EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, July 26, 2020
“Resurrection Lutheran Church exists to proclaim Jesus Christ as Saviour, in an open accepting fellowship, a loving caring community that reaches out to all people to serve Christ through worshipping, teaching, learning, sharing and giving of ourselves to meet the needs of this congregation, the community and the world, as the Holy Spirit moves us.”
Resurrection Lutheran Church
Resurrection Lutheran Church
Telephone: 306-242-4042
310 Lenore Drive, Saskatoon, SK. S7K 6Y1
E-mail resurrectionchurch@sasktel.net
Website: HYPERLINK “http://www.resurrectionlutheranchurch.ca” http://www.resurrectionlutheranchurch.ca
Facebook: HYPERLINK “http://www.facebook.com/resurrectionsaskatoon” http://www.facebook.com/resurrectionsaskatoon
Pastor: Ali Tote H: 306-249-1428 Cell: 306-371-7742
Secretary/Treasurer: Ryan Baker Office: 306-242-4042
Council Chair: Kara Zapf H: 306-477-3020
Zoom log-in information:
Online (Computer or Smartphone):
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/877941727
Meeting ID: 877 941 727
Phone:
1 647 558 0588 Meeting ID: 877 941 727
1 778 907 2071 Meeting ID: 877 941 727
As Solomon prays for wisdom, we seek to more deeply know the treasures of faith. In today’s gospel Jesus offers everyday images that reveal to us the reign of God: a tree that becomes a sheltering home, yeast that penetrates and expands, a treasured pearl, a net that gains a great catch. Even as we seek the riches of God’s reign, the great surprise is that God’s grace finds us first!
GATHERING
Announcements
Words of Welcome
Gathering Hymn All Hail the Power of Jesus Name ELW #634
All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall;
bring forth the royal diadem and crown him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem and crown him Lord of all.
Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget the wormwood and the gall,
go spread your trophies at his feet and crown him Lord of all.
Go spread your trophies at his feet and crown him Lord of all.
Let ev’ry kindred, ev’ry tribe on this terrestrial ball
to him all majesty ascribe and crown him Lord of all.
To him all majesty ascribe and crown him Lord of all.
Oh, that with yonder sacred throng we at his feet may fall!
We’ll join the everlasting song and crown him Lord of all.
We’ll join the everlasting song and crown him Lord of all.
Confession and Forgiveness
L: Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, who forgives all our sin, whose mercy endures forever.
Amen.
L: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
L: Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
L: Gracious God,
Have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned from you and given ourselves into the power of sin. We are truly sorry and humbly repent. In your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things we have done and things we have failed to do. Turn us again to you, and uphold us by your Spirit, so that we may live and serve you in newness of life through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
L: God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin, and made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. In the name of + Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Almighty God strengthen you with power through the Holy Spirit, that Christ may live in your hearts through faith.
Amen.
Kyrie ELW Setting 8
Refrain:
Kyrie eleison, on our world and on our way. Kyrie eleison, ev’ry day
For peace in the world, for the health of the church, for the unity of all; for this holy house, for all who worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord, let us pray to the Lord. Refrain
That we may live out your impassioned response to the hungry and the poor; that we may live out truth and justice and grace, let us pray to the Lord, let us pray to the Lord. Refrain
For peace in our hearts, for peace in our homes, for friends and family; for life and for love, for our work and our play, let us pray to the Lord, let us pray to the Lord. Refrain
For your Spirit to guide; that you centre our lives in the water and the Word; that you nourish our souls with your body and blood, let us pray to the Lord, let us pray to the Lord. Refrain
Greeting
Prayer of the Day
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us pray together.
Beloved and sovereign God, through the death and resurrection of your Son you bring us into your kingdom of justice and mercy. By your Spirit, give us your wisdom, that we may treasure the life that comes from Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
WORD
Children’s Chat
First Reading 1 Kings 3:5-12
Solomon’s prayer for wisdom.
5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” 6 And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. 7 And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?”
10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Psalm 119:129-136 (We will read this responsively)
When your word is opened, it give light and understanding (Ps. 119:130)
129 Your decrees are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.
130 The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.
131 With open mouth I pant, because I long for your commandments.
132 Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your custom toward those who love your name.
133 Keep my steps steady according to your promise, and never let iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from human oppression, that I may keep your precepts.
135 Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes.
136 My eyes shed streams of tears because your law is not kept.
Second Reading Romans 8:26-39
Nothing can separate us from God’s love.
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. 27 And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? 33 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all day long;
we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation
Holy Gospel Mathew 13:31-33, 44-52
Parables of the reign of heaven.
Gospel Response Glory to you, O Lord.
31 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; 32 it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46 on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 48 when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51 “Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” 52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon
Hymn of the Day Jesus Shall Reign ELW #434
Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
does its successive journeys run;
his kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
till moons shall wax and wane no more.
To him shall endless prayer be made,
and praises throng to crown his head;
his name like sweet perfume shall rise
with ev’ry morning sacrifice.
Blessings abound where’er he reigns:
the pris’ners leap to lose their chains,
the weary find eternal rest,
and all who suffer want are blest.
Let ev’ry creature rise and bring
peculiar honors to our king;
angels descend with songs again,
and earth repeat the loud amen.
Apostles’ 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.
Peace Peace be with you. And also with you.
Offering
Offertory Prayer
Merciful father,
We offer with joy and thanksgiving, what you have first given us. Our selves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself to us, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen!
Prayers of the People
Confident of your care and helped by the Holy Spirit, we pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need.
Merciful God, your reign is revealed to us in common things: a mustard shrub, a woman baking bread, a fishing net. Help your church witness to the surprising yet common ways you encounter us in daily life.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
When your word is opened, it gives light and understanding. Increase our understanding and awe of your creations; guide the work of scientists and researchers. Treasuring the earth, may we live as grateful and healing caretakers of our home.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
As the birds of the air nest in branches of trees, gather the nations of the world into the welcoming shade of your merciful reign. Direct leaders of nations to build trust with each other and walk in the way of peace.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Your Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes for the saints according to your will. Help us when we do not know how to pray. Give comfort to the dying, refuge to the weary, justice to those who are oppressed, and healing to the sick.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
You show steadfast love and direct us to ask of you what we need. Help this congregation ask boldly for what is most needed. Refresh us with new dreams of being your people in this place and time.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In you our lives are never lost. Strengthen us by the inspiring witness of you people in all times and places. Embolden our witness now and one day gather us with all your saints in light.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the certain hope that nothing can separate us from your love, we offer these prayer to you: through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
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.
SENDING
Blessing
Sending Song Sent Forth by God’s Blessing ELW #547
Sent forth by God’s blessing, our true faith confessing,
the people of God from this dwelling take leave.
The supper is ended. Oh, now be extended
the fruits of this service in all who believe.
The seed of Christ’s teaching, receptive souls reaching,
shall blossom in action for God and for all.
Your grace shall incite us, your love shall united us
to work for your kingdom and answer your call.
With praise and thanksgiving to God ever living,
the tasks of our ev’ryday life we will face−
our faith ever sharing, in love ever caring,
embracing God’s children, the whole human race.
With your feast you feed us, with your light now lead us;
as one in this life that we share.
Then may all the living with praise and thanksgiving
give honor to Christ and his name that we bear.
Dismissal Go in peace. Serve the Lord! Thanks be to God!
Special thanks to our musician Bonnie Semenoff, our Worship Assistant David Kirton, our Readers Elaine Kiel and Brady Witt, David Kirton for technical support, and Dorlan Oxelgren for Zoom support.
SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR AUGUST 2, 2020
Isaiah 55:1-5, Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21, Romans 9:1-5, Matthew 14:13-21
PRAYER LIST
To add or remove names from the list, please contact the church office or call Pastor Ali.
Givings:
2020 Monthly Budget: $15,125
July envelope givings in total: $10,185.50
Estimated PAR on July 20th: $8,131.25
Chequing Account Balance: minus $7,452.88
Thank you for your generous givings especially during this extraordinary time!
Summer Services schedule:
July 26: Home service led by Resurrection and Pastor Ali Tote for the 3 Vine and branches congregations (Live Zoom)
August 2: Home service (Live Zoom)
August 9: Shared service with all 7 ELCIC congregations led by Zion
Lutheran and Pastor Ron Bestvater (YouTube recorded)
August 16: Home service led by resurrection and Pastor Ali Tote for the 3 Vine and branches congregations (Live Zoom)
August 23: Shared service with the 3 Vine and Branches congregations led by King of Glory Lutheran and Pastor Michael Poellet (Audio recorded)
August 30: Shared service with the 3 Vine and Branches congregations led by Trinity and pastor Mark Hedlin (YouTube recorded)
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a new committee has been formed at our church – the Resurrection Re-opening Committee. The mandate of this committee is to coordinate the planning and implementation of our church’s re-opening for in-person services, once it is safe to do so.
The committee is in great need of volunteers to serve on the committee to:
meet periodically (via zoom) to plan the re-opening
prepare the physical space of the church for service resumption
support the safe congregation of members before, during, and after services
“Many hands make light work”, so please consider volunteering! If you are interested or have questions please contact the committee’s chair, Angela England at HYPERLINK “mailto:ang.england@shaw.ca” ang.england@shaw.ca or 306-221-9594.
Effective July 1st, the office will be open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 am until 4 pm. If you need to come in to the church or are dropping something off, please call Ryan first at 306-242-4042.
Please follow along with Pastor Ali’s blog on the response to the COVID-19 Pandemic at HYPERLINK “https://covid19pastoralresponse.ca/” \o “https://covid19pastoralresponse.ca/” https://covid19pastoralresponse.ca/
We are working on updating the directory. If you can, please send in a new picture. If you have recently moved or changed your phone number, please send that new information as well. We would like to include email addresses this time. If you don’t want to have yours in the directory, please let Elaine know. The directory will only be made available to our congregation members and will not be published anywhere.
The Eternity for Today devotional for July/August/September has arrived. If you would like one, please call Elaine and arrangements can be made for you to pick one up. They are also available on the ELCIC website at HYPERLINK “https://elcic.ca/EternityforToday.cfm” https://elcic.ca/EternityforToday.cfm
Caring for your Congregation during Social Distancing
One of the best things you can do during this time of difficulty and uncertainty, is to call fellow members within your congregation to see how they are coping during these times and offer support in whatever way we can. Many will be isolated and alone.
Here are a few tips to help make that call a truly Christian caring call and things you will need to know:
You will need to be well equipped to provide caring over the telephone (or other media) …*active listening * validating feelings *being as fully present as possible over the phone.
2. Offer prayer – pray with and for the person being called. People vary in terms of how comfortable they are praying over the phone, but most often the prayer support will be greatly appreciated. Build the prayer to what the person is specifically going through and what kinds of supports are most needed.
3. If part of your call is to gather information for the church office, inform the person you are calling and get permission to pass along any sensitive or difficult information from your conversation or prayer request. Otherwise, anything you share during your conversation should be kept confidential.
4. Know the resources your congregation has available for help if requested i.e. food ministry, clothing programs, financial assistance programs, etc. Whatever the needs are, follow up on them while keeping your pastor informed.
5. Throughout this process, provide care for yourself, the pastor, church staff and other congregation caregivers. Check In with each other regularly, lift one another up, and provide mutual care and support.
It’s amazing what we can do by listening to people and being present for their pain, let God do everything else!
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King of Glory Lutheran Church 