Third SUNDAY after PENTECOST
June 26, 2022
The Rev. Joshua Heimbuck, Pastor
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 Follow Me
We gather here in this sacred space to hear Christ say once more, “Follow me.” He is calling us to ministry—ministry here and now. He calls us with a sense of urgency. There can be no delay. We come to worship only to be sent back into God’s world by his grace. Will we follow where Christ leads? Will we serve others in and with the freedom of the Gospel?
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 Word and Sacrament, assuring us of that peace which passes all understanding; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+ THE ORDER of CELEBRATING +
The Call to Follow Sunday
Haugen Setting
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
CHIMES
WELCOME
PRELUDE Love Lifted Me — By Gina Park, Tatsiana Asheichyk, piano
SONG We Are Called
INVOCATION and 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 and 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 our 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. Amen.
We have been crucified with Christ. Now we live by faith in the Son of God
who loves us and calls us to follow him.
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
SONG O God, We Now Praise You [A Hymnic Version of the TE DEUM]
PRAYER of THE DAY
O God, ruler of all hearts, you call us to obey you, and you favor us with true freedom. Keep us faithful in the ways of your Son, that, leaving behind all that hinders us, we may steadfastly follow your paths; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
FIRST LESSON 1 Kings 19:9b-21
[In the story preceding today’s reading, the prophet Elijah flees for his life to the security of God’s mountain. There, the Lord reveals to Elijah the work that is to be done and promises to be present wherever God’s people are faithful in their work.]
Behold, the word of the LORD came to [Elijah], and he said to him, “What are you doing here Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” And the LORD said to him, Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. And the one who escapes the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death. Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
So, he departed from there and found Elisha the son Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passes by him and cast his cloak upon him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
SECOND LESSON Galatians 5:1, 13-25
[For Paul, the freedom Christ gives is not permission to do whatever we want. It is the invitation
to be what we could not be otherwise. The power and guidance of Christ’s Holy Spirit produce a different kind of life, one marked by the fruit of this Holy Spirit.]
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery….
For you were called to freedom, brother [and sisters]. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
SPECIAL MUSIC Blessed Assurance — By Larry Shackley, Tatsiana Asheichyk, piano
GOSPEL Luke 9:51-62
The Holy Gospel according to Luke, the 9th chapter. Glory to You, O Lord
[Luke’s gospel describes a long journey to Jerusalem, during which Jesus teaches his followers about the cost of discipleship. Today’s reading describes the outset of this journey and the resolute action needed for travel.]
When the days drew near for [Jesus] to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village. As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home. Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to You, O Christ.
SONG of THE DAY The Summons
HOMILY Who Are You Following? Pastor 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
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
DISTRIBUTION
Distribution Hymn You Satisfy the Hungry Heart
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
CLOSING SONG Make Me a Servant
+ The Worship is Over — Let the Service Begin! +
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Today’s music is used by permission, CCLI 540181. We Are Called, Text and Music: David Haas, Copyright 1988 GIA Publications; The Summons, Text: John Bell, Music: Scottish traditional; arr. by John Bell, Text and arr. copyright 1987 Iona Community, admin. GIA Publications; Make Me a Servant, Text and Music: Kelly Willard, Text and Tune copyright 1982 Willing Heart Music, admin. Maranatha! Music c/o The Copyright Company.
Grace Notes
COFFEE CONNECTION — is a time for fellowship and catching up with one another following this
morning’s worship. We encourage everyone to participate in this very welcome hospitality ministry by signing up to either host, assist with serving or provide treats. There is a signup sheet on the refrigerator in the kitchen. For further details, please speak with either Pearl, Nan, or Mary.
THIS WEEK AT GRACE
THURSDAY the 30th: Church League Golf 5:30 pm
SUNDAY the 3rd: Bible Study 9:00 am
Worship 10:00 am
Grace Lutheran Church
660 Frances Lane
Ashland, OR 97520
541-482-1661
Pastor Joshua Heimbuck — heimbuck@me.com