The Third Sunday After Pentecost - Online Worship - June 26, 2022
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Prelude, Prayer Cross & Words of Greeting
All are welcome, encouraged to visit the Prayer Cross as moved to do so.
Gathering In Grace
Lead Me, Guide Me
Akers
refrain:
Lead me guide me
Along the way
For if you lead me
I cannot stray
Lord let me walk
Each day with thee
Lead me O Lord
Lead me
vs. 1
I am weak and I need
Thy strength and pow’r
To help me over
My weakest hour
Help me through the darkness
Thy face to see
Lead me O Lord
Lead me
(refrain)
Litany Celebrating God’s Faithfulness In Each Breath
based on Psalm 66
Today the Lord leads us guides us, to never look back, as we take a deep breath in God’s grace and faithfulness, so we worship, in the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit.
Amen. Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; sing glory to his name. God, how awesome are your deeds! Help us never look back as we worship you and sing praises to your name.
People of God: Come, see; come, hear, all God has done. God alone breathes on us, turning death into life. Let us take a moment of silence to trust anew God’s loving power, and to confess those times we have looked away from God’s goodness and grace.
(silence for reflection)
Friends in Christ: Take a full deep breath in grace and live today knowing Jesus saves; Jesus forgives you all your sins. Trust and rejoice, for the Lord never looks away from us. Go ye, go ye, into the world, and never look back!
Song Anew In Grace
Go Ye, Go Ye, Into the World
Sleeth
Go ye go ye into the world
And make disciples of all the nations
Go ye go ye into the world
And I will be with you there
Bless our God, all people, everywhere. Let the sound of his praise be heard. God has kept us among the living. He has not let our feet slip, that we might fall. Let us go ye into the world and never look back, telling everyone all God has done.
Friends in faith: God’s steadfast love works miracles, in fire, water, and spirit, transforming life, giving life. Breathe anew; follow The Lord of life! Never look back; go with hope, go ye, into the world!
Song Anew In Grace
Go Ye, Go Ye, Into the World
Sleeth
Go ye go ye into the world
And make disciples of all the nations
Go ye go ye into the world
And I will be with you there
God of compassion and life; today we give you thanks for each breath in God’s hope and grace. Daily we face new decisions. By your Holy Spirit, give us faith and courage to go into the world, to never look back, to follow you and to make you and our neighbors first in new ways. As you set your face on Jerusalem, we thank you for keeping your eye and your heart and your grace forever on each of us, and never looking back. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
New Testament Lesson
Galatians 5:1,13-25
Paul writes, 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, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. By contrast the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. 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 be guided by the Spirit.
(New Revised Standard Version)
Song of True Devotion
Be Thou My Vision
Byrne/Hull
vs. 1
Be thou my vision
O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me
Save that thou art
Thou my best thought
By day and by night
Waking or sleeping
Thy presence my light
vs. 2
Be thou my wisdom
And thou my true word
I ever with thee
And thou with me Lord
Thou my soul’s shelter
Thou my high tow’r
Raise thou me heav’nward
O Pow’r of my pow’r
Gospel
Luke 9:51-62
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. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. Then 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, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 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 a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
(New Revised Standard Version)
As we hear God’s Word, let us take a fresh breath, and boldly speak of all we believe, trusting God’s power and grace in Jesus Christ.
I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations. I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens. You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David: ‘I will establish your descendants forever, and build your throne for all generations.’” Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones. For who in the sky can be compared to the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord, great and awesome above all that are around him? O Lord, God of hosts, who is as mighty as you? Blessed be the Lord forever. Amen and Amen.
…And Never Look Back!
GALATIANS 5:1, 13-25; LUKE 9:51-62
Every day we face decisions. We investigate, research, and soul search to make the best decision. We are human, so as we keep an eye on world politics, pray for world peace, invest in the stock market, enjoy local and world sport stories - we look back and question strategies and decisions. On a personal level, we may look back and wonder if we are making the right choices for our career, home or family. On a spiritual level, we can find ourselves questioning our doubts, searching for an even more sure foundation, wondering if we are headed down the best road. Today let us take a deep breath in grace as we trust, depend on, and surrender to, the hope of Jesus’ words, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God." At times in life we may wish we could go back - but what good would that do us? As Jesus sets his eyes on Jerusalem, trust he sets his eyes on you and your need for grace - take a deep fresh breath, trust Jesus looks at you and never looks back!
1. When we are at our most human, we put our hand to the plow, we put our hand in God's hand, and we still look back.
Galatians 5:16-17; Luke 9:51-62
A. When we are most human, we put our hand to the plow, we trust Jesus - just not completely. Trusting Jesus and not looking back is not easy, yet, going forward while looking back is impossible.
i. At times, we want to be `hidden’ followers.
Luke 9:58
ii. At times, we do not want to be alive for Christ.
Luke 9:60
iii. At times, we want to say goodbye but not really go.
Luke 9:61
B. When we are filled with the Spirit, when we hear the Lord, we can put our hand to the plow and trust Jesus. This may be easier and more freeing than we at first allow it to be!
2. One of the things that keeps us from trusting Jesus completely, from making God and neighbor first - is we have this perception that Christ will wait, that there will always be time for Jesus.
Galatians 5:1,16-18,22; Luke 9:59-61
A. There will always be something more to do. Who do you know who has enough time on their hands to do it all?
B. It can be easy to think we need to do other things first before we get down to business, God's business. God does not have that kind of time! Take a full fresh breath - God needs us to hear his voice, right now!
3. Jesus takes a deep breath and sets his eyes on Jerusalem so that he would always set his eyes on us, and he has never looked back.
Galatians 5:22-25; Luke 9:51-53, 62
A. Jesus put his hand to the plow, to the Gospel, to God's plan, to God's mission of mercy, forgiveness, salvation, to the cross; he never looked back. Jesus was fixed and focused to the end.
B. As we put our hand to the plow and trust the Lord of life, Jesus will help us stay focused and to never look back. Jesus will breathe on us and breathe life into us, to grow in commitment and faith as individual disciples and as a congregation!
C. As you take each breath in grace, trust and celebrate and put your hand to Jesus! Give your heart to Jesus and never look back! In grace, Jesus has set his eyes, and his heart, on you, and he will never look back!
Offering is available for our indoor services. Find a Lord of Life with a volunteer bucket to deposit offering in person as you leave worship today. If you find yourself wanting to offer your gifts to Lord of Life, you can do so online using the link below. You can also drop offering at anytime in our secure mailbox at Lord of Life located in the parking lot.
Song of Calling In Grace Anew
I Have Decided to Follow Jesus
Sundar Singh
vs. 1
I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
I have decided to follow Jesus
No turning back
No turning back
vs. 2
Though no one joins me still I will follow
Though no one joins me still I will follow
Though no one joins me still I will follow
No turning back
No turning back
vs. 3
The world behind me the cross before me
The world behind me the cross before me
The world behind me the cross before me
No turning back
No turning back
(repeat first verse)
Our Worship continues as we move outside to the Memorial Garden and our Live Stream will end.
As God’s people, as we take a fresh breath, let us trust anew in God’s grace, and let us pray for the needs of all God’s people.
… as we pray to you, Jesus,
The Spirit intercedes for us
With sighs too deep
For words to express
Oh oh oh
All these things and whatever else you see we need, grant to us we pray, for into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Holy Communion will take place during our service. If you are not worshipping with us in person but would like to receive Communion, we will be offering Drive Through Communion at our building at 16200 Dodd Lane, Lakeville, Minnesota, following our indoor service. Drive Through Communion will be available between 10:15am & 10:30am.
In order to better serve you in this troubling times, the way we receive Communion has changed slightly. You will be offered a self-contained Communion serving. Each capsule has two layers. The first layer is a thin, clear, cellophane layer which reveals the host. Under the second layer you will find the alcohol free juice. Volunteers will be happy to take you waste after you receive Communion.
The Words of Institution
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, given for you. Do this for the 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 for the remembrance of me.”
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.
Song During Holy Communion
In the Garden
Miles
I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloser
refrain:
And He walks with me
And He talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share
As we tarry there
None other has ever known
He speaks
And the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing
(refrain)
I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling
But He bids me go thru the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling
(refrain)
The body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, strengthen you and keep you in his grace, this day, and on into life everlasting.
Amen.
Let us pray.
Pour out upon us the spirit of your love, O Lord, and unite the wills of those whom you have fed with one heavenly food; through Jesus Christ, The Lord of life. Amen.
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, as you take each breath, each deep fresh breath, in the living grace of Jesus Christ. In the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Let us go in the peace of Christ, celebrating the love of God, and serving the Lord of life.
Thanks be to God!
Going Anew In Grace & Hope
Lord, I Life Your Name on High
Founds
Lord I lift Your name on high Lord I love to sing Your praises
I’m so glad You’re in my life I’m so glad You came to save us
You came from heaven to earth to show the way
From the earth to the cross my debt to pay
From the cross to the grave from the grave to the sky
Lord I lift Your name on high (repeat as directed)
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Today, Sunday, June 26, we celebrate The Third Sunday After Pentecost! “Take A Breath, And Never Look Back!”Today we are blessed to share Holy Communion in our Memorial Garden!
Join us next Sunday, July 3, as we celebrate The Fourth Sunday After Pentecost! “Take A Deep Fresh Breath, Help Is Here!”A blessed 4th of July weekend to one and all!
As we continue to share worship in this way, we are seeking more volunteers to assist with greeting, ushering, serving communion, live streaming, AV ministry, set up, clean up, worship leaders, and more!You can access details and ways to sign up on our website and Facebook page! Thank you!
Friends, today as always, all who proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, are welcome to God’s table of grace as we share Holy Communion. Communion is offered during the service, as we share pre-packaged single servings of communion, including a wafer and grape juice. Carefully pull back the first tab to expose the host, the body of Christ, given for you; then pull back the second tab to expose the blood of Christ, shed for you! Please ask for assistance or clarification as you are served!
For those sharing their generosity today, we thank you for your faithful giving! Offering is collected in baskets by the ushers as you exit the sanctuary.
For those who are not able to join us for worship, you are invited to receive drive-through communion, available Sundays, 10:15-10:30 a.m. at the front curb near the church entrance.
We hope having the service provided for you in this way, will touch you, comfort you, reassure you, and grace you in some way! If you believe others you know would be blessed to receive this bulletin, the sermon notes, or our live stream links, please forward these to them. In this time when we are committed to safety and social distancing, please trust we are equally committed to keeping us socially and spiritually connected! On behalf of the Kingdom of God, thank you for the ways you make God and neighbor first!
From everyone on every level of leadership and service, we continue to pray for you and to give thanks to God for each of you!Please contact Pastor Jamie if he can serve you in any way: jamie.thompson@lordoflifemn.org
We pray The Holy Spirit breathes anew on us to be God’s people and to be God’s Church, as together we make known and we trust anewGod’s gifts of hope, peace, justice, clarity, calm, and comfort forever break forth in new ways for you and your loved ones, today, and as we share every gift of God’s light, love and grace!
Acknowledgments for today’s service include:
Litany Celebrating God’s Faithfulness In Each Breath, written based on Psalm 66. “In The Garden,” “Prayer of The Day,” “Lord’s Prayer,” “Post-Communion Blessing, Prayer, & Benediction,” based on the LBW. © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship (LBW) and With One Voice Hymnal Supplement © 1995 Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis & Board of Publication, Lutheran Church In America, Philadelphia; and Evangelical Lutheran Worship © 2006 Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis, MN. Used with permission. “Lead Me, Guide Me” © 1953 Doris M. Akers, Chappell & Co., OL #92251 “Go Ye, Go Ye, Into the World” © 1979 Choristers Guild CCLI #195945 “Be Thou My Vision” Music & Lyrics Public Domain, CCLI #30639 “Jesus Loves Me” © Words and Music Public Domain, CCLI #4771887 “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” Words and Music Public Domain (Hindustani folk song), OL #97933 “The Spirit Intercedes For Us” © 1989 Dakota Road Music, OL #62627 “In The Garden,” © 1912, by Hall-Mack Co., © renewed 1940, by The Rodeheaver Co. (A Div. of Word, Inc.) “Lord, I Lift Your Name On High” © 1989 Universal Music CCLI #117947 All rights reserved. All songs used with permission. CCLI License #1380826 & OneLicense #A-724016.