1 2 6 th Sunday after Pentecost 30th June 4 Service with Communion Simplified Spoken Form This Service is a revision of the Simplified form of the communion service Released by the LCA Commission on Worship in 6 Quiet time for prayer 7 Opening sentence M: Those who belong to Christ Jesus C: have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. M: If we live by the Spirit, C: let us also be guided by the Spirit. (Gal 5:24,25 NRSV) 8 PREPARATION M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen 9 Opening Hymn We sing our opening hymn: For the fruits of his creation LHS 814CAL293 Fred Pratt Green (1970) For the fruits of his creation 1. For the fruits of his creation, thanks be to God; for his gifts to every nation, thanks be to God; for the ploughing, sowing, reaping, silent growth while we are sleeping, future needs in earths safe keeping, thanks be to God. For the fruits of his creation 2. In the just reward of labour, Gods will is done; in the help we give our neighbour, Gods will is done; in our world-wide task of caring for the hungry and despairing, in the harvests we are sharing, Gods will is done. For the fruits of his creation 3. For the harvests of his Spirit, thanks be to God; For the good we all inherit, thanks be to God; For the wonders that astound us, for the truths that still confound us; most of all, that love has found us, thanks be to God. 14 CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION M: Friends in Christ: The works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. 15 CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION St Paul warns us: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. Therefore, let us draw near to God our Father with a true heart to confess our sins, and ask him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive us. 16 CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION C: We confess that we are born 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 failed to do. 17 CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION C: We have not loved you with our whole heart, and we have not loved our neighbour as ourselves. We deserve your eternal punishment. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. 18 CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION C: 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. 19 CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION M: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 20 CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION Therefore, upon your confession, as a called and ordained servant of the word, I announce the grace of God to all of you. On behalf of my Lord Jesus Christ, and by his command, I forgive the sins of all of you who repent and believe, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you.C: Amen. 21 Liturgy of the WORD greeting M: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. 23 PRAYER OF THE DAY M: Let us pray that we are led by the Holy Spirit. C: Christ our Saviour, thank you for setting us free from slavery to sin and the condemnation of the law. Make us alive by your Spirit, and ready to follow and serve you. 24 PRAYER OF THE DAY For you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 25 FIRST READING R: The first reading for the sixth Sunday after Pentecost is written in chapter two of 2 nd Kings beginning at verse one. 2 Kings 2:1,2,6-14 CEV Elijah taken to heaven 26 2 Kings 2:1,2,6-14 Not long before the LORD took Elijah up into heaven in a strong wind, Elijah and Elisha were leaving Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, "The LORD wants me to go to Bethel, but you must stay here." Elisha replied, "I swear by the living LORD and by your own life that I will stay with you no matter what!" And he went with Elijah to Bethel. 27 2 Kings 2:1,2, Elijah then said to Elisha, "Now the LORD wants me to go to the Jordan River, but you must stay here." Elisha replied, "I swear by the living LORD and by your own life that I will never leave you!" So the two of them walked on together. 28 2 Kings 2:1,2, Fifty prophets followed Elijah and Elisha from Jericho, then stood at a distance and watched as the two men walked toward the river. 8 When they got there, Elijah took off his coat, then he rolled it up and struck the water with it. At once a path opened up through the river, and the two of them walked across on dry ground. 29 2 Kings 2:1,2, After they had reached the other side, Elijah said, "Elisha, the LORD will soon take me away. What can I do for you before that happens?" Elisha answered, "Please give me twice as much of your power as you give the other prophets, so I can be the one who takes your place as their leader. 30 2 Kings 2:1,2, "It won't be easy," Elijah answered. "It can happen only if you see me as I am being taken away." 11 Elijah and Elisha were walking along and talking, when suddenly there appeared between them a flaming chariot pulled by fiery horses. Right away, a strong wind took Elijah up into heaven. 31 2 Kings 2:1,2, Elisha saw this and shouted, "Israel's cavalry and chariots have taken my master away! After Elijah had gone, Elisha tore his clothes in sorrow. 13 Elijah's coat had fallen off, so Elisha picked it up and walked back to the Jordan River. 32 2 Kings 2:1,2, He struck the water with the coat and wondered, "Will the LORD perform miracles for me as he did for Elijah?" As soon as Elisha did this, a dry path opened up through the water, and he walked across. This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. 33 Psalm 77:1,2,11-20 CEV R: The Psalm for today is Psalm seventy seven. 1 I pray to you, LORD God, and I beg you to listen. C: 2 In days filled with trouble, I search for you. And at night I tirelessly lift my hands in prayer, refusing comfort. 34 Psalm 77:1,2,11-20 CEV R: 11 Our LORD, I will remember the things you have done, your miracles of long ago. C: 12 I will think about each one of your mighty deeds. R: 13 Everything you do is right, and no other god compares with you. C: 14 You alone work miracles, and you have let nations see your mighty power. 35 Psalm 77:1,2,11-20 CEV R: 15 With your own arm you rescued your people, the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. C: 16 The ocean looked at you, God, and it trembled deep down with fear. 36 Psalm 77:1,2,11-20 CEV R: 17 Water flowed from the clouds. Thunder was heard above as your arrows of lightning flashed about. C: 18 Your thunder roared like chariot wheels. The world was made bright by lightning, and all the earth trembled. R: 19 You walked through the water of the mighty sea, but your footprints were never seen. 37 Psalm 77:1,2,11-20 CEV C: 20 You guided your people like a flock of sheep, and you chose Moses and Aaron to be their leaders. Glory to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and will be for ever. Amen. 38 Second reading R: The second reading for today is written in chapter five of Galatians beginning at verse one. Galatians 5:1,13-25 CEV Freedom in Christ to live by the Spirit 39 Second reading Christ has set us free! This means we are really free. Now hold on to your freedom and don't ever become slaves of the Law again. 40 Second reading 13 My friends, you were chosen to be free. So don't use your freedom as an excuse to do anything you want. Use it as an opportunity to serve each other with love. 14 All that the Law says can be summed up in the command to love others as much as you love yourself. 41 Second reading 15 But if you keep attacking each other like wild animals, you had better watch out or you will destroy yourselves 16 If you are guided by the Spirit, you won't obey your selfish desires. 17 The Spirit and your desires are enemies of each other. They are always fighting each other and keeping you from doing what you feel you should. 42 Second reading 18 But if you obey the Spirit, the Law of Moses has no control over you. 19 People's desires make them give in to immoral ways, filthy thoughts, and shameful deeds. 20 They worship idols, practice witchcraft, hate others, and are hard to get along with. 43 Second reading People become jealous, angry, and selfish. They not only argue and cause trouble, but they are 21 envious. They get drunk, carry on at wild parties, and do other evil things as well. I told you before, and I am telling you again: No one who does these things will share in the blessings of God's kingdom. 44 Second reading 22 God's Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, 23 gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. 24 And because we belong to Christ Jesus, we have killed our selfish feelings and desires. 45 Second reading 25 God's Spirit has given us life, and so we should follow the Spirit. 26 But don't be conceited or make others jealous by claiming to be better than they are This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. 46 C: Alleluia, alleluia. Jesus said: :'Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.' (Luke 9:60 NRSV) Alleluia. 47 gospel M: The Holy Gospel for today is written in the ninth chapter of St Luke beginning at verse 51. C: Glory to you O Lord. Luke 9:51-62 CEV The cost of following Jesus 48 Luke 9: Not long before it was time for Jesus to be taken up to heaven, he made up his mind to go to Jerusalem. 52 He sent some messengers on ahead to a Samaritan village to get things ready for him. 49 Luke 9: But he was on his way to Jerusalem, so the people there refused to welcome him. 54 When the disciples James and John saw what was happening, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to destroy these people?" 55 But Jesus turned and corrected them for what they had said. 50 Luke 9: Then they all went on to another village. 57 Along the way someone said to Jesus, "I'll go anywhere with you!" 58 Jesus said, "Foxes have dens, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man doesn't have a place to call his own. 51 Luke 9: Jesus told someone else to come with him. But the man said, "Lord, let me wait until I bury my father." 60 Jesus answered, "Let the dead take care of the dead, while you go and tell about God's kingdom. 52 Luke 9: Then someone said to Jesus, "I want to go with you, Lord, but first let me go back and take care of things at home." 62 Jesus answered, "Anyone who starts ploughing and keeps looking back isn't worth a thing to God's kingdom!" This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to You O Christ. 53 M: Lord Jesus, thank you for giving up everything for us. Help us wholeheartedly to follow you. C: Amen. APOSTLES CREED C: I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth. APOSTLES CREED And in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. APOSTLES CREED He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father almighty, from thence he will come to judge the living and the dead. APOSTLES CREED I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy christian* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen *or: catholic here means universal 58 Hymn We sing : Walking in the light of God ATE 307CAL293 African1 John 1:7 59 Walking in the light of God 1. It is a great thing to serve Jesus, It is a great thing to serve Jesus, Walking in the light of God. 60 Walking in the light of God Wo walk, walk, walk, walk Walking in the light. O walk, walk, walk, walk, Walking in the light. O walk, walk, walk, walk, Walking in the light. Walking in the light of God. 61 Walking in the light of God 2. It is a great thing to love Jesus, It is a great thing to love Jesus, Walking in the light of God. 62 Walking in the light of God Wo walk, walk, walk, walk Walking in the light. O walk, walk, walk, walk, Walking in the light. O walk, walk, walk, walk, Walking in the light. Walking in the light of God. 63 Walking in the light of God 3. It is a great thing to loveJesus, It is a great thing to love Jesus, Walking in the light of God. 64 Walking in the light of God Wo walk, walk, walk, walk Walking in the light. O walk, walk, walk, walk, Walking in the light. O walk, walk, walk, walk, Walking in the light. Walking in the light of God. 65 Sermon 66 Hymn We sing : Brother, let me be your servant v.1,2,4,6 LHS 855CAL 293 Richard Gillard 67 Brother, let me be your servant 1. Brother, let me be your servant, let me be as Christ to you. Pray that I might have the grace to let you be my servant, too. 68 Brother, let me be your servant 2. We are pilgrims on a journey, we are travellers on the road, we are here to help each other walk the mile and bear the load. 69 Brother, let me be your servant 4. I will weep when you are weeping, when you laugh Ill laugh with you. I will share your joy and sorrow till weve seen this journey through. 70 Brother, let me be your servant 6. Brother, sister, let me serve you, let me be as Christ to you. Pray that I might have the grace to let you be my servant, too. 71 Offering prayer C: Help us, God, as followers of Christ to offer ourselves and our possessions for your service. Amen. 72 PRAYER OF THE CHURCH Call to prayer M: Guided by the Spirit, let us come in prayer to our Father in heaven in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. 73 PRAYER OF THE CHURCH response M: Have mercy on us, Lord. C: Have mercy on us. Concluding prayer M: Heavenly Father, we belong to your Son, Christ Jesus. Hear our prayers in his name, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. 74 LITURGY OF THE LORD'S SUPPER 75 PREFACE M: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. M: Lift up your hearts. C: We lift them to the Lord. M: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C: It is right to give our thanks and praise. 76 PREFACE M: It is indeed right and good, Lord God, holy Father, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. On this day he overcame death by his resurrection and opened up for us the way to eternal life with you. 77 PREFACE And so, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we adore and praise your glorious name: 78 HOLY, HOLY, HOLY C: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might; Heaven and earth are full of your glory. 79 LORDS PRAYER C: 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. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 80 LORDS PRAYER C: For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen. 81 WORDS OF INSTITUTION M: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, and said: Take and eat; this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. 82 WORDS OF INSTITUTION M: In the same way he took the cup, after the supper, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, Drink of it, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. COMMUNION INVITATION M: Jesus says: 'My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood remain in me, and I in them. C: Thanks be to God. M: Come, everything is ready. 83 84 During the distribution the Minister or his assistant says: Take and eat, this is the body of Christ, given for you. Take and drink, this is the blood of Christ, shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. 85 DISMISSAL M: The body of our Lord Jesus Christ and his precious blood strengthen and preserve you in body and soul to life eternal. Go in peace. C: Amen. 86 POST-COMMUNION Prayer C: Almighty and merciful God, your dear Son willingly offered up his body and blood on the cross for our sake. Give us courage and patience to take up our cross and follow him. For he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 87 CONCLUSION : BLESSING M: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 favour, and give you peace. C: Amen. 88 DISMISSAL M: Go in peace, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. C: In the name of Christ. Amen. 89 Hymn We sing : O Jesus I have promised v.1,2,5 LHS 371CAL 293 John Ernest Bode ( ) 90 O Jesus I have promised 1. O Jesus, I have promised To serve You to the end; O Be for ever 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. 91 O Jesus I have promised 2. O 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, please draw nearer, And shield my soul from sin. 92 O Jesus I have promised 5. O let me see Your footmarks, And in them plant mine own: My hope to follow duly Is in Your strength alone. O guide me, call me, draw me, Uphold me to the end; And then in heaven receive me, My Saviour and my friend. Go in peace, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. Please stay a while and have a cuppa in the hall and chat with us.