Seventh SUNDAY after PENTECOST
July 24, 2022
The Rev. Joshua Heimbuck, Pastor
All Who Ask Receive Sunday
WELCOME
A warm welcome to all who worship here this morning, especially to our guests and visitors. May this hour of worship make us eager to share in the proclamation of the Good News of God’s love in Christ as we enter another week of witness and service. Guests and visitors, if you are worshiping with us for the first time, please honor us by signing our Guest Book in the entrance hall of the church as you leave. Do join us for a cup of coffee after this morning’s worship and let us become better acquainted with you as you get to know us better. Come to worship with us again and often!
AS WE GATHER The Father Does the Giving
PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP
O God, you see how busy we are with many things. In this hour of worship and prayer, give us rest from all that would cause us to be anxious. Turn us to listen to you as you come to us in your Word, assuring us of that peace which passes all understanding; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+ THE ORDER OF CELEBRATING +
All Who Ask Receive
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
WELCOME
PRELUDE Impromptu — By Jonathan Kana, Tatsiana Asheichyk, Piano
SONG Waterlife (See back of worship folder)
INVOCATION & CONFESSION
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“Turn to me and be saved,” says the Lord. “For I am God and there is no other.”
If we confess our sins, God, who is merciful, will forgive our sins and
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Today we confront the enormity of our guilt, the seriousness of our sin.
+ A Brief Silence for Reflection & Self-examination +
Most merciful God, we confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. By covert deception and overt action, we have despised your Word and done evil in your sight. 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.
According to the will of God our Father, Jesus Christ gave himself for your sins to
set us free. In Christ Jesus you are all children of God. For his sake your sins have been forgiven in the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
We have been crucified with Christ. Now we live by faith in the Son of God
who loved us and gave himself for us.
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.”]
SONG of PRAISE Thy Word (See back of worship folder)
PRAYER of THE DAY
O God, you are always more ready to hear than we are to pray, and you gladly give more that we either desire or deserve. Pour upon us your abundant mercy. Forgive us those things that weigh on our conscience, and give us those good things that come only through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
FIRST LESSON Genesis 18:20-33
[In today’s reading, Abraham takes the role of a mediator between God and sinful humanity. Appealing to God’s justice, Abraham boldly asks for mercy for the city of Sodom, for the sake of the few righteous people who are in it, including Abraham’s nephew Lot.]
Then the LORD said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is grave, I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.”
So, the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood before the LORD. Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” And the LORD said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the LORD, I who am dust and ashes. Suppose five of the fifty are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” Again, he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” Then he said, “Oh, let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” He said, “Behold, I have under-taken to speak to the LORD. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” Then he said, “Oh let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it. And the LORD went his way, when he had finished speaking with Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
SECOND LESSON Colossians 2:6-15
[Paul warns his congregation in Colossae about the “empty lure” of philosophies and traditions that compromise faith. Through the gift of faith, the Church is mystically connected with Christ in his death and resurrection, which is enacted in the waters of Baptism.]
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him you also were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open share, by triumphing over them in him.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
SPECIAL MUSIC A Celtic Benediction — By R. Kevin Boesiger, Tatsiana Asheichyk, Piano
GOSPEL Luke 11:1-13
The Gospel according to Luke, the 11th chapter.Glory to You, O Lord.
[In teaching his disciples this prayer, Jesus also reminds them to focus on God’s coming reign, God’s mercy, and the strengthening of the community. Jesus encourages his disciples to child-like trust and persistence in prayer.]
Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of the disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” And he said to them, “When you pray, say:
“Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread,
and forgive our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.”
And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts of your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to You, O Christ.
SONG of THE DAY Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God
HOMILY “Perfect Prayer Petitions” — Pr. Josh Text: 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
OFFERINGS ARE BROUGHT FORWARD
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Gracious God, we praise you for your wonderful creation and your all-sustaining love. Calm our anxiety over the needs of this life, that what we have freely received, we may freely give to the service of your Kingdom and the care of others in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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 word 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, therefore, his life, death, and resurrection,
we await your salvation for all this thirsty world.
Come, Lord Jesus, live in us that we may live in you.
Pour out your Spirit on this holy food and on all the baptized
gathered for this feast: wash away our sin, that we may be
revived for our journey by the love of Christ.
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
LAMB OF GOD (See back of worship folder)
DISTRIBUTION
Distribution Hymn I, the Lord of Sea and Sky (See back of worship folder)
DISMISSAL
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Gracious God, through this meal you have bound up our wounds and fed us with your mercy. Now send us forth to live for others, both friend and stranger, that all may come to know your love. This we pray in the Name of Jesus. Amen.
BLESSING
LUTHERAN LIFE — The Summer issue of Lutheran Life magazine is available at the table in the main entryway. This issue focuses on finding balance between faith, family, and technology.
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 28th: Church League Golf 5:30 pm
SUNDAY the 31st: 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