Independence Day Worship
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear and forgive their sin and heal their land.”—God
2 Chronicles 7:14
Sunday, July 5, 2020
8 a.m. St. John’s
10 a.m. Emmanuel
Pastor Peter Zietlow
From Sea to Shining Sea—Independence Day Worship
Pastor’s Greeting
The liturgy is read responsively by the pastor and the congregation, interspersed with verses of the hymn “America the Beautiful” sung by soloist.
O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea!
P: From east to west, you have blessed us, Lord God Almighty.
C: From fields ripe for harvest, from business and industry creating products to make our lives better, to the natural beauty of animals and plants, fish and fowl, lakes and streams, thank you for your many gifts to our nation in land and sea and sky.
P: For the blessings that span our nation from sea to shining sea,
C: We give you thanks and praise.
P: For the rights we share as citizens in this land and especially for the freedom we have to worship and speak of our faith in you,
C: Lord God, we praise and glorify you!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat across the wilderness!
America! America! God mend thine ev’ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law!
P: From north to south, you have gathered people to live united in these states,
C: We thank you for our government leaders and for all those who guard our cities and keep us safe.
P: We pray for our armed forces at home and across the sea, for those who protect our nation and keep our country strong.
C: We thank you for their sacrifice and for all those who work tirelessly to preserve us as a people.
O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved and mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine
‘Til all success be nobleness and ev’ry gain divine!
Confession and Absolution
P: God said, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear and forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14
C: Merciful God, we humbly confess that we have not loved you with all our heart and mind and strength, and that we have not loved our neighbors as Christ loves them and us. We have resisted your Spirit and gone our own ways. Have mercy on us for not always obeying the laws of the land. Pardon us for not honoring all those in authority over us as you have commanded. Forgive what we have been and help us to change what we are. Amen
P: It is my privilege as a called and ordained servant of the Word to announce the grace of God to all of you. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed your sins from you. Therefore, in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And all God’s people say,
C: Amen.
Prayer of the Day
Lord, keep this nation under your care. Bless the leaders of our land that we may be people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to other nations of the earth. Help us elect trustworthy leaders, contribute to wise decisions for the general welfare, and serve you faithfully in our generation to the honor of your holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen
First Lesson, Genesis 1:6-10
And God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water.” So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. God called the expanse “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day. And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.
Psalm 33 Responsory
P: By the word of the LORD were the heavens made,
C: their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
P: He gathers the waters of the sea into jars;
C: he puts the deep into storehouses.
P: Let all the earth fear the LORD;
C: let all the people of the world revere him.
P: For he spoke, and it came to be;
C: he commanded, and it stood firm.
P: But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,
C: the purposes of his heart through all generations.
P: Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
C: the people he chose for his inheritance!
Second Lesson, Romans 13:1-7
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Verse of the Day
Alleluia. Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. Alleluia. Proverbs 14:34
C: Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! (Hymnal, page 18)
Rise for the Gospel Lesson, Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
The Sermon Hymn: 755 from CW Supplement
Your Kingdom, O God, verses 1-3
Your kingdom, O God, is my glorious treasure,
My pearl of incomp’rable worth.
Its value exceeds ev’ry standard of measure,
Surpassing the wealth of the earth.
Lord, give me your grace and the pow’r of the Spirit
To value this treasure aright.
That never allured by the world, I inherit
Your kingdom of glory and light.
Your kingdom, O God is alive with the power
Your Word and your Spirit bestow.
Like yeast, they affect the whole measure of flour,
Enabling your kingdom to grow.
Empower me, Lord, as I live your commission,
Though humble my service may be,
And bring ev’ry planting to perfect fruition,
A mustard seed grown to a tree.
Your kingdom, O God is a field for the growing
Of seeds that your mercy has sown,
But still in our midst is the enemy sowing
The weeds that imperil your own.
Sustain me, O Lord, till your day of returning
And harvest me homeward at last,
To shine in the homeland that quiets all yearning,
Where sorrow and danger are past.
The Sermon: Guest Preacher–Seminary student Justin Digman
“Illogical Forgiveness”
- Limited Forgiveness
- Limitless Forgiveness
Matthew 18:21-35
21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’
30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
The Offering.
Prayer
P: Almighty God, You have provided this nation with forefathers who had vision, wisdom, patience, faith and courage. For the blessings of this firm foundation we praise you, Lord. Likewise, you have built your Church upon the firm foundation of your Living Word. Continue to lead your children to search and study the Scriptures that we may be one in heart and mind, and that we may be strong against any attacks of the evil one. Bless our nation with wise leadership, justice, plenty and peace. On this day of independence, free all who mourn from their sorrow and comfort them with the strong hope of resurrection from the dead. Lead your people in paths of righteousness for your names’ sake. Amen
Intercessory Prayer
These things we pray according to your gracious will in the name of Jesus, our Lord. And we also pray together the prayer he taught us:
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
Benediction
P: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
All: Amen
Recognition of all veterans present. Please rise and state your name. We thank you for your service.
Closing Congregational Hymn, “God Bless Our Native Land,” Hymn 619
God bless our native land; firm may she ever stand
Through storm and night!
When the wild tempests rave, Ruler of wind and wave, Do thou our country save by thy great might.
For her our prayers shall rise to God above the skies;
On him we wait.
Thou who art ever nigh, guarding with watchful eye,
To thee aloud we cry, God save the state!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Theme for next Sunday July 12, 2020
The 6th Sunday after Pentecost:
“The Costs & Rewards of Discipleship”
Intercessory Prayers (read by pastor)
– For those hospitalized, ill, shut-in and facing trials: Jim & Caryl Bassett, Wyatt Beahm (William and Alyssa Beahm’s infant son), David Broderick, Gene & Sharon Crook, Liola Crown, Agnes Dassow, Don Ebert, Reinold Eckelberg, Lilah Farrell, Roger Hillmer, Jerry & Darlene Hunter (Bonnie Chapman’s parents), Xzander Jahr, Betty Kozlowski, Chris Krause (Gordy and Linda’s son), Robert Lederer (Jackie and Jeanne Buchholz’ father), Lilly Mann, Dawn Marcelain, Delvin Mittelsteadt, Steve Parrish, Valerie Pepin, Karen Radke, LuAnn Reber, Doris Smith, Amanda Stalker, Jennifer Strauss, Leevi Walker, Tenley Zuehls – (added this week: Mitch Simon)
July Ladies Aid Meeting The July Ladies Aid meeting has been canceled.
Voter Meeting July 19th at 11:00am following the limited St. John’s service.
Welcome Card Shower for Ms. Katlynn Tindall Located in our link way at St. John’s is a “Welcome Card Shower” station. Please send your welcome to Ms. Tindall and shower her with love as she settles with us. If you are attending our limited church services, be sure to drop by or you can send a card to the office at 313 E Montello St. Montello, WI 53949 and it will be delivered.
| Attendance | Emmanuel | St. John’s |
| 6-28 7-1 | 25 | 46 3 |
| St. John’s Altar CommitteeJuly 2020 | Carolyn Rosenthal&Elaine Kelm |