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THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
Jesus teaches of the
compassion and mercy of God
The color green, used for the vestments and paraments in the season after
Pentecost, symbolizes growth and life in the Holy Spirit.
FIRST READING Deuteronomy 30:9-14: Moses exhorts those about to enter the promised land to
observe the covenant God made with them at Sinai. He anticipates an objection:
the people will say that the will of God is unclear. Moses says that God has given
them all they need to discern his will; the words of the covenant themselves,
if they recite them and learn them with a willing heart, will guide them in
covenant faithfulness.
SECOND READING Colossians 1:1-14: Many scholars believe that the different writing style
from letters such as Romans and Galatians indicate that the letter was written
in Paul’s name by a disciple of Paul. Whether that be true or not, Paul’s signature
themes of sanctification and justification are present in this letter, as the
writer tells of God’s action in Christ to redeem human beings and of the Gospel
bearing fruit among the Colossians and in the whole world.
GOSPEL Luke 10:25-37: The ‘lawyer’ is not a criminal or civil attorney, but
one who is well-versed in the Law of God as delivered to Israel in Torah, the first five books of what we
call the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. He is
asking Jesus for a professional religious opinion. Jesus turns the question
back around at him, and he answers by quoting Deuteronomy 6:4 and Leviticus
19:18. Jesus is satisfied with this answer, but the lawyer is not. He wants
Jesus to define the limits of the people whom he should love as himself. Jesus
refuses to do so, but with an imaginative story he describes, not the
boundaries of concern for the people of God, but how the people of God should
act towards all people.
OPENING MUSIC
Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love –
J.M. Strobel
Hope
of the World – Donald Busarow
BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Stand
The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.
In the name of the Father, and of the X Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(1 John 1:8-9)
Silence for reflection and self-examination.
Most merciful God,
we confess that we are in bondage to sin
and cannot free ourselves.
We have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed,
by what we have done
and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart;
we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
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
Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and, for his sake, forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the X Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
THE HOLY COMMUNION
I will go to the altar of God;
the God of my joy and gladness.
WHymn Hope
of the World Green LBW 493
APOSTOLIC GREETING
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you. 2 Corinthians 13:13
HYMN OF PRAISE
The Lord
be with you.
And
also with you.
in Christ you draw near to us,
lifting us out of death,
binding up our wounds,
and nursing our spirits back to health.
Let such a tenderness as yours
compel us
to go and
do likewise,
finding and serving the neighbors
in
whom you choose to be found.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen
God guides the humble in doing
right and teaches his way to the lowly.
Let us hear the Word of the Lord. Psalm 25:8
Sit
FIRST READING Deuteronomy 30:9-14
9The Lord your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all
your undertakings, in the fruit of your body, in the fruit of your livestock,
and in the fruit of your soil. For the Lord
will again take delight in prospering you, just as he delighted in prospering your
ancestors, 10when you obey the Lord
your God by observing his commandments and decrees that are written in this
book of the law, because you turn to the Lord
your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
11Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not
too hard for you, nor is it too far away. 12It is not in heaven,
that you should say, “Who will go up to heaven for us, and get it for us so
that we may hear it and observe it?” 13Neither is it beyond the sea,
that you should say, “Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us, and
get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?” 14No, the word
is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM 25:1-9
1 To you, O Lord,
I lift up my soul; my God, I put my | trust in you;*
let
me not be humiliated, nor let my enemies triumph | over me.
2 Let none who look to you be | put to shame;*
let
the treacherous be disappointed | in their schemes.
3 Show me your | ways, O Lord,*
and
teach | me your paths.
4 Lead me in your | truth and teach me,*
for
you are the God of my salvation;
in you have I trusted all | the
day long.
5 Remember, O Lord,
your compas- | sion and love,*
for
they are from | everlasting.
6 Remember not the sins of my youth and | my
transgressions;*
remember
me according to your love
and
for the sake of your good- | ness, O Lord.
7 Gracious and upright | is the Lord;*
therefore
he teaches sinners | in his way.
8 He guides the humble in | doing right*
and
teaches his way | to the lowly.
9 All the paths of the Lord
are | love and faithfulness*
to
those who keep his covenant and his | testimonies.
SECOND READING Colossians 1:1-14
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus
by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2To the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in
Colossae:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
3In our prayers for you we always thank God, the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, 4for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and
of the love that you have for all the saints, 5because of the hope
laid up for you in heaven. You have heard of this hope before in the word of
the truth, the gospel 6that has come to you. Just as it is bearing
fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among
yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God. 7This
you learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister
of Christ on your behalf, 8and he has made known to us your love in
the Spirit.
9For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased
praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s
will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10so that you may
lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in
every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. 11May you
be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and
may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully 12giving
thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the
saints in the light. 13He has rescued us from the power of darkness
and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14in whom we
have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks
be to God.
Stand
VERSE
Gospel Luke 10:25-37
The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke.
Glory to you, O
Lord.
25Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he
said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26He said to him,
“What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 27He answered,
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and
with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”
28And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and
you will live.”
29But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my
neighbor?” 30Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to
Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and
went away, leaving him half dead. 31Now by chance a priest was going
down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32So
likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the
other side. 33But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and
when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34He went to him and
bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his
own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35The next
day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care
of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ 36Which
of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands
of the robbers?” 37He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus
said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to
you, O Christ.
Sit
Sermon
Stand
WHYMN OF THE DAY
Jesu, Jesu, Fill
Us with Your Love Blue
WOV 765
CONFESSION OF FAITH Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again 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
Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus,
and for all people according to their needs.
A brief silence is kept.
hear our prayer.
Grant
that the people of our congregation may walk in your truth and bring forth good
fruit to your praise. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Defend
us and all people from the blights of violence and terror. Be light in the
darkness for those who face persecution for their faith. Have mercy upon those
who serve in government, that they may perform their duties with zeal for justice.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Come
to the aid of those who suffer from every disease of body, mind, and spirit. Bless
those in healing ministries of every kind, and fill them with wisdom, compassion,
and patience. Make all of us instruments of your peace and your power to deliver
from evil. Hear our prayers for the healing of all and of those we name before
you…
Lord,
in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Lead
us to heaven, and in Christ’s great day bring us to stand with our loved ones
and with all who have striven to live in his truth and compassion. Lord, in
your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Into your
hands, Father, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your steadfast
love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
And also with you.
The people exchange the sign of peace with the simple words, Peace be with you.
Sit
The Lord’s Table is prepared.
Stand
O Bread of Life from Heaven (LBW 222), stanza 1
1 O Bread of life from heaven,
O Food to pilgrims given,
O Manna from above:
feed with the blessed sweetness
of your divine completeness
the souls that want and need your love.
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation:
through your goodness we have this bread to set before you,
which earth has given and human hands have made.
It will become for us the bread of life.
Blessed be God for ever.
Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation:
through your goodness we have this wine to set before you,
fruit of the vine and work of human hands.
It will become for us the cup of salvation.
Blessed be God for ever.
GREAT THANKSGIVING
It is indeed right and salutary that we should
at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy
Father, through Christ our Lord. Through him you rescued us from the power of
darkness and brought us into your Kingdom, that we may know your mercy and
compassion and bring forth the good fruit of the word of truth. And so with the
Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their
unending hymn:
The pastor leads the people in praying the Eucharistic canon:
You are indeed holy, almighty and merciful God;
you are most holy, and great is the majesty of your glory.
You so loved the world that you gave your only Son,
that whoever believes in him may not perish
but have eternal life.
Having come into the world, he fulfilled for us your holy will
and accomplished our salvation.
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.
Remembering, therefore, his salutary command,
his life-giving Passion and death,
his glorious resurrection and ascension,
and his promise to come again,
we give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
not as we ought, but as we are able;
and we implore you mercifully
to accept our praise and thanksgiving,
and, with your Word and Holy Spirit,
to bless us, your servants,
and these your own gifts of bread and wine;
that we and all who share in the body and blood of your Son
may be filled with heavenly peace and joy,
and, receiving the forgiveness of sin,
may be sanctified in soul and body,
and have our portion with all your saints.
All honor and glory are yours, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
in your holy Church, now and forever. Amen
In the presence of Christ, we pray to his Father using the words he gave us.
Christ is in our midst.
By the power of the Spirit,
we pray to his Father, saying:
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 Matthew 6:9-15
This is the Lamb of God, who takes
away the sin of the world.
Happy are
we who are called to his supper.
Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,
but only say the word and I shall be healed.
John 1:29; Revelation 19:9; Luke 7:6-7
O Bread of Life from Heaven, stanza 2
2 O Fount of grace redeeming,
O River ever streaming
from Jesus’ wounded side:
come now, your love bestowing
on thirsting souls, and flowing
till all are fully satisfied.
Sit
DISTRIBUTION
They may receive the Lord’s Body and Blood who are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, who commune in their home churches, and who believe that Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, is truly present in, with, and under the forms of bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.
Please come forward, take a communion cup from the tray, and kneel at the altar rail on your ‘side’ of the worship space. Please make an effort to leave some distance between your family unit and the next family unit. When your side has finished communing, please place your empty cup in the tray provided.
WDISTRIBUTION HYMN
O God of Mercy, God of Light Green LBW
425
1 O
God of mercy, God of light,
in
love and mercy infinite,
teach
us, as ever in your sight,
to
live our lives in you.
2 You
sent your Son to die for all,
that
our lost world might hear your call;
oh,
hear us lest we stray and fall!
We
rest our hope in you.
3 Teach
us the lesson Jesus taught:
to
feel for those his blood has bought,
that
ev’ry deed and word and thought
may
work a work for you.
4 For
all are kindred, far and wide,
since
Jesus Christ for all has died;
grant
us the will, and grace provide
to
love them all in you.
5 In
sickness, sorrow, want, or care,
each
other’s burdens help us share;
may
we, where help is needed, there
give
help as though to you.
6 And
may your Holy Spirit move
all
those who live to live in love,
till
you receive in heav’n above
those
who have lived to you.
Text: Godfrey Thring, 1823-1903, alt.
When all have received, the congregation stands at the direction of the pastor.
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
Amen
O Bread of Life from Heaven, stanza 3
3 We love you, Jesus, tender,
in all your hidden splendor
within these means of grace.
Oh, let the veil be riven,
and our clear eye in heaven
behold your glory face to face.
Almighty God, you gave your Son both as a sacrifice for sin and a model of the godly life. Enable us to receive him always with thanksgiving, and to conform our lives to his; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sit
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE FAITH FAMILY
Stand
Silence for meditation.
BENEDICTION
May you be
made strong with all the strength that comes from Christ’s glorious power, and
may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving
thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the
saints in the light.
Amen Colossians 1:11-12
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 X give you peace.
Amen Numbers 6:24-26
WCLOSING HYMN
Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service Green LBW 423
1
Lord, whose love in humble service
Bore
the weight of human need,
Who
upon the cross forsaken,
Worked
your mercy’s perfect deed:
We,
your servants, bring the worship
Not of
voice alone, but heart;
Consecrating
to your purpose
Ev’ry
gift which you impart.
2
Still your children wander homeless;
Still
the hungry cry for bread;
Still
the captives long for freedom;
Still
in grief we mourn our dead.
As you,
Lord, in deep compassion
Healed
the sick and freed the soul,
By your
Spirit send your power
To our
world to make it whole.
3
As we worship, grant us vision,
Till
your love’s revealing light
In its
height and depth and greatness
Dawns
upon our quickened sight,
Making
known the needs and burdens
Your
compassion bids us bear,
Stirring
us to ardent service,
Your
abundant life to share.
Text: Albert f. Bayly, b. 1901, alt.
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
From
Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2022 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
Reprinted
by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #20540.
New
Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education
of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of
America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Prayer
of the Day from Opening Prayers: Collects in Contemporary Language: Norwich,
UK: Canterbury Press, 2001.
Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org
St Stephen Lutheran Church
55 Forsythe Road
Pittsburgh PA 15220
(412) 279-5868
office@ststephenpittsburgh.org
Saturday Evening Worship – 6:30 pm
Sunday Morning Worship – 9:30 am
