Saint James Lutheran Church July 25, 2021 Ninth Sunday After Pentecost
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Saint James Lutheran Church July 25, 2021 Ninth Sunday after Pentecost [Grab your reader’s attention with a great quote from the document or use this space to emphasize a key point. To place this text box anywhere on the page, just drag it.] Christmas in July with David The Rev. John Locke (704) 530-9969 [email protected] 1424 Morganton Rd Fayetteville, NC 28305 (910) 484-8052 www.saintjamesfay.org Pastor John and Anna Lisa will be on vacation today, July 25th as they travel to Florida for their granddaughter Madeline’s baptism. There will be NO communion. Thank you for sharing your financial resources to support God’s mission of love and hope to the world through St. James. You may leave your offering in one of the baskets as you come forward for communion. You may also use our web site or scan the QR code for online giving. Worship Leaders July 25 August 1 Ushers Tonie Neal, Stella SanMiguel Gary & Ruth Ann Crecelius Lectors Glenn Stockwell, Allan Winter Charles & Emily Skinner Welcome / Ministry Updates The Call to Worship and Confession is based on Psalm 139. Gathering Song Away in A Manger ELW 277 Prayer of the Day (will be between the 2nd and 3rd verse of the Gathering Song) God of eternal goodness and mercy, your gracious love has been evident in your chosen people from the beginning of your story. You choose shepherds and flocks, stars and angels, foreigners and widows, and all of your people to share your story of love. Through your grace, free us from the sin that binds us, that we may receive you in joy and serve you always. Amen. Call to Worship We come with praise for the wonderful works of God. Even before we speak, God knows us completely. The Holy One knows us and sustains us, even in our moments of confusion and doubt. Who can count the thoughts of God? They are more than all the sands of the desert. Like clay in the hand of the potter, we are shaped into vessels of divine will. We come with praise for the wonderful works of God. AMEN. Invitation to Confession Let us pray. Boundless Shaper of people and nations, you are beyond our knowing, yet closer to us than our every breath. You are before us and behind us, surrounding us with your love, and fashioning all of creation in the secret depths of your heart. With every thought, with every song, and with every prayer, turn these fragile, earthen vessels of our lives, into the Spirit-filled body of Christ. Amen. Prayer of Confession We pray together. God of our lives, you search us and know us. We have refused to take up your cross, to bear the burdens that are ours to carry. We have not given up our attachments to possessions or to self. We have not counted the cost of walking into an unknown future with you. Help us turn away from evil, that we may walk with you once more. Words of Assurance The Holy One rejoices in our repentance, reshaping us into vessels of love and service. In the grace-filled love of Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Amen. 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. Psalm 96 read responsively (text at the end of the bulletin) King David’s Story Christmas in July with David Today’s Story is based on Luke 2:1-20 – 3:23-38 and Matthew 1:1-17, and is printed at the end of the bulletin. Hymn of the Day The First Noel ELW 300 (verses 1-4) 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 Intercession Prayer Requests Each petition concludes: … Lord, in your mercy, We respond: hear our prayer. Joe Lehner Phil & Joyce Norris Lord’s Prayer Ali Moyer Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us. Raymond and Mildred Norris John Hall Our Father, who art in heaven, Dorothy Robinette hallowed be thy name, Ira Doneson thy kingdom come, Angel Davis thy will be done, Randy Lawson on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; Hobart Martin and forgive us our trespasses, John Tucker as we forgive those Carlyle Williams who trespass against us; Nancy Arne Jones and lead us not into temptation, Stephanie Maggio but deliver us from evil. Phillis Gibbs For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, Jolynn Denham McDonald forever and ever. Amen. Gabarel Kern Deenah Long Blessing Don Diel The blessing of God, The family of George Quinn who provides for us, feeds us, and journeys with us, be upon you now and forever. Amen. People at Home or in Care facilities (restricted mobility) Sending Hymn: Silent Night, Holy Night ELW 281 • Peggie W. Jackson • Peggie Ann Jackson Dismissal • Sigrid Walters Go in peace. You are the body of Christ. • Charlotte Davis Thanks be to God. • Claudia Doyle • Mickey Kanode • Marvin Swanson SCRIPTURE TEXTS Psalm 96 1Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. 2Sing to the LORD, bless the name of the LORD; proclaim God’s salvation from day to day. 3Declare God’s glory among the nations and God’s wonders among all peoples. 4For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised, more to be feared than all gods. 5As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols; but you, O LORD, have made the heavens. 6Majesty and magnificence are in your presence; power and splendor are in your sanctuary. 7Ascribe to the LORD, you families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD honor and power. 8Ascribe to the LORD the honor due the holy name; bring offerings and enter the courts of the LORD. 9Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness; tremble before the LORD, all the earth. 10Tell it out among the nations: “The LORD is king! The one who made the world so firm that it cannot be moved will judge the peoples with equity.” 11Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea thunder and all that is in it; let the field be joyful and all that is therein. 12Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy at your coming, O LORD, for you come to judge the earth. 13You will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with your truth. Luke 2:1-20 – 3:23-38 and Matthew 1:1-17 Luke 2 -The Birth of Jesus About that time Emperor Augustus gave orders for the names of all the people to be listed in record books. 2 These first records were made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 Everyone had to go to their own hometown to be listed. 4 So Joseph had to leave Nazareth in Galilee and go to Bethlehem in Judea. Long ago Bethlehem had been King David’s hometown, and Joseph went there because he was from David’s family. 5 Mary was engaged to Joseph and traveled with him to Bethlehem. She was soon going to have a baby, 6 and while they were there, 7 she gave birth to her first-born son. She dressed him in baby clothes and laid him on a bed of hay, because there was no room for them in the inn. The Shepherds 8 That night in the fields near Bethlehem some shepherds were guarding their sheep. 9 All at once an angel came down to them from the Lord, and the brightness of the Lord’s glory flashed around them. The shepherds were frightened. 10 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, which will make everyone happy. 11 This very day in King David’s hometown a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. 12 You will know who he is, because you will find him dressed in baby clothes and lying on a bed of hay.” 13 Suddenly many other angels came down from heaven and joined in praising God. They said: 14 “Praise God in heaven! Peace on earth to everyone who pleases God.” 15 After the angels had left and gone back to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about.” 16 They hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and they saw the baby lying on a bed of hay. 17 When the shepherds saw Jesus, they told his parents what the angel had said about him. 18 Everyone listened and was surprised. 19 But Mary kept thinking about all this and wondering what it meant.20 As the shepherds returned to their sheep, they were praising God and saying wonderful things about him.