The livestream may be found here.
July 18, 2021, 9:30
a.m.
The Eighth
Sunday after Pentecost
Christ the Good Shepherd,
epigraph, 4th century
EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
The color green,
used for the vestments and paraments for the Sundays after Pentecost,
represents growth and life in the Holy Spirit.
The people of Galilee follow Jesus wherever he
goes, giving him and the apostles no rest. But Jesus has compassion on them. He
becomes their shepherd, teaching and healing them.
Hundreds of years before the Son of God walked the
earth, the prophet Jeremiah was witness to the exile of God’s people from the
Promised Land. He reported the word of the LORD – the people have been
scattered because of the negligence and the evildoing of the religious leaders
called to shepherd the people. But, having compassion upon the people, God
promises to gather them from the nations and bring them back to their ancestral
land, raising up shepherds to guide and protect them. God also promises a
‘righteous branch’ for David, to reign as shepherd- king over his people,
restoring the Davidic monarchy.
Christians believe that Jesus fulfills both these
prophecies of Jeremiah. He is both shepherd and king. Not only is he shepherd
and king, he is ‘Emmanuel;’ God-with-us. The 23rd Psalm can thus be
addressed to Jesus as Lord. He is the one who leads and shepherds the church,
feeding and protecting us, and we dwell in his household forever.
The reading from Ephesians connects very well with
this last verse of Psalm 23 about the ‘house of the LORD.’ The Ephesians are
Gentiles, non-Jews, but Paul’s message is that in the cross of Christ God has
overcome the opposition between Jew and Gentile. The salvation of God’s people
extends now to the Gentiles, and the two peoples are now ‘one new humanity.’
The new humanity is described by an abundance of metaphor: all believers are
now fellow citizens of a city and family members of God’s household; with
Christ as cornerstone. Together the members of the household of God are a holy
Temple, a dwelling place for the Spirit of God.
OPENING
MUSIC
BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Stand
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.
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
I will go to the altar of God,
to the God of my joy and gladness. Psalm 43:4a
X HYMN O Praise the Gracious Power
With One
Voice 750
Text may not be reproduced here
APOSTOLIC GREETING and PRAYER OF THE DAY
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.
Compassionate God,
from far and near you gather your Church into one.
Safeguard the unity of your
flock
through the teaching of Christ
the Shepherd,
that all your scattered children
may find in him
the guidance and nourishment
they seek.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen
CALL TO
THE WORD
Jesus
had compassion for the people;
and
he began to teach them many things. Mark 6:30-34
Let us hear the Word of the Lord.
Sit
First READING Jeremiah
23:1-6
Woe to the shepherds who destroy
and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the LORD. 2Therefore thus
says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my
people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and
you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings,
says the LORD. 3Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock
out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to
their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4I will raise
up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any
longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the LORD.
5The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for
David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall
execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6In his days Judah
will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he
will be called: "The LORD is our righteousness."
The Word
of the Lord. Thanks
be to God.
PSALMODY: The Lord’s My
Shepherd (Psalm 23)
Stanza
1: ALL; Stanza 2: Pastor;
Stanza 3: ALL;
Stanza 4: Pastor; Stanza 5: ALL
Text: Psalter,
Edinburgh, 1650
Tune:
J.L Macbeth Bain, c. 1840-1925, adapt.
SECOND READING Ephesians 2:11-22
11Remember that at one time you
Gentiles by birth, called "the uncircumcision" by those who are
called "the circumcision" — a physical circumcision made in the flesh
by human hands — 12remember that you were at that time without
Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the
covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13But
now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the
blood of Christ. 14For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made
both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the
hostility between us. 15He has abolished the law with its
commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity
in place of the two, thus making peace, 16and might reconcile both
groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that
hostility through it. 17So he came and proclaimed peace to you who
were far off and peace to those who were near; 18for through him
both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father.
19So then you are no longer
strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of
the household of God, 20built upon the foundation of the apostles
and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21In him
the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the
Lord; 22in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling
place for God.
The Word
of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Stand
VERSE
Isaiah 55:11
Spoken in unison by the congregation.
Alleluia. My word shall accomplish that which I
purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it. Alleluia.
Gospel Mark
6:30-34, 53-56
The Holy Gospel according to
St. Mark.
Glory to you, O Lord.
30The apostles gathered around
Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31He said to
them, "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a
while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to
eat. 32And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by
themselves. 33Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they
hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34As
he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because
they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many
things. 53When they had crossed over, they came to land at
Gennesaret and moored the boat. 54When they got out of the boat,
people at once recognized him, 55and rushed about that whole region
and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.
56And wherever he went, into
villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick
in
the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his
cloak; and all who touched it were healed.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sit
Sermon
Stand
X HYMN OF THE DAY O Holy Spirit,
Enter In
1 O Holy Spirit, enter in,
and in our hearts your work
begin,
and make our hearts your
dwelling.
Sun of the soul, O Light divine,
around and in us brightly shine,
your strength in us upwelling.
In your radiance
life from heaven
now is given
overflowing,
gift of gifts beyond all
knowing.
2 Left to ourselves, we surely stray;
oh, lead us on the narrow way,
with wisest counsel guide us;
and give us steadfastness, that we
may follow you forever free,
no matter who derides us.
Gently heal those
hearts now broken;
give some token
you are near us,
whom we trust to light and cheer us.
3 O mighty Rock, O Source of life,
let your good Word in doubt and strife
that we be faithful unto death
and live in love and holy faith,
from you true wisdom learning.
Lord, your mercy
on us shower;
by your power
Christ confessing,
we will cherish all your blessing.
Text: Michael Schirmer, 1606-1673; tr.
Catherine Winkworth, 1827-1878, adapt.
CONFESSION OF
FAITH
The pastor and people confess
the faith of the Church in 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
A brief silence
Father, make the Church one in the
proclamation of the cross. Make all bishops and pastors faithful shepherds
under the Good Shepherd. Fill this congregation with mutual love and good
deeds.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Let your Gospel be known in our
communities, in the nation, and in the world. We pray for our Mid-Northeast
Mission District as we begin to work toward the vision of planting of a new
church in the Cranberry area. Show us the way forward.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Be the guardian and guide of those who
are charged with authority in civil government. Convert and direct the leaders
of the world into ways of honesty, justice, and mercy. Give courage, skill and
discernment to all who work for order, safety, and peace.
Lord, hear our prayer.
As your Son had compassion on those
who came to him in need, so have compassion upon those who cry out to you and
upon those with a broken spirit. Hear our prayers for those whom we have been
called to pray.
The pastor reads the names on the prayer list and invites
spoken and silent intercession.
Help, save, comfort and defend them,
gracious Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Hear our prayers, Father, through Jesus Christ your Son, who
lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen
Peace
The
peace of the Lord be with you always.
And also with you.
The people exchange a sign of peace
with the simple words, Peace be with you.
Sit
The Lord’s Table is prepared.
Stand
OFFERTORY Psalm 26:6-8
Spoken in unison by the congregation.
I
wash my hands in innocence and go about your altar, O Lord, singing aloud a
song of thanksgiving, and telling all your wondrous deeds. O Lord, I love the habitation of your house,
and the place where your glory dwells.
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
As the grain once scattered in the fields
and the grapes once dispersed on the hillside
are now reunited on this table in bread and wine,
so, Lord, may your whole Church be gathered together
from the corners of the earth into your kingdom.
Amen
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 him thanks and praise.
It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all
times
and
in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through
Christ our Lord;
He is the
good shepherd who guides us, guards us, and gives us his peace; his anointing
heals our wounds and his voice calms our troubled hearts. He leads us into the
house of faith, where people of all tribes, nations, and languages speak with
varied tongue but in one Spirit of praise.
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!
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
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
God
prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies;
He anoints our head with oil, and our cup overflows.
Psalm 23:5
AGNUS DEI (Lamb of God)
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.
Sit
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, do not approach all
the way to the table until the pastor has retreated.
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. Please take
the plate and the glass(es) and place them on the table that is indicated.
Hymn:
One Bread, One Body
With One
Voice 710
Text may
not be reproduced here
After all have returned to their places, 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
Pour
out upon us the Spirit of your love, O Lord, and unite the wills of those whom
you have fed with one heavenly food, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
SENDING
Benediction
The Lord
bless you and keep you.
The Lord
make his face to shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord
look upon you with favor and give you peace.
Amen
Dismissal
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
|
THIS WEEK
FOR THE FAITH FAMILY Sun/ July 18 WORSHIP 9:30 AM Prayer at
the Close of the Day (livestream) 9:30 PM Wed/ July 21 Evening Prayer (livestream) 7:00 PM Sat/ July 24 NA Meeting 11 AM SATURDAY
EVENING WORSHIP 6:30 PM Sun/ July 25 WORSHIP 9:30 AM |
From
Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2021 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
Reprinted
by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #20540.
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.
Common
Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is included in this
service,
is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England, 2006.
Opening
Prayers: Collects in Contemporary Language,
copyright
1997 International Commission on English in the Liturgy. All rights reserved.
Christ
the Good Shepherd, from Art
in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt
Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=47679 [retrieved
July 12, 2021]. Original source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Good_shepherd_m2.jpg.
Agnus
Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org
St Stephen Lutheran Church
55 Forsythe Road
Pittsburgh PA 15220
(412) 279-5868
office@ststephenpittsburgh.org
Saturday
Evening Worship – 6:30 pm
Sunday
Morning Worship –9:30 am
