THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
The color green, used for the vestments and
paraments in the season after Pentecost, represents growth and life in the Holy
Spirit.
OLD TESTAMENT: Especially for new, zealous
members of the Church, there is the danger of misunderstanding that the life of
faith will lead to success after success. The prophet Jeremiah’s experience
should sober them. He uses the language of ‘enticement;’ other translations of
the same word are ‘deceived,’ or even more provocatively, ‘seduced.’) God
‘sweet-talked’ him into a close relationship, and yet Jeremiah has experienced
not success, but only rejection from his people because he must preach God’s
judgment against Judah. But he continues to put his faith in God who will
deliver him; whose words will, in the end, be confirmed by action.
NEW TESTAMENT: Paul’s preaching of
justification by faith in Jesus Christ was slandered by his opponents, who
claimed he taught, ‘We should sin so that grace may abound.’ In strong
language, Paul refutes this charge. His response, ‘By no means,’ could be more
freely translated as, ‘hell, no!’ Paul uses the metaphor of death and
resurrection: the old self of sin is dead; the new being in Christ is alive to
God’s love.
GOSPEL: Some
of Jesus’ opponents apparently called him ‘Beelzebul,’ originally a name for
the Canaanite God ‘Baal’ and by the time of the New Testament a synonym for the
devil. The Pharisees claimed that his exorcisms were done with an evil spirit: ‘It is only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons, that
this fellow casts out the demons (Matthew 12:24).’ Jesus tells his disciples that they will face
this and similar extreme forms of opposition if they seek to minister in his
name. The name of Jesus will even divide families. In spite of this opposition,
they are still to bear witness to his name, for in the name of Jesus is
salvation from all evil.
Preparation for Worship
Upon reaching your place,
you may wish to read Psalm 84 in silence:
1 How dear to me is
your dwelling, O | Lord of hosts!*
My soul has a desire and longing
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh rejoice in
the | living God.
2 The sparrow has
found her a house
and
the swallow a nest where she may | lay her young,*
by the side of your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King | and my God.
3 Happy are they who
dwell | in your house!*
They will always be | praising
you.
4 Happy are the
people whose strength | is in you,*
whose hearts are set on the |
pilgrims' way.
5 Those who go
through the desolate valley
will find it a | place of springs,*
for the early rains have covered
it with | pools of water.
6 They will climb
from | height to height,*
and the God of gods will reveal
him- | self in Zion.
7 Lord God of hosts, | hear my prayer;*
hearken, O | God of Jacob.
8 Behold our defend-
| er, O God;*
and look upon the face of | your
anointed.
9 For one day in
your courts
is better than a thousand in | my own
room,*
and to stand at the threshold of
the house of my God
than to dwell in the tents | of
the wicked.
10 For the Lord God is both | sun and shield;*
he will give | grace and glory;
11 no good thing will
the | Lord withhold*
from those who walk | with
integrity.
12 O | Lord of hosts,*
happy are they who put their |
trust in you!
You
may pray the following prayer(s):
Holy
Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God: hear our prayer and send your holy
angel from heaven to guard, protect, visit, and defend all those who assemble
together in this house; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Most
gracious God, incline your merciful ears to our prayers and enlighten our
hearts by the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may approach your Holy
Mysteries with believing hearts and love you with an everlasting love.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
OPENING MUSIC Give to our God Immortal Praise!
I.
Charles
Ore
II.
David
Cherwien
Please
meditate on the text of the hymn as it is played:
1 Give
to our God immortal praise!
Mercy
and truth are all his ways;
wonders
of grace to God belong;
repeat
his mercies in your song.
2 He
sent his Son with pow’r to save
from
guilt and darkness and the grave.
Wonders
of grace to God belong;
repeat
his mercies in your song.
3 Give
to the Lord of lords renown;
the
King of kings with glory crown.
His
mercies ever shall endure
when
lords and kings are known no more!
Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748
BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Stand
The sign of the cross may be made
by all in remembrance of their Baptism.
In the name of the Father, and of
the X Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Almighty God, to whom all hearts
are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts
of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly
love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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.
(1
John 1:8-9)
Silence for reflection and
self-examination.
Most merciful God,
we confess that we
are in bondage to sin
and cannot free ourselves.
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.
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 us and, for his sake, forgives us all our sins. As a
called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by his authority, I
therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name
of the Father, and of the X Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
THE HOLY COMMUNION
APOSTOLIC GREETING
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.
(2 Corinthians 13:13)
KYRIE
ELEISON
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 here their worship and
praise,
let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
Help, save, comfort and defend us, gracious Lord. Amen
HYMN OF
PRAISE
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his
people on earth.
(Luke 2:14)
Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father:
We
worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you
for your glory.
Lord
Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb
of God:
You
take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
You
are seated at the right hand of the Father;
receive our
prayer.
For
you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,
you
alone are the Most High,
Jesus
Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of
God the Father. Amen
PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
True and faithful God,
you give courage to the fearful and endurance to
martyrs.
Sustain us as followers of your Son Jesus,
that with boldness and conviction
we may acknowledge him before the world.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your
Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the
Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
Amen
CALL TO
THE WORD
Jesus said,
‘Nothing
is covered up that will not be uncovered,
and nothing secret that will not become known.’
Let us hear the
Word of the Lord. Matthew
10:26
Sit
First READING Jeremiah 20:7-13
7O Lord, you have enticed me,
and I was enticed;
you have overpowered me,
and you have prevailed.
I have become a laughingstock all day long;
everyone mocks me.
8For whenever I speak, I must cry out,
I must shout, “Violence and destruction!”
For the word of the Lord has
become for me
a reproach and derision all day long.
9If I say, “I will not mention him,
or speak any more in his name,”
then within me there is something like a burning fire
shut up in my bones;
I am weary with holding it in,
and I cannot.
10For I hear many
whispering:
“Terror is all around!
Denounce him! Let us denounce him!”
All my close friends
are watching for me to stumble.
“Perhaps he can be enticed,
and we can prevail against him,
and take our revenge on him.”
11But the Lord is with
me like a dread warrior;
therefore my persecutors will stumble,
and they will not prevail.
They will be greatly shamed,
for they will not succeed.
Their eternal dishonor
will never be forgotten.
12O Lord of
hosts, you test the righteous,
you see the heart and the mind;
let me see your retribution upon them,
for to you I have committed my cause.
13Sing to the Lord;
praise the Lord!
For he has delivered the life of the needy
from the hands of evildoers.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to
God.
PSALM 69:8-20
The psalm is read
responsively between the pastor and the people.
8 Surely, for your sake have I suf- | fered reproach,*
and
shame has cov- | ered my face.
9 I have become a stranger to | my own kindred,*
an
alien to my | mother's children.
10 Zeal for your house has eat- | en me up;*
the
scorn of those who scorn you has fall- | en upon me.
11 I humbled my- | self with fasting,*
but
that was turned to | my reproach.
12 I put on | sackcloth also,*
and
became a by- | word among them.
13 Those who sit at the gate mur- | mur against me,*
and
the drunkards make | songs about me.
14 But as for me, this is my | prayer to you,*
at
the time you have | set, O Lord:
15 "In your great mer- | cy, O God,*
answer
me with your un- | failing help.
16 Save me from the mire; do not | let me sink;*
let
me be rescued from those who hate me
and
out of | the deep waters.
17 Let not the torrent of waters wash over me,
neither let the deep swal- | low
me up;*
do
not let the pit shut its | mouth upon me.
18 Answer me, O Lord,
for your | love is kind;*
in
your great compassion, | turn to me."
19 Hide not your face | from your servant;*
be
swift and answer me, for I am | in distress.
20 Draw near to me | and redeem me;*
because of my enemies de- |
liver me.
SECOND READING
Romans 6:1b-11
1bShould we
continue in sin in order that grace may abound? 2By no means! How
can we who died to sin go on living in it? 3Do you not know that all
of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4Therefore
we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was
raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in
newness of life.
5For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will
certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6We know
that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be
destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. 7For whoever
has died is freed from sin. 8But if we have died with Christ, we
believe that we will also live with him. 9We know that Christ, being
raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over
him.
10The death he
died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11So
you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to
God.
Stand
VERSE
Alleluia. Because we are his children, God
has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
crying, “Abba! Father!”
Alleluia. Galatians 4:6
Gospel Matthew 10:24-39
The
Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew.
Glory to you, O Lord.
[Jesus said to the twelve:] 24“A
disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; 25it
is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the
master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more
will they malign those of his household!
26“So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will
not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. 27What
I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered,
proclaim from the housetops. 28Do not fear those who kill the body
but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in
hell. 29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them
will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30And even the hairs
of your head are all counted. 31So do not be afraid; you are of more
value than many sparrows.
32“Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also
will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; 33but whoever denies me
before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.
34“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I
have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35For I have come to set a man against his father,
and a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
36and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.
37Whoever loves
father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or
daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38and whoever does not
take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39Those who
find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will
find it.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sit
SERMON
HYMN OF THE DAY “Take Up Your Cross,” the Savior Said
Please meditate on the text of the hymn as
it is played.
1 “Take
up your cross,” the Savior said,
“if
you would my disciple be;
forsake
the past, and come this day,
and
humbly follow after me.”
2 Take
up your cross; let not its weight
pervade
your soul with vain alarm;
his
strength shall bear your spirit up,
sustain
your heart, and nerve your arm.
3 Take
up your cross, nor heed the shame,
nor
let your foolish heart rebel;
for
you the Lord endured the cross
to
save your soul from death and hell.
4 Take
up your cross and follow Christ,
nor
think till death to lay it down;
for
only those who bear the cross
may
hope to wear a golden crown.
Text: Charles W. Everest, 1814-1877, alt.
Stand
CONFESSION
OF FAITH
The pastor and people confess the faith of the Church, using
the words of the Apostles’ 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
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
Let us pray for the whole people
of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.
A brief silence is kept.
For the whole Church; that you
would strengthen her to take up her cross and follow you, daily dying to sin
and rising to new life in Christ Jesus. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our
prayer.
For the faith family of St
Stephen; that we may acknowledge you before others, being your witnesses in our
homes, communities, and the world. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our
prayer.
For the ministers of the whole
Church; that they may boldly proclaim your Son in the light of day. Lord, in
your mercy,
hear our
prayer.
For those persecuted for the name
of Jesus Christ; that they may not fear those who can kill the body,
but instead rejoice that they are like their teacher, who was also maligned
before others. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our
prayer.
For
fathers, grandfathers, and those in the place of fathers; that, rejoicing in
the honor of their calling and in the children they have been given, they may
be given strength, wisdom and courage. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our
prayer.
For these times: that in the midst of pandemic and
strife, your healing power would be displayed in individual lives and in the
life of our country and the world. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
For the leaders and peoples of the
world, and for our enemies; that they may be converted to the ways of peace and
forgiven their sins. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our
prayer.
For those who suffer from
loneliness, depression, sickness of body, mind, or spirit;
for those who are poor; for those whose faith has grown cold, and for all we
name before you, that you would deliver the lives of all the needy.
The people offer silent or spoken intercessions and
thanksgivings.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our
prayer.
In thanksgiving for those who have
loved you above all things, who have died in Christ Jesus and now live with him;
we ask that we may also love you above all things and our neighbor as
ourselves, and receive the eternal life promised in Christ. Lord, in your
mercy,
hear our
prayer.
Into your hands, O Lord, we
commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy, through your Son, Jesus
Christ our Lord.
Amen
PEACE
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
And also
with you.
The people exchange the sign of
peace with the simple words, Peace be with you.
Sit
The Lord’s Table is prepared.
Stand
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
We do
not presume to come to your table, O Lord,
trusting
in our own righteousness,
but in
your manifold and great mercies.
We are not
worthy to gather up the crumbs under your table.
But you
are the same Lord whose property is always to have mercy.
Grant us,
therefore, gracious Lord,
so to eat the
flesh of your dear Son, Jesus Christ,
and so to drink
his blood,
that we may
evermore dwell in him and he in us. Amen
Prayer of
Humble Access (see Mark 7:28 and John 15:3)
GREAT
THANKSGIVING
The Great Thanksgiving begins with the Preface, leading
into the Sanctus:
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 indeed right and salutary that we should at
all times and all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through
Christ our Lord. He bore the cross for the salvation of the whole world, and
bids us who would follow him take up the cross, so that, dead to sin and
walking in newness of life, we may be his witnesses before all people.
And so with the Church on earth and the hosts of
heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
Holy,
holy, holy LORD, God of power and might!
Heaven
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! (Isaiah 6:3, Matthew 21:9)
The
pastor leads the people in praying the Eucharistic canon:
You are indeed holy, almighty and merciful
God;
you are most holy, and great is the majesty of your
glory.
You
so loved the world that you gave your only Son,
that
whoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.
Having
come into the world, he fulfilled for us your holy will
and
accomplished our salvation.
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.
Remembering,
therefore, his salutary command,
his life-giving Passion and
death,
his glorious resurrection and
ascension,
and his promise to come again,
we give thanks to you, Lord God
Almighty,
not as we ought, but as we are
able;
and
we implore you mercifully
to accept our praise and thanksgiving,
and, with your Word and Holy Spirit,
to
bless us, your servants,
and
these your own gifts of bread and wine;
that
we and all who share
in
the body and blood of your Son
may
be filled with heavenly peace and joy,
and,
receiving the forgiveness of sin,
may
be sanctified in soul and body,
and
have our portion with all your saints.
All
honor and glory are yours, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
in your holy Church, now and
forever. Amen
In the presence of Christ, we pray to his Father using the words he gave
us.
Christ is in our midst.
By the power of the
Spirit,
we pray to his
Father, saying:
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 (Matthew 6:9-15)
We adore the present Christ with
the words of the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God).
Sing to the LORD; praise the LORD!
He has delivered the life of the needy
from the hands of evildoers.
Come to the table, for all is now ready.
Thanks be to God. Jeremiah
20:13
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.
(John 1:29, see also Luke 17:13)
DISTRIBUTION
Admission to the Sacrament is by
invitation of the Lord, presented through the Church to those who are baptized.
They may receive the Lord’s Body and Blood who
are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
who commune in their home churches, and who believe that Jesus Christ,
crucified and risen, is truly present in, with, and under the forms of bread
and wine for the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.
The communicants
will be invited forward one family unit at a time. Please do not come forward
until the pastor directs you to come forward, and please do not remove your
mask until you have reached the table with the elements on it.
When the pastor says ‘The body of Christ,
given for you,’ eat the bread. When the pastor says, ‘The blood of Christ, shed
for you,’ drink the wine. The pastor will say ‘Depart in peace.’ Please take
the plate and the glasses and place them on the table that is indicated. Please
put your mask on before returning to your seat.
During the distribution,
hymns are played. Please meditate on the text of the hymns as they are played.
Breathe
on Me, Breath of God
1 Breathe on me, breath of God;
fill me with life anew,
that I may love all that you
love
and do what you would do.
2 Breathe on me, breath of God,
until my heart is pure,
until with you I will one will
to do and to endure.
3 Breathe on me, breath of God;
so shall I never die,
but live with you the perfect
life
of your eternity.
Text:
Edwin Hatch, 1835-1889
O Jesus, I Have Promised
1 O Jesus, I have
promised
to serve you to the
end;
remain forever near
me,
my master and my
friend.
I shall not fear the
battle
if you are by my
side,
nor wander from the
pathway
if you will be my
guide.
2 Oh, let me feel you
near me;
the world is ever
near.
I see the sights that
dazzle,
the tempting sounds I
hear.
My foes are ever near
me,
around me and within;
but, Jesus, then draw
nearer
to shield my soul
from sin.
3 Oh, let me hear you
speaking
in accents clear and
still
above the storms of
passion,
the murmurs of
self-will.
Now speak to reassure
me,
to hasten or control;
now speak and make me
listen,
O Guardian of my
soul.
4 O Jesus, you have
promised
to all who follow you
that where you are in
glory
your servant shall be
too.
And Jesus, I have
promised
to serve you to the
end;
oh, give me grace to
follow,
my master and my
friend.
Text: John E. Bode, 1816-1874, alt.
When all have
received, the congregation stands at the direction of the pastor.
The body and blood of our Lord
Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
Amen
Lord, now you let your servant
go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the
salvation
which you have prepared in the
sight of every people:
A light to reveal you to the
nations
and the glory of your people
Israel.
Glory 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 Song
of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32)
O
Christ, Lamb of God pure and holy,
O
Wisdom, Word, and Power of God,
Grant that we may more perfectly partake of
you
in the days which know no ending in your
kingdom.
Amen
Sit
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE FAITH
FAMILY
Stand
BENEDICTION
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious
to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and X give you
peace.
Amen
CLOSING MUSIC
DISMISSAL
Go
in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be
to God!
Please maintain social distance and remain
masked while exiting the building. Please sanitize your hands before leaving
the building.
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