BULLETIN- July 26, 2020

The 8th Sunday after Pentecost
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July 26, 2020

Emmanuel & St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Churches

Mecan & Montello, WI

P R E P A R A T I O N   F O R   W O R S H I P

We prepare ourselves to worship the one Savior God by expressing our humble repentance, offering our fervent prayers and singing our thankful hymns of praise.

Please note: Worship Service Restart Plans (Bulletin pages 20, 21) Worship f.) Due to the recent increase of COVID-19 virus cases testing positive in our area, worshipers are kindly asked to maintain social distancing, refrain from singing, and wear masks that cover both mouth and nose.  Thank you for your consideration.

OPENING HYMN       Good News of God Above

  Sung by cantor.                                                                                                     Christian Worship #568

Please stand

M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 

CONFESSION & ABSOLUTION                               

When we confess to God that we have failed to live up to the perfect standards in his law, the pastor announces the perfect forgiveness of sins won for us by Jesus.

M: Beloved in the Lord: let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins to God our Father, asking him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.

C: Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity. But I am truly sorry for my sins and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. 

LORD, HAVE MERCY                                                                        

The Church brings her concerns and prayers to a loving Father in heaven, who has shown great mercy to us and promised to hear our ardent cries for help.

M: God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given his only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son ✠ and of the Holy Spirit. 

GLORY BE TO GOD                                                                     

This song of praise reminds us of the wonderful things God has done for us, not the least of which is the salvation he gives through Jesus Christ.

M: In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

M: The Lord be with you.

M: Let us pray.

Almighty God, we thank you for planting in us the seed of your Word. By your Holy Spirit help us to receive it with joy and to bring forth fruits in faith and hope and love; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 

Please be seated for the day’s Scripture readings

T H E   W O R D

The Lord Jesus speaks to us in Scripture reading, preaching and song.

FIRST READING Isaiah 55:10-11 (today’s sermon text)

Summary: God’s Word accomplishes what he desires

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

PSALM OF THE DAY 65                                                                                    

The cantor sings refrains. Pastor reads the verses.  

The earth is full of the goodness of God, 

the goodness of our God.

Praise awaits you, O God,*

you call forth songs of joy.

You care for the land and water it;*

you soften it with showers and bless its crops.

The streams of God are filled with water*

to provide the people with grain.

Refrain

You crown the year with your bounty,*

and your carts overflow with abundance.

The grasslands of the desert overflow;*

the hills are clothed with gladness.

The meadows are covered with flocks

and the valleys are mantled with grain;*

they shout for joy and sing.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son*

and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning,*

is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Refrain

SECOND READING                                                             Romans 8:18-25

Summary: We have been born again through the imperishable seed, the Word of God

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that[a] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerlyfor our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

VERSE OF THE DAY                                                                                  Deuteronomy 30: 14

Alleluia. The Word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. Alleluia.

Stand.

GOSPEL READING                                     Matthew 13:1-9,18-23 

Summary: The parable of the sower

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.  Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.  Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil.  It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.  Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop– a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.  He who has ears, let him hear.”

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:  When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.  This is the seed sown along the path.  The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time.  When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away.  The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful.  But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it.  He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

NICENE CREED

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and became fully human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Be seated.

HYMN OF THE DAY                                     Your Kingdom, O God

Sung by cantor.                                                                                                 Christian Worship Supplement #755
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SERMON                                               Isaiah 55: 10-11

“How Is God’s Word Like Rain and Snow?”

1. It comes down from God

 2. It affects the heart

3. It feeds the soul

Stand after the sermon.

CREATE IN ME                                                                    

Be seated. 

O F F E R I N G S   O F   G I F T S   &   P R A Y E R S

THE OFFERING 

Members of this congregation show their thanks to God for all he has done for them by returning a portion of their income to the Lord.  Through these free will offerings, this congregation and its ministries are maintained.  Please deposit your offering on the plate located near the church entry.

PRAYERS

The Offering Prayer, Prayer for the Seed of God’s Word and Intercessory Prayers are spoken by pastor. Please see announcements on page 17 for those on our Intercessory Prayers list. 

Stand. 

LORD’S PRAYER                                                                                                   

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.

S E R V I C E    O F    T H E    S A C R A M E N T

 In this service we celebrate the gift of Jesus’ redeeming love, we bear witness to the Christian fellowship we share, and we proclaim his death until he returns.

PREFACE

M: The Lord be with you.

M: Lift up your hearts. 

M: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God. 

M: It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places give you thanks, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 

Who promised that wherever two or three come together in his name, there he is with them to shepherd his flock till he comes again in glory. Therefore, with all the saints on earth and hosts of heaven, we praise your holy name and join their glorious song:”

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

M: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body, which is given for you. Do this is remembrance of me.” 

M: Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured our for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 

M: The peace of the Lord be with you always. 

O CHRIST, LAMB OF GOD

Please be seated for the distribution 

At St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church & Emmanuel Ev. Lutheran Church we practice closed Communion. If you are a guest at worship today and interested in receiving the Lord’s Supper, please speak with the pastor prior to the service. See page 17 for communion schedule and distribution information.

THANKSGIVING   

Please stand. 

SONG OF SIMEON

M: O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. 

M: We give thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us with this holy supper. We pray that through it you will strengthen our faith in you and increase our love for one another. We as this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 

BLESSING

The Lord bless you and keep you. 

The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. 

The Lord look on you with favor and ✠ give you peace.

Be seated.

CLOSING HYMN                                                       Almighty God, Your Word Is Cast

Sung by cantor.                                                                                                           Christian Worship  #324

Announcements

Next week’s theme:

 August 2, 2020 9th Sunday after Pentecost

 “Waiting for the Final Harvest”

The Success of the Gospel Depends

On God’s Power and Blessing

The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost – A

God’s Word for Today

How do you get people to join your church?  There are lots of suggestions.  Most people suggest something special for every age group.  It seems that you need to provide people with all kinds of programs.  You also need to tell people what they want to hear.  You may get people to join your church that way, but chances are they won’t ever become a part of the Holy Christian Church.  You only become a member of God’s kingdom one way: through the preaching of the gospel.  But even the success of our gospel preaching doesn’t depend on us.  Instead it depends entirely upon God’s power and blessing.

First Lesson (Isaiah 55:10,11)

  1. True or false: Whenever we proclaim God’s Word, we can be certain that our listeners will be brought to faith.
  2. What does God mean that his Word “never returns to him empty”?

Second Lesson (Romans 8:18-25)

  1. What is God’s creation awaiting?
  2. What are we eagerly awaiting?
  3. Why do we need to be patient?

Gospel (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23)

  1. What is a parable?
  2. What is Jesus’ point in the Parable of the Sower?

Answers:

  1. False.  The gospel does not automatically produce faith.  When we use the gospel, we hope and pray that this will be the outcome, but sadly there are many who reject the forgiveness that God offers in his Word and harden their hearts to its truths, as Isaiah experienced in his own ministry (cf. Is 6:9,10).
  1. He means that there is never a “neutral” hearing of his Word.  God’s Word either produces and strengthens faith in the hearts of his hearers, or it serves to harden those hearts.  Even Jesus’ disciples – although still believers – were sometimes hardened to the truth of God’s Word when they refused to believe certain things (cf. Mk 6:52; Mk 8:17).
  1. Awaiting the return of the Lord when it will be freed from the bondage of decay.  In other words, things die and corrode in this world because of our sinfulness.
  1. We await our adoption as children of God, when our broken-down and decaying bodies will be replaced with a body like the one Jesus received in his resurrection (cf. Php 3:21).
  1. We need to be patient because Jesus’ return won’t take place until all those who were elected to faith from eternity are brought to faith the powerful Word of God.  We don’t know when that will be, so we need to be patient.
  1. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.  Jesus told many simple parables to the people of his day, using everyday events to help people understand the kingdom of God.
  1. Jesus is pointing out to us that it is our job to cast the seed of his Word.  That’s all.  Whether that seed takes root is dependent on his power and blessing.



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AttendanceEmmanuelSt. John’s
7-19                              7-223043                                              7      
St. John’s Altar CommitteeJuly 2020Elaine Kelm&Carolyn Rosenthal