Prelude
Announcements
Call to Worship and Confession and Forgiveness
God, you give to the smallest of seeds
People of God: whatever they need to become the largest of plants in the garden.
Like the mustard tree, with the birds of the sky dwelling in its branches,
People of God: you have given all of us everything we need to grow into your loving family, caring deeply for each other and for our environment.
Open our eyes and ears to the presence of your Holy Spirit.
People of God: May the seeds of your Word scattered among us this morning fall on fertile soil.
May they take root in our hearts and lives,
People of God: and produce an abundant harvest of good words and deeds. Amen
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who makes all things new, whose mercy endures forever.
People of God: Amen.
Trusting in God’s mercy, let us confess our sin.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Holy One, source of our renewal,
People of God: we confess that we are wrapped up in sin, and cannot free ourselves. We have not practiced your righteousness. Our hearts have turned away from you. For the sake of the world you so love, forgive us, that we may be reconciled to one another for the glory of your holy name. Amen.
Thus says our God: “The former things have come to pass and new things I now declare.” God’s mercy makes us new. We are forgiven in the name of ☩ Christ our Savior.
People of God: Amen.
Prayer of the Day
Assisting Minister: Let us pray. Lord of stories, Jesus taught us through stories and the wisdom of the shared word. Teach us through your stories, that we may learn, grow, and love. For the sake of Jesus Christ we pray. People of God: Amen.
Reading Matthew 13:24-43
Assisting Minister: [Jesus] put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ 28He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, ‘Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'” [Jesus] put before them 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.” 34Jesus told the crowds all these things in parables; without a parable he told them nothing. 35This was to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth to speak in parables; I will proclaim what has been hidden from the foundation of the world.” 36Then [Jesus] left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!” The word of the Lord. People of God: Thanks be to God
Sermon Rev. Sarah Wilson
Prayers of the People
Assisting Minister: Sisters and brothers, let us lift our hearts in faith to the one who hears all prayers and holds close all those in need.
A brief silence.
Assisting Minister: Plant your kingdom in the church, O God. Grow deeper faith in us and make us better workers for your kingdom. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: Sustain the earth with your care, O God, and make us better planters and sowers of the abundance you provide for the world. Be with those affected by earthquakes in Syria and Turkey and in places where your good earth doesn’t feel so good right now. Help us to generously care for all those hurting because of natural disasters. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: Bring your kingdom to bear on the nations, O God, that your reign of peace and justice overrule our selfish and greedy systems, especially in places where war and violence persist. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: Grant us wisdom in serving you, O God, and bring us into loving service toward our neighbors. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: Strengthen the sick and suffering, O God, and provide endurance, compassion, and insight to all who provide comfort and healing. We pray especially for Brian, Scott, Jessica, Alicia, the Knaack Family, the McDonough family, Jeanne, Barb, Cecil (See-sil), Stan, Marlene, Ryleigh, Dylan, Sandy, Hopie (Hope-y), the Lang family, the Mauger (maw-ger) family, Susan, the Bredemus (bread-a-mus) family, Allen, Bunny, the Vogt (vote) family, Richard, Pat, Pete, Dick, Karen, Patricia, Michael, Nicholas and his family, Beth, Jim, Kara (car-a), Betty, Tom, Lorie and her family, Pastor Kara (car-a) and those we name silently or aloud <pause>). Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: Bless us who gather in your house today, O God, and send us forth in strength and courage to share your love and joy with the world. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Please offer your own prayers of joy or concern, ending with “Lord, in your mercy.”
We respond with “hear our prayer.”
Assisting Minister: Bring all the saints to their heavenly home, O God, that all your people may sing your praises in eternity. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Holy God, you gather the whole universe into your radiant presence and continually reveal your Son as our Savior. Bring healing to all wounds, make whole all that is broken, speak truth to all illusion, and shed light in every darkness, that all creation will see your glory and know your Christ. People of God: Amen.
Hymn ELW #693 Come Ye Thankful People, Come Played by Gloria Peetz Sung by Lorena Skelley
Children’s Sermon Rev. Sarah Wilson
The Peace (Please share peace by waving or showing the peace sign.)
The peace of Christ be with you always. People of God: And also with you.
Offering
Let us pray. Liberating God, you break the bonds of injustice and let the oppressed go free. Receive these offerings in thanksgiving for all your works of merciful power, and shape us as people of your justice and freedom. You we magnify and adore, through Jesus our Savior, People of God: Amen.
Communion
The Lord be with you.
People of God: And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
People of God: We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People of God: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread and gave thanks; he 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.
And now let us pray with confidence in the words that Jesus taught us:
People of God: 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.
Invitation to Communion
Assisting Minister: Come and taste the joy of God!
For our at-home worshippers, you may take communion using these words:
The body of Christ, given for you.
The blood of Christ, shed for you.
Table Blessing
And now may the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, strengthen you and keep you in his grace. People of God: Amen.
Prayer after Communion
Assisting Minister: Let us pray. Holy One, we thank you for the healing that springs forth abundantly from this table. Renew our strength to do justice, love kindness, and journey humbly with you. People of God: Amen.
Blessing
The God who faithfully brings forth justice and breaks the oppressor’s rod ☩ bless, strengthen, and uphold you, today and always. People of God: Amen.
Sending Hymn ELW#537 On Our Way Rejoicing Played by Gloria Peetz Sung by Lorena Skelley
Dismissal
Assisting Minister: Go in peace. Follow the way of Jesus. People of God: Thanks be to God.
Thank you to those serving us today
Pastor: Rev. Sarah Wilson
Worship Assistant: Hannah Brescia
Acolyte: Adam Vogt
Music: Gloria Peetz ~ Song Leader: Lorena Skelley
Altar Guild: Dianne Brooks
Usher/Greeter: Andy Taylor
Sound Board: Nancy Rochford
AV Tech: Mark Gates
Counter: Marianne Barstow
Coffee Host: Patrick and Melodi Hoeft
Altar Flowers: Steve and Linda Roehrig
In Celebration of their 58th Anniversary
From sundaysandseasons.com. Copyright © 2023 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved
Call to Worship based on work by Christine Longhurst and Anne M. Osdieck