Worship Service
Sunday, July 28, 2019 10:00 a.m.
Seventh Sunday after PENTECOST
Theme of the day: It is by God’s power alone that his kingdom of grace is extended throughout the world. Jesus sent out the 72 with the command to trust in God’s power for their results. Isaiah prophesied the same for the messianic kingdom of all believers. And Paul’s only boast was in the cross, not his efforts.
WELCOME
A warm welcome to our friends and visitors! Star of Bethlehem Lutheran Church is eager to share with you the blessings of its Christ-centered ministry. If you are a new or long-time resident of the Central Coast looking for a church home, we invite you to meet with us at the close of this worship service or at your convenience. All are welcome to stay for refreshments in the fellowship hall.
Families are encouraged to worship together. If you need to step out with your children, the service can be seen and heard in the fellowship hall or narthex area. Feel free to enter and return at any time.
OUR MISSION
Our congregation exists for the purpose of “HOLDING OUT THE WORD OF LIFE.” This is accomplished by faithfully preserving and proclaiming all of God’s inerrant word, and administering the Sacraments as they were instituted by Christ.
The Service of the Word
OPENING HYMN: # 530 “Hark! The Church Proclaims”
Hark! The Church proclaims her honor,
And her strength is only this:
God has laid his choice upon her,
And the work she does is his.
He his Church has firmly founded;
He will guard what he began.
We, by sin and foes surrounded,
Build her walls as best we can.
Frail and fleeting are our powers,
Short our days, our foresight dim.
We confess a choice not ours:
We were chosen first by him.
Though we here must strive in weakness,
Though in tears we often bend,
What his might began in meekness
Shall achieve a glorious end.
Please stand for last verse:
Onward, then, without despairing!
Calm we follow at his Word,
Thus through joy and sorrow bearing
Faithful witness to our Lord.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.
And also with you. (spoken)
CONFESSION OF SINS
We have come into the presence of God, who created us to love and serve him as his dear children. But we have disobeyed him and deserve only his wrath and punishment. Therefore, let us confess our sins to him and plead for his mercy.
Merciful Father in heaven, I am altogether sinful from birth.
In countless ways I have sinned against you and do not deserve
to be called your child. But trusting in Jesus, my Savior, I pray:
Have mercy on me according to your unfailing love. Cleanse me
from my sin, and take away my guilt.
God, our heavenly Father, has forgiven all your sins. By the perfect life and innocent death of our Lord Jesus Christ, he has removed your guilt forever. You are his own dear child. May God give you strength to live according to his will.
Amen.
PRAYER AND PRAISE
In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.
Blessed are they who take refuge in him.
Your Word, O Lord, is eternal;
it stands firm in the heavens.
Your faithfulness continues forever.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.
Blessed are they who take refuge in him.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
God of all power and might, you are the giver of all that is good. Help us to love you with all our heart, strengthen us in true faith, provide us with all we need, and keep us safe in your care; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Please be seated.
THE WORD
FIRST LESSON: Galatians 6:1–10, 14–16
1Brothers, if a person is caught in some trespass, you who are spiritual should restore such a person in a spirit of humility, carefully watching yourself so that you are not also tempted. 2Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way fulfill the law of Christ. 3For if someone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4Let each person test his own work, and then he will take pride in regard to himself and not his neighbor. 5For each man will bear his own burden.
6Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with his teacher.
7Do not be deceived. God is not mocked. To be sure, whatever a man sows, he will also reap. 8Indeed, the one who sows for his own sinful flesh will reap destruction from the sinful flesh. But the one who sows for the spirit will reap eternal life from the spirit. 9Let us not become weary of doing good, because at the appointed time we will reap, if we do not give up. 10So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the household of faith.
14But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. 15In fact, in Christ Jesus circumcision or uncircumcision does not matter. What matters is being a new creation. 16Peace and mercy on those who follow this rule, namely, on the Israel of God.
PSALM OF THE DAY: Psalm 66
Refrain: At the works of your hands, O Lord,
I lift up my voice in song;
I sing for joy.
Shout with joy to God, all the earth!*
Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious!
Praise our God, O peoples,*
let the sound of his praise be heard.
He has preserved our lives*
and kept our feet from slipping.
Refrain
Come and listen, all you who fear God;*
let me tell you what he has done for me.
If I had cherished sin in my heart,*
the Lord would not have listened;
but God has surely listened*
and heard my voice in prayer.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son*
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,*
is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Refrain
VERSE OF THE DAY
Alleluia! Alleluia! By God´s grace we have faith and forgiveness and salvation. By the same grace that made us God´s children, he gives the ability to live for him. Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches…”
“Happy are the ones who hear the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it tightly, and produce fruit as they patiently endure.” Alleluia! (Luke 8:15)
GOSPEL LESSON: Luke 10:1–12, 16–20
1After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.
2He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. So ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field. 3Go your way. Look, I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. 4Do not carry a money bag or traveler’s bag or sandals. Do not greet anyone along the way. 5Whenever you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace be to this house.’ 6And if a peaceful person is there, your peace will rest on him, but if not, it will return to you. 7Remain in that same house, eating and drinking what they give you, because the worker is worthy of his pay. Do not keep moving from house to house. 8Whenever you enter a town and they welcome you, eat what is set before you. 9Heal the sick who are in the town and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near you.’
10“But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 11‘Even the dust from your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ 12I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom on that day than for that town.
16Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
17The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name!”
18He told them, “I was watching Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19Look, I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy. And nothing will ever harm you. 20Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names have been written in heaven.”
HYMN: # 499 “O God of Mercy, God of Might”
O God of mercy, God of might,
In love and mercy infinite,
Teach us, as ever in your sight,
To live our lives to you.
You sent your Son for all to die
That fallen man might live thereby.
Oh, hear us, for to you we cry
In hope, O Lord, to you.
Teach us the lesson Jesus taught:
To feel for those his blood has bought,
That ev’ry deed and word and thought
May work a work for you.
All are redeemed, both far and wide,
Since Jesus Christ for all has died;
Grant us the will, and grace provide,
To love them all in you.
In sickness, sorrow, want, or care
May we each other’s burdens share;
May we, where help is needed, there
Give help as though to you.
And may your Holy Spirit move
All those who live to live in love
Till you receive in heav’n above
All those who lived for you.
SERMON: Isaiah 66:10-14
10Rejoice with Jerusalem and celebrate with her,
all you who love her.
Share her joy with her,
all you who have been mourning over her,
11so that you may nurse and be satisfied from her comforting breast,
so that you may suck and find delight from her milk-filled breasts.
12Yes, this is what the Lord says.
I am ready to extend peace to her like a river,
and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream.
You will be nursed. You will be carried on her side,
and you will be bounced on her knees.
13Just like a man whom his mother comforts,
in the same way I myself will comfort you,
and you will be comforted concerning Jerusalem.
14Then you will see, and your heart will be glad.
Like grass you will receive new strength,
right down to your bones.
Then the Lord’s hand will be known to his servants,
but his fury to his enemies.
APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his 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 into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God
the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins;
the resurrection of the body;
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Hymn: # 449 “Children of the Heavenly Father”
Children of the heav’nly Father
Safely in his bosom gather;
Nestling bird or star in heaven
Such a refuge ne’er was given.
God his own doth tend and nourish;
In his holy courts they flourish.
From all evil things he spares them;
In his mighty arms he bears them.
Neither life nor death shall ever
From the Lord his children sever;
Unto them his grace he showeth,
And their sorrows all he knoweth.
Though he giveth or he taketh,
God his children ne’er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.
OFFERING
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
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. Amen.
Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with gladness.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look on you with favor and (+) give you peace.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
HYMN # 765 “Day by Day”
Day by day, your mercies, Lord, attend me,
bringing comfort to my anxious soul.
Day by day, the blessings, Lord, you send me
draw me nearer to my heav’nly goal.
Love divine, beyond all mortal measure,
brings to naught the burdens of my quest;
Savior, lead me to the home I treasure,
where at last I’ll find eternal rest.
Day by day, I know you will provide me
strength to serve and wisdom to obey;
I will seek your loving will to guide me
o’er the paths I struggle day by day.
I will fear no evil of the morrow,
I will trust in your enduring grace.
Savior, help me bear life’s pain and sorrow
till in glory I behold your face.
Oh, what joy to know that you are near me
when my burdens grow too great to bear;
oh, what joy to know that you will hear me
when I come, O Lord, to you in prayer.
Day by day, no matter what betide me,
you will hold me ever in your hand.
Savior, with your presence here to guide me,
I will reach at last the promised land.
The WELS Connection
* The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version® (EHV®) copyright © 2018
The Wartburg Project. All rights reserved. www.wartburgproject.org
ANNOUNCEMENTS
FLOWERS for today’s service are given to the glory of God by
the Evers.
PRAYERS Pray for: Gordon Hillberg, Shawn Lozano, John
Velasques, Ruth Fabian, little Elias, Albert Nunez, Judy
Moore, Don (Turk) Oberg, Shawna Bushey, Rose Marie
Hillberg, and Atalia (Moores’ grand-daughter).
“Hi, We’re Your Neighbors at Star” - Big, fun, promotional,
fellowship, outreach day at Waller Park, Saturday, August 24.
THIS WEEK
Tuesday ESL, 6:00 p.m.
Thursday NO Bible Class
ESL, 6:00 p.m.
Sunday Sunday School & Bible Class, 9:00 a.m.
Worship, 10:00 a.m.