8Th Sunday After Pentecost July 26, 2020

8th Sunday after Pentecost July 26, 2020

GATHERING AND ANNOUNCEMENTS The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God.

THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM (ELW p. 119) Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, the fountain of living water, the rock who gave us birth, our light and our salvation. Amen.

Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are clothed with God's mercy and forgiveness. Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism.

We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters and by your Word you created the world, calling forth life in which you took delight.

Through the waters of the flood you delivered Noah and his family. Through the sea you led your people Israel from slavery into freedom. At the river your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Holy Spirit. By water and your Word you claim us as daughters and sons, making us heirs of your promise and servants of all.

We praise you for the gift of water that sustains life, and above all we praise you for the gift of new life in Jesus Christ. Shower us with your Spirit, and renew our lives with your forgiveness, grace, and love.

To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

GATHERING SONG: Like the Murmur of the Dove's Song (ELW 403)

1 Like the murmur of the dove's song, like the challenge of her flight, like the vigor of the wind's rush, like the new flame's eager might: come, Holy Spirit, come.

2 To the members of Christ's body, to the branches of the vine, to the church in faith assembled, to our midst as gift and sign: come, Holy Spirit, come.

3 With the healing of division, with the ceaseless voice of prayer,

with the power to love and witness, with the peace beyond compare: come, Holy Spirit, come.

GREETING (ELW p. 120) 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 (ELW p. 124) Let us pray. Beloved and sovereign God, through the death and resurrection of your Son you bring us into your kingdom of justice and mercy. By your Spirit, give us your wisdom, that we may treasure the life that comes from Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

FIRST READING: 1 Kings 3:5-12 A reading from 1 Kings. Because Solomon did not ask for long life, riches, or the defeat of his enemies, God gave him what he asked for: wisdom to govern the people well. 5At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” 6And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in upright- ness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. 7And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. 9Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?” 10It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.”

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

PSALM: Psalm 119:129-136 When your word is opened, it gives light and understanding. (Ps. 119:130)

129Your decrees are wonderful; therefore I obey them with all my heart. 130When your word is opened it gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. 131I open my | mouth and pant because I long for your commandments. 132Turn to me and be gra-cious to me, as you always do to those who love your name.

R: When your word is opened, it gives light and understanding

133Order my footsteps in your word; let no iniquity have dominion over me. 134Rescue me from those who oppress me, and I will keep your commandments. 135Let your face shine upon your servant and teach me your statutes. 136My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your teaching.

R: When your word is opened, it gives light and understanding

SECOND READING: Romans 8:26-39 A reading from Romans. These words celebrate the depth of God’s actions for us. Through Christ’s death for us and the activity of the Spirit praying for us, we are fused to God’s love poured out in Jesus Christ. Noth- ing, not even death itself, is able to separate us from such incredible divine love. 26The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. 30And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. 31What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us every- thing else? 33Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. 35Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

CHILDREN'S SERMON

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (ELW p. 124) Alleluia. Many will come from | east and west* and will eat in the king- | dom of heaven. Alle- luia. (Matt. 8:11)

GOSPEL: Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 The holy gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord. Throughout Matthew’s gospel, Jesus and his disciples proclaim the good news that “the kingdom of heaven is near!” Here, Jesus offers several brief parables that explore the implications of this announcement for people’s lives. 31[Jesus] put before [the crowds] another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field;32it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” 33He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.” 44“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his

joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. 47“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 48when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51“Have you understood all this?” They an- swered, “Yes.” 52And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON (ELW p. 125)

Sometimes people wonder what pastors have been doing during this COVID time. I as- sure you, it’s been as busy as ever and I’m grateful fo the support I’ve received in this time. During this time, many pastors have been checking in to synod meetings that were at first twice a week, then once a week, now every other week. Though attending a series of Zoom meeting might not sound very fun to some of you, I am so grateful for all of the guidance the synod provided in this time, recruiting experts and speakers that most of us would never have access to. We explored financial topics, issues of safety, practices for worship, self-care in the time of crisis and more. This past week, we started to brainstorm ideas for Confirmation, Sunday school and Christian education, pending on how school systems might open for the year.

As we talked, the Bishop and the Bishop’s staff started to encourage people to not just think about the upcoming educational year as a lost cause or just trying to make up something that kind-of resembles what we would normally. We were encouraged and came up with ideas so that the upcoming year wouldn’t just “do” but be an experience kids could remember. Instead, they encouraged us to view the upcoming year as an opportunity, not to minimize the hardships experienced or the losses incurred, but to think of it as an opportunity to do things we normally wouldn’t be able to or wouldn’t devote the time into doing.

I have to admit, feeling tired I found myself, at first thinking, “You’ve got to be kidding me… Why are we sugar coating the brutal truth that we are going to have to try to make something up that’s appealing and interesting, on a platform that most of us aren’t great at, with a bunch of kids who are already sick of zooming with their teachers by the time we get them at the end of the day.”

But, then they kept taking… about ideas, opportunities, and innovations.

I found myself thinking, “Well, I could do something and invite that speaker who never would be able to physically make it to a Confirmation class….” And… ‘They always like

videos, maybe I could devote more time into making or finding some things …” and “What kind of socially distanced service projects could we do in this time of great need….” And I found myself, despite not really know what direction we might be head- ing towards, getting myself excited for the fall and what opportunities this year’s time of Confirmation might bring.

Really, I don’t know why it took the lecture to get me into that attitude. I’ve seen it time and time again in the past few months. For years we’ve talked about wanting to get people to talk to new people at coffee hour. Would it ever have happened if we hadn’t had to go online for coffee hour? We’ve had several people note that they’ve attended the same church for years but never had the reason to talk. Ironically our budget is better than it’s been for years (due to some very generous giving and diligent work from the council). Our Bible Study has higher attendance than normal. More people have attended online worship than would normally be in in-person worship. I’m not mitigating the losses. With each funeral we do, I grieve that we can not be fully present for people in the ways we normally would and we are so adept at doing. But, as I sat listening to this webinar, of all things, I found the creative juices starting to flow a bit more and found myself restored a bit, thinking. “Of course there will be blessings to come, even if things are hard. That’s the way it’s always been.”

Then a really interesting conversation started which helped me really think about things. You see, now we consider Sunday school to be a staple of the life of the church, but it wasn’t always that way. Sunday schools were first set up not to promote religious education but to help with reading and writing skills. They began in England to provide education to working class children. William King started a Sunday school in 1751 in Durs- ley, Gloucestershire. He encouraged Robert Raikes start a similar one in Gloucester. By 1785, 250,000 English children were in Sunday School, and a movement had spread. The church saw a need- the need for education- paired it with a desire to spread the Gospel and something we see as an institution came to be. Likewise, Sun- day school continued to expand because families needed a safe place for their kids to be if they had enjoyed Saturday a bit too much. I kid you not. You can look it up. Sun- day school became a way to share the Good News because it met a tangible need for families.

When you think about how Sunday school changed the faces of our churches, it’s interesting how a small class, that was initially started to meet an educational and familial need, became this international movement that formed the base of religious education in our world. Kids who sat in Sunday school became evangelists, pastors, teachers, musicians and so many other things… and the Good News continued to spread. Million dollars are spent creating Sunday school curriculum throughout the world. Now we can’t picture churches without some form of Sunday school… it spread like an uncontrollable plant, more like a good weed, throughout the world.

The interesting thing about today’s parable is that the mustard seed actually really isn’t the smallest of seeds, nor is the mustard tree or bush, rather, really isn’t the largest tree. So what was Jesus saying? It is true that the mustard seed is incredibly small. And the

tree or bush is large-but more than the size, a mustard bush is incredibly unruly. You see, what we don’t probably know and the original audience probably did know was that mustard seeds were prohibited from being planted in Jewish gardens…. Because you couldn’t control them. They take over the whole garden like the most obnoxious weed you can imagine?

The kingdom of God… is like an obnoxious weed?

Well, yeah…. maybe……

Because like a mustard seed you can’t control the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God grows where it wants. It starts with something small and seemingly fragile and then… in some undetermined time… it’s out of control.

For those of us who are heavily involved in church life, it can be easy to start to think that we can control the future and the mission of the church. We have agendas. We have budgets. We have calendars. We know it’s not true, but it can be easy to start to think that we know how God’s kingdom is going to look around us.

When we think about and look at the progression of Sunday school throughout the world, it becomes obvious that God can take a small, ordinary effort, done for a non-religious purpose, and change it into something amazing that can impact the world.

Are we willing to start looking at our church’s ministry as a mustard tree? Are we willing to have faith that God can take any effort and spread it for God’s purpose? Are we willing to put down the pruning shears, trying to tame and control what God is doing amongst us and have faith that God will do things far beyond our imagination with what we do.

Beyond Sunday School, I would imagine First Lutheran looks very different compared to what the founders envisioned. A pandemic, ironically, wouldn’t have been foreign to them but online worship? Who would have thought.

What ways are we limited in our vision?

Maybe God is calling us to be a part of helping create new young Christians not just through our own baptisms but also through supporting the Ethiopians and those they will baptize in their church? Maybe we haven’t even seen how that relationship could bless us?

Maybe God is calling us to be a good sister in Christ to Grace Lutheran by partnering with them through Jon? Maybe something even better will flourish for both congrega- tions through this relationship?

Maybe this year in Confirmation won’t be just pieced together but the most innovative and engaging year I’ve had? Maybe we will want to carry on these pieces even after the pandemic is over?

Maybe the relationships formed at Zoom coffee hour will turn into something more and, once people have been able to move past a smile and a wave as they walk into church, maybe some blessed forms of support you can happen?

And most certainly, a lot of things are in store for us that I’m not creative enough and don’t have the vision to even imagine. But God has that vision.

The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed.

I think one of the most important things we need to do to fully be able to see, enjoy and experience the mustard seed is to remove the phrases, “We’ve never done that…” and “That’s not what we do here ….” From our vocabulary. These are the words we so of- ten use to try to reign in that mustard bush, the unruly kingdom of God.

This week, I’m going to try to put away my pruning shears… the ways I try to predict and control where the spirit is leading me and the church and try to listen to the Spirit and pay attention to the seeds that are growing… and then… just let them grow. I’m going to try to not fight against the sprawling, unpredictable nature of the church. I’m going to water the seeds and trust it will grow beyond my greatest imagination.

Will you join me?

Meditation Silence

How good it is to be alive! Yes, we feel the beat of our own hearts, the pulsing of life in our veins, the rhythm of our breathing. We come into the silence of this time with gratitude for this day. (Silence) We come with our needs. And we come because we have gifts to share. In our coming and in our going may we be strengthened in our bonds of love and peace.

CREED (ELW p. 126)

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 Confident of your care and helped by the Holy Spirit, we pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need.

Merciful God, your reign is revealed to us in common things: a mustard shrub, a woman baking bread, a fishing net. Help your church witness to the surprising yet common ways you encounter us in daily life. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

When your word is opened, it gives light and understanding. Increase our understanding and awe of your creation; guide the work of scientists and researchers. Be with all of the doctors, nurses and medical professionals who are working to keep us safe in this difficult time. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Gracious God, be with all administrators and teachers who are working to figure out how this school year will work. Give them patience, endurance and wisdom. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Your Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes for the saints according to your will. Help us when we do not know how to pray. Give comfort to the dying, refuge to the weary, justice to those who are oppressed, and healing to the sick: Bob Dieter, Mary Kraft, Marilyn Frisch, Julie and Denny Christensen, Dianne Sanderson, Gene Wacher, Betty Nelson, Julia Berger, Loren Bauman *Prayers for Members in Nursing Homes: Sandra Marsh, Arlene Muse, Lois Gruis *Members in Care Facilities: Bobbie Elvin, Joan Doeden, Adeline Larson, Jean Bender *Family Members and Friends: Myril Ferguson (Mary Ferguson’s husband), Lee Morrison (Terry Morrison’s son), Karoline Wiebe, Ryan Lien (Lon Lien’s son), Henrietta Lais, Tom Mor- gan (Sandy Randall’s dad), Peggy Kobold (Norma Radenbaugh’s daughter), Brad Martens (Va- lerie Veen’s son) and Josh Hanson (Mary Ingenthorn’s son) Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

You show steadfast love and direct us to ask of you what we need. Help this congregation ask boldly for what is most needed. Refresh us with new dreams of being your people in this place and time. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

In you our lives are never lost. Strengthen us by the inspiring witness of your people in all times and places. Embolden our witness now and one day gather us with all your saints in light. We es- pecially remember Dorothy Hallstrom, Norma Radenbaugh and Nancy Zuehlke upon their pass- ing. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

In the certain hope that nothing can separate us from your love, we offer these prayers to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

OFFERING (ELW p. 128)

SPECIAL MUSIC

OFFERING PRAYER (ELW p. 129) Let us pray. Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts: our selves, our time, and our possessions. Use us, and what we have gathered, in feeding the world with your love, through the one who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER (ELW p. 134) Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us. 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.

BLESSING (ELW p. 136) Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen.

SENDING SONG: If You But Trust in God to Guide You (ELW 769)

Words

1 If you but trust in God to guide you with gentle hand through all your ways, you'll find that God is there beside you when crosses come, in trying days. Trust then in God's unchanging love; build on the rock that will not move.

2 What gain is there in anxious weeping, in helpless anger and distress? If you are in your Savior's keeping, in sorrow will he love you less?

For Christ who took for you a cross will bring you safe through ev'ry loss.

3 The Lord our restless hearts is holding, in peace and quietness content. We rest in God's good will unfolding, what wisdom from on high has sent. God, who has chosen us by grace, knows very well the fears we face.

4 Sing, pray, and keep God's ways unswerving, offer your service faithfully. Trust heaven's word; though undeserving, you'll find this promise true to be. This is our confidence indeed: God never fails in time of need.

DISMISSAL (ELW p. 137) Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God.