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ORDER OF WORSHIP
Second Sunday after Pentecost
June 02, 2024
Deuteronomy makes clear that sabbath-keeping is meant for the welfare of all. God delivered the Israelites out of slavery, so they should observe this freedom with a day of rest. No one should work seven days a week; even slaves and foreigners should be able to rest. Yet human beings can turn even the most liberating religious practice into a life-destroying rule. Jesus does not reject sabbath-keeping, but defends its original life-enhancing meaning. Our worship and our religious way of life are to lead to restoration: the hungry being fed and the sick being healed.
+ GATHERING +
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
TEMPLE TALK – Steve Bissionnette, President of VISTE
PRELUDE
Here I Am, Lord
arr. Douglas E. Wagner
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
God of all mercy and consolation, come to the help of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Most merciful God,
we confess that we are captive 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.
In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God 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 Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
GATHERING HYMN
Listen, God Is Calling
ELW 513
Refrain
(Listen,)
listen, God is calling, through the Word inviting,
offering forgiveness, comfort and joy.
(Listen,)
listen, God is calling, through the Word inviting,
offering forgiveness, comfort and joy.
(Jesus gave his mandate:)
share the good news
(that he came to save us)
and set us free. Refrain
(Let none be forgotten)
throughout the world.
(In the triune name of God)
go and baptize. Refrain
(Help us to be faithful,)
standing steadfast,
(walking in your precepts,)
led by your Word. Refrain
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.
KYRIE
Lord, have mercy:
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy:
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy:
Lord, have mercy.
CANTICLE OF PRAISE (page 140)
Refrain
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain,
whose blood set us free to be people of God. Refrain
Power, riches, wisdom, and strength,
and honor, blessing, and glory are his. Refrain
Sing with all the people fo God,
and join in the hymn of all creation:
Blessing, honor, glory, and might
be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen. Refrain
For the Lamb who was slain
has begun his reign. Alleluia. Refrain
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray.
Almighty and ever-living God, throughout time you free the oppressed, heal the sick, and make whole all that you have made. Look with compassion on the world wounded by sin, and by your power restore us to wholeness of life, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
+ WORD +
FIRST READING: Deuteronomy 5:12-15
This portion of the Ten Commandments instructs the Israelites to keep the sabbath. The Israelites are to rest, and they are to allow their slaves, their livestock, and the foreigners living among them to do the same. They were once slaves, and so they are to treat their own slaves justly.
12Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. 13Six days you shall labor and do all your work. 14But the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God; you shall not do any work — you, or your son or your daughter, or your male or female slave, or your ox or your donkey, or any of your livestock, or the resident alien in your towns, so that your male and female slave may rest as well as you. 15Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to keep the sabbath day.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM 81:1-10 (read responsively by full verse)
1Sing aloud to God our strength;
shout for joy to the God of Jacob.
2Raise a song, sound the tambourine,
the sweet lyre with the harp.
3Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
at the full moon, on our festal day.
4For it is a statute for Israel,
an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
5He made it a decree in Joseph,
when he went out over the land of Egypt.
I hear a voice I had not known:
6"I relieved your shoulder of the burden;
your hands were freed from the basket.
7In distress you called, and I rescued you;
I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
Selah
8Hear, O my people, while I admonish you;
O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
9There shall be no strange god among you;
you shall not bow down to a foreign god.
10I am the LORD your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.
SECOND READING: 2 Corinthians 4:5-12
When we carry out God’s ministry we do so not for our glory but for the sake of Jesus Christ whom we proclaim as Lord. The power for ministry comes from God, not us, so that we persevere no matter what, trusting in God’s power and promises at work through us.
5For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus' sake. 6For it is the God who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. 8We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. 11For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. 12So death is at work in us, but life in you.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (page 142)
Alleluia, Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the word of eternal life, alleluia.
GOSPEL: Mark 2:23—3:6
Jesus challenges the prevailing interpretation of what is lawful on the sabbath and tells his critics that the sabbath was made for humankind, not the other way around. Healing the man with the withered hand is work that cannot wait until the next day.
The holy gospel according to Mark.
Glory to you, O Lord
2:23One sabbath [Jesus] was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?" 25And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? 26He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions." 27Then he said to them, "The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; 28so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath."
3:1Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 2They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3And he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come forward." 4Then he said to them, "Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent. 5He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON
HYMN OF THE DAY
O Christ, the Healer, We Have Come
ELW 610
O Christ, the healer, we have come
to pray for health, to plead for friends.
How can we fail to be restored
when reached by love that never ends?
From ev’ry ailment flesh endures
our bodies clamor to be freed;
yet in our hearts we would confess
that wholeness is our deepest need.
In conflicts that destroy our health
we recognize the world’s disease;
our common life declares our ills.
Is there no cure, O Christ, for these?
Grant that we all, made one in faith,
in your community may find
the wholeness that, enriching us,
shall reach the whole of humankind.
APOSTLES’ CREED
I 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.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
We come before the triune God to pray for our communities, ourselves, and our world.
A brief silence
Guide your church to expressions of faith that bring rest and release. Teach your faithful people to be attentive to the spiritual, physical, and societal weariness of our neighbors, that we proclaim your grace through tangible acts of mercy and justice. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
Keep us mindful of the rhythms of nature as the days lengthen and the seasons shift toward summer. Grant relief to areas facing flooding or drought and bring favorable weather for the flourishing of crops, gardens, and orchards. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
Where there is affliction in our world, bring healing. Where world leaders are perplexed, bring clarity of vision. Give a spirit of discernment to political advisors, institutional researchers, economic analysts, and all vocations that inform the work of governments and policymakers. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
Provide wholeness and respite to all who are weary: those who struggle in any way and those who care for them especially Sara, Mary, Mabel, Mike, Anna Mae, Doris, Jan, June, Ann, Julie, Rita, Carol, Anne, Tom, Pastor Doug, Lydia, Brian, Paul, Wil, Amy, Bob & Jane, Mary, Scott, Irene, Ron & Flo, Carla, Mac, Monica, Avery, Doris, John, Tim, Betty, Pastor Pam, Linda, Jeff, Henry, Gary, Mary, Sue, Greg, Helen & Ron, and Max. Strengthen first responders and health care workers in their times of exhaustion or frustration. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
Stir our hearts toward abundant generosity among neighbors who experience hunger and food insecurity. Bless feeding ministries and community food efforts, especially community gardens, farmers markets, food pantries and Little Free Pantries. Open both our hearts and our tables. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
Here other intercessions may be offered.
Lord we pray for the people of Grace Lutheran, Lakeland during this time of transition. We are stronger when we are together in purpose. We are blessed to be on this spiritual journey together. We pray for our members who might feel
vulnerable during this time of transition; may they find comfort and peace in the days ahead. Merciful God,
receive our prayer
We remember the communion of saints whose lives made visible the saving life of Jesus Christ. Guide us by their example to embody the treasure of your love for the sake of our world, until we come to our final rest in you. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
Receive our prayers, O God, and come quickly to our aid, through the power of the Spirit and the love of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
GREETING OF PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
We prepare now to receive our offerings as we return to God a portion of what God has entrusted to us.
+ THANKSGIVING +
OFFERING
You may place your offerings in the offering plate as it is passed during the service. Alternatively, some are using Tithe.ly for online giving or are using their bank’s online banking option. Whichever way you choose to give, we are grateful for your stewardship and generosity.
MUSICAL OFFERING
Communion Prayer
Allen Pote
CANTICLE OF THANKSGIVING (page 219)
Salvation belongs to our God
and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever.
Great and wonderful are your deeds,
O God of the universe;
just and true are your ways,
O Ruler of all the nations.
Who can fail to honor you, Lord,
and sing the glory of your name?
Salvation belongs to our God
and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever.
For you alone are the Holy One,
and blessed is the one
whose name is the Word of God.
All praise and thanks to you, holy God!
Salvation belongs to our God
and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever.
THANKSGIVING FOR THE WORD
O God of justice and love, we give thanks to you that you illumine our way through life with the words of your Son. Give us the light we need, awaken us to the needs of others, and at the end bring all the world to your feast; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory forever.
Amen.
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.
+ SENDING +
BLESSING
Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
Amen
SENDING HYMN
Christ is Alive! Let Christians Sing
ELW 389
O Christ, the healer, we have come
to pray for health, to plead for friends.
How can we fail to be restored
when reached by love that never ends?
From ev’ry ailment flesh endures
our bodies clamor to be freed;
yet in our hearts we would confess
that wholeness is our deepest need.
In conflicts that destroy our health
we recognize the world’s disease;
our common life declares our ills.
Is there no cure, O Christ, for these?
Grant that we all, made one in faith,
in your community may find
the wholeness that, enriching us,
shall reach the whole of humankind.
DISMISSAL
Go forth into the world to serve God with gladness; be of good courage; hold fast to that which is good; render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honor all people; love and serve God, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
Although I speak with Angel’s Tongue
arr. Janet Linker
Liturgical Text and Music from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, © 2006, 2020, 2022 Augsburg Fortress. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies License #SAS016761. All rights reserved.
Listen, God Is Calling, Text: Tanzanian traditional; tr. Howard S. Olson, b. 1922. Text © 1968 Lutheran Theological College, Makumira, Tanzania, admin. Augsburg Fortress. Music: Tanzanian tune, Arr. © 1968 Austin C. Lovelace. admin. Augsburg Fortress. Text and music reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense A-722274. All rights reserved.
O Christ, the Healer, We Have Come, Text: Fred Pratt Green, 1903-2000. Text © 1969 Hope Publishing Company, Text reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved. Music: W. Walker, Southern Harmony, 1835. Public domain.
Christ Is Alive! Let Christians Sing, Text: Brian A. Wren, b. 1936, Text © 1975, rev. 1995 Hope Publishing Company, Text reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved. Music: T. Williams, Psalmodia Evangelica, 1789. Public domain.
