The Fourth Sunday after the Festival of the Holy Trinity
also known as the Sixth Sunday of the Pentecost Season July 05, 2020
God, Please Continue to Bless America!
Today’s worship theme doesn’t directly deal with one of the doctrines of Scripture on which eternal salvation hinges. Rather, we’ll consider the Scriptural doctrine that says, as Christians each of us lives under two kingdoms: the Kingdom of Christ, and an earthly kingdom (in our case, the United States of America).
It is the responsibility of civil government, on the one hand, to look after the physical needs of its citizens. The chief aim of the Kingdom of Christ (the Church) on the other hand, is to attend to the spiritual needs of its people. Also, it is not the responsibility of government to force or oppose the exercise of religion, but to insure that its citizens lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and holiness (I Tim 2:2) and that they are faithful in paying taxes for the support of the government’s work (Rom 13:17). Meanwhile, the chief purpose of the Kingdom of Christ on earth is to preach the Gospel for the salvation of souls. In so doing, the “citizens” of Christ’s Kingdom are to serve as examples of Godly living and to be positive (rather than legalistic) spiritual influences upon all whose lives they touch.
Our Sermon on this Independence Day weekend, will be based on today’s Psalm reading, Psalm 33, and particularly verse 12, which speaks about the blessings that can come to a nation from the LORD…..as long as that nation is faithful to Him. We’ll talk about how our nation has been and will continue to be made up of sinful people. However, the one true God has blessed us as a country in many ways. Why? Because He is gracious, but also because, throughout our nation’s history we have tried to function as a Christian nation – until lately. Godlessness today abounds in this country of ours….from rampant violence, to increasing sexual immorality; from callously murdering unborn babies (and calling it “choice”) to growing attacks on Christian and Christian institutions…..and so much more. If we want God to continue to bless America (and I pray we do)…then, as God the Holy Spirit enables us, we Christians are going to have to pray for our nation more earnestly and consistently, publicly practice our faith in Christ before others, and do a better job of preaching/proclaiming God’s Word – particularly the Gospel – so that a spiritual reformation in our nation might occur.
In our Children’s Lesson we will talk about the responsibility we haven, not only as citizens and residents of the United States of America , but especially as Christians, to pray for our nation and its citizens, for our leaders and others in authority, for our country’s success and safety….but most importantly….for the salvation of souls here and for God’s continued blessings in the future as He has so abundantly blessed our country in the past.
Our Old Testament Lesson for today is part of a sermon Moses delivered to Israel, just before they were about to enter the promised land. Here he reminds them of the many blessings God has already given them, as well as the blessings He has promised to give them in the future. As this lesson closes, Moses also warns Israel not become proud and arrogant so that they forget about their debt of gratitude to the Lord.
In today’s Epistle Lesson Peter reminds his hearers, whom the government is perse-cuting because of their faith in Christ, that it is still their Christian duty to honor and obey their governmental leaders, recognizing them as authorities set in place by God Himself.
The Gospel Lesson is a familiar excerpt from Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” in which He uses the examples of “light” and “salt” to remind His followers (the Church/the Kingdom of Christ) that we are to be positive, spiritual difference-makers in this world into which He has placed us in service to Him.
Finally, as we ask our God to “bless our native land” on this Independence Day weekend we will do well to echo the words of our nation’s first President, George Washington, in his prayer for the nation:
“Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the heads of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, and entertain a brother-affection and love for one another and for their fellow-citizens of the United States at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the Divine Author of our blessed Christian religion, and without a humble imitation of Whose example in these thing we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplications, we beseech Thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Pre-Service Prayer – O God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in Whose name I am baptized and into Whose fellowship I have been received, be with me and bless my faith this morning as I meditate on Your Holy Word. Heavenly Father, thank You for all the blessings You have given me; especially for sending Your Son to die for my sins. Dear Jesus, I praise You for having redeemed me from my sins by sacrificing Yourself for my sake. Holy Spirit, for having sanctified me through bringing me into the true faith and safeguarding me in this faith, I worship You today. O Triune God, through Your almighty power, graciously enable me always to believe, and obey, and evermore to worship and confess You; my Creator, my Redeemer, and my Sanctifier — the One true God, eternal and all-glorious, forever and ever. Amen.
Scripture quotations in this worship flyer, unless otherwise noted, are taken from the EVANGELICAL HERITAGE VERSION of the Bible. Copyright 2019
by the Warburg Project. All rights reserved.
Pre-service prayer
Pre-worship music
Let Us Praise The Lord
The Invocation
We make our beginning
In the name of the Father,
Who created and preserves this world and every one of us, and Who gave
His Son into death for us and raised Him in glory on the third day;
And of the Son,
Who became fully human in order to be our Savior-Substitute, Who laid
down His life only to take it up again on the third day, Who rules over all things from
heaven for the good of His Church, and Who will return in glory on the Last Day to deliver that Church;
And of the Holy Spirit,
through Whom Christ was made alive,
Who has worked and sustains saving faith in our hearts,
Who lives in us now through the Word,
and Who will one day give life to our mortal bodies. Amen.
The Prayer For This Morning
Almighty and most merciful God, our heavenly Father, Your compassion has no limits; You are long-suffering, gracious, and full of goodness and truth; forgiving our iniquities, transgressions, and sins. Both as a nation, and as individuals, we have sinned against Your Word and will; we have forsaken You and offended You; and have done great evil in Your sight. But we beg You, O Lord, not to remember our transgressions. Instead, in Your mercy, for Jesus’ sake, forgive us all our sins. Also help us through the Holy Spirit to daily repent of our sins, and striving to avoid sin in the future enable us to live more Godly lives and to become a more Godly nation. This we humbly seek in the name and for the sake of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, Who lives and reigns with You and The Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen.
after which the Congregation will be seated
The Opening Hymn Hymn 620 “To You Our God We Fly”
1 To you, our God, we fly For mercy and for grace.
Oh, hear our lowly cry And do not hide your face!
O Lord, stretch forth your mighty hand
And guard and bless our native land.
2 The pow’rs that you ordained With heav’nly wisdom bless;
May evil be restrained, Replaced by righteousness.
O Lord, stretch forth your mighty hand
And guard and bless our native land.
3 Give peace, Lord, in our time. Oh, let no foe draw nigh
Nor lawlessness and crime Insult your majesty!
O Lord, stretch forth your mighty hand
And guard and bless our native land.
4 Though vain and foolish, still We are your people, Lord.
Oh, bend us to your will; We’ll serve no other God!
O Lord, stretch forth your mighty hand
And guard and bless our native land.
After which the Congregation will rise as…
We Make Confession of Our Sins To God
Pastor – Let us join in confessing our sins to God our Father.
Congregation – Almighty Lord God, we have come together to stand in Your presence, + to hear Your Word, and to worship You.
Pastor – But who may appear in Your presence, Heavenly Father, and who may call on You for help?
Congregation – He who has clean hands and a pure heart; + He shall receive blessings from the Lord.
Pastor – O holy and righteous God, You alone can make us clean. We have rebelled against You and become worthless. But Your mercies never end; they are new every day. At Your command and promise, therefore, we come to You and confess our sins.
Congregation Miserable person that I am, + I confess and lament to You, O most holy God, + that I am a weak and sinful creature, + guilty of every sin, of unbelief, and of
blasphemy. + I also confess that Your Word has not brought forth good fruit in me. + I hear it, but do not receive it earnestly. + I do not show works of love toward my neighbor. + I am full of anger, hate, and envy. + I am impatient, greedy, and bent on every evil. + Therefore my heart and conscience are heavy. + Lord, I ask You, free me from my sins, + strengthen my faith, + and comfort my weak conscience by Your divine Word, + that I may obtain Your promised grace
Pastor – Having faithfully confessed your sins, now hear Your heavenly Father’s promise of forgiveness to you. Jesus explained God’s will and promise as clearly as possible in John
6:40 when He said, “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” And now, carrying out my office as a called servant of the Living Word, I proclaim the grace and mercy of God to all of you, and according to the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, and in His place, I forgive you all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Peace be with you. Amen.
Our Response of Faith and Praise “Our Heav’nly Father, Gracious Lord”
To the tune of “My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less” – Magdalen 88 88 88
Our Heav’nly Father, gracious Lord, Who by the power of Your Word
Created and sustains each thing, and all that live. Your praise we sing….
Our Father, Who in mercy still, Guides everything by Your sure will.
We praise You, Christ, God’s only Son, by Whom salvation has been won.
For us You lived, and for us died, that we might all be justified,
Raised from the dead, on high to reign. We know that You will come again.
We worship, You, O Spirit sent, active in Word and Sacrament.
You bind the Church, below, above, in faith in Christ’s redeeming love.
Sustain this faith, our whole lives through, and day by day our hearts renew!
Amen.
Our Psalm for This Morning Psalm 33
1 Shout joyfully to the Lord, you righteous. The praise of the upright is beautiful.
2 Thank the Lord with a lyre. Make music for him with the ten-stringed harp.
3 Sing to him a new song. Play skillfully and shout praises.
4 Yes, the word of the Lord is right, and everything he does is trustworthy.
5 He loves righteousness and justice. The mercy of the Lord fills the earth.
6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made. By the breath of his mouth he made the whole army of stars.
7 He gathers the water of the sea into a heap. He puts the depths into storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord. Let all the inhabitants of the world revere him.
9 For he said, “Let it be,” and it was! He gave a command, and there it stood.
10 The Lord wrecks the plan of the nations. He hinders the intentions of the peoples.
11 The plan of the Lord stands forever. The intentions of his heart stand through all generations.
12 How blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose to be his possession.
13 From heaven the Lord observes. He sees all the children of Adam.
14 From his throne room he looks at all the inhabitants of earth.
15 He alone is the one who shapes all their hearts. He understands all their deeds.
16 No king is saved by the great size of his army. No hero is rescued by his great strength.
17 You cannot rely on a horse to save you. Its great strength will not deliver you.
18 Look, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who wait for his mercy.
19 He will deliver their souls from death. He keeps them alive in famine.
20 Our souls wait for the Lord. He is our help and our shield.
21 Yes, in him our heart rejoices, because we trust in his holy name.
22 May your mercy, O Lord, be on us, even as we wait confidently for you.
after which the Congregation may be seated as
We Hear God’s Word
The Children’s Lesson I Timothy 2:1-4
First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all those who are in authority, in order that we might live a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Please Pray For People In Authority
The Old Testament Lesson Deuteronomy 6:1-25
Moses spoke as follows: Now this is the body of commands, and these are the statutes and the ordinances that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, so you may carry them out in the land to which you are crossing over to receive as a possession, 2 so that you may fear the Lord your God by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I am commanding to you, as well as to your children and grandchildren, all the days of your life, and so that your days may be long.
3 Listen, O Israel, and be conscientious about doing those things, so it may go well for you and so you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your fathers, promised you. 4 Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God. The Lord is one! 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 These words that I am commanding you today are to be on your heart. 7 Teach them diligently to your children, and speak about them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as a sign on your wrists, and they will serve as symbols on your forehead. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.
10 When the Lord your God brings you to the land about which he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that he would give it to you, he will bring you to great and good cities that you did not build, 11 to houses full of all kinds of good things that you did not fill, to wells that you did not dig, and to vineyards and olives that you did not plant. Then, when you eat and are full, 12 watch yourself, so that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, where you were slaves. 13 Fear the Lord your God, serve him, and swear by his name. 14 Do not go after other gods from among the gods of the peoples around you. 15 If you do, the Lord your God will be a jealous God in your midst, and the anger of the Lord your God will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the earth.
16 Do not put the Lord your God to the test the way you tested him at Massah. 17 Be very conscientious about keeping the commandments of the Lord your God and his testimonies and his statutes, which he commanded you. 18 Do what is right and good in the eyes of the Lord, so that it may go well for you and you may go and take possession of the good land that the Lord promised to your fathers with an oath, 19 driving out all your enemies from your presence, as the Lord promised.
20 When your son asks you in the future, “What are these testimonies and statutes and ordinances that the Lord our God has commanded for you?” 21 then you are to say to your son, “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a strong hand. 22 Right before our eyes the Lord gave great, devastating signs and wonders in Egypt against Pharaoh and against his whole household. 23 Then he brought us out of there to bring us in and give us the land that he promised to our fathers with an oath.”
24 Then the Lord commanded us to carry out all of these statutes, to fear the Lord our God for our own lasting good, to keep us alive, even as we are today. 25 Righteousness will be ours when we are conscientious about carrying out this entire set of commands in the presence of the Lord our God as he commanded us.
The Epistle Lesson I Peter 2:9-17
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, the people who are God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 At one time you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. At one time you were not shown mercy, but now you have been shown mercy.
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and temporary residents in the world, to abstain from the desires of the sinful flesh, which war against your soul. 12 Live an honorable life among the Gentiles so that even though they slander you as evildoers, when they observe your noble deeds, they may glorify God on the day he visits us.
13 Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the king as the supreme authority 14 or to governors as those who have been sent by him to punish those who do what is wrong and to praise those who do what is right. 15 For this is God’s will: that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. 16 Do this as free people, and do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but use it as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
after which, the Congregation will rise for
The Gospel Lesson Matthew 5:13-16
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its flavor, how will it become salty again? Then it is no good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by people. 14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket. No, they put it on a stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 In the same way let your light shine in people’s presence, so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light. Very God of Very God. Begotten, not made. Being of one substance with the Father, By whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary And was made man; And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried; And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures; And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father; And he shall come again with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; Whose Kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, The Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets. And I believe one holy Christian and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, And I look for the resurrection of the dead, And the life of the world to come. Amen.
after which the Congregation may be seated for
The Hymn of the Day Hymn 619 “God Bless Our Native Land”
1 God bless our native land; Firm may she ever stand
Through storm and night: When the wild tempests rave,
Ruler of wind and wave, O God, our country save
By your great might.
2 For her our prayer shall rise To God above the skies;
On whom we wait; Lord, you are ever nigh,
Guarding with watchful eye. To you aloud we cry,
God save the state!
The Pre-Sermon Greeting
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who
has blessed us with every Spiritual blessing in Christ. Amen.
The Sermon Text Psalm 33:12
How blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose to be his possession.
God, Please Continue To Bless America!
Following the Sermon, the Congregation will REMAIN SEATED for
The Post-Sermon Blessing
May the Lord our God be with us as He was with our fathers. May He never leave us or forsake us. May He turn our hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways. Amen.
We Offer Our Gifts and Prayers to the Lord
The Offering
Because we aren’t able to pass an offering plate today during today’s worship
service those in attendance may leave their offerings in the offering plates
by the exit door at the close of our service today.
For those watching today’s service, we offer you the following suggestions for providing God with Your thank-offerings through our ministry:
1) You can send a check (no cash) in the mail to the church address
(415 N. 6th Place, Lowell, AR 72745)
2) You can go online to our website (www.gracelutherannwa.com)
and use the giving option there.
Special Prayers for this Day
Our Prayer for Today
C: 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 glory forever and ever. Amen.
We Leave With The Lord’s Blessing
Benediction
Brothers and sisters, now go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. And Serve the Lord in gladness.
The LORD bless you and keep you,
The LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you,
The LORD look upon you with favor, and grant you His peace. Amen.
The Closing Vocal Selection “God Bless America”
God bless America Land that I love
Stand beside her And guide her
Through the night with the light from above
From the mountains To the prairies
To the oceans White with foam
God bless America My home sweet home
silent prayer, announcements,
post service music
Announcements
Last Week at Grace Lutheran Church Worship Attendance: 49
Tuesday Bible Class: 16 Budgetary Offerings: $2560
Online Offerings: $2021.51
This Coming Week at Grace Lutheran Church
Today Morning Worship, including the Lord’s Supper, at 9:30 a.m.
Tuesday Morning Bible Class, 10:15 to noon
Sunday Morning Worship 9:30 a.m.
This Week’s Birthdays July 07 – Madison Carr; July 09 – Jean Goeringer
Serving Us Next Sunday Elders: John Johnson, Steve Stone, Tim Pfortmiller
Ushers: Kent Mayer, John Wambold,, Jim Winnat Altar Guild: Linda Winnat, Christine Quinlan