CALL TO WORSHIP "Jesus Loves Me" #595
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God,
abounding in steadfast love toward us,
healing the sick and raising the dead,
showering us with every good gift. Amen.
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Just and gracious God,
we come to you for healing and life.
Our sins hurt others and diminish us; we confess them to you.
Our lives bear the scars of sin; we bring these also to you.
Show us your mercy, O God.
Bind up our wounds, forgive us our sins, and free us to love,
for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Amen.
The apostle Paul assures us:
"When we were dead in our trespasses, God made us alive together with Christ, nailing the record of our sins to the cross."
Jesus says to you, + "Your sins are forgiven."
Be at peace, and tell everyone how much God has done for you. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray. Eternal God, you draw near to us in Christ, and you make yourself our guest. Amid the cares of our lives, make us attentive to your presence, that we may treasure your word above all else, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
FIRST READING: Genesis 18:1-15 Pew
The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up & saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, & bowed down to the ground. He said, "My lord, if I find favor w/ you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, & wash your feet, & rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, & after that you may pass on–since you have come to your servant." So they said, "Do as you have said." And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, & said, "Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, & make cakes. " Abraham ran to the herd, & took a calf, tender & good, & gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds & milk & the calf that he had prepared, & set it before them; & he stood by them under the tree while they ate. They said to him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" And he said, "There, in the tent." Then one said, "I will surely return to you in due season, & your wife Sarah shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. Now Abraham & Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be w/ Sarah after the manner of women. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have grown old, & my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?” The LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, & say, ‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too wonderful for the LORD? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, & Sarah shall have a son.” But Sarah denied, saying, “I did not laugh”; for she was afraid. He said, “Oh yes, you did laugh.”
Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.
SECOND READING: Colossians 1:15-28
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers–all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him– provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel. I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. I became its servant according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.
THE GOSPEL FOR THE DAY: Luke 10:38-42
The holy gospel according to Saint Luke. Glory to you, O Lord.
Now as they went on their way, he [Jesus] entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON “One Thing” Pastor Phil Wold
HYMN OF THE DAY "Be Thou My Vision" #793
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's 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 to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come 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.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
THE SIGN OF PEACE IS SHARED
The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.
THE OFFERING AND OFFERING PRAYER
God of all creation, all you have made is good, and your love endures forever. You bring forth bread from the earth and fruit from the vine. Nourish us with these gifts, that we might be for the world signs of your gracious presence in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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
BLESSING
SENDING SONG "Come Thou Fount" #807
SENDING
Go in peace. Serve the Lord. Thanks be to God.
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