https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crFZjsnjT80

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost – June 16 & 19, 2024

ZION EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH – LCMS

Guests.  Welcome to Zion.  We are glad to have you with us.  Please sign our guestbook located in the Narthex.  About Holy Communion:  We welcome to the Lord’s Table all who have repented of their sins and seek to amend their sinful life; all who believe that Jesus is truly present in, with, and under the bread and the wine; and all who believe that through the words “given and shed for you” forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given.  If this is your confession and you are a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, then come with a thankful heart and join us.   If you are a visitor and would like to commune, please talk with Pastor Dan before the service.  To help in preparing to receive Holy Communion open the front cover of the Burgundy hymnal or turn to pages 329 & 330.  Gluten free wafers are available, please talk with an Elder or Pastor before the service if you would appreciate them.

 AS WE GATHER – This morning we are reminded that God promises salvation to all who believe in His Son and His saving mercy, grace, and love.  Our Lord has promised a secure future in His presence both now and especially in the eternity of life in His resurrection. Though we experience the sin of this world and satans temptations, our Lord promises that in faith we are like firm trees planted in His strength and victory. Our faith is created by the Holy Spirit, and in His help, it grows and remains strong regardless of the challenges in our lives.  So in those times when we become discouraged, our confidence is renewed by the Holy Spirit, as we remain steadfast in our connection to the Living Vine, Jesus Christ our Lord.

 We Thank Pastor Meier for leading us in worship and sharing God’s word with us.  Gods continued and rich blessings to him and his wife Bonnie.

Ringing of the Bell and Welcome

 Hymn “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”             LSB 790

Invocation – In the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit.      Amen.

Opening Sentences – We know that if the tent, which is our earthly home, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.   Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night.

 Confession and Absolution – Let us prepare to receive God’s strengthening of our faith as we confess our sin and hear His assurance that our sin is forgiven in His Son.    All:  Merciful God, we confess to You that when we become discouraged we often feel You have abandoned us.  We are sorry, and we confess to You all our sins of thought, word, and deed.  We confess those sinful things we have done and those things we have not done according to Your will.  For the sake of Your Son’s own bitter suffering and death for all sinners, grant us forgiveness and the strength of a renewed faith, that in that faith we may live according to You will today and every day until You call us home to live with You in heaven. 

Dear children of God, you are the planting and the harvest of the Lord.  Almighty God, our heavenly Father, has had mercy upon us and has given His only Son to die for us and for His sake forgives us all our sins.  In His name and by the command of our Lord, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.    He that believes and is baptized shall be saved.     Grant this Lord, unto us all.  Amen

Kyrie    LSB 186

Hymn of Praise – Gloria in Excelsis     LSB 187

 Salutation – The Lord be with you.      And also with you.

Prayer of the Day – Blessed Lord, since You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.    Amen.

  Old Testament Reading   Ezekiel 17:22-34  – “‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain.  On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar.  Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches.  All the trees of the field will know that I the LORD bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall.  I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish.  ” ‘I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.’ ”

 Psalm 1 – Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.  In all that he does, he prospers.  The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.  Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,     nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Epistle or New Testament Reading      2 Corinthians 5:1-10

Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.  Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.  For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.  Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.  Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.  We live by faith, not by sight.  We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.  So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

Verse – Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.  On your wondrous works, I will meditate, and I will declare your greatness. Alleluia!     Alleluia!  Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Alleluia!

Holy Gospel    Mark 4:26-34

The Holy Gospel according St. Mark, the fourth chapter.       Glory to You, O Lord.

He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like.  A man scatters seed on the ground.  Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.  All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.  As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”   Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it?  It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground.  Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.”  With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.  He did not say anything to them without using a parable.  But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.   This is the Gospel of the Lord.     Praise to You, O Christ.

Nicene Creed – I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.  And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.  And I believe in the Holy Spirit,   the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life X of the world to come.    Amen.

Hymn  “Almighty God, Your Word is Cast”      LSB 577

Sermon

Prayers of the Church

The Lord’s Prayer – 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.

We Gather our Tithes and Offerings

 Service of the Sacrament  

 Preface   2 Timothy 4:22 –   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 Him thanks and praise.

Proper Preface It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who on this day overcame death and the grave and by His glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and singing:

Sanctus                                                        LSB 195

Prayer of Thanksgiving – Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have had mercy on those whom You created and sent Your only-begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior.  With repentant joy we receive the salvation accomplished for us by the all-availing sacrifice of His body and His blood on the cross.  Gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, we beg You, O Lord, to forgive, renew, and strengthen us with Your Word and Spirit.  Grant us faithfully to eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us do in His own testament.  Gather us together, we pray, from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Graciously receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and worship, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

The Words of Our Lord – Consecration of the Elements

Proclamation of Christ  1 Corinthians 11:26; Revelation 22:20 – As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.      Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.     

Pax Domini                                             LSB 197

Agnus Dei                                               LSB 198

Distribution Hymns:

“Renew Me, O Eternal Light”                                   LSB 704

“Take My Life and Let It Be”                                    LSB 783

“For Me to Live Is Jesus”                                          LSB 742

Nunc Dimittis                                          LSB 199

Post-Communion Thanksgiving – We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

 Benediction      Numbers 6:24–26 –   The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and X give you peace.   Amen.   

Hymn  “On What Has Now Been Sown”               LSB 921