace and peace be with you all.And also with you.

KYRIEIn 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 here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.Lord, have mercy.

Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.Amen.

CANTICLE OF PRAISEThis is the feast of victory for our God.Alleluia.

Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God.Power and riches and wisdom and strength, and honor and blessing and glory are his.

This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia.

Sing with all the people of God and join in the hymn of all creation: Blessing and honor and glory and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.

This is the feast of victory for our God, for the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign.Alleluia. Alleluia.

PRAYER OF THE DAYLet us pray. God of understanding and insight, C: Your Holy Spirit has spoken words too great for us interpret, and yet when you speak, our hearts are warmed and our minds are stretched. Teach us your wisdom and show us how to live with joy and faith. Amen.

FIRST READING: Ezekiel 37:1–14A reading from the prophet Ezekiel.

The hand of the LORD came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. 3He said to me, "Mortal, can these bones live?" I answered, "O Lord GOD, you know.”

4Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 5Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the LORD."

7So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. 9Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord GOD:

Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live." 10I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude.

11Then he said to me, "Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.'

12Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. 14I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken and will act, says the LORD."

The word of the Lord.Thanks be to God.

PSALM: Proverbs 1:1–9The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

2For learning about wisdom and instruction, for understanding words of insight, 3for gaining instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity;

4to teach shrewdness to the simple, knowledge and prudence to the young —

5let the wise also hear and gain in learning, and the discerning acquire skill, 6to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles. 7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8Hear, my child, your father's instruction, and do not reject your mother's teaching; 9for they are a fair garland for your head, and pendants for your neck.

SECOND READING: 1 Peter 3:8–17A reading from the first letter of Peter.8Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing.

10For "Those who desire life and desire to see good days, let them keep their tongues from evil and their lips from speaking deceit;

11let them turn away from evil and do good;let them seek peace and pursue it. 12For

the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,and his ears are open to their prayer. But

the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." 13Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?

14But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, 15but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; 16yet do it with gentleness and reverence.

Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. 17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God's will, than to suffer for doing evil.

The word of the Lord.Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION - FAITH: (Red Hymnal # 174)

Celtic AlleluiaAlleluia, alleluia.Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION - NEW HOPEAlleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go?You have the words of eternal life.Alleluia.

GOSPEL: John 14:15–27The holy gospel according to John.Glory to you, O Lord.

15If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

18I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them."

22Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?" 23Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

25I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

The gospel of the Lord.Praise to you, O Christ.

Children’s Sermon

SERMONPastor Michael Peuse

HYMN OF THE DAY: Blest Be the Tie That Binds

(Red Hymnal # 656)1 Blest be the tie that bindsour hearts in Christian love;the unity of heart and mindis like to that above. 2 Before our Father's thronewe pour our ardent prayers;our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,our comforts and our cares.

3 We share our mutual woes,our mutual burdens bear,and often for each other flowsthe sympathizing tear. 4 From sorrow, toil, and pain,and sin we shall be free;and perfect love and friendship reignthrough all eternity.

CREEDI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, God's 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 to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSIONGathered by the Holy Spirit and fed by the word, we come together as the people of God to pray for the church, the world, and all in need.

 God of understanding and discernment, your Holy Spirit has breathed words to live by; wisdom that surpasses all human understanding. Show us how to live with faith and love, so that all the world may know of your faithfulness and love.

……..Lord in your mercy, C: hear our prayer

We mourn for the saints that have gone on before us. Yet we rejoice in the wisdom they shared with us, teaching us to be righteous and faithful. Lord, in your mercy,Hear our prayer.

With wisdom and insight we release all of our cares and concerns to a God who is faithful and loving.Amen.

OFFERING 

OFFERTORY HYMN: Create in Me a Clean Heart

(Red Hymnal # 188)

Create in me a clean heart, O God,and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence,and take not your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of your salvation,and uphold me with your free Spirit.

OFFERING PRAYERAbundant God,

C: You have given us gifts that delight and bring joy. Today we give back to you a portion of the generous gifts you have given to us; a token of appreciation for your generosity and faithfulness. Receive our gifts with joy, and share your abundance with all the world. Amen.

DIALOGUEThe 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 our thanks and praise.

PREFACE

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God. You reveal your glory as the glory of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: equal in majesty, undivided in splendor, one Lord, one God, ever to be adored in your eternal glory. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

Holy, holy, holy Lord,Lord God of pow'r and might:

Heav'n and earth are full of your glory.Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLEIn the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;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.

LORD'S PRAYEROur 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 COMMUNIONJesus said, "Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." COMMUNIONThe body of Christ, given for you. The blood of Christ, shed for you. Amen.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Wise and generous God, We thank you that at this holy table you have fed us again with the food of everlasting life. Send us with your blessing to seek the good of our neighbor and call others to your feast; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.Amen.

BLESSINGAlmighty and merciful God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, bless, preserve, and keep you this day and forevermore. Amen.

SENDING SONG: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!

(Red Hymnal # 413)

1 Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall

rise to thee.

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!

God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

2 Holy, holy, holy! All the saints

adore thee,

casting down their golden crowns

around the glassy sea;

cherubim and seraphim falling

down before thee,

which wert and art, and evermore

shalt be.

3 Holy, holy, holy! Though the

darkness hide thee,

though the eye of sinfulness thy

glory may not see,

only thou art holy; there is none

beside thee,

perfect in pow'r, in love and purity.

4 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea.

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!

God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

DISMISSALGo in peace. Live in love, as Christ loved us. Thanks be to God.

From SundaysAndSeasons.com. Copyright 2015 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #25422. 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.