ICYMI* Worship: 7/2/2017: Welcome

Welcome to a new feature around here: ICYMI Worship!  ICYMI stands for In Case You Missed It, and our ICYMI series will give you a brief snapshot of worship each week so that you can worship in your home, on the road, or wherever life takes you.

This week’s readings:

Jeremiah 28:5-9  

5 Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the Lord; 6 and the prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! May the Lord do so; may the Lord fulfill the words that you have prophesied, and bring back to this place from Babylon the vessels of the house of the Lord, and all the exiles. 7 But listen now to this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people. 8 The prophets who preceded you and me from ancient times prophesied war, famine, and pestilence against many countries and great kingdoms. 9 As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes true, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet.”

Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18

1 I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord,[a] forever;
with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.
2 I declare that your steadfast love is established forever;
your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.
3 You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
I have sworn to my servant David:
4 ‘I will establish your descendants forever,
and build your throne for all generations.’” Selah

15 Happy are the people who know the festal shout,
who walk, O Lord, in the light of your countenance;
16 they exult in your name all day long,
and extol[d] your righteousness.
17 For you are the glory of their strength;
by your favor our horn is exalted.
18 For our shield belongs to the Lord,
our king to the Holy One of Israel.

Romans 6:12-23

12 Therefore, do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. 13 No longer present your members to sin as instruments[a] of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments[b] of righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have become obedient from the heart to the form of teaching to which you were entrusted, 18 and that you, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms because of your natural limitations.[c] For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness for sanctification.

20 When you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 So what advantage did you then get from the things of which you now are ashamed? The end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification. The end is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This week’s Gospel text is from Matthew 10:40-42.

“Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”

Pastor Dave’s Sermon Snapshot:  To welcome is to receive, literally to take into one’s hands.  Jesus said those who welcome his followers with open hands will be rewarded.  He also said that welcoming little ones – children, those who are young in faith, those who count for little according to the world – brings eternal reward.  The church’s rewarding work of hospitality includes but goes far beyond greeting guests in worship on Sundays.  What does it mean for us to “open our hands” and our hearts to the little ones and to all?

And now for the musical portion of our service…

Our Gathering hymn is God of Grace and God of Glory. Enjoy this rendition, on a slightly larger organ than we have here at CofC.

Or our Youth Director’s favorite version.

Our Hymn of the Day is ELW 641: All are welcome.

Our Communion hymn is ELW 724: All who love and serve your city

Our sending hymn is ELW 729: The church of Christ, in every age

Prayers of the People – July 2, 2017

Let us pray for the church, the world, and all in need.  Each petitions will end, “Lord, in your mercy” to which the congregational response is “Hear our prayer.

We pray for the church. For exiled Christians, oppressed churches, and all who suffer persecution because of faith in you: deliver freedom, courage, and partners in peacemaking. Lord in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

We pray for the United States and Canada as both nations celebrate their foundings and give thanks for their liberties. For the president and prime minister; for members of Congress and Parliament; for governors and premiers. Grant wisdom of mind, civility of discourse, and hearts for justice, that all our people flourish. Lord in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

We pray for those in need. For those who seek meaningful work, safe shelter, food and water, health and wholeness, community and love; for dear ones whose needs are known to us, who have asked for our public prayers, especially Cheryl Buettemeier, Ben Fowler, Phyllis Hahn, Claire Huehnerhoff, Mary Mehlum, Matt Pohle, Vernette Rae, and Marilyn Van Brero.   Meet their need by your bountiful compassion and our community’s action. Lord in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

We pray for all who worship you today. For wise elders and curious seekers, joyful spirits and burdened souls: give holy welcome, share tender mercies, and deepen trust in your goodness. Bless our partners in minister through the ELCA, Northwest Washington, East King County Cluster St. Luke’s Lutheran Church of Bellevue and Pastor Mark Griffith.  Lord in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

We give thanks for all who have been baptized into Christ Jesus and now rest in the fullness of Christ’s resurrection, remembering with thanksgiving the life of Mary Carter, whose Memorial service was held here on Friday.  Comfort her family and friends who mourn their loss, but who in faith entrust her into your eternal care.  Lord in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

All these things, and whatever else you know that we need, we commit to your care through Christ our Lord.  

Amen.

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

WELCOME TO WORSHIP! – This is the fourth Sunday after Pentecost, and the Sunday closest to Independence Day. Welcome and hospitality are our themes today, based on the words of Jesus from our gospel lesson. Welcome to all. Welcome back to our organist, Nick Abbott, who has been in Europe with his “day” job. A special welcome to our visitors and guests worshiping with us this morning.

SUMMER WORSHIP SCHEDULE – Our Summer Schedule runs from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend with one combined service at 10 am. The service style varies – sometimes more like our Traditional worship offered at 9 am the rest of the year – as with today’s service. Other times summer Sundays are more like our Mosaic style, our casual 11 am service. Often there are elements of both, or a blend of the two. And from time to time during the summer we try some “holy experiments” and worship in completely unique and creative ways. That’s part of the fun of summer – being together and worshiping Jesus Christ in all kinds of styles. There are often fellowship and/or learning opportunities following the service as well.

SUMMER ADULT FAITH FORMATION ON BREAK TODAY – due to the holiday weekend. We’ll pick back up next week with our study of 1 Peter, part of our summer series “The Life and Letters of the Apostle Peter”. Summer Adult Faith Formation meets in the Library from 11:15 am to noon, following our single summer worship service at 10 am, concluding August 27. Please note – we will not meet July 30 due to the special Summer Fellowship Event scheduled for that day following worship.

FOURTH OF JULY HOLIDAY OFFICE SCHEDULE – The Office will be closed Monday and Tuesday in honor of the Independence Day Holiday.

PLEASE WEAR YOUR NAME TAGS – This summer as we worship together, you’ll do a kindness to other members with whom you might not usually worship by wearing your name tag.  It also allows the Communion Assistants to commune you by name. If you need a name tag, please contact Office Administrator Judy Giseburt in the office at 425-746-7300 or office@cofclc.net.

THANK YOU FROM FAMILY OF MARY CARTER – to all who helped with her Memorial Service and Reception Friday, and to all who attended. The family is appreciative of the love and support of Cross of Christ members and staff in their time of loss.

EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR FAMILIES – For the first time ever, the overnight shelter will stay open all summer for families! The new location will be at St. John’s Episcopal Church in downtown Kirkland (105 State St S.). New Bethlehem Family Day Center and the Emergency Family Shelter are joining forces for the summer to make sure the residents have access to a good meal every night. To sign up to bring a meal email volunteer@nbpshelter.org. You can also email Andrea Liggett at andrea@hfkparish.org with any questions.

Thanks for joining us!  We hope that you have a blessed week wherever your travels take you.