Fifth SUNDAY after PENTECOST
July 10, 2022
The Rev. Joshua Heimbuck, Pastor
Love for God and Neighbor Sunday
WELCOME
Welcome to Grace Lutheran Church! We are happy that you have joined us for worship this morning. Through Word and Sacrament, Christ, our Good Shepherd, promises to lead and guide us as his people. May today’s worship be a blessing to you as he reveals his love for you and assures you of his presence in your life. Guests and visitors, please honor us by signing our Guest Book located on the table in the entrance hall of the church as you leave. The fellowship of this morning continues with a Coffee/Fellowship Hour following worship. Do join us and let us become better acquainted with you as you get to know us better. If you have no church home of your own in the area, we invite you to make Grace Lutheran Church the center of your worship, learning, fellowship, and service. Pastor Jim or the lay assistant for the day will be happy to answer any questions you may have concerning our parish. Come to worship with us again and often!
AS WE GATHER Mercy Out of Love
Although nearly everyone knows the basic plot of Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan, too many of us forget that it all began with a question: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” In the parable Jesus is talking about himself and his mercy born of love that comes to our rescue. What a friend we have in Jesus! Only from such mercy can we learn to love our neighbor.
PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP
Lord God, it is through our lives that your love touches others. Stir us by your Spirit to serve all people with willing hearts. We ask this in the Name of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+ THE ORDER of CELEBRATING +
With One Voice Order of Worship
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
WELCOME
PRELUDE Channels Only — Ada Gibbs, arr. Nathan Arnold, Tatsiana Asheichyk, Piano
SONG Baptized and Set Free (See back of Worship folder)
INVOCATION & CONFESSION
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“As I live,” says the Lord, “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that
the wicked should turn from their ways, and live.”
The Lord seeks to bless us.
Let us therefore confess our sins to God that we may share in the inheritance of
the saints in light.
+ A Brief Silence for Reflection +
Most merciful God, we have sinned against you in our thinking, our speaking, and our doing. We deserve your wrath and punishment. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.
Our heavenly Father has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of his beloved Son. In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. For his sake and by his authority, I declare to you the full forgiveness of all your sins in the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Forgiven and reconciled by God, let us be reconciled with one another and share the peace of our Lord as we greet one another.
PASSING of PEACE
[The congregation is encouraged to share the peace of Christ and greet one another with the words: “The Lord’s peace be with you.” The response: “And also with you.”]
KYRIE (Sung by the Worship Team. Please join in singing the Refrain.)
Refrain: Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison
Lord Jesus, you came to gather the nations into the peace of God’s Kingdom.
Refrain
You came in Word and Sacrament to strengthen us in holiness
Refrain
You will come in glory with salvation for your people.
Refrain
PRAYER of THE DAY
Lord Jesus Christ, in your deep compassion you rescue us from whatever may hurt us. Teach us to love you above all things and to love our neighbors as ourselves; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
FIRST LESSON Leviticus 19:9-18
[The Book of Leviticus is the priestly account of God’s giving of the Law governing Israel’s life and worship. Today’s reading expands our understanding of the Second Table of the Law… Love for Our Neighbor.]
“When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your god.
“You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another. You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD.
“You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning. You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the LORD.
“You shall do not injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor; I am the LORD.
“You shall not hate your brother [or sister] in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons (or daughters) of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.”
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
SECOND LESSON Colossians 1:1-14
[The letter to the Colossians was written to warn its readers of various false teachings. The first part of the letter is an expression of thanks for faith, hope, and love that mark this community, including a prayer for strength and courage from Paul.]
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.
And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in who we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
SPECIAL MUSIC In This Moment — R. Kevin Boesiger, Tatsiana Asheichyk, Piano
GOSPEL Luke 10:25-37
The holy Gospel according to Luke, the 10th chapter.
Glory to You, O Lord
[Jesus is challenged to explain what is involved in obeying the greatest commandment. Jesus tells a parable rich in surprises: those expected to show pity display hard hearts while the lowly give and receive unexpected and lavish mercy.]
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your
soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you shall live.”
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down the road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever you spend.’
“Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hand of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
The gospel of our Lord. Praise to You, O Christ!
SONG of THE DAY How Majestic is Your Name (See back of Worship folder)
HOMILY “Isn’t There Something I Can Do?” — Pr. Josh Text: The Gospel Lesson
APOSTOLIC CREED
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His 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 into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From thence 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 THE CHURCH
OFFERING
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Gracious God, you open your hand, filling our lives with all good things and renewing the face of the earth. We offer the first-fruit gifts of all we have and are in thanksgiving for the blessings we have received from your bounty. Accept them for the sake of him who offered his life for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE OFFERINGS ARE BROUGHT FORWARD
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.
Holy God, mighty Lord, gracious Father, endless is your mercy and
eternal is your reign. You have filled all creation with light and life;
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Through Abraham, you promised to bless all nations. You rescued
Israel, your chosen people.
Through the prophets, you renewed your promises, and at this end
of all ages, you sent your Son, who in words and deeds proclaimed
your Kingdom and was obedient to your will, even giving his life.
In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples saying:
Take and eat; this is my + body which is given
for you. Do this in 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 in remembrance of me.
Remembering his life and death, his resurrection and ascension, and his
command to love one another, we pray for his coming again.
Come, Lord Jesus, live in us that we may live in you.
Send now, we pray, your Spirit, that all of your promises may come to us
and your whole creation.
Amen. Come, Holy Spirit.
Through him all glory and honor are yours, Almighty Father, with the Holy
Spirit, in your holy Church, both now and forever. Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray:
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.
PAX DOMINI
The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you.
DISTRIBUTION
629 What Is This Bread
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Almighty God, you provide the true bread from heaven, your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant that we who have received the Sacrament of his body and blood may abide in him and he in us, that we may be filled with the power of his endless life, now and forever. Amen
SONG Let There Be Praise (See back of Worship folder)
ANNOUNCEMENTS
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Serve the Lord. Thanks be to God!
+ With Great Boldness … Tell Everyone What He Has Done! +
Grace Notes
CONFIRMATION — John Heimbuck will be confirmed this Sunday, July 17th. Please join with us for cake and refreshments following the worship service.
CHANGE OF PLANS — The Fellowship event scheduled for Sunday, July 17th has been changed to Sunday, July 24th and we’ve planned for a delicious barbecue. Watch for details coming soon!
WEBSITE AUDIO MESSAGES — We are not loading audio messages onto the Grace Lutheran website at this time. We hope to have the audio available by early Fall.
THIS WEEK AT GRACE
THURSDAY the 14th: Church League Golf 5:30 pm
SUNDAY the 17th: Confirmation Sunday
Bible Study 9:00 am
Worship 10:00 am
SUMMER OFFICE HOURS — As our summer days heat up, and to take advantage of the cool morning hours to work in our yards, walk dogs, run errands, etc., Pastor Josh and Margaret’s office hours through August 31st will be:
Pastor Josh
Monday — Thursday
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Days Off — Friday and Saturday
Margaret Bohn
Administrative Assistant
Tuesday — Thursday
12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Grace Lutheran Church
660 Frances Lane
Ashland, OR 97520
541-482-1661
Pastor Joshua Heimbuck — heimbuck@me.com