1

The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

June 17, 2018

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church

215 N. Warren St.

Orwigsburg, PA

570-366-2316

www.stpauls-orwigsburg.org

2

Rev. Kathy Ash-Flashner, Designated Pastor 570-977-4189

St. Paul’s, Summer Hill, PA

Justin McClure, Organist/Choir Director 570-573-4076

Office Support Staff – justin@stpauls-orwigsburg.org 570-366-2316

Karen Travor, Treasurer 570-366-8757

Cody Wertman, Sexton 570-366-2316

Wayne Lutsey, Financial Secretary 570-366-8766

Jessica Swick, Social Media Manager 936-648-6809

– jessica@stpauls-orwigsburg.org *******************************************************************

Welcome to Worship. Today we are using Evangelical Lutheran Worship, the

red book, found in the pew racks.

St. Paul’s has free WiFi. Click on (SPLC) to connect. Check in on

Facebook and let everyone know that you are worshiping with us today at

St. Paul’s!

Friendship Pads

We ask everyone to please sign the friendship pads in the pews and pass the pad to your neighbor. We invite visitors to sign the guest book in the narthex.

Summer Fellowship Table

Please join us for refreshments and fellowship in the gathering room immediately following 9:30 AM Worship. We are looking for small groups of friends and

families or church committees to sponsor the table each week. Please sign up on the

sheet on the table in the gathering room.

Introduction to the Day: The mustard seed becomes a great shrub that shelters the

birds, recalling ancient images of the tree of life. We’d expect a cedar or a sequoia,

but Jesus finds the power of God better imaged in a tiny, no-account seed. It’s not the way we expect divine activity to look. Yet the tree of life is here, in the cross

around which we gather, the tree into which we are grafted through baptism, the

true vine that nourishes us with its fruit in the cup we share. It may not appear all that impressive, but while nobody’s looking it grows with a power beyond our

understanding.

Our supply Pastor for this weekend is the Rev. Robert Reier. Welcome, and thank you for leading us in worship!

3

GATHERING

PRELUDE “

ANNOUNCEMENTS

GATHERING HYMN For the Beauty of the Earth #879

GREETING

In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the

Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

CONFESSION AND FORGIVNESS

Trusting God’s promise of forgiveness, let us confess our sin against God and one

another.

Eternal God our creator,

in you we live and move and have our being. Look upon us, your children,

the work of your hands.

Forgive us all our offenses, and cleanse us from proud thoughts and empty desires.

By your grace draw us near to you,

our refuge and our strength; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to

us. In the mercy of almighty God, Christ died for us while we still were sinners;

and for his sake, God ☩ forgives you all your sins.

Amen.

4

HYMN OF PRAISE O God beyond All Praising

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray.

O God, you are the tree of life, offering shelter to all the world. Graft us into

yourself and nurture our growth, that we may bear your truth and love to those in

need, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

Please be seated.

5

WORD

A Reading from Ezekiel 22Thus says the Lord GOD:

I myself will take a sprig

from the lofty top of a cedar;

I will set it out.

I will break off a tender one

from the topmost of its young twigs;

I myself will plant it

on a high and lofty mountain.

23On the mountain height of Israel

I will plant it,

in order that it may produce boughs and bear fruit,

and become a noble cedar.

Under it every kind of bird will live;

in the shade of its branches will nest

winged creatures of every kind.

24All the trees of the field shall know

that I am the LORD.

I bring low the high tree,

I make high the low tree;

I dry up the green tree

and make the dry tree flourish.

I the LORD have spoken;

I will accomplish it.

(Ezekiel 17:22-24)

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

6

PSALM 92:1-4, 12-15

1It is good to give thanks to the LORD,

to sing praises to your name, O Most High;

2to declare your steadfast love in the morning,

and your faithfulness by night,

3to the music of the lute and the harp,

to the melody of the lyre.

4For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work;

at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

12The righteous flourish like the palm tree,

and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

13They are planted in the house of the LORD;

they flourish in the courts of our God.

14In old age they still produce fruit;

they are always green and full of sap,

15showing that the LORD is upright;

he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

7

A Reading from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians 6So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the

body we are away from the Lord—7for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8Yes, we do

have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the

Lord. 9So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10For

all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive

recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.

11Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we

ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your

consciences. 12We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an

opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in

outward appearance and not in the heart. 13For if we are beside ourselves, it is for

God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14For the love of Christ urges us on,

because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. 15And he

died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him

who died and was raised for them.

16From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even

though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer

in that way. 17So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has

passed away; see, everything has become new!

(II Corinthians 5:6 - 17)

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Please stand if you are able.

8

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Gospel Mark 4: 26 – 34

The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. Glory to you, O Lord.

26Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the

ground,27and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and

grow, he does not know how. 28The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the

head, then the full grain in the head. 29But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in

with his sickle, because the harvest has come.”

30He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable

will we use for it? 31It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is

the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes

the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air

can make nests in its shade.”

33With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear

it; 34he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in

private to his disciples.

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to You, O Christ.

9

SERMON

HYMN OF THE DAY Almighty God, Your Word Is Cast #516

APOSTLE’S CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

and born of the virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again 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

10

PRAYER

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Filled with the Holy Spirit, we join with the church in every place, praying for the

world that God so loves.

O Most High, your divine realm is like a noble tree whose boughs and branches

give shade and rest to the peoples of the earth. Make your church a nesting place for

all who need your peace and healing. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

O Most High, all the world is a garden for your creativity. Refresh places of drought

with abundant rains. Strengthen and keep safe those who fight fires in your forests. Help us tend your mountains and plains, oceans and rivers with loving care. Hear

us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

O Most High, you speak and your word is accomplished. Speak to the leaders of the

nations so they might end cycles of violence, giving people everywhere tranquility

and peace. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

O Most High, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation. Bring the abundant

healing blessings of the new creation into the lives of those who suffer illness or deprivation of any kind (especially). Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

O Most High, your steadfast love and faithfulness sustain your people. Bless fathers

and all father figures with such love and faithfulness that children flourish and grow

in uprightness and joy. Bless those who long to be fathers and those for whom this day is difficult. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

O Most High, just as the earth produces of itself and the harvest comes, you gather up your people from all times and places. Bring us along with those who have died

(especially) into the lasting harvest of your kingdom. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

By the sure guidance of your Holy Spirit, O God, we lift up our prayers in trust and

thanksgiving; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

11

PEACE

The peace of the Lord be with you always.

And also with you.

OFFERING Procedure for the offering: the ushers will first proceed down the center aisle, then return to the front.

They will then turn to go down the side aisles with the plates.

Please help to pass a plate when necessary.

OFFERTORY “Flying Free” Besig/Price Jan Snyder, Wendy Schuld, & Justin McClure

OFFERTORY HYMN I Surrender All

12

OFFERTORY PRAYER

Merciful God, you open wide your hand and satisfy the need of every living thing.

You have set this feast before us. Open our hands to receive it. Open our hearts to

embrace it. Open our lives to live it. We pray this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

MEAL

GREAT THANKSGIVING

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 our thanks and praise.

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,

through our Savior Jesus Christ;

who on this day overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life.

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:

13

SANCTUS

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

In 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.

14

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, forever and forever. Amen.

INVITATION

Come, let us eat, for now the feast is spread.

Please be seated.

15

AGNUS DEI Just As I Am

DISTRIBUTION – INTINCTION

The Sacrament will be distributed by Intinction, pulpit side first. Please move into the center

aisle, proceed to the Pastor, and receive the bread in your open hand. Then turn to the assistant

where you may dip the host into the wine and partake, returning to your seat by the side

aisle. The lectern side will follow, then the choir. Those unable to come forward will receive the

Sacrament in their pews.

COMMUNION HYMN

Our Father, by Whose Name #640

TABLE BLESSING

The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his

grace. Amen

16

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Jesus Christ, host of this meal, you have given us not only this bread and cup, but your very self, that we may feast on your great love. Filled again by these signs of

your grace, may we hunger for your reign of justice, may we thirst for your way of

peace, for you are Lord forevermore.

Amen.

SENDING

BLESSING

May God, whose power working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or

imagine, grant you the gifts of faith and hope.

Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.

Amen.

SENDING HYMN Faith of Our Fathers #812

THE DISMISSAL

Go in Peace. Share the good news!

Thanks be to God!

POSTLUDE “

Our Liturgy and Music are used by permission through Augsburg Fortress License #20611.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A special thank you to Wendy Campbell for being our guest pianist on Saturday

evening.

17

Altar flowers are presented in honor of James P. Withers by Wayne & Ruth Ann

Withers.

Chancel flowers are presented in memory of Jack Taylor by wife, Skip.

Today’s bulletins are presented in honor of our Aunt Nancy Hurley’s birthday by

Kurt & Julianne Schenck.

*******************************************************************

SERVING TODAY:

9:30 AM

LECTOR: Jennifer Betz; COMMUNION ASSISTANT: Chris Long; USHERS:

Cindy Ritschel & Gloria Dierwechter; ACOLYTE/CRUCIFER: Hunter Teter;

GREETER: Chris Long; ALTAR GUILD: Glenda Bright & Danielle Richards.

COUNTERS: Joyce O’Rourke, Gloria Dierwechter, & Dana Jenkins.

SERVING NEXT WEEK (6/24/18):

9:30 AM

LECTOR: Bob Schuld II; COMMUNION ASSISTANT: Robin Zimmerman;

USHERS: Kay Weidensaul & Julianne Schenck; ACOLYTE/CRUCIFER: Emily

Heydt; GREETER: Chris Long; ALTAR GUILD: Chris Long & Tina Butler;

COUNTERS: Connie Teter, Jean Premich, & Barb Sterner.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

SUMMER FELLOWSHIP TABLE

Join us for refreshments and fellowship after the 9:30 AM Service on Sunday

mornings in the gathering room. We are looking for more hosts, so please feel free to sign up to sponsor the refreshments. Families or small groups are perfect!

18

Everyone, young and old, is invited to attend the annual picnic

on Sunday, July 22. The festivities will begin with worship at 11:00 AM at Albright's Woods Park.

A covered dish social will follow worship. Bring your lawn chair and a favorite covered dish to share. Hot dogs and drinks will be

provided. There will be games for all to participate. Donations for BINGO prizes

are appreciated.

A signup sheet will be located at the gathering room by June 17th so that we can

provide the hot dogs and drinks.

The 11:00 AM picnic service will be the only service on Sunday, July 22.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

SUMMER MUSICIANS

Do you sing or play an instrument?

Would you like to share your talent with us at St. Paul’s by providing a musical

offering during worship?

We are looking for soloists and instrumentalists to join us throughout the summer months.

Sing or play your favorite hymn as a solo. Maybe you would like to get a small

group together?

For more information talk with Justin.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

We have an opening for an Office Support Staff person!

If you are interested in this 20-hour/week clerical work position, or if you know of

anyone who might be, please let one of us know. Just give us a name and phone number; a resume will also be needed. Justin even says he will help with training.

Thanks, Scott Butler, Chris Long, and Sue Schenck

19

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

CALENDAR Monday, June 18 6:00 PM Daycare

7:00 PM Council

Saturday, June 23 5:30 PM Worship

Sunday, June 24 9:30 AM Worship

10:30 AM Fellowship Table

Office Hours: *Wednesday & Friday 10 – 3

*Please note the change for one week.