The Worship of the Holy Church

ST. MARK LUTHERAN CHURCH A congregation of the EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA

The 6th Sunday after Pentecost + July 12, 2020

WELCOME

CALL TO WORSHIP

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. “The heavens are telling the glory of the Lord; and the firmament proclaims God’s handiwork.” (Psalm 19) All around us are signs and wonders, fingerprints of the creator. Praise be to God! “The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it; the world, and all who live in it.” (Psalm 24) All around us we find life; all the created world is related to us. Praise be to God! Come, let us dwell in God’s work of art! Here in this wondrous world we are not alone. We share this life with the heavens and the earth… With the waters and the land, with trees and grasses, With fish, birds, and animals, with minerals and creatures of every form, And with all our brothers and sisters. Praise be to God! God is good and everything God makes is good. Praise to the creator of all that is, seen and unseen! Amen.

GATHERING HYMN “Praise, Praise, Praise the Lord!” ELW 875

Praise, praise, praise the Lord! Praise God’s holy name. Alleluia! (2x) Praise God’s holy name. Alleluia! Praise God’s holy name. Alleluia! (2x)

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.

PRAYER OF THE DAY spoken in unison Almighty God, we thank you for planting in us the seed of your word. By your Holy Spirit help us to receive it with joy, live according to it, and grow in faith and hope and love, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

GOSPEL: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord.

1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9Let anyone with ears listen!" 18"Hear then the parable of the sower. 19When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 20As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. 22As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 23But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty." The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. SERMON The Rev. Brian M. Robison

HYMN OF THE DAY “Almighty God, Your Word is Cast” ELW 516

1 PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION The names of those for whom we pray can be found in the Mark Times newsletter. The response to “Hear us, O God,” is “Your mercy is great.”

PEACE The assembly is invited to share God’s peace with one another.

THE LORD’S PRAYER contemporary 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.

BLESSING May the blessing of God, Creator of heaven and earth, rest upon you and upon all that God has made; may the Risen Christ Jesus transform your life and your vision, so that you may live in reconciliation with all things; and may the power of God’s Holy Spirit move over this whole earth, like the breath of spring, to renew the earth and all its people, so that all creation may join together in praise to God’s holy name! Almighty God, + Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen. SENDING HYMN “For the Fruit of All Creation” ELW 679

DISMISSAL Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God.

MINISTERS OF THE LITURGY Presider & Preacher: The Rev. Brian M. Robison Pianist: Evelyn Duncan Videographer & Editor: The Rev. Brian M. Robison

“Creation Call to Worship” from www.modernliturgist.org. Final Prayer of Intercession and Final Blessing from www.foodgrainsbank.ca “Earth Day Worship: A New Heaven and New Earth.” Other portions of today’s liturgy are reprinted from Words for Worship, copyright 2019 Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission. Scripture quotations (except psalms) from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Songs and hymns reprinted from Evangelical Lutheran Worship. Used by permission, CCLI #11179424. Songs and hymns reprinted under OneLicense.net #A-729176.