Sixth Sunday After Pentecost

July 21, 2019

A Service of the Word

Emanuel Lutheran Church

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

324 College Avenue, Modesto, California 95350

(209) 523-4531 www.emanuellutheran.org

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Staff

Presiding Minister

Rev. Dr. Lyn Crase

Organist & Choir Director

Barbara Vukich

Administrative Assistant

Paula Braxton

Day Care Director

Laura Marquez

Bookkeeper

Maria Ojeda

Council Officers

President

Suzanne Wilke

Vice President

Dennis Strand

Treasurer Bob Reuter

Secretary

Mike Epting

Welcome to Emanuel Welcome Guests and Visitors!

Welcome in the name of Jesus Christ. We are glad that you have come to worship with us. Please help us to know you by introducing yourself to those you encounter and please be sure to sign our guest book (located on the stand in the

Narthex).

• Large print bulletins are available. •

(Please ask an usher)

Children/Youth & Family/ELDC:

Council member – Pat Smith Spiritual Life:

Council member – Suzanne Wilke Worship:

Council member – Martha Strand Outreach:

Council member — Elaine Ixcot Resource:

Bob Reuter, Treasurer Stewardship — Jim Barton Property — Dennis Strand

Fellowship:

Council member—Janice Watkins Social Media:

Council members – Mike Epting and Rick Unruh Endowment Team

Bob Reuter, Chairman Team members: Pastor Lyn, Suzanne Wilke, Mike Epting,

and Dennis Strand

OFFICE HOURS

Monday through Thursday - 8 am to 3 pm

Friday - 8 am to 2 pm

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Sixth Sunday After Pentecost July 21, 2019 9:30 am

PRELUDE Holsworthy Church Bells Samuel Wesley

WELCOME Suzanne Wilke

CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 15

O Lord, who may abide in your tent?

Who may dwell on your holy hill?

Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,

and speak the truth from their heart; who do not slander with their tongue,

and do no evil to their friends,

nor take up a reproach against their neighbors;

in whose eyes the wicked are despised,

but who honor those who fear the Lord;

who stand by their oath even to their hurt;

who do not lend money at interest,

and do not take a bribe against the innocent.

Those who do these things shall never be moved.

OPENING HYMN When Morning Guilds the Skies ELW #853

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS L Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God,

who forgives all our sin, whose mercy endures forever.

C Amen

L Seeking reconciliation with God and neighbor, let us remember the gift of baptism and confess our sin.

God of mercy,

C we confess that we have sinned against you, against one another, and against the earth entrusted to our care. We are worried and distracted by many things, and we fail to love you above all else. We store up treasures for ourselves and turn away from our neighbors in need.

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Forgive us, that we may live in the freedom of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

L When we were laid low by sin and guilt, God made us alive together with Christ,

forgiving us ☩ all our trespasses by taking our sins to the cross. For freedom Christ has set us free: Rejoice in this good news!

C Amen

GREETING L The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit

be with you all. C And also with you.

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KYRIE

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GLORIA

PRAYER OF THE DAY L Let us pray together….

C 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 18:1-10a The Lord visits Abraham and Sarah to tell them that the long—awaited promise of the birth of a child will

be fulfilled for them in their old age.

1The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in

the heat of the day. 2He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them,

he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. 3He said, “My

lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. 4Let a little water be brought, and

wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5Let me bring a little bread, that you may

refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So

they said, “Do as you have said.” 6And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said,

“Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.” 7Abraham ran

to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to

prepare it. 8Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before

them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

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9They said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” 10aThen

one said, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.”

L The word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

SECOND READING: COLOSSIANS 1:15-28 Sometimes Paul preaches with great attention to theological concepts. Here, however, Paul offers a

mystical teaching, that the great mystery of God is “Christ in you.” Because Christ is present in the church,

Christians share in his life, suffering, and glory.

15-18 We look at this Son and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at this Son and

see God’s original purpose in everything created. For everything, absolutely everything,

above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—

everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was there before any of it

came into existence and holds it all together right up to this moment. And when it

comes to the church, he organizes and holds it together, like a head does a body. 18-20 He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the

end. From beginning to end he’s there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so

roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the

broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed

and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the

cross.

21-23 You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to

God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got. But now, by giving

himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God’s side and put

your lives together, whole and holy in his presence. You don’t walk away from a gift like that! You stay

grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be

distracted or diverted. There is no other Message—just this one. Every creature under heaven gets this

same Message. I, Paul, am a messenger of this Message.

24-25 I want you to know how glad I am that it’s me sitting here in this jail and not you.

There’s a lot of suffering to be entered into in this world—the kind of suffering Christ

takes on. I welcome the chance to take my share in the church’s part of that suffering.

When I became a servant in this church, I experienced this suffering as a sheer gift,

God’s way of helping me serve you, laying out the whole truth. 26-29 This mystery has been kept in the dark for a long time, but now it’s out in the open. God

wanted everyone, not just Jews, to know this rich and glorious secret inside and out, regardless

of their background, regardless of their religious standing. The mystery in a nutshell is just this:

Christ is in you, so therefore you can look forward to sharing in God’s glory. It’s that simple. That

is the substance of our Message. We preach Christ, warning people not to add to the Message.

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We teach in a spirit of profound common sense so that we can bring each person to maturity. To

be mature is to be basic. Christ! No more, no less.

L The word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

L The Gospel according to Luke, Chapter 10. C Glory to you, O Lord.

GOSPEL: LUKE 10:38-42 Jesus uses his visit to two sisters as an occasion to remind disciples that an important aspect of obedience

is singleminded devotion to Jesus and his word.

38-40 As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha

welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the

Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the

kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. “Master, don’t you care that my sister has

abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand.” 41-42 The Master said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself

worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it’s the main

course, and won’t be taken from her.”

L The gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to you, O Christ.

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GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (REPEATED)

HYMNS THROUGH THE AGES

APOSTLE’S CREED L With the whole church, let us confess our faith using the words of the Apostle’s 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 L Growing in faith and discipleship, we give thanks for God’s merciful compassion as we pray

for the church, the world, and all in need.

Response: … Let us pray.

Have mercy, O God.

TITHES & OFFERINGS Happy the Home Where God is There Alice Jordan

The offering is an act of worship; a response of gratitude and thankfulness.

OFFERING PRAYER L Blessed are you, O God,

for the greening earth given for all, for the talents we are given to share, and for this bread and wine. Transform us to be the body of Christ, that, feasting on this food and drink, our lives may reflect your generosity; through Christ our Lord.

C Amen

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SHARING THE PEACE The sharing of peace is an individual and communal act of forgiveness.

L The peace of Christ be with you always.

C And also with you.

Please return to your seat at the signal from the organ and remain standing after the Peace.

THANKSGIVING FOR THE WORD L O God of justice and love, we give thanks to you

that you illumine our way through life with the words of your Son. Give us the light we need, awaken us to the needs of others, and at the end bring all the world to your feast; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory forever.

C Amen

THE LORD’S PRAYER L Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,

now and forever. Amen

BLESSING L Live your lives in Christ, rooted and built up in him,

and abound in thanksgiving;

and the blessing of the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, be upon you and remain with you forever.

C Amen

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BIRTHDAY BLESSING L Let us pray: C God of all creation, we offer you grateful praise for the Gift of Life, and especially

the gift of the lives of our sisters and brothers who stand before us this day and who recall this month the day of their birth. They rejoice in your gifts of life and love, family and friends. Bless them with your presence and surround them with your love that they may enjoy many happy years, all of them pleasing to you. We ask this grace and blessing for each one of them through Christ our Lord. Amen

ANNOUNCEMENTS

SENDING HYMN Be Thou my Vision ELW #793

DISMISSAL A Go in peace. Christ is sending you. C Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE Rustic Rejoicing George Brandon

THOSE WHO SERVED US TODAY

Liturgist ................................................................................. Suzanne Wilke, Kathleen Reuter Assisting Minister ................................................................................................. David Holtz Acolyte ............................................................................................................. Suzanne Wilke Ministers of the Word ............................................................. Jennaca Hollinger, Ken Hoover Usher/Greeter .................................................................................................... Shank Family Altar Care ....................................................................................................... Johnson/Kroeze Copyright © 2018 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS026002. 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. Revised Common Lectionary, Copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts, admin Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission.

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Our Mission

To share Christ’s unconditional love with everyone.

Our Vision

Emanuel’s vision is to be loving, supportive, and

welcoming, as we reach out in service and in witness to

our neighborhood and the city beyond.

We share a passion to nurture people in all stages and

circumstances of life.

We, as disciples of Christ, minister to our changing

community in challenging cultural times.

God is calling us to joyfully follow the Holy Spirit in

ministry to others.

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PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Joining our voices with God’s people around the world, let us offer our prayers for those in need.

For the church, visible and invisible; for all servants of the gospel; and for the holy people of God, that we hear your word and share your supper, let us pray. Have mercy, O God.

For favorable weather; for calm waters and seas; and for all creation, that it become for us a reflection of God’s glory. For those affected by natural disasters, that they be provided relief, let us pray. Have mercy, O God.

For those who help make our communities safe: police officers and firefighters, military and international peacekeepers, local and national leaders, that God’s peace and compassion come also to us, let us pray. Have mercy, O God.

For the sick, the hungry, the imprisoned, those living with HIV/AIDS, those awaiting the birth of children, and all people in need, that Christ, our great physician, care for all who are in distress, let us pray. Have mercy, O God.

God of goodness, we pray for you to wrap your loving arms around all we name before you,

aloud or in silence. (pause) let us pray,

Have mercy, O God.

For those who are distracted by overwork and those who seek more adequate employment, that we recognize God’s goodness in vocations of all kinds, let us pray. Have mercy, O God.

In thanksgiving for those who have died and are now at peace, and for their lives that bear witness to the hope promised in the resurrection, let us pray. Have mercy, O God.

Merciful God, you hear the prayers of your people even before they are spoken. We commend these and all our prayers to you, trusting in your abundant mercy; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen

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ENTRANCE HYMN #853

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SENDING HYMN #793