07/20/25

As We Gather

“Make God laugh,” a wise man once said, “—plan something!” He meant that God always has the last laugh, especially when we make mistakes, and His will is done anyway. That’s what God did with Sarah and has done every time someone uncovers His promised, gracious rewards. The Colossians were laughing with Him, and in the Gospel, Mary has enough faith to listen to Jesus. Don’t try to get God laughing; join Him rejoicing in all His blessings.

Family Room & Children Activity Bags- Children Activity Bags- We value children in our worship services. If needed, there is a family room available for families with children. The family room has a diaper changing table, toys and books for children. The family room is located across from the kitchen in the long hallway, the first door on the right, just past the bathrooms. There are “King’s Kids” bags with activities for children to help them worship. They are near the usher’s station on a small rack. Please return the bag to the rack after the service.

Holy Communion- The Scripture teaches the Lord’s Supper is a precious gift of God in which Christ gives us His true body and blood (in a miraculous way), together with the bread and wine, for the forgiveness of our sins and the strengthening of our faith. Because the Bible teaches that this Sacrament may also be spiritually harmful if misused the LCMS ordinarily communes only those who have been instructed in the teachings of our church and who have confessed their faith in these teachings. Please speak to Pastor Ralph before the service if you have a question about this. For those who prefer a non-alcoholic alternative, there is grape juice at the center of each tray. Those not receiving the Sacrament, including children, are invited to come to the altar, cross their arms over their chest, and receive a special blessing.

What is Faith? “It is the peculiar nature of faith to deal with, and to believe, that which is not yet present. For what is present need not be believed; one feels it and sees it. When a rich man, who has money and possessions in great plenty, believes that he will not die of hunger during the year, this is not called faith. But that man is really a believer who, without anything on hand, nevertheless clings to God’s Word, convinced that as a Father God will supply him with sustenance as long as he keeps himself in the fear of God and attends to his calling. And such a faith cannot fail; for it is based on the Word of God, which is almighty and promises that if we seek first the kingdom of God and then continue to work, all these things shall be added to us.” What Luther Says # 1373

Pentecost 6

July 20, 2025

Welcome

Opening Hymn                      Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun LSB 868  vs 1-3

Invocation, Confession and Absolution      (Colossians 1:21–22; Psalm 27:14)

P:   We gather in the name and at the invitation of our great and gracious triune God;

C:   In the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

P:   Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 

C:   But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death, 

P:   to present you holy in his sight, 

C:   without blemish and free from accusation—.

P:   if you continue in your faith, established and firm, 

C:   not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.

P:   Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

C:   Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We sin when we allow the business of life get in the way of sitting at Your feet and simply listening to what You have to say. Grant us the desire to pay attention so that we may learn from to choose what is best! As we learn, we will be renewed and led in ways that we can delight in for Your sake alone! Amen.

(Silence for Meditation)

P:   Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C:   Amen.

Hymn of Praise             Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun           LSB 868  vs 4-6

Prayer of the Day

All:  O Lord, grant us the Spirit to hear Your Word and know the one thing needful that by Your Word and Spirit we may live according to Your will; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

O T Lesson       (Sarah laughs when she hears that she shall have a son.)   Genesis 18:1–14

The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. ² Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground. ³ He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. ⁴ Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. ⁵ Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.” “Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.” ⁶ So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread.” ⁷ Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. ⁸ He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree. ⁹ “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There, in the tent,” he said. ¹⁰ Then the Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. ¹¹ Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. ¹² So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” ¹³ Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ ¹⁴ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.” 

N T Lesson                 (Gentiles have been reconciled to God, too!)        Colossians 1:21–29

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. ²² But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— ²³ if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. ²⁴ Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. ²⁵ I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— ²⁶ the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. ²⁷ To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ²⁸ We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. ²⁹ To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Gospel Lesson (Mary has chosen to listen to Jesus; she has chosen well.)    Luke 10:38–42

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” ⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” 

Message Song                                     Goodness of God

I love You Lord  Oh Your mercy never fails me

All my days  I’ve been held in Your hands

From the moment that I wake up  Until I lay my head

I will sing of the goodness of God

Chorus

All my life You have been faithful   All my life You have been so so good

With every breath that I am able  I will sing of the goodness of God

I love Your voice  You have led me through the fire

In darkest night  You are close like no other

I’ve known You as a father  I’ve known You as a friend

I have lived in the goodness of God               Chorus

Bridge             Your goodness is running after  It’s running after me

Your goodness is running after  It’s running after me

With my life laid down  I’m surrendered now

I give You everything   Your goodness is running after

It’s running after me    Chorus

CLI Song # 7117726 Ben Fielding | Brian Johnson | Ed Cash | Jason Ingram | Jenn Johnson

© 2018 Capitol CMG Paragon; CCLI License # 11390779

Message                                            Mary Has Chosen

1. Martha had _________    Jesus, but Mary chose to _______    and  ______ about Jesus.
2. Martha busied herself to ___________________         and ______________       .
3. Choosing what is better put her in a ____________________     what Jesus had to say!

Notes:

The Apostle’s Creed                                      

C:   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 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 Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Offering

Offertory                                         Praise and Thanksgiving                                     LSB  789

 Prayers of the Church  

 After each petition:

 P:  Lord, in your mercy,

 C:  hear our prayer.

The 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.

The Lord’s Supper

Preface                                                                       page 160 in the hymnal

P:  The Lord be with you.

C:  ♪ And also with you.

P:   Lift up your hearts.

C:  ♪ We lift them to the Lord.

P:   Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C:   ♪ It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

P:   It is truly good, right, and salutary …. And ever more praising You and singing:

Sanctus — Holy, Holy, Holy                                         page 161 in the hymnal

C:  ♪ Holy, holy, holy Lord God of pow’r and might: Heaven and earth are full of Your glory. Hosanna. Hosanna. Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

The Words of Institution (Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper)

Pax Domini—The Peace of the Lord                                            page 163 in the hymnal

P:   The peace of the Lord be with you always

.C:   ♪ Amen.

Agnus Dei – Lamb of God                                                             page 163 in the hymnal

C:   ♪ Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

        Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

        Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.

Distribution of Communion

Distribution Hymn                              In Thee Is Gladness                                       LSB 818

Post Communion Canticle                                                               page 164 in the hymnal

C:  ♪ Thank the Lord and sing His praise; tell ev’ryone what He has done.  Let all who  seek the Lord rejoice and proudly bear His name.  He recalls His promises and leads His people forth in joy with shouts of thanksgiving. Alleluia, alleluia.

Post Communion Thanksgiving

All: We thank You, heavenly Father, that You have given us in this Sacrament more than we should expect and certainly more than we deserve. Grant us to use the faith You have strengthened to serve You and love the people around us each day in joyful faith; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Benediction                                                                                                   

P:   The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and ✠ give you peace.

C:   Amen.

Sending Hymn                              Almighty Father, Bless the Word                          LSB 923

Announcements 

Dismissal

P:   Go in peace as you serve the Lord.      

C:   Thanks be to God!   

Postlude