Pastor’s Message/Worship Resources: June 21, 2020

Welcome to Worship Online: 3rd Sunday of Pentecost

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The Season of Pentecost is a time of consistency in the Church Year. In some traditions, it is known as “ordinary time.” Green is the color for the season of Pentecost. Green evokes a sense of growth and life. The season of Pentecost is a time for the church to deepen its roots, to be watered and bask in the sunlight, to let God provide the growth.   (CPH.org)

Though we continue to worship apart from one another, and our worship feels quite different these days, may we be united as one through our Comforter, the Holy Spirit. Our service is online each week, with music, God’s Word, messages of hope, prayers for the people, and blessings to take into your week. At least for now, this is where we are. We hope you will be with us as we await the time when we will be able to gather together for worship and fellowship once again. But for now, keep safe and know that our God is constant.

In this post you will find resources for you to use at home – there is a link to an audio file of Pastor Jonny’s message, as well as music, prayers and files in PDF format should you wish to download and/or print. The internet continues to be a very busy place these days – some files may take extra time to download on your device. It is our deepest hope that these resources will be of assistance to you as you worship our Lord and Saviour.

“Absurd times call for absurd amounts of grace, flexibility and patience.”

A Call to Worship...

Loving God, you call us to turn away from our own selfish interests,
to take up our cross, and to follow you.
To find our lives, may we live them in service of your mission.
As we come before you to worship, give us open hearts and open hands.
Make us eager to hear your voice and seek your guidance.
Open our minds to your ever-present spirit that is always moving within and around us.
Open our spirits to your nudging and open our lives to your love. 

From the Psalms: Your Steadfast Love is Good...

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A Prayer for Fathers

God our Father,
We give you thanks and praise for fathers young and old.
 
We pray for young fathers, newly embracing their vocation;
May they find courage and perseverance
to balance work, family and faith in joy and sacrifice.
 
We pray for fathers around the world whose children are lost or suffering;
May they know that the God of compassion 
walks with them in their sorrow.
 
We pray for men who are not fathers
but still mentor and guide us with fatherly love and advice.
 
We remember fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers
who are no longer with us but who live forever in our memory 
and nourish us with their love. Amen. 
~ author unknown

Praise with Music: Good, Good Father

We’ve got a Heavenly Father now, and he’s good. He loves us unconditionally, he forgives us when we make mistakes, he delights to see us grow, & he releases us into his good, good world to live as his image bearers, reflecting him & bearing witness to the good news of his love & grace for all.  (Excerpt from Pastor Jonny’s message)

You’re a good, good Father; It’s who You are….
And I’m loved by You; It’s who I am…

Prayer of the Day:

Let us pray…      O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving­kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Children's Worship: For the young & the young at heart

Below is a link to a children’s lesson at the Sermons4Kids website (where, as you might guess, you will find messages to help explain the weekly Scriptures to kids). This message tells us the story behind the song “His Eye is on the Sparrow” which is based on today’s Gospel Lesson.

His Eye Is On the Sparrow Message – God Cares for You

Children’s Bulletin for Pentecost 3

The Word: Today's Scripture Lessons

Clicking on the Scripture links will take you to the Revised Common Lectionary at the Vanderbilt Divinity Library where you can read the lessons.

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“So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.”      – Matthew 10: 31

Audio Message - Pastor Jonny: Pentecost 3

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Whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. Matthew 10:39

For a PDF Transcript of Pastor’s Message for the Third Sunday after Pentecost, click on this link:

2020-06-21 Matthew 10.24-39 Transcript

Prayers of the People / Lord's Prayer

God of mercy and healing, you who hear the cries of those in need,
receive these petitions of your people that all who are troubled
may know peace, comfort, and courage.

Prayers of the Peoplethis link takes you the Lutheran Core website where you will find the prayers online. This PDF file (Prayers of the Church – June 21-Father’s Day-Pentecost3)  is a transcript of the prayers that you can print if you wish.

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Gathering our prayers and praises into one, let us pray as our Saviour taught us…

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 ever. Amen

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St. Peter Lutheran, Stettler

Life-giving God, heal our lives, that we may acknowledge your wonderful deeds and offer you thanks from generation to generation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Praise with Music: His Eye is On the Sparrow

When surrounded by uncertainty, it is a great comfort to know that our Heavenly Father’s care is ceaseless. We can breathe deeply and be absolutely certain that He cares for us.

I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free.
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

A Sending Prayer:

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God of power,
you uphold us in times of persecution
and strengthen us to meet
the trials of faithful witness.
As you delivered us from death
through our baptism in Christ
and the victory of his resurrection,
send us forth to proclaim
that glorious redemption –
so that the world may claim
the freedom of forgiveness
and new life in you. Amen.

Dona Nobis Pacem: Give us Peace (WOV #774)

In the process of gathering and preparing resources for this worship post, I stumbled upon this musical prayer rather serendipitously while searching for something else. I just love how God works – because this week was the perfect week for this song to reappear in my life.  Dona Nobis Pacem (pronounced: daw-nah naw-bees pah-chehm) can be found in our With One Voice hymnal (#774) and the Latin words translate to “Give us peace”. I first heard this prayer sung as a round at a Retreat at Camp Kuriakos – and years later it still gives me goosebumps when I recall how it moved me. I try hard not to add my personal comments to these posts, but somehow this prayer seems very much needed in our world today. Close your eyes and listen to it a few times. Let this prayer for peace resonate in our hearts as we start this new week. “Lord, give us peace.”
(Personal note from H. Smiley, Website Coordinator)

Go in Peace, as witnesses of the Risen Lord.

Thanks be to God!

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Great occasions for serving God come seldom, but little ones surround us daily. — Saint Francis de Sales

“Dona Nobis Pacem” mp3  recorded by Julie Gaulke Music – Inspirations Album | “His Eye is On the Sparrow” recorded by Kelly Wilkerson | CCLI #972625