*confession and forgiveness · web view2021. 6. 6. · the woman said, “the serpent tricked me,...

St. John Lutheran Church (ELCA)Mineola, IA

Pastor Luke Kuenzli

Order of Service and Worship TextsFor Virtual and In-person Worship

Adapted from Evangelical Lutheran WorshipSetting 6 and from Sundays & Seasons

June 2021

THIS SUNDAY: June 6, 2021 – 2nd Sunday after Pentecost10:30 – In-person Worship and YouTube Live-Stream, with Holy Communion

ACCOMPANIST: Barb MassALTAR: Christine Clayton & Hazel KennicottREADER: Leslie Speck

USHERS: Todd Culp Tues – 1:00 Quilting

NEXT SUNDAY: June 13, 2021- Graduate Recognition Sunday10:30 – In-person Worship and YouTube Live-Stream, with Holy Communion

For those worshipping virtually, please have a small portion of wine or grape juice and a small piece of bread ready for communion, or a Fellowship Cup from church on hand.

For those worshipping in person, please take a Fellowship Cup for each communing member of your family as you enter. Keep them with you in your pew and please ensure that they remain closed until you are instructed to open them. Those with children who commune may want to hold on to their cups for them, and assist them in opening the cups and holding cups once they are opened. Those who find it difficult to open the cups should ask an usher or family member for assistance. Please place your used communion cup on the empty tray in the back of the sanctuary as you depart.

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St. John Lutheran ChurchMineola, Iowa Phone (712) 526-2268Website: stjohnluthchurchmineola.orgPastor Luke Kuenzli

June 6, 2021 10:30am2nd Sunday after Pentecost

We are called to glorify God, grow in faith,

and build community.Mission Statement

SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION – Virtual and In-Person

Covid-19 Precautions for in-person worship For fully vaccinated individuals, masks are no longer required. We ask that

anyone who has not been fully vaccinated (final dose plus two weeks) continue to use a mask for the safety of their friends and community members.

We continue to practice social distancing of 6 feet. Closed pews are cordoned off and labelled. Please don’t gather in the hallway or enter any closed spaces. Restrooms will be limited to single-person/family use at any given time.

There will be limited prolonged singing and unison speaking. We continue to advise (not require) that unimmunized persons in the

vulnerable population groups of 65+ years of age and anyone with underlying medical conditions remain home and join us for worship virtually.

We ask that anyone with any respiratory symptoms (cough, sniffles, sneezing, sore throat) or fever please remain home.

We ask that if you are traveling to areas of high virus activity, you remain home for the Sunday following your travels.

Hand sanitizers are located throughout the open areas. Feel free to use them!

Looking for an opportunity to volunteer?1) We will need a few people to help design the photo pages for the directory,

make sure all contact info is up-to-date for members in the directory, and assist families with check-in for their photo session.

2) The MCMA food pantry will be resuming normal operations in July, and could use some additional volunteers to unload the delivery truck (usually on Tuesday mornings) and to assist people with finding the items they need.

Pantry Hours: most Thursdays 9:30am-2pm; first Thursday of the month, 6:30-8pm.

Contact Pastor Luke for further details!

Food DriveThe Women of St. John are having a food drive and collecting

for Mills County Ministerial Association Food Pantry all through the month of June.

Kid-friendly cereals, baking mixes, dry pastas, toilet paper and feminine hygiene products ALWAYS welcome and

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Universal Church Directory Photography Sessionsare scheduled for:

Friday, June 18th 2pm-8:30pmSaturday, June 19th 10am-4pm

To sign up for a time, visit: https://ucdir.com/schedule/login.phpChurch Code: IA112 Church Password: photos

For assistance, please see Pastor Luke after worship or contact him during the week.

*Notes: Pets are welcome in Church Directory photos. Families of 5 or more will need two consecutive time slots. The Online Scheduling is INACTIVE on Saturdays and Sundays.

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https://ucdir.com/schedule/login.php


Evangelical Lutheran Worship (Setting 6) (*Stand)

Prelude, Welcome/Announcements

GATHERING

*Confession and ForgivenessBlessed be the holy Trinity, + one God,who forgives all our sin, whose mercy endures forever. Amen.

God of all mercy and consolation, come to the help of your people,turning us from our sin to live for you alone.

Give us the power of your Holy Spiritthat we may confess our sin, receive your forgiveness,and grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

The assembly kneels or stands. Silence is kept for reflection.

Most merciful God, we confess that we are captive 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 willand walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

The presiding minister announces God's forgiveness with these or similar words.In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us,and for his sake God 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 + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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Gathering Hymn “Lead Me, Guide Me” ELW #768Those at home may sing along.

Those in-person, please listen and meditate on the words as one person sings.

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.

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*Kyrie (sung or hummed quietly) p. 165

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*This is the Feast (sung or hummed quietly) p. 169

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*Salutation The Lord be with you. And also with you.

*Prayer of the Day (spoken quietly) All-powerful God, in Jesus Christ you turned death into life and defeat into victory. Increase our faith and trust in him, that we may triumph over all evil in the strength of the same Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

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WORD

First Reading: A reading from Genesis 3:8-15.8[Adam and Eve] heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden at

the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.9But the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” 10He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” 11He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.” 13Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent tricked me, and I ate.” 14The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you among all animals and among all wild creatures; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 15I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

...Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God!

Psalm 130 We read responsively by whole verse.1Out of the depths

I cry to you, O LORD;2O LORD, hear my voice!

Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.3If you were to keep watch over sins,

O LORD, who could stand?4Yet with you is forgiveness,

in order that you may be feared. 5I wait for you, O LORD;

my soul waits; in your word is my hope.6My soul waits for the Lord more than those who keep watch for the

morning,more than those who keep watch for the morning.

7O Israel, wait for the LORD, for with the LORD there is steadfast love;with the LORD there is plenteous redemption.

8For the LORD shall redeem Israel from all their sins.

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Second Reading: A reading from 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1.13Just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture

—“I believed, and so I spoke”—we also believe, and so we speak, 14because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence. 15Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. 16So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. 17For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, 18because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal. 5:1For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

...Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God!

*Gospel Acclamation (sung or hummed quietly) p. 171

*Announcement of the Gospel The holy gospel according to Mark 3:20-35. Glory to you, O Lord.

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*The Gospel is proclaimed Jesus went home;] 20and the crowd came together again, so that [Jesus and the

disciples] could not even eat. 21When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.” 22And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.” 23And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. 27But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered. 28“Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—30for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.” 31Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. 32A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.” 33And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

… The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon Pastor Luke Kuenzli

There is a phrase that has been used as a rallying cry through various

moments in the history of the world. Who first uttered it, it is hard to tell. Global

figures such as Argentinian author and statesman Mauricio Macri, religious leaders

like Pope John Paul XXIII, American politicians like Democrats President John F.

Kennedy and his younger brother Senator Ted Kennedy, as well as Republican

Speaker of the House John Boehner after the 9/11 attacks… all have used this

sentiment to speak to a broken world filled with broken people. It is usually

expressed in these terms: “What unites us is far greater than what divides us.” Or,

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in Ted Kennedy’s expression, “That which divides us pales in comparison to that

which unites us.”

I like that version best, myself, because of the emphasis given by “pales in

comparison.” It isn’t that the things that unite us are slightly stronger than dividing

factors; it’s not a few mere percentage points that divide us – though recent

election cycles might indicate otherwise. Whether we are speaking as Americans or

as Christians or as Humans, the sentiment rings true. Yes, there are things that

divide us… but none of them can stand against the commonalities that unite us –

universal needs and values and ideals that we all share, no matter our party or

language or nationality or creed.

As Jesus was preaching and healing among the people of his home base in

Capernaum, there were religious leaders, scribes from Jerusalem, present in the

crowd. One of the many reasons that the crowds came to Jesus was because of the

hope he brought them in casting out demons and proclaiming, at the same time,

that the kingdom of God had come near. The scribes disliked what Jesus was doing

because A) they couldn’t do what he and his disciples could; B) they were losing

followers while he was gaining them and thus felt threatened; and C) Jesus wasn’t

doing things “by the book” as they taught – they had already had some debate over

his tendency to heal on the Sabbath, which was against code.

Now, as Jesus casts out demons from the people of Capernaum and frees

their own people from the unclean spirits which have possessed them, the scribes

declare that Jesus must have a demon, himself – and not just any demon, but a

ruler of demons, Beelzubul, a prince of Hell commonly equated with Satan in

Christian thought. This demonic ruler is also associated with the Canaanite deity

Baal meaning “Lord,” and the Philistine deity Beelzubub, which translates “Lord

of the Flies” in Hebrew. Of interest in this particular passage is another translation,

wherein Be’el Zebul is translated in Hebrew “Lord of the high house.”

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A house, especially one that is high and exalted – either physically placed in

an elevated location or “high” in terms of social status – will fall when it is

divided. You don’t need to watch Game of Thrones or Bridgerton or any of those

Medieval or Victorian era shows to see the chaos that can reign when the wealthy

and influential are embroiled in scandal. We see enough of that among the rich and

famous of our own culture. Houses divided cannot stand, but will fall. This is true

even of the House of Evil.

Jesus makes the point that it doesn’t make any sense for him cast out

demons by the power of the ruler of demons (it is just counterintuitive), but he also

seems to be hinting that if their logic was sound, they shouldn’t be complaining,

anyway. Demons being cast out is a win for the faithful, no matter by whom the

demons are cast out. It would be a good thing if demons were fighting amongst

themselves. “So scribes,” he seems to be saying, “think about your accusations

before you sling them around. Just because we don’t do things the same way

doesn’t mean we’re not working for the same cause: God’s kingdom.”

It is also interesting to note another translation tidbit. The Greek word for

demon is spelled with an “ai” as the second and third letters, instead of and “e,” so

you have daimon. If you split this word into its two constituent parts, dai- “divide”

and -mon “one,” the literal translation is “that which divides one.” The things that

divide us, at the most basic level, are demonic in nature. This goes all the way back

to the beginning, doesn’t it?

As the story goes, Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of

good and evil at the serpent’s urging, because the serpent convinced them that they

were divided from God and if they ate, they would be “like God.” But we know

that already, they had been made “in the image of God.” But the concept of being

divided from God entered the world, and with it came shame, fear, blame, enmity,

and ultimately, death. Ever since we began to believe that we are divided from God

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and from one another, things in this world have been imperfect, broken, ugly, angry

and violent. We face all sorts of things that we believe divide us – things that are

demonic in nature.

Jesus goes on to speak of Satan as a “strong man” who must be restrained, or

“tied up” before his house can be plundered. This is what Jesus has come to do; by

his death and resurrection, he binds Satan’s power and plunders Satan’s house, in

what ancient tradition calls “the Harrowing of Hell.” When we say in the creed that

Jesus “descended to the dead,” we don’t just mean that he died, but also that the

Messiah physically invaded Satan’s realm and freed the prisoners held there, to

bring them into the promised resurrection. Not even Satan’s power can divide us

forever; for Jesus’ love is more powerful than the devil.

It is that love that unites us – the love of the God who created us, who saved

us, and who leads and guides us today. In the waters of baptism, God’s love binds

us into one great, big family in Christ. And we are also called in our baptismal

vocation to grow our family by spreading the good news in thought, word, and

deed; by what we do and by what we refuse to do; by our efforts to love God and

to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are called to be united by God’s mercy and

forgiveness which renew us, not divided by demonic forces such as fear and shame

and blame which keep us at odds with one another.

Yes, our world is broken. Our lives are filled with lament. Our spirits are

constantly being torn between good and evil – it’s all a part of being human. But it

is a part of being that all humans experience, even the most faithful followers of

God. The Psalmist cries out from the depths of sin and transgression, yet hopes in

the Lord’s forgiveness and steadfast love and redemption from sin. Paul writes that

“though our outer nature is wasting away … this slight momentary affliction is

preparing us for an eternal weight of glory” as our “inner nature is being renewed

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day by day.” … “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we

have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

A high house, you could say, that is not divided or destroyed, a mighty

fortress in our God, a bulwark which will never fail against the works and wiles of

Beelzebul or Baal or Satan or the devil or demons or evil or sin or division or

human imperfection. “That which divides us pales in comparison to that which

unites us.”

In Jesus, our human family is not just our mother and brother and sister, but

everyone who does the will of God – everyone who shares God’s love with you

and with others, even if they don’t understand what it is that they are doing. In

Christ, our house is not a physical one made by human hands, but a living house

made of human people, God’s creations. In our Savior, though life itself be

wrenched away, the Kingdom is ours forever.

Evil cannot stand. Fear will not win. Your Sin is forgiven. You are one with

the body of Christ in Baptism, in Communion, in fellowship with the Church

everywhere as we hear God’s Word proclaimed.

I pray that this good news for you – for each and every one of you who hear

it – will be God’s Word of promise that sets you free from all that divides us, all the

demonic, divisive powers that exist in this world, so that you can go about your

baptismal faith, renewed each and every day to share God’s love in this world with

everyone you meet. “Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to

more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.” Amen.

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Hymn of the Day “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” #504Those at home may sing along.


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*Confession of Faith – Apostles’ Creed (spoken quietly)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 Let us come before the triune God in prayer. A brief silence.

God of wholeness, we pray for believers all over the globe. Unify us in service of the gospel, that we may work together as beloved siblings to share your love with all. We pray for Louis and Jane and Melei in Vanuatu, for Danielle and for Bailey, and for all missionaries who share your love around the globe. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God of the cosmos, we pray for creation; the gardens, waterways and creatures near to us and diverse forms of life that remain unseen. Teach us to treat the natural world with reverence, seeking restoration when human divisions have caused harm to your beloved creation. We pray that people and wildlife affected by shipwrecks in the Sea of Oman and in Sri Lanka, and storms in the Philippines will be protected from further harm and given the sustenance needed to thrive. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God of all people, we pray for harmony among the nations. Cast out from us unclean spirits of greed and fear, that we may work in solidarity with one another for the common good. We pray especially for Israel and Palestine in the midst of ongoing conflict. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

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God of abundance, we pray for those who are oppressed or in any need. Encourage those who have begun to lose heart. We pray especially for: Gerald Jones, Albert and Elva Roenfeld, Fred Tachau, Landon Angeroth, Chuck Brotherton, Bill Smith, Flo Tompkins, Linda Kuenzli, Brent Malskeit, Randy Williams, Tom Sperling, . Strengthen and renew us with your Spirit. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God of righteousness, we pray for this holy house of worship. Set our gaze upon things eternal, that in thanksgiving for your mercy, we may extend grace to more and more people. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

God of the ages, in your goodness you have sent us faithful witnesses for every time and place. We give you thanks for those saints who now rest in your eternal mercy. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We lift our prayers to you, O God, trusting in your abiding grace. Amen.

Sharing of the Peace The peace of the Lord be with you all. And also with you.Please greet one another with a socially distanced sign of Christ’s Peace.

MEAL

Offering A physical offering is not collected at this time. You are invited to support the mission of our congregation by leaving a gift in the offering plate in the back of the worship space when you depart, by sending a gift by mail to the church office, or by giving online through our church website or the Give+ app on your mobile device. We give thanks to God for your generosity!

*Offering PrayerJesus, Bread of life, you have set this table with your very self, and called us to the feast of plenty. Gather what has been sown among us, and strengthen us in this meal. Make us to be what we receive here, your body for the life of the world. Amen.

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*Holy Communion p.172The Lord be with you. And also with you.Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ; who on this day overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

* “Holy, Holy, Holy” p.173

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*Eucharistic Prayer and Words of InstitutionHoly God, our Maker, Redeemer, and Healer, in the harmonious world of your creation, the plants and animals, the seas and stars were whole and well in your praise. When sin had scarred the world, you sent your Son to heal our ills and to form us again into one.

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 acts of healing, his body given up, and his victory over death, we await that day when all the peoples of the earth will come to the river to enjoy the tree of life.

Send your Spirit upon us and this meal: as grains scattered on the hillside become one bread, so let your Church be gathered from the ends of the earth, that all may be fed with the Bread of life, your Son. Through him all glory and honor is yours,Almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church, both now and forever. Amen.

*Lord’s PrayerGathered together by the Holy Spirit, we pray as Jesus taught us: (spoken quietly)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.

Invitation: Christ has set the table with more than enough for all. Come!

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“Lamb of God” is sung as we prepare to receive communion. During this time, those using the Fellowship Cups may peel back the clear plastic cover to remove the wafer, and then the foil cover to open the grape juice. p. 174

After the song, we will receive Christ’s body and blood or serve our family members with these words: The body of Christ, broken for you. The blood of Christ, shed for you.

After all have communed: May the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, strengthen us and keep us in his grace, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer after CommunionJesus, Bread of life, we have received from your table more than we could ever ask. As you have nourished us in this meal, now strengthen us to love the world with your own life. In your name we pray. Amen.

S ENDING

BenedictionThe blessing of God, who provides for us, feeds us, and journeys with us,☩ be upon you now and forever. Amen.

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Sending Song “Rise, Shine, You People” #665Those at home may sing along.


Dismissal Go in peace. You are the body of Christ. Thanks be to God.

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Scripture quotations from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

“Lead Me, Guide Me” Text and music © 1953 Doris Akers. All rights administered by Unichappell Music, Inc. International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved.

“A Mighty Fortress is Our God” Text © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress.

“Rise, Shine, You People” Text and music © 1974 Augsburg Publishing House, admin. Augsburg Fortress.

Permission to print and stream above music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License #731513-A. All rights reserved.

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*confession and forgiveness · web view2021. 6. 6. · the woman said, “the serpent tricked me,...

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