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St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church “People of Christ Making a Difference”

119 N Church Street Lexington, SC

6th Sunday after Pentecost

July 4, 2021

WELCOME TO OUR VIRTUAL WORSHIP SERVICE!

We are so glad that you are worshipping with us! Here are a few helpful things to know:

The church’s office hours are Monday through Thursday 8am-4pm. Please don’t hesitate to let us know how we can help! The pastors are available by calling the church (359-6562), calling the Crisis Care Line after hours (808-6471), or emailing them (pat@sslc.org and/or jasonantley@earthlink.net)

If you visit our website (www.sslc.org) you will see additions to the main page. On your phone, please make sure you are on the full website (just scroll down and click the icon that says full website). As you scroll down the homepage you will see SIX BOXES. Here are the details:

Box 1) “Weekly Bulletins” – which will correspond to the services on YouTube.

Box 2) “Virtual Communion” – explanation and instructions for communing at home during virtual worship.

Box 3) “Click Here For Our YouTube” – where you can click to participate in our virtual worship services, or you can copy and paste tinyurl.com/SSLCWorship into your browser to take you there directly. Services will be livestreamed at 12:30 PM on Wednesdays and 8:30 AM on Sundays.

Box 4) “Latest Church Update” – where we will post the latest COVID-19 church update.

Box 5) “Online Giving” – Don’t forget to support our ministry during this time apart by either mailing your donations to the church (119 N Church Street, Lexington, SC 29072), giving online, or giving through the Givelify app. This may also be a time to consider direct deposit giving. For more details please call the church office to contact our Parish Administrator, Mrs. Tonya Reynolds.

Box 6) “Green Sheet Announcements” – this is the green bulletin insert you would normally get

on Sunday.

If you need any sort of assistance (ie needing food, getting groceries or prescriptions, going to medical appointments, anything at all), please call the church office or one of the pastors. We have folks who are willing to help in any way they can! Please take time to call folks who may not have a strong network and may be in need. Neighbors helping neighbors is one way we can be “People of Christ Making a Difference!”

Please don’t forget to check us out on Facebook! God bless you! We love you! Hope to see you soon!

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GATHERING MUSIC GREETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS PRELUDE BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, full of compassion and mercy, abounding in steadfast love. Amen.

Trusting God’s promise of forgiveness, let us confess our sin against God and one another. Eternal God our creator, in you we live and move and have our being. Look upon us, your children, the work of your hands. Forgive us all our offenses, and cleanse us from proud thoughts and empty desires. By your grace draw us near to you, our refuge and our strength; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us. In the mercy of almighty God, Christ died for us while we still were sinners; and for his sake, God + forgives you all your sins. Amen.

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GATHERING SONG "O Beautiful for Spacious Skies” ELW 888

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GREETING The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you always. And also with you. RESPONSIVE LITURGY

The earth shakes and the water quivers. The wind whistles and the sun listens.

The beauty of creation mingles with the power of creation. Awed in wonder and trembling with fear, we seek a safe place,

A place to voice our awe in song And welcome God's love that conquers our fear.

THE SALUTATION

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

FIRST READING Ezekiel 2:1-5

1[A voice] said to me: O mortal, stand up on your feet, and I will speak with you.2And when he spoke to me, a spirit entered into me and set me on my feet; and I heard him speaking to me. 3He said to me, Mortal, I am sending you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me; they and their ancestors have transgressed against me to this very day. 4The descendants are impudent and stubborn. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, “Thus says the Lord GOD.” 5Whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house), they shall know that there has been a prophet among them. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. PSALM Psalm 123 1To you I lift up my eyes, to you enthroned in the heavens. 2As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, and the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to you, O LORD our God, until you show us your mercy. 3Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy, for we have had more than enough of contempt, 4too much of the scorn of the indolent rich, and of the derision of the proud.

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SECOND READING 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 2I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows. 3And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows—4was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat. 5On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. 6But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, 7even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. 8Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, 9but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. THE GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Jesus Christ is the firstborn of the dead; to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen. THE HOLY GOSPEL Mark 6:1-13 The holy gospel according to St. Mark, the 6th chapter. Glory to you, O Lord.

1[Jesus] came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.2On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! 3Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” 5And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. 6And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching. 7He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; 9but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. 10He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. 13They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. CHILDREN’S SERMON Pastor Pat SERMON Pastor Pat

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HYMN OF THE DAY "We All Are One in Mission” ELW 576

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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 THE FAITHFUL OFFERING

It is during times like these that we notice an even greater purpose for our ministry and life together in Christ as we love and support each other and the world around us. Don’t forget to support our ministry by putting your offering in the offering plate at the doors of the church, mailing your offering to the church, giving online (www.sslc.org) or through the Givelify app. This may also be a time to consider direct deposit giving. For more details please contact our Parish Administrator, Mrs. Tonya Reynolds, at (803) 359-6562. Anthem "Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness" WOV 684

Refrain: Spirit, Spirit of gentleness, blow through the wilderness calling and free;

Spirit, Spirit of restlessness, stir me from placidness, wind, wind on the sea.

You moved on the waters, you called to the deep, then you coaxed up the mountains from the valleys of sleep; and over the eons you called to each thing;

"Awake from your slumbers and rise on your wings."

You swept through the desert, you stung with the sand and you goaded your people with a law and a land; and when they were blinded with idols and lies,

then you spoke through your prophets to open their eyes. Refrain

You sang in a stable, you cried from a hill, then you whispered in silence when the whole world was still; and down in the city you called once again,

when you blew through your people on the rush of the wind.

You call from tomorrow, you break ancient schemes. From the bondage of sorrow all the captives dream dreams; our women see visions, our men clear their eyes.

With bold new decisions your people arise. Refrain OFFERING PRAYER Let us pray together. Jesus, 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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THE GREAT THANKSGIVING THE PREFACE THE SANCTUS THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYER 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.

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INVITATION TO COMMUNION Taste and see that the Lord is good. AGNUS DEI

RECEPTION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT hrist welcomes you to this Holy Meal of the Baptized! This Holy Sacrament is a fundamental part of how we participate in worship and receive Christ’s body and blood, given and shed for us for the forgiveness of our sins. It is customary to use bread and wine for this meal,

however with the given circumstances we invite you to find whatever is most appropriate in your context for your family to share. As you gather together to receive the real presence of Christ found in, with, and under the elements, be assured that the gifts we are given by God in the Holy Sacrament transcend space and time. May we be fed and nourished by God through this meal so that we may persevere and continue in discipleship this and every day.

(As the ministers give the bread and wine, they say these words to each communicant:

The body of Christ, given for you.

The blood of Christ shed for you.

The communicant may say: “Amen.”)

C

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The Congregation is encouraged to participate in the following Communion Hymn.

Communion Hymn “Jesus, Still Lead On” LBW 341

BLESSING OF THE COMMUNICANTS

The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. Amen. BENEDICTION

May God, whose power working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine, grant you the gifts of faith and hope, and almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. Amen.

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SENDING SONG “God of Our Fathers” LBW 567

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DISMISSAL Go in peace. The Spirit sends us forth to serve. Thanks be to God. POSTLUDE

ALTAR FLOWERS are given to the Glory of God and in memory of Floyd Davidson Spence and David Don Caughman by Eliza and Caldwell Spence and family. The Church Staff Crisis Care Line: 808-6471 Website: www.sslc.org The Rev. Dr. Patrick W. Riddle The Rev. Jason T. Antley Mrs. Shannon Burnett, Director of Family Life Mrs. Bailey Slice Parker, Music Director Mr. Tyler Meade, Organist Mrs. Beth Haggard, Preschool Director Mrs. Tonya Reynolds, Parish Administrator Mr. Eric Abramson, Sexton Mr. Stephen Abbott, Seminarian Mrs. Sylvia Looney, Organist Emeritus

The Rev. Dr. Dennis Bolton, Pastor for Welcome and Visitation

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