Independence Day: In Service

Independence Day Worship

Order of Worship

Prelude

Stand

LITANY OF PRAISE:

P: Praise the Lord all you people! Praise the Lord with singing, for the Lord is great and wonderful. Before all time God loved us. Before all creation God knew us and made us who we are, giving us the gift of ourselves: our bodies, our minds, our spirits, that we may be a blessing to God and to all those around us. Come worship God, today!

Hymn: Bring Forth the Kingdom verse 1

Worship & Praise 22

A: Praise the Lord all you people! Praise the Lord with singing, for the Lord is great and wonderful. Vast beyond our understanding, still God reaches out to us all, calling us to receive God’s love. Rejoice and be glad, for the Lord remembers us all. Come worship God, today!

Hymn: Bring Forth the Kingdom verse 2

P: Praise the Lord all you people! Praise the Lord with singing, for the Lord is great and wonderful. God has seen our weaknesses and has set us free to be people of God, so dance before the Lord. Take the gift of life that God gives you and shout the good news: God has rescued the world from death. Come worship God, today!

Hymn: Bring Forth the Kingdom verse 3

A: Praise the Lord all you people! Praise the Lord with singing, for the Lord is great and wonderful. God, the Almighty One, our Creator, Redeemer and Inspiration, you call us and we come; you send us and we go. Open our ears to hear your word, cleanse our hearts of hate and fear; fire us with your spirit. Fill us with energy, hope, love and wisdom. Instill in us a sense of community and oneness with all people. Enable us to fulfil your great command to “Go and make disciples of all nations.”

Hymn: Bring Forth the Kingdom verse 4

WELCOME

GREETING OF PEACE:

P: God has received us, pardoned us and loved us; let us forgive each other in love and share the peace of Christ. Peace be with you.

C: And also with you.

(All may greet one another in the name of the Lord. Please remain standing after returning to your seat.)

GATHERING PRAYER

SCRIPTURE SONG: The River Will Rise

Tom Conry, Oregon Catholic Press

Sit

SCRIPTURE READINGS:

1st Reading: Zechariah 9:9-12

9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

9:10 He will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall command peace to the nations; his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.

9:11 As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.

9:12 Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.

2nd Reading: Romans 7:15-25a

7:15 I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.

7:16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good.

7:17 But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.

7:18 For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it.

7:19 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.

7:20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me.

7:21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand.

7:22 For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self,

7:23 but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.

7:24 Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

7:25a Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Gospel Song: My Chosen One verses 1, 2, 3

Bread of Life 8

Sing the song, then play softly under the reading, repeat verse after the reading.

Stand

HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

11:16 "But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another,

11:17 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.'

11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon';

11:19 the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."

11:25 At that time Jesus said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants;

11:26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

11:27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

11:28 "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.

11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Gospel Song: My Chosen One verse 1

Sit

MUSIC FOR MEDITATION

MESSAGE

Stand

THEME SONG: Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ

With One Voice 754

TESTIMONY OF FAITH

We believe in one God, who is Creator, maker of all we see and all we don't see. Who is Ruler of the universe: Source of all creation!

We believe in one God, who is Jesus Christ, God from God, Light from Light, true God and true human. He is one with the Creator; the Word made flesh, our Messiah: Savior of all creation!

We believe in one God, who is Holy Spirit, Breath of God moving among us. Who is one with the Creator; one with the Christ; our Comforter and our Guide: Mentor of all creation!

Sit

OFFERING

Stand

OFFERING SONG: How Beautiful, Our Spacious Skies

OFFERING PRAYER:

(spoken over music)

A: The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

All: The LORD is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.

Men: All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your faithful shall bless you.

Women: They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and tell of your power, to make known to all people your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

Men: Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

Women: The LORD is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds.

A: The LORD upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.

All: The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

Psalm 145:8-14

PRAYER SONG: Come by here, my Lord, come by here

This Far by Faith 43

Text: traditional

Come by here, my Lord, come by here;

come by here, my Lord, come by here;

O Lord, come by here.

Someone's praying, Lord, come by here;

someone's praying, Lord, come by here;

O Lord, come by here.

PRAYERS OF THE COMMUNITY

Special prayer(s) for (missionary name) and the Lutheran Churche(s) of (country name):

Revive your church, O Lord, that the Lutheran Church in (country) might be alight with the joy of serving you. Call and send to them local leaders to fill their pulpits and preach the gospel of good news as fellow citizens. Restore their economy that they might see their families return to energize and fill the land with hope. Bless (country) and all her people that they might live in peace and prosperity.

Renew and inspire your servant, (missionary name), in his/her ministry of Word and (specialty, if any, such as medicine, education, etc.) to the people of (country). Give him/her ears to hear beyond the words spoken, the eyes to discern the needs beyond the obvious, and the wisdom to provide what is best for all people. Fill him/her with your Holy Spirit and strengthen him for the work you have called him/her to do.

PRAYER SONG: Come by here, my Lord, come by here

Someone needs you, Lord, come by here;

someone needs you, Lord, come by here;

O Lord, come by here.

Someone's praying, Lord, come by here;

someone's praying, Lord, come by here;

O Lord, come by here.

LORD'S PRAYER:

P: Let us pray,

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. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

COMMUNION SONG: Eat This Bread

With One Voice 709

As the song is sung, gather in a circle around the altar to receive Communion.

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER:

P: As you called Abraham and Sarah, Moses, Jacob, Miriam and Deborah, David, Solomon, and all the prophets. As you called Elizabeth and Zachariah, Mary and Joseph, and John the Baptizer. As you called your disciples, Mary Magdalene, Mary and Martha, Lazarus and St. Paul, you call us to come forward and lift the burden of your love and sacrifice upon our shoulders. And so we come in answer to that call to be fed and nourished at the table of your body and blood, that we may go from here to serve as you served.

For I received from the Lord

that which I also handed down to you—

that the Lord Jesus

in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;

and after giving thanks, He broke it and said,

“This is My body, which is for you;

do this in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way also He took the cup after supper, saying,

“This cup is the new covenant which is in My blood;

do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup,

you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

Sit

DISTRIBUTION OF HOLY COMMUNION

Stand

DISMISSAL FROM COMMUNION

P: May the most precious body and blood of Christ Jesus nourish you and keep you always in loving relationship with God.

C: Amen.

POST-COMMUNION PRAYER:

A: Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, you have fed us with a heavenly food that strengthens beyond all understanding,, filling us with the vitality to be Christ to this world. May we take the bounty we have received and share it with our families, our friends, or coworkers, our neighbors; everyone you send to us for nourishment—wherever you send us.

C: Amen

LITANY FOR OUR MISSION:

(Spoken over music.)

A: Here and now, Lord, is when you want me.

C: To support and lift up those who travel far and wide, leaving family and friends, to serve your people in far away places.

P: Here and now, Lord, is my work:

C: To watch out for the wounded and needy you lead to me for succor and help; to serve our people in my place.

A: Here and now, Lord, is my goal:

C: To grow closer in spirit to and more active in life for you, my God, the source of my life.

Response Song: Let Me Be Your Servant, Jesus verse 1

Life Songs 148

Let me be your servant, . . . .

A: Here and now, Lord, is when you want me.

C: To support and lift up those who travel far and wide, leaving family and friends, to speak the good news of your salvation to your people in far away places.

P: Here and now, Lord, is my work:

C: To listen to and converse with the hungry and wounded you lead to me for acceptance and the Words of Life; to serve our people in my place.

A: Here and now, Lord, is my goal:

C: To grow bolder in spirit and more free-spoken in life for you, my God, the source of my life.

Response Song: Let Me Be Your Servant, Jesus verse 2

Let me be your voice, . . .

A: Here and now, Lord, is when you want me.

C: To support and lift up those who travel far and wide, leaving family and friends, to rescue and heal your people in far away places.

P: Here and now, Lord, is my work:

C: To be a friend to the friendless and a safe harbor for those you lead to me for healing and shelter; to serve our people in my place.

A: Here and now, Lord, is my goal:

C: To grow intensified in spirit and more ardent in my life in you, my God, the source of my life.

Response Song: Let Me Be Your Servant, Jesus verse 3

Let me be your ears, . . .

BLESSING-Sung The Lord Bless You

Blessing: "Benediction" (Ronald E. Nitz)

(see music)

Sit

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Stand

SENDING SONG I, the Lord of Sea and Sky

A: Go in Peace serve the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God!

Postlude