GATHERING
WELCOME
Day by Day ELW 790
1 Day by day, your mercies, Lord, attend me,
bringing comfort to my anxious soul.
Day by day, the blessings, Lord, you send me
draw me nearer to my heav’nly goal.
Love divine, beyond all mortal measure,
brings to naught the burdens of my quest;
Savior, lead me to the home I treasure,
where at last I’ll find eternal rest.
2 Day by day, I know you will provide me
strength to serve and wisdom to obey;
I will seek your loving will to guide me
o’er the paths I struggle day by day.
I will fear no evil of the morrow,
I will trust in your enduring grace.
Savior, help me bear life’s pain and sorrow
till in glory I behold your face.
3 Oh, what joy to know that you are near me
when my burdens grow too great to bear;
oh, what joy to know that you will hear me
when I come, O Lord, to you in prayer.
Day by day, no matter what betide me,
you will hold me ever in your hand.
Savior, with your presence here to guide me,
I will reach at last the promised land.
Text: Carolina Sandell Berg, 1832-1903; tr. Robert Leaf, 1936-2005 Text © 1992 Augsburg Fortress.
Duplication in any form prohibited without permission or valid license from copyright administrator.
His Eye Is On The Sparrow
(How Can I Be Discouraged?)
1 Why should I feel discouraged,
why should the shadows come,
why should my heart be lonely
and long for heav’n and home,
when Jesus is my portion?
My constant friend is he:
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me;
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.
Refrain
I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
for his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me.
2 “Let not your heart be troubled,”
his tender word I hear,
and resting on his goodness,
I lose my doubts and fears;
though by the path he leads me
but one step I may see:
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me;
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me. Refrain
3 Whenever I am tempted,
whenever clouds arise,
when song gives place to sighing,
when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to him,
from care he sets me free:
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me;
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me. Refrain
Text: Civilla D. Martin, 1860-1948
THEME PRAYER
GOD IN ACTION MOMENT
Open Your Ears, O Faithful People ELW 519
1 Open your ears, O faithful people,
Open your ears and hear God’s word.
Open your hearts, O royal priesthood,
God has come to you.
Refrain
God has spoken to the people, hallelujah!
God has spoken words of wisdom, hallelujah!
God has spoken to the people, hallelujah!
God has spoken words of wisdom, hallelujah!
2 They who have ears to hear the message,
they who have ears, now let them hear;
they who would learn the way of wisdom,
let them hear God’s word. Refrain
Text: Hasidic traditional; Willard F. Jabusch, b. 1930, English version
Text © 1966, 1982 Willard F. Jabusch, admin. OCP Publications. 5536 NE Hassalo, Portland, OR 97213. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
WORD
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
What a Friend We Have in Jesus ELW 742
1 What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
ev’rything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit;
oh, what needless pain we bear–
all because we do not carry
ev’rything to God in prayer!
2 Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged–
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our ev’ry weakness–
take it to the Lord in prayer.
3 Are we weak and heavy-laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge–
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
In his arms he’ll take and shield you;
you will find a solace there.
Text: Joseph Scriven, 1820-1886
MESSAGE: 2 Corinthians 3:4-6
Paul declares his confidence in the presence of God
Here on Jesus Christ I Will Stand ACS 1024
Refrain
Here on Jesus Christ I will stand.
He’s the solid rock of my life.
He’s the solid rock of my life.
He’s the solid rock of my life.
1 There’s no other place I can hide
till the storm that rages subsides.
My voice cries to God from the flood,
and I’m saved because of his blood. Refrain
2 It is not the work of my hands
that has washed away all my sins.
I’m redeemed, and all of my days,
Jesus Christ will be my heart’s praise. Refrain
3 When my days on this earth are done,
and I stand at God’s holy throne,
my heart will not have any fear;
in Christ’s righteousness I am here. Refrain
Text: Kenyan hymn; adapt. Greg Scheer, b. 1966
Text © 2007 East African Annual Conference, admin. General Board of Global Ministries, GBGMusik
English adapt. © 2007 Greg Scheer, admin. General Board of Global Ministries, GBGMusik
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Happy are those who honor the Lord;
those who follow in God’s ways find relief! (Psalm 128:1)
MEAL
OFFERING OUR GIFTS FOR THE MISSION
AND MINISTRY OF GOD’S CHURCH
The Word has been spoken. Now, may it stir in our hearts.
COMMUNION
All: In the night in which he was betrayed, 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.
One: And now, join me in praying as our Lord Jesus taught us… All: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen. DISTRIBUTION
POST COMMUNION BLESSING
SENDING
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
BLESSING
Every Time I Feel the Spirit ACS 942
Refrain
Ev’ry time I feel the spirit moving in my heart, I will pray.
Ev’ry time I feel the spirit moving in my heart, I will pray.
1 Upon the mountain my Lord spoke,
out of his mouth came fire and smoke. Refrain
2 All around me looked so fine,
asked my Lord if all was mine. Refrain
3 Jordan river, chilly and cold,
chills the body but not the soul. Refrain
Text: African American spiritual
.
OUR DECLARATION OF MISSION
You are the body of Christ.
We are the body of Christ, indeed!
So go in peace
To explore the faith
Live in peace
To express our faith to others
Share the peace
By inviting others to join us on this journey.
All: WE ARE THE BODY OF CHRIST IN THE WORLD, SO LET’S TELL EVERYBODY: WE HAVE GOOD NEWS! HEAVEN HAS COME NEAR! THANKS BE TO GOD.
LECTIONARY READINGS:
1 Kings 3:5-12 — Solomons prayer for wisdom
Psalm 119:129-136 — When your word is opened, it gives light and understanding. (Ps. 119:130)
Romans 8:26-39 — Nothing can separate us from Gods love
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 — Parables of the reign of heaven
Reading synopsis and cover art from Sundays and Seasons. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Please visit our Web site at www.augsburgfortress.org. All music is used with permission under CCLI #3225965
Prayer is important to us. We are a people of prayer, and our prayer leads us to know God more completely. Knowing God reassures us that God’s love is sufficient for all we need. Knowing God leads us to action, to working for justice and peace. We dedicate ourselves to making our little corner of the world a better place. We dedicate ourselves to welcoming all of God’s people. We dedicate ourselves to trusting God in all phases of life.