The Third Sunday after Trinity + + + The Fifth Sunday of the Pentecost Season
June 20, 2021
Our Incomparable Father
After surveying over 4000 men, author Ken Canfield wrote a book with the title, “The Seven Secrets of Effective Fathers.” In it, he shared what he had learned it takes to be an effective father. Among other things, he discovered that a good father knew:
* if his child had a difficult day;
* if his child was upset;
* if he had hurt his child’s feelings;
* who his child’s best friends were;
* what motivated or encouraged his child ;
* what embarrassed his child;
* what was his child’s most recent disappointment; and
* his child’s strengths and weaknesses.
Wow! That’s quite the list….and that’s only part of what it takes to be a good father. We’ve all had fathers, and many of us are fathers. But few – if any of us – have been so aware of and intimately involved in our children’s lives and needs as Canfield suggests we should. Nor, in all honesty, did we have human fathers who even came close to meeting this book’s list of fatherly expectations. It’s hard to be a good dad!
Still, we recognize human fathers as the special gifts from God that they are. And on this Father’s Day 2021 it’s appropriate for us not only to honor those fathers (whether living or dead), but also to honor the One Father Who is not flawed, and Who has never failed…..not an earthly, but our Heavenly Father. Without a doubt, He is incomparable.
The Traditional Observance of Father’s Day
The idea for establishing a special day for children to honor their fathers began over a century ago in
Spokane, Washington. Sonora Smart Dodd first thought of the idea for Father’s Day in 1909 while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon. Having been raised by her father after her mother’s death, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her. It was her father who had made all those parental sacrifices for her, and who was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Her father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father’s Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910. By 1924 the observance had become so popular that President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the third Sunday in June as a national Father’s Day, and it has remained so to this day.
At Grace Lutheran Church on Father’s Day 2021
As I noted on the previous page, on this “Father’s Day 2021″ we certainly want to thank God for His gift to us of our earthly fathers, for all that they have done for us, and the good things they mean to us. However, giving thanks for “Father” is not an easy or automatic thing for all of us to , is it? While most of us have fond and special memories of “Dad,” unfortunately there are also memories that a number of us have of our earthly fathers that are not necessarily warm or fond. Some of us gathered here never knew (and will never know) our fathers. Some among us didn’t grow up with our father being present or involved in our lives. Others have bittersweet memories of a father who – instead of being a positive personal and spiritual influence – was less than loving, too harsh, never available, a poor role model of Christian manhood, or worse. The sad truth is that even the best of human fathers are flawed and fallible…..because every earthly father is a sinner. Consequently, while we will thank the Lord for the blessings of fathers and fatherhood, our main emphasis today will be on the privilege we enjoy, as Christians, in being able to confidently call God “Our Father” and to know that we are His dearly loved, forgiven children through the reconciling work of Jesus Christ.
So, regardless of how good or bad our human fathers were (or are), we can celebrate on this Father’s Day 2021 the incomparable relationship that we enjoy as true children of “The Perfect Father,” the Lord God Himself…… In connection with this fact, in this morning’s worship service we will emphasize first – and especially – the essential and eternal relationship that every one of us enjoys with our Heavenly Father, by His grace, through faith. Second, we will hold out before all of us – but particularly before the men, husbands, and fathers gathered here today – the importance of repenting daily of our shortcomings, and of rededicating ourselves to growing spiritually, positively and effectively in our roles as Christian leaders, servants, spouses, parents, and children.
Today’s Scripture Lessons
Today’s Scripture Lessons provide us with some very encouraging examples of human and heavenly
fatherhood. In our Children’s Lesson we’ll consider the fact that each of us has two fathers: a human father, and our “real” Father in Heaven, Who loves us so much that He meets all our needs….especially our need for forgiveness and salvation.
In our Old Testament Lesson we have the story of God’s testing of Abraham, where that great believer was directed to sacrifice, as a sign of his devotion to the Lord, his son Isaac – through which God had promised Abraham would become a great nation and through whom the Promised Savior would come. His love for God was so great that, had the Lord not stopped him at the last moment, Abraham would have taken Isaac’s life. Here we see not only the depth and devotion of Abraham’s faith, we also see a number of Old Testament “types” of Christ (examples that, in one way or another, pointed ahead to some aspect of Jesus’ redeeming work)…….Isaac, for instance, who went voluntarily to his apparent execution to fulfill God’s will (just as Jesus did through the cross)……and the ram that eventually was sacrificed (it served as Isaac’s substitute, just as Jesus served as our sin-substitute). We can also make a legitimate comparison here between Abraham’s love for His son, yet his painful willingness to sacrifice Isaac as a love offering to the Lord, and the willingness of God the Father to offer His beloved Son into death in order to secure our redemption and restoration.
In our Second Lesson we have that part of the Sermon on the Mount through which Jesus encourages us not to worry about any of our earthly needs because, He assures us, our Father in heaven is well aware of our needs and will see to it that we are properly provided for. Let us, then, put our full trust in our Heavenly Father as the ultimate provider of everything we truly need. Jesus further exhorts us not to put our highest pleasure in earthly matters and things, but instead to make God’s Kingdom (that is, the eternal well-being of our souls) our greatest priority in life…….so that we may die in faith and inherit everlasting life in heaven.
This morning’s Gospel Lesson and Sermon Text is our Savior’s parable of the Prodigal Son……sometimes also known as “The Parable of the Waiting Father.” Today we’re going to consider the amazing devotion of that rejected father whose son squandered an inheritance only to return home to the continued love of his waiting, forgiving father. In the same way, our Heavenly Father has a relentless and unsurpassed love for humanity, even though we daily reject Him and rebel against Him through our sinfulness. In a very similar sense, and though we do not deserve any of His blessings, our Heavenly Father continues to forgive us, as well as to receive, restore and renew us as His children – and for that, not only do the angels in heaven rejoice, but we also give thanks to God.
Pre-Service Prayer – O Lord God, Almighty Creator, my merciful Father in heaven, from Whom every good and perfect gift comes……You have bountifully blessed me throughout my life. You have preserved me in Your Word. You have provided for my bodily needs. You have protected me from spiritual harm and have kept me in the true faith. For your abundant goodness to me, I humbly praise and thank You. As I prepare for worship this morning – and every day You allow me to live on this earth – I implore You to bless me with Your continued presence, Your Fatherly protection, and Your divine guidance in all areas of my life. I submit myself to Your gracious will with the confidence that You will use me, as Your humble servant, in whatever ways will serve to further Your glory and Your kingdom. Bless and enrich my faith as I hear Your Word today, and receive my heart-felt praises in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ, Your Son, my Savior. It is in His name that I offer this prayer. Amen.
The portions of God’s Word used in this worship flyer have been taken from
The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version Copyright 2019,
The Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission
Prayer upon entering the sanctuary Pre-service Music
We Praise Our God
The Introduction and Invitation to Worship
at the Pastor’s invitation the Congregation shall rise
The Invocation
Pastor – “We begin this service in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
The Psalm for Today Psalm 103
P: Bless the Lord , O my soul; all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord , O my soul, and do not forget all His benefits –
C: Who pardons all your guilt, + Who heals all your diseases,
P: Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with mercy and compassion
- Who satisfies your life with goodness + so that your youth is renewed like
the eagle.
P: The Lord performs righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. He has made known His ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel:
C: The Lord is compassionate and gracious, + slow to anger, abounding in mercy.
P: He will not always accuse, nor will He keep His anger forever; He does not treat us as our sins deserve. He does not repay us according to our guilty deeds.
- Yes, as high as the heavens are above the earth, + so powerful is His mercy toward those who fear Him; + As distant as the east is from the west, + so far has He removed our rebellious acts from us.
- As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him; for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust.
C: As for man, his days are like grass. + Like a wildflower He blossoms. + Then the wind blows over it and it is gone, + and its place recognizes it no more.
P: But Lord’s mercy is from eternity to eternity over those who fear Him, and His righteousness is with their children’s children, with those who keep His covenant, with those who remember His precepts in order to obey them.
C: The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, + and His royal power rules over all.
P: Bless the Lord , you His angels, you strong warriors who obey His word by listening to what He says.
C: Bless the Lord , all His armies, + you who minister to Him, + you who do whatever pleases Him. + Bless the Lord , everything He has made + in all places wehre He rules. Bless the Lord, O my soul.
- The Opening Hymn “The Morning Sun Is Dawning”
- To the tune of “The Morning Light Is Breaking”……...
The morning sun is dawning, And I thank God once more
Beneath Whose care awaking I find the night is o’er:
I thank Him that He’s called me To be His child and heir;
I know, whatever happens I’m safely in His care.
O Lord of all creation, Watch over me this day;
In all I do be near me, For others too I pray –
To You I do commend them: Our church, our youth, our land;
Direct them and defend them, When dangers are at hand.
You are the Vine, O Savior, May we, Your branches be,
Connected to You firmly, And for eternity.
Your Spirit place within us, And let His gifts of grace
Empower us to serve You – throughout our earthly race.
So grant us, Lord, Your blessing That we may do Your will,
No more Your ways transgressing, Our calling to fulfill;
To go and tell the Good News: Christ died for all, that we –
through faith in Him, forgiven — Have heaven eternally. Amen.
after which the Congregation will rise
We Make Confession Of Our Sins To God
Pastor “O LORD, open my lips.”
Congregation – And my mouth shall show forth Your praise
Pastor “Hasten, O God, to deliver me.”
Congregation – Hasten to help me, O Lord.
Pastor “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.”
Congregation – A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise
Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning is now, and every shall be. World without end. Amen.
Pastor – “I now ask you before God, who searches your heart, do you confess that you have sinned against God and deserve His wrath and punishment? Then declare so by saying, “I do confess.”
Congregation – “I do confess.”
Pastor – “Truly you should confess, for the Holy Scriptures say, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
Second, do you, with all your heart, repent of all your sins, committed in thought, word, and deed? Then declare so by saying, “I do repent.”
Congregation – “I do repent.”
Pastor – “Truly, you should repent, as other penitent sinners have done: King David, who prayed for a|
contrite heart; Peter, who wept bitterly; the sinful woman, the prodigal son, and others.
Third, do you sincerely believe that God, by grace, for Jesus’ sake, will forgive you all your sins? Then declare so by saying, “I do believe.”
Congregation – “I do believe.”
Pastor – “Truly you should so believe, for the Holy Scriptures say, “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Fourth, do you promise that with the help of the Holy Ghost, you will, from this time forward, reform your sinful life? Then declare it by saying, “I do promise.”
Congregation – “I do promise.”
Pastor – “Truly, you should so promise, for Christ, the Lord says: “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Finally, do you believe that through me, a called servant of God, you will receive from God the forgiveness of all your sins? Then declare it by saying, “I do believe.
Congregation – “I do believe.”
Pastor – “Upon this, your confession, I, because of my office as a called and ordained servant of God’s Word, announce the grace of God to all of you. And, in the place, and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Peace be with you. “
The Prayer for Today
Gracious God + Father of my Lord Jesus Christ, + and through Him also my true Father, + I thank You for giving me my earthly father. + Thank You also, and especially, + for loving me as Your child, + for granting me the faith to believe in You, + and for the many blessings You daily shower upon me. + On this day set aside for honoring fathers, + I pray that You would impress upon all fathers everywhere + their responsibilities before You + as heads of their households. + Help them to faithfully provide + for the physical needs of their families. + And grant them the grace + to lead their families according to Your Holy Word. + Allow these men to find success and satisfaction + in Godly service to their families, their congregations, and their communities, + and certainly in their Christian service to You. + Finally, when their – and my – time on earth is through, + grant us the joy and bliss + of spending eternity with You, + our Heavenly Father. + In Jesus name we ask this. +
after which the Congregation may be seated
We Hear God’s Word
The Children’s Lesson Matthew 7:9-11
9 Who among you, if his son asks him for bread, would give him a stone? 10 Or who, if his son asks for a fish, would
give him a snake? 11 Then if you know how to give good gifts to your children, even though you are evil, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
My Father IS in Heaven
The Old Testament Lesson Genesis 22:1-18
Some time later God tested Abraham. He called to him, “Abraham!” Abraham answered, “I am here.” 2 God said, “Now take your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains there, the one to which I direct you.” 3 Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, along with Isaac his son. Abraham split the wood for the burnt offering. Then he set out to go to the place that God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.
5 Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go on over there. We will worship, and then we will come back to you.” 6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and loaded it on Isaac his son. He took the firepot and the knife in his hand. The two of them went on together. 7 Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father?” He said, “I am here, my son.” He said, “Here are the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”
8 Abraham said, “God himself will provide the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So the two of them went on together.
9 They came to the place that God had told him about. Abraham built the altar there. He arranged the wood, tied up Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. 10 Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 The Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” Abraham said, “I am here.”
12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy. Do not do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”
13 Abraham looked around and saw that behind him there was a ram caught in the thicket by its horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 Abraham called the name of that place “The Lord Will Provide.” So it is said to this day, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”
15 The Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16 and said, “I have sworn by myself, declares the Lord, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 I will bless you greatly, and I will multiply your descendants greatly, like the stars of the sky and like the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the city gates of their enemies. 18 In your seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”
The Second Lesson Matthew 6:25-34
25 “For this reason I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?
27 “Which of you can add a single moment to his lifespan by worrying? 28 Why do you worry about clothing? Consider how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin, 29 but I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will he not clothe you even more, you of little faith?
31 “So do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the unbelievers chase after all these things. Certainly your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
After which, out of respect for Jesus’ words, the Congregation will rise for
The Gospel Lesson Luke 15:11–32
11 Jesus said, “A certain man had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all that he had and traveled to a distant country. There he wasted his wealth with reckless living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 He went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 He would have liked to fill his stomach with the carob pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, and I am dying from hunger! 18 I will get up, go to my father, and tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’ 20 “He got up and went to his father.
While he was still far away, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, hugged his son, and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick, bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us eat and celebrate, 24 because this son of mine was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate.
25 “His older son was in the field. As he approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the servants and asked what was going on. 27 The servant told him, ‘Your brother is here! Your father killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 The older brother was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 “He answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I’ve been serving you, and I never disobeyed your command, but you never gave me even a young goat so that I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours arrived after wasting your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “The father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’”
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.
Following which the Congregation may be seated for
The Sermon Hymn Hymn 501 “Our Father By Whose Name”
Our Father, by whose name all fatherhood is known,
In love, divine, You claim Each family as Your own,
Bless mothers, fathers, guarding well,
With constant love as sentinel,
The homes in which Your people dwell.
O Christ, Yourself a Child within an earthly home
With still undefiled You did to manhood come
Our children bless, in ev’ry place,
That they may all behold Your face,
And, knowing You, may grow in grace.
O Holy Spirit, bind Our hearts in unity,
And teach us how to find The love from self set free.
In all our hearts such love increase,
That ev’ry home, by this release,
May be the dwelling place of peace.
The Greeting
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge
of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Sermon Luke 15:11-32
The Ultimate Father At Work
after the sermon, the Congregation will remain seated for the post-sermon blessing
Pastor To Him Who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy — to the only God our Savior, be glory, majesty, power, and authority now and forever.
We Offer Our Gifts to the Lord
Because we aren’t passing offering plates at this time,
we offer you the following suggestions for providing God with Your thank-offerings
through our ministry:
1) Those present for worship may leave their offerings in the baskets near the exit doors; or
2) You can send a check (no cash) in the mail to Grace Lutheran Church (415 N. 6th Place, Lowell, AR 72745)
2) Or, go online to our website (gracelutherannwa.com) and use the giving option there.
After which the Congregation will rise for
We Bring our Prayers Before Our Lord
In our prayers this morning we include:
A Prayer of Thanksgiving and Continued Intercession on behalf of Fred Cusanelli, who
is recovering at Washington Regional Hospital following heart bypass surgery;
plus
A Prayer of Thanksgiving for Rod Calkins, who had a successful eye operation this past Thursday;
And, in addition
A Prayer of Thanksgiving on behalf of Taylor & Danielle Ashley, whose anniversary is tomorrow; and
MiKaela & Eric Lemmon whose anniversary is Thursday; plus
Mike & Marilyn Outlaw, whose anniversary is Friday; and, in addition,
Rick & Cynthia Tragasz whose anniversary is also Friday.
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.
We Celebrate the Lord’s Supper
Pastor – The Lord be with you.
Congregation And also with you.
Pastor – Lift up your hearts.
Congregation We lift them up to the Lord.
Pastor – Let us give thanks unto the Lord, our God.
Congregation It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
Consecration of the Elements
Pastor – The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Congregation –
The Exhortation Regarding the Lord’s Supper
(Please read the following if you have not spoken with
our Pastor about taking communion. Thank you.)
TO OUR GUESTS AND FRIENDS
We ask that only “Confirmed, Communicant” members of this congregation, or of one of our Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod congregations come forward to receive the Lord’s Supper at this time.
We believe, according to Scripture, that only those who are “one,” that is, in complete doctrinal agreement, united in a common public confession of faith, are to commune together at the same altar (see I Corinthians 10:17 and I Corinthians 1:10).
To be “in communion” means to share and to hold in common. By eating and drinking at our Lord’s Table, we are not only sharing in, with, and under the bread and wine, Jesus’ very body and blood…we are also publicly declaring that we hold in common a specific confession of faith. In other words, as a result of having comprehensively studied the Scriptures together all of our communicants have agreed to accept and proclaim the same Biblical doctrines and practices.
Through membership in a particular church body (for us, that church body is the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod), each person makes a public statement that he/she is in full agreement with the teachings and practices of that body. Because not every church body or Lutheran Synod teaches and practices the same things, we in the WELS want to be honest in our recognition of the doctrinal differences that, here on earth, separate us from other church bodies. Please bear in mind that we are not, in any way, judging the legitimacy of your Christian faith. Still, we ask that if you have not (upon study of the Word with us) declared yourself to be in full doctrinal agreement with us, you would respectfully not join us in the Lord’s Supper this morning.
It is our prayer that our Scripture-based practice of “Close Communion” will encourage anyone among us today who is not presently in full fellowship with us to seriously examine the teachings and practices of his/her church in order to determine if those teachings and practices are really in full agreement with God’s Word.
And if you are guest among us today, we want you to know that it is our earnest desire that you might become familiar with the Biblical doctrines our congregation confesses, in order that you might one day join with us at the Lord’s altar in this public expression of full unity of doctrine and practice. Until then, please know that we are most grateful for your participation as a fellow Christian in this worship service, and that we appreciate your understanding and respect of our Communion practice.
The Distribution Hymn Hymn 310 “I Come, O Savior, To Your Table”
Following the distribution, at the Pastor’s invitation the Congregation will rise as
We Leave With The Lord’s Blessing
The Closing Prayer
The Benediction
The LORD bless you and keep you.
The LORD make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
The LORD look with favor upon you, and give you His peace.
The Closing Hymn Hymn 460 “How Can I Thank You, Lord”
verses 1, 2, and 5
1 How can I thank you, Lord, For all your loving-kindness,
That you have patiently Borne with me in my blindness!
When dead in many sins And trespasses I lay,
I kindled, holy God, Your anger ev’ry day.
2 It is your work alone That I am now converted;
O’er Satan’s work in me You have your pow’r asserted.
Your mercy and your grace That rise afresh each morn
Have turned my stony heart Into a heart new-born.
5 O Father, God of love, Now hear my supplication;
O Savior, Son of God, Accept my adoration;
O Holy Spirit, be My ever faithful guide
That I may serve you here And there with you abide.
Silent Prayer,
Announcements
Post-Service Music
Announcements
This Past Week At Grace Sunday Worship: (In person): 102 Online: 33 views Tuesday Bible Class: 20
Budgetary Offerings: $2085 Online Offerings: $41.50 Endowment Fund: $300
Serving Us Next Sunday (6-27-21) Elders: Tim Pfortmiller, Steve Stone
Ushers: Kent Mayer, Taylor Ashley, John Wambold
Altar Guild: Karen Swogger, Mary Karloski Fellowship: Mike & Marilyn Outlaw
Looking Ahead For Grace Lutheran Church
Today 3rd Sunday after Trinity, worship with the Lord’s Supper, 9:30 a.m.
Fellowship Period, 10:45a.m. Bible Class/Sunday School, 11:05 a.m
Youth Confirmation, noon
June 22(Tues) Morning Bible Study, 10:30 to 11:30
June 26 (Sat) Outreach Calling/Visitation, 10:00 a.m.
June 27(Sun Pre-service Hymn-singing at 9:25 a.m. Sunday Worship 9:30 a.m.
Fellowship Period, 10:40 a.m. Bible Class/Sunday School, 11:05 a.m.
Youth Confirmation, noon
This week’s Birthdays and Anniversaries June 21 – Taylor & Danielle Ashley; June 22 – Rachel Kattestad; June 24 – Eric & MiKaela Lemmon June 25 – Mike & Marilyn Outlaw June 25 – Rick & Cynthia Tragasz
June 26 – Kenzie Benedict; June 26 – Chris Roberts; June 26 – Evan Taylor
Fellowship Volunteers Needed We dearly need your help to preparing the after-worship fellowship-time coffee and other drinks, plus furnishing light snack items. A sign-up poster on the fellowship fall bulletin board covers the remainder of the months of this year. Please consider volunteering to serve one or more Sundays. A reimbursement for expenses can be provided of up to $25 per Sunday. It comes through our “donation jar.”
Bible Classes This Week – Today’s Bible class will see us completing a study of 3 John. On Tuesday morning, from 10:30-11:30 am, we’ll study I Kings 19-20, covering the stories of “wicked king” Ahab and the prophet Elijah. If you can’t attend in person, do consider participating over the phone. Call 1-701-802-5405, then dial 7519304#. We also broadcast class over YouTube.com also. (Search for us at Grace Lutheran Church & Academy.)
For Daily Devotions sent to Your Computer or Phone consider subscribing to the excellent devotions available from whataboutjesus.com. Go to the drop down menu for “worship” on the far right of the home page. Devotions can be found there, but at the bottom is a subscribe button. It delivers those devotions to your phone, computer or tablet.
DO YOU KNOW ANYONE…. within your circle of friends, relatives, acquaintances, or neighbors who is not currently attending a church? Have you prayed asking God to give you the opportunity to invite them to worship with us some Sunday? Would you be willing to share his/her/their name with us, so that we can include them on our mailing list? If so, please speak with Pastor, as we are always hoping to serve more souls with our Savior’s Gospel of love, forgiveness, and everlasting life.
Grace Lutheran Church of Northwest Arkansas
is affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, a church body which spans the United States and Canada, and which also operates a number of foreign missions.
Our Vision: Extend God’s Kingdom through His Word, serving each Soul.
Our Mission: Share the Gospel, Encourage Faith, and Prepare Souls
through Worship, Education and Fellowship.