We are worshiping at 11 am.

June 22, 2025

Introduction & Welcome

Pastor -SHARING OF THE PEACE

The presiding minister and the assembly greet each other in the peace of the risen Christ.

The peace of Christ be with you today and always.

And also with you.

Congregation members greet each other by saying:

Peace be with you.

Confession and Forgiveness

All may make the sign of the cross, the sign that is marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.

In the name of the Father,

and of the ☩ Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Baptized into Christ, let us confess our sin.

Silence is kept for reflection.

Merciful God,

you free us to love others,

but we neglect our neighbors and follow our own way.

You lead us by the Spirit of joy and peace,

but we turn away from the abundant life you offer.

You surround us with patience, kindness,

and generosity,

but we grow weary in doing what is right.

In your mercy, forgive us.

Do not give up on us.

Heal us, break our bonds,

and show us the path of life.

Amen.

You belong to Christ Jesus

and you are God’s children through faith.

In the cross of ☩ Christ,

and through the power of the Holy Spirit,

your sins are forgiven.

Clothed with Christ, you are a new creation.

Amen.

HYMN “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say”

1 I heard the voice of Jesus say,

"Come unto me and rest;

lay down, O weary one, lay down

your head upon my breast."

I came to Jesus as I was,

so weary, worn, and sad;

I found in him a resting-place,

and he has made me glad.

2 I heard the voice of Jesus say,

"Behold, I freely give

the living water, thirsty one;

stoop down and drink and live."

I came to Jesus, and I drank

of that life-giving stream;

my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,

and now I live in him.

3 I heard the voice of Jesus say,

"I am this dark world's light;

look unto me, your morn shall rise,

and all your day be bright."

I looked to Jesus, and I found

in him my star, my sun;

and in that light of life I'll walk

till trav'ling days are done.

Text: Horatius Bonar, 1808-1889

Pastor - Greeting

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,

and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

Canticle of Praise

Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain,

whose blood set us free to be people of God.

Power and riches and wisdom and strength,

and honor and blessing and glory are his.

This is the feast of victory for our God.

Alleluia.

Sing with all the people of God

and join in the hymn of all creation:

Blessing and honor and glory and might

be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.

This is the feast of victory for our God,

for the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign.

Alleluia. Alleluia.

Prayer of the Day

O Lord God, we bring before you the cries of a sorrowing world. In your mercy set us free from the chains that bind us, and defend us from everything that is evil, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

The assembly is seated.

First Reading Isaiah 65:1-9

A reading from Isaiah beginning with the 6th chapter.

1 I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask,
to be found by those who did not seek me.
I said, “Here I am, here I am,”
to a nation that did not call on my name.
2 I held out my hands all day long
to a rebellious people,
who walk in a way that is not good,
following their own devices;
3 a people who provoke me
to my face continually,
sacrificing in gardens
and offering incense on bricks;
4 who sit inside tombs,
and spend the night in secret places;
who eat swine’s flesh,
with broth of abominable things in their vessels;
5 who say, “Keep to yourself,
do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.”
These are a smoke in my nostrils,
a fire that burns all day long.
6 See, it is written before me:
I will not keep silent, but I will repay;
I will indeed repay into their laps
7 their iniquities and their ancestors’ iniquities together,
says the Lord;
because they offered incense on the mountains
and reviled me on the hills,
I will measure into their laps
full payment for their actions.
8 Thus says the Lord:
As the wine is found in the cluster,
and they say, “Do not destroy it,
for there is a blessing in it,”
so I will do for my servants’ sake,
and not destroy them all.
9 I will bring forth descendants from Jacob,
and from Judah inheritors of my mountains;
my chosen shall inherit it,
and my servants shall settle there.

Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.

Psalm 22:19-28 Read responsively

19 But you, O Lord, be not far away; O my help, hasten to my aid.
20 Deliver me from the sword, my life from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion’s mouth! From the horns of wild bulls you have rescued me.
22 I will declare your name to my people; in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.
23 You who fear the Lord, give praise! All you of Jacob’s line, give glory. Stand in awe of the Lord, all you offspring of Israel.
24 For the Lord does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty; neither is the Lord’s face hidden from them; but when they cry out, the Lord hears them.
25 From you comes my praise in the great assembly; I will perform my vows in the sight of those who fear the Lord.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied, Let those who seek the Lord give praise! May your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; all the families of nations shall bow before God.
28 For dominion belongs to the Lord, who rules over the nations.

2nd Reading Galatians 3:23-29

A reading from Galatians beginning with chapter 3

23 Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. 27 As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.

Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go?

You have the words of eternal life.

Alleluia.

Gospel Luke 8:26-39

The holy gospel according to Luke, the 8th chapter.

Glory to you, O Lord.

26 Then [Jesus and his disciples] arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me”—29 for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) 30 Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. 31 They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.
32 Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
34 When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. 37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.

The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

Congregation is seated

Sermon

Congregation stands for Hymn of the Day

Hymn of the Day “God of Grace and God of Glory”

1 God of grace and God of glory,

on your people pour your pow'r;

crown your ancient church's story;

bring its bud to glorious flow'r.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage

for the facing of this hour,

for the facing of this hour.

2 Lo! the hosts of evil round us

scorn the Christ, assail his ways!

From the fears that long have bound us

free our hearts to faith and praise.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage

for the living of these days,

3 Cure your children's warring madness;

bend our pride to your control;

shame our wanton, selfish gladness,

rich in things and poor in soul.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,

lest we miss your kingdom's goal,

lest we miss your kingdom's goal.

4 Save us from weak resignation

to the evils we deplore;

let the gift of your salvation

be our glory evermore.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,

serving you whom we adore,

serving you whom we adore.

Text: Harry E. Fosdick, 1878-1969

Apostles’ Creed

The presiding minister may introduce the Creed.

With the whole church, let us confess our faith using the words of the 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.

Prayers of Intercession

Drawn into the embrace of the holy Trinity, we lift our prayers for the wholeness of the church, the world, and all creation.

A brief silence.

We pray for the church. Clothe us in Christ, shower us in mercy, send us in love. Strengthen the faith and witness of Christians across the planet and Christians in our community. God of grace,

hear our prayer.

We pray for creation. Deliver the earth from disaster, bring forth life amid uncertainty, inspire wonder at all you have made. Sustain all people who delight in the well-being of your creation: farmers, agricultural workers, gardeners, birdwatchers, conservationists, scientists, advocates, and policy makers. God of grace,

hear our prayer.

We pray for the nations. Pave a way to justice, drown the forces of oppression, bring peace on earth. Give leaders the will to turn from war and violence. When people must flee their homes, guide them to safety. God of grace,

hear our prayer.

We pray for people in need. Satisfy all who are poor, soothe those in pain, accompany all who are sick especially Meredith, Richard, Mary, Pastor Hadley, Candy, Deann, John, Steve, Lynne, Margaret, Jay, Cork & Cheryl, Rillys, Louanna, Sharon, Carol, Norma, David, Mary Lou, Tyler, Janet and for those who we name aloud or silently in our hearts (pause for people in the congregation to add their prayers here). Give perseverance to each of us living with mental illness, and shield us from discrimination due to race, class, gender, or any other human distinction. God of grace,

hear our prayer.

We pray for this assembly. Listen to our cries, come to our aid, make us one. Weave among us the fabric of belonging so that we rejoice in each person gathered here, and enliven our proclamation of how much you have done for us. God of grace,

hear our prayer.

God, you are the counselor and trail guide of our lives. We

pray for the campers, counselors, and staff at Lutherwald and

Lake Luther. Walk with them through challenges - and calm

them in anxious moments. May they find joy and belonging as

they share faith and explore the outdoors. God of grace,

hear our prayer.

We offer our thanksgiving for all people who have died in faith. Keep them in your peace, comfort us in sorrow, raise us to new life. As we remember their faith and witness, may we trust your promise that we are yours forever. God of grace,

hear our prayer.

Gather all our prayers in your mercy, O God, through Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Amen.

Offering “Loaves Were Broken, Words Were Spoken”

1 Loaves were broken, words were spoken

by the Galilean shore.

Jesus, Bread of life from heaven,

was their food forevermore.

Refrain

By your body broken for us,

by your wine of life outpoured,

Jesus, feed again your people.

Be our Host, our Life, our Lord.

2 Loaves were broken, words were spoken

in a quiet room one night.

In the bread and wine you gave them,

Christ, you came as Light from Light. Refrain

3 Loaves are broken, words are spoken,

as in faith we gather here.

Jesus speaks across the ages:

"I am with you; do not fear!" Refrain

4 By the loaves you break and give us,

send us in your name to share

bread for which the millions hunger,

words that tell your love and care. Refrain

Text: Herman G. Stuempfle Jr., 1923–2007

Duplication in any form prohibited without securing permission from copyright administrator or reporting usage under valid license.

Offertory Prayer

Together we pray.

Creator God,

in your wisdom you bring forth all that is good

and the harvest is plentiful.

Strengthen us at your table with these gifts of the earth

and our labor,

that we may work for the good of all;

through Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Amen.

Holy Communion

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,

that we should at all times and in all places

give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God.

You reveal your glory

as the glory of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit:

equal in majesty, undivided in splendor, one Lord, one God,

ever to be adored in your eternal glory.

And so, with all the choirs of angels,

with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,

we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord,

Lord God of pow’r and might:

Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

Eucharistic Prayer

In the night in which he was betrayed,

our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;

broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:

Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,

and gave it for all to drink, saying:

This cup is the new covenant in my blood,

shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

Remembering, therefore, his death, resurrection, and ascension,

we await his coming in glory.

Pour out upon us the Spirit of your love, O Lord,

and unite the wills of all who share this heavenly food,

the body and blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord;

to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,

be all honor and glory, now and forever.

Amen.

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us. (Spoken)

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 debts,

as we forgive our debtors;

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.

Invitation to Communion

The kingdom of God is set before you.

Eat and rejoice.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;

have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;

have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;

grant us peace, grant us peace.

Communion

The Body of Christ, given for you. Amen

The Blood of Christ, shed for you. Amen

Post Communion Blessing

The Body and Blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, strengthen you and forever keep you in his grace. Amen.

Prayer after Communion

Mothering God,

you gathered us to your table

and we drank deeply of your grace.

Send us out by your Spirit

to love our neighbors as ourselves

and proclaim your love in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

Benediction

The love of God abound in you;

the grace of our Savior Jesus Christ fill your hearts;

and the life of the Spirit

☩ bless you and give you peace.

Amen.

HYMN “Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness”

1 Praise the One who breaks the darkness

with a liberating light;

praise the One who frees the pris'ners,

turning blindness into sight.

Praise the One who preached the gospel,

healing ev'ry dread disease,

calming storms and feeding thousands

with the very bread of peace.

2 Praise the One who blessed the children

with a strong yet gentle word;

praise the One who drove out demons

with a piercing, two-edged sword.

Praise the One who brings cool water

to the desert's burning sand;

from this well comes living water

quenching thirst in ev'ry land.

3 Praise the one true love incarnate:

Christ, who suffered in our place;

Jesus died and rose for many

that we may know God by grace.

Let us sing for joy and gladness,

seeing what our God has done.

Praise the one redeeming glory;

praise the One who makes us one.

Text: Rusty Edwards, b. 1955

Text © 1987 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Duplication in any form prohibited without permission or valid license from copyright administrator.

Dismissal

Go in peace. Live by the Spirit.

Thanks be to God.

Permission for liturgies by Augsburg Fortress Liturgies License #SAS004206

Sundays and Seasons 2025