Worship Service
Sunday, July 23, 2023, at 10 a.m.
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the † Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Pastor: 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.
People: Amen.
Pastor: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(Silence for reflection and self-examination)
Pastor: Most merciful God,
People: We confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
Pastor: Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and, for his sake, forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
GREETING
Pastor: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
People: And also with you.
OPENING HYMN Here I Am to Worship
Verse 1
Light of the world, You stepped down into darkness Opened my eyes, let me see Beauty that made this heart adore You Hope of a life spent with You
Chorus
Here I am to worship. Here I am to bow down.
Here I am to say that You’re my God You’re altogether lovely, Altogether worthy. Altogether wonderful to me
Verse 2
King of all days, Oh so highly exalted Glorious in Heaven above Humbly You came to the Earth You created All for love’s sake became poor (Chorus)
Bridge
And I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross (Chorus)
Tag
Light of the world, You stepped down into darkness. Opened my eyes, let me see
CCLI Song #3266032 – Tim Hughes; © 2000 Thankyou Music (Admin. by EMI Christian Publishing); For use solely with the SongSelect Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com. CCLI License # 384330
KYRIE
HYMN OF PRAISE
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Lay Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Lay Leader: Faithful God, most merciful judge, you care for your children with firmness and compassion. By your Spirit nurture us who live in your kingdom, that we may be rooted in the way of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
People: Amen.
CHILDREN’S CHURCH DISMISSAL
FIRST LESSON Romans 8:12-25
12So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—13for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
18I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; 20for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; 23and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Lay Leader: The word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
VERSE
GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, beginning with the thirteenth chapter.
People: Glory to you, O Lord.
24[Jesus] put before [the crowds] another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field;25but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ 28He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’ ”
36Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!”
Pastor: The Gospel of the Lord
People: Praise to you, O Christ.
THE MESSAGE Pastor Abera Hellemo
SONG OF THE DAY Here I Am Lord
Verse 1
What can I give to You
What can I offer to a King
For all the love You’ve shown
For all Your mercy over me
Chorus
I called Your name, You heard my cry
Out of the grave, and into life
My heart is Yours, my soul is free
Thank You God for saving me
Thank You God for saving me
Verse 2
The Rock of Salvation
My hope is built on nothing less
Morning by morning
How great is Your faithfulness
Bridge
You gave Your life upon the cross
You suffered once for all, You made a way
Jesus in victory You rose
You made us all Your own, now we are saved (Repeat)(Chorus)
Ending
Thank You God for saving me
Thank You God for saving me
Thank You God for saving me
CCLI Song # 6453385 – Chris Tomlin | Phil Wickham – © S. D. G. Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing); Sixsteps Songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing); Worship Together Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing); Phil Wickham Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.); Seems Like Music (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.); For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com. CCLI License #384330
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again 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.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Each prayer petition will end with –
Lay Leader: Lord in your mercy
People: Hear our prayer.
PEACE
Lay Leader: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
People: And also with you.
Praise Band Oceans
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Lay Leader: Let us pray. Merciful Father,
People: We offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us—ourselves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
DIALOGUE
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.
PREFACE
Pastor: It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everliving God. But chiefly we are bound to praise you for the glorious resurrection of our Lord; for he is the true Passover Lamb who gave himself to take away our sin, who by his death has destroyed death, and by his rising has brought us to eternal life. And so, with Mary Magdalene and Peter and all the witnesses of the resurrection, with earth and sea and all their creatures, and with angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
THANKSGIVING
Pastor: Blessed are you, Lord of heaven and earth. In mercy for our fallen world you gave your only Son, that all those who believe in him should not perish, but have eternal life. We give thanks to you for the salvation you have prepared for us through Jesus Christ. Send now your Holy Spirit into our hearts, that we may receive our Lord with a living faith as he comes to us in his holy supper.
People: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
Pastor: 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.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Pastor: Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray:
People: 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.
COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION:
At All Saints, we practice open communion. If you believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and have been baptized, you are invited to commune. If you are worshiping from home and wish to receive communion from the Pastor, please contact the office at 817-483–1631.
POST-COMMUNION BLESSING
Pastor: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
People: Amen.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER
Lay Leader: We give you thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us through the healing power of this gift of life; and we pray that in your mercy you would strengthen us, through this gift, in faith toward you and in fervent love toward one another; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.
People: Amen.
BLESSING
Pastor: Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
People: Amen.
CLOSING HYMN All the People Said Amen
Verse 1
You are not alone if you are lonely
When you feel afraid you’re not the only
We are all the same in need of mercy
To be forgiven and be free
It’s all you got to lean on
But thank God it’s all you need
Chorus
And all the people said amen, woah, And all the people said amen.
Give thanks to the Lord for His love never ends, And all the people said amen.
Verse 2
If you’re rich or poor well it don’t matter
Weak or strong you know love is what we’re after
We’re all broken but we’re all in this together
God knows we stumble and fall
And He so loved the world
He sent His son to save us all (Chorus)
Bridge
Blessed are the poor in spirit who are torn apart
Blessed are the persecuted and the pure in heart
Blessed are the people hungry for another start
For theirs is the kingdom the kingdom of God (Chorus)
CCLI Song # 6518275 – Matt Maher, Paul Moak, Trevor Morgan, © 2013 Universal Music. For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com. CCLI License # 384330
SENDING
Pastor: Go in peace. Serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God.
Prayer Requests
Prayers for Lynn’s upcoming surgery and for the skilled hands of the surgeon and speedy & strong recovery
Thank God for listening to our prayers and helping in our times of need.
Prayers for the Livingston family who mourn the passing of Sherry’s mom Betty
Prayers for Karla for her mood, patience and perseverance as she fights to come back from a difficult diagnosis and surgery
Prayers for Tran, Barb, Lydia, Steve, James, Colin, Cleo
Prayers of recovery for Glen after knee replacement surgery
Prayers for Leonard who had a stroke
Prayers for Verda who is diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer and starting chemotherapy
Prayers for continued healing & recovery, mental & emotional uplifting for Laurie Becker-Kirk who is battling leukemia.
Prayers for the Stephenson family who mourn the passing of Les
Prayers for Jen & Jake who mourn the passing of their mother Barbara
Praise and thanksgiving for Wayne’s cancer remission
Pray for peace in Ukraine
Our Weekly Bulletin is available online at All Saints Connection.