Welcome to ICYMI Worship!  ICYMI stands for In Case You Missed It; our ICYMI series gives a brief snapshot of worship each week so that you can worship in your home, on the road, or wherever life takes you.

At Cross of Christ, our basic worship order is based on worship patterns from Hebrew traditions and biblical accounts of the earliest Christians:
We GATHER with songs and prayer,
We HEAR God’s word,
We SHARE a meal of bread and wine,
We are SENT into the world to love and serve.

Let us know how this format works for you.


Today is the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost.


 

Our Gathering song is “Father Most Holy” (ELW 415)

Prayer of the Day

Heavenly Father, may our hearts be good soil, open to the seed of your word. Grant us hearts that are open to you and your message for us today. This we pray in the name of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

This week’s readings are from Ezekiel 17:22-24 and 2 Corinthians 5:6-10

 

Ezekiel 17:22-24

Tree imagery is used in a messianic prophecy to tell how the Lord will choose someone from Judah’s royal family (the cedar tree) to reign over all creation. This tree will be planted on Mount Zion, the location of the holy temple.

22 Thus says the Lord God:

I myself will take a sprig
    from the lofty top of a cedar;
    I will set it out.
I will break off a tender one
    from the topmost of its young twigs;
I myself will plant it
    on a high and lofty mountain.
23 On the mountain height of Israel
    I will plant it,
in order that it may produce boughs and bear fruit,
    and become a noble cedar.
Under it every kind of bird will live;
    in the shade of its branches will nest
    winged creatures of every kind.
24 All the trees of the field shall know
    that I am the Lord.
I bring low the high tree,
    I make high the low tree;
I dry up the green tree
    and make the dry tree flourish.
I the Lord have spoken;
    I will accomplish it.

 

 

2 Corinthians 5:6-10

Paul encourages believers to live by faith and not by sight. We do not consider Jesus from a human perspective but through the eyes of faith, believing he died for all and was raised. All who are in Christ are now in God’s new creation.

So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.

 

This week’s Gospel text is from Mark 4:26-34

Jesus frequently uses parables to teach ordinary people as they are able to hear and understand. Images of sowing and growing show the vitality of God’s kingdom.

26 He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, 27 and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28 The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.”

30 He also said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; 34 he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.

 

Pastor Dave’s Sermon Snapshot: “Seeds of Faith”

Jesus speaks about the “seeds of faith” in our gospel reading today. As we are called to grow in faith, we’ll consider where spiritual growth comes from, and what it looks like, as we gather in the name of the Lord.

 

 

 

The Song of the Day is “For the Fruit of All Creation” (ELW 679)

Prayers of the People – 6/17/18

Father in Heaven, with parental patience and love you guide us day by day. We thank you for the countless blessing you bestow upon us and on our world. Help us to be grateful, generous, good stewards of all your gifts. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

Father in Heaven, you call your people the church to scatter seeds of faith everywhere we go, and to welcome all we encounter in this place and in our daily lives with your generous hospitality and amazing grace. Inspire us to be faithful in our calling, joyful in our tasks, and united in our mission. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

Father in Heaven, you instruct your church to pray for the sick, advocate for the oppressed, serve the needy, and minister to the hurting. May we be agents of your lovingkindness to all who are experiencing afflictions of any kind, especially Ann Baseler, Anna Bero, Brian Constable, Ellie Dennison, Linda Ernst, Phyllis Hahn, Eileen Johnson, Priscilla Kanestrom, Leona Lenschow, Marlys Paulson, John Paulson, Vernette Rae, and Marilyn Van Brero. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

Father in Heaven, you promise to walk with us in this life, and receive us into your arms of mercy in the life to come. We thank you for the heavenly homecoming of our brother, Marty Budzius, even as we pray blessings upon his family, friends, and family of faith as we mourn his death this week.  Remind us that by faith we may look forward to a heavenly reunion with our loved ones, joining them and the angels in endless praise of our Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom we are redeemed. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

Father in Heaven, you bless us with earthly families.  Today we once more give you thanks for our fathers, and for other father figures in our lives.  Grant that all sons and daughters may know the love of faithful fathers who guide them in faith and in life. Hear us, O God.

Your mercy is great.

By the sure guidance of your Holy Spirit, O God, we lift up our prayers in trust and thanksgiving; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

 

The Communion song is “As Rain from the Clouds” (ELW 679)

On 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.

All are welcome to receive Christ’s Body and Blood in the Bread and Wine of the Eucharist.

 

And because there’s always something going on, the Announcements!

YOUNG CHILDREN AND FAMILES ARE INVITED TO THE “PRAY-GROUND”– This special space in the Sanctuary is designed for our youngest worshippers and their families. Children age 8 and under are welcome to color, play games, enjoy age-appropriate books, and just have their own space in the back of the transept – the southeast corner of the Sanctuary. We LOVE having children in worship! We hope this special place helps make them and their families feel both welcome and comfortable.

ADULT FAITH FORMATION – Pastor Dave continues our first summer series, “Colossians: Against the Tide.” This nine-part study focuses on the Apostle Paul’s instruction to a church whose values were increasingly not aligned with that of the general culture. Sound like a church and a culture with which you are familiar? Come learn more about what it means to be called to be “counter-cultural” by Christ. Adult Faith Formation meets in the Library followingworship, from 11:15 am to noon. Note – no Adult Faith Formation next Sunday as Pastor Dave is on vacation.

PASTOR DAVE BACK IN THE OZARKS – for the wedding of his best friend’s son. Pastor Dave will be out beginning this Thursday. He returns to the office the afternoon of Wednesday, June 27. Please contact Pastor Judy Brennan in the event of a pastoral emergency while Pastor Dave is on vacation. Director of Music Ministries Ben Fowler is planning and will be leading a special service next Sunday while Pastor Dave is out of town and Pastor Judy is leading a Girl Scout event (see below for more on this exciting worship opportunity!).

SPECIAL WORSHIP SERVICE NEXT SUNDAY – Director of Music Ministries Ben Fowler will lead a wonderful worship experience next Sunday under the theme of “Thin Places.” Ben will share a message about thin places, intersections between heaven and earth – a concept known to and lived out by early Celtic Christians. These places are sometimes quiet, sometimes violent, and often undetected by us. Ben will help us explore the ways Jesus brought heaven to earth and how we are called to that way of living. The journey will come by way of Scripture readings and Celtic-inspired hymns. Join Ben next Sunday – and invite a guest!

GRIEF GROUP MEETS THIS WEDNESDAY – from 10-11 am in the Library. Pastor Dave will facilitate the gathering around this month’s conversation starter, “A Few of My Favorite Things.” All are welcome to join this casual, warm, confidential group.

GOLF ON THURSDAY – Join the golfing gang at Snoqualmie Falls Golf Course. For more details see the signup sheet at the Information Desk in the Narthex.

FUNERAL AND MEMORIALS FOR ERIK FLOAN – Services for the former Cross of Christ Director of Music Ministries will be held at 11 am on Saturday, July 14, at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. The family request that in lieu of flowers memorial donation be made to the following: Scholarship Fund – Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, 810 Freeman Street, Valparasio, IN, 46383; Luther Seminary – Children, Youth & Family Master’s Degree Program Scholarship Fund, 2481 Como Avenue, Saint Paul, MN, 55109; American Guild of Organists – New Organist Fund, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1260, New York, NY, 10115.

THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING RIDES TO WORSHIP FOR MEMBERS IN NEED Several have stepped up to give rides to some of our congregation members who can no longer drive but would still love to come to worship. Thank you! While the immediate need for this caring ministry is met, more needs are sure to arise in the future. If you would like to be on a contact list, please contact Julie Hockett – julieahock@gmail.com or Pastor Judy – pastorjudybrennan@gmail.com. Thank you so much!

EASTSIDE SHELTERS – The Family Shelter has moved to St. John’s Episcopal Church in Kirkland. They typically serve about 15 people, half are children. The Women’s Shelter is at St. Peter’s United Methodist Church. They serve about 30 women. You can learn more and sign up to provide meals at http://signup.com/go/tMaKqVQ. If you prefer to make a financial donation and skip the cooking, you can have a meal delivered by DoorDash, UberEats, Jimmy John or something similar. Thank you for helping feed women and children this summer.

CONGREGATIONS FOR THE HOMELESS CELEBRATES 25 YEARS – Come celebrate with us! 2018 marks the 25th Anniversary of Congregations for the Homeless(CFH) and we would love to celebrate with you at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, June 27, Bellevue Presbyterian Church. Anyone who has been a part of the CFH story large or small should attend! Children and families welcome. Please RSVP to Jamie at CFH at 425-484-9459.

PRAYERS FOR HOMEBOUND MEMBERS – Marilyn Van Brero, Leona Lenschow, Doris Lundquist, Bill and Betty McConnell, Mary Moen, Jane Pittenger, and Norman Stromer.

Our sending song is “On What Has Now Been Sown” (ELW 550)


By God’s grace, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, we are called to

Worship God
Grow in Faith
Share the Gospel
Serve others, and
Welcome all.

Thanks be to God!

 

 

 

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