Fifth Sunday after Pentecost July 10, 2022

Today’s Theme for Worship: Focused love finds a neighbor rather than avoiding one. We are free to actively seek out a neighbor in need. We are free to bear any cost and go any distance to serve them as Christ would serve them.

Hymn: 643 O God, Our Lord, Your Holy Word

1         O God, our Lord, your holy Word
was long a hidden treasure till to its place
    it was by grace restored in fullest measure.
    For this today our thanks we say and gladly glorify you.
    Your mercy show and grace bestow
on all who still deny you.

2         Salvation true by faith in you—
that is your gospel’s preaching,
    the heart and core of Bible lore
in all its sacred teaching.
    In Christ we must put all our trust,
not in our deeds or labor; with conscience pure
    and heart secure love you, Lord, and our neighbor.

3         Lord, you alone this work have done
by your free grace and favor.
    All who believe will grace receive
through Jesus Christ, our Savior.
    And though the foe would overthrow
your Word with grim endeavor,
    all he has wrought must come to naught;
your Word will stand forever!

4         Since you are mine, my Lord divine,
death holds no dreadful terrors;
    your precious blood, my highest good,
has blotted out my errors. My thanks to you,
    your Word is true; fulfill your promise ever,
    and mercy give while here I live
and heav’nly bliss forever.

Text: tr. W. Gustave Polack, 1890–1950, alt.; Arnag, 1490–1539, abr.
Text: © 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 703297

Invocation

P: The grace of our Lord + Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.
C: And also with you.

Confession and Absolution

P: 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.

C: 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.

P: 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.

C: Amen.

P: In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord.

O taste and see that the Lord is good.
Blessèd are they who take refuge in him.
Your Word, O Lord, is eternal;
it stands firm in the heavens.
Your faithfulness continues forever.
O taste and see that the Lord is good.
Blessèd are they who take refuge in him.

Text: n/a
Text: Public domain

Prayer of the Day

Let us pray.

God of all power and might, you are the giver of all that is good. Help us 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 your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

First Reading: Ruth 1:1–19a

During the days of the judges, a famine occurred in the land. So a man left Bethlehem in Judah to stay awhile in the territory of Moab—he, his wife, and his two sons. ²The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were from the clan of Ephrath from Bethlehem in Judah. They entered the territory of Moab and remained there.

³But Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, so she was left with her two sons. ⁴They then married Moabite wives. The name of the first was Orpah, and the name of the second was Ruth. They lived there for about ten years. ⁵But Naomi’s sons, Mahlon and Kilion, also died. So the woman was left without her two children and without her husband.

⁶Then Naomi set out with her daughters-in-law to return from the territory of Moab, because while she was in the territory of Moab, she had heard that the Lord had graciously visited his people by providing them with food. ⁷So she left the place where she had been, and her two daughters-in-law left with her. They set out on the road to return to the land of Judah.

⁸But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back. Both of you return to your mother’s house. May the Lord show you kindness as you have shown kindness to the dead and to me. ⁹May the Lord grant that each of you finds security in the house of a husband.” Then she kissed them, and they wept loudly.

¹⁰But they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.”

¹¹Then Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Am I going to give birth to any more sons who could become your husbands? ¹²Turn back, my daughters. Go! For I am too old to be married to another husband. Suppose I say, ‘I have hope, and I will be married to another husband tonight, and I will even give birth to sons.’ ¹³Would you wait for them until they grow up? On the basis of that hope would you give up the chance to marry another husband? No, my daughters. It is much more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the Lord has reached out against me.”

¹⁴They once again wept loudly. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth would not let her go.

¹⁵Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law has returned to her people and to her gods. Go back! Follow your sister-in-law.”

¹⁶But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to abandon you or to turn back from following you. Because wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you make your home, I will make my home. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. ¹⁷Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely and double it if anything but death separates me from you.”

¹⁸When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.

¹⁹Then the two of them traveled until they arrived at Bethlehem.

Hymn of Praise: 849 Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me

1     Lord, take my hand and lead me
    upon life’s way;
direct, protect, and feed me
    from day to day.
Without your grace and favor
    I go astray;
so take my hand, O Savior,
    and lead the way.

2     Lord, when the tempest rages,
    I need not fear;
for you, the Rock of Ages,
    are always near.
Close by your side abiding,
    I fear no foe,
for when your hand is guiding,
    in peace I go.

3     Lord, when the shadows lengthen
    and night has come,
I know that you will strengthen
    my steps toward home.
Then nothing can impede me,
    O blessèd Friend;
so take my hand and lead me
    unto the end.

Text: tr. Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978; Julie K. Hausmann, 1825–1901
Text: © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 703297

Second Reading: Galatians 5:1,13–25

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not allow anyone to put the yoke of slavery on you again.

¹³After all, brothers, you were called to freedom. Only do not use your freedom as a starting point for your sinful flesh. Rather, serve one another through love. ¹⁴In fact, the whole law is summed up in this one statement: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

¹⁶What I am saying is this: Walk by the spirit, and you will not carry out what the sinful flesh desires. ¹⁷For the sinful flesh desires what is contrary to the spirit, and the spirit what is contrary to the sinful flesh. In fact, these two continually oppose one another, so that you do not continue to do these things you want to do. ¹⁸But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the control of the law.

¹⁹Now the works of the sinful flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, complete lack of restraint, ²⁰idolatry, sorcery, hatred, discord, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, heresies, ²¹envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things similar to these. I warn you, just as I also warned you before, that those who continue to do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²²But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵If we live by the spirit, let us also walk in step with it.

Verse of the Day

P: Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Gospel: Luke 10:25–37

²⁵Just then, an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

²⁶“What is written in the law?” he asked him. “What do you read there?”

²⁷He replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and, love your neighbor as yourself.”

²⁸He said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live.”

²⁹But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

³⁰Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho. He fell among robbers who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹It just so happened that a priest was going down that way. But when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³²In the same way, a Levite also happened to go there, but when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³³A Samaritan, as he traveled, came to where the man was. When he saw him, he felt sorry for the man. ³⁴He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. He put him on his own animal, took him to an inn, and took care of him. ³⁵The next day, when he left, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him. Whatever extra you spend, I will repay you when I return.’ ³⁶Which of these three do you think acted like a neighbor to the man who fell among robbers?”

³⁷“The one who showed mercy to him,” he replied.

Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Hymn: 754 Forgive Us, Lord, for Shallow Thankfulness

1     Forgive us, Lord, for shallow thankfulness,
    for dull content with warmth and sheltered care,
for songs of praise for worldly wealthiness,
    while of your richer gifts we’re unaware:

2     Teach us to thank you, Lord, for love and grace,
    for life and vision, for a purpose clear,
for Christ, your Son, and for each human face
    that shows your message ever new and near.

3     Forgive us, Lord, for selfish thanks and praise,
    for words that speak at variance with deeds;
forgive our thanks for walking pleasant ways,
    unmindful of a broken brother’s needs:

4     Teach us, O Lord, true thankfulness divine,
    that gives as Christ gave, never counting cost,
that knows no barrier of “yours” and “mine,”
    assured that only what’s withheld is lost.

5     Forgive us, Lord, for feast that knows not fast,
    for joy in things that meanwhile starve the soul,
for walls and wars that hide your mercies vast
    and blur our vision of the kingdom goal:

6     Open our eyes to see your love’s intent,
    to know with mind and heart its depth and height;
let thankful days in loving labor spent
    reflect the truly Christlike life and light.

Text: William W. Reid, Sr., 1890–1983, alt.
Text: © 1965 The Hymn Society, admin. Hope Publishing Co. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 703297

Sermon

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.

Offering

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Prayer of the Church

Lord's Prayer

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins,

as we forgive those

who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours

now and forever. Amen.

Hymn: 506 For the Fruits of His Creation

1     For the fruits of his creation,
    thanks be to God.
For his gifts to ev’ry nation,
    thanks be to God.
For the plowing, sowing, reaping,
silent growth while we are sleeping,
future needs in earth’s safekeeping,
        thanks be to God.

2     In the just reward of labor,
    God’s will is done.
In the help we give our neighbor,
    God’s will is done.
In our worldwide task of caring
for the hungry and despairing,
in the harvests we are sharing,
    God’s will is done.

3     For the harvests of the Spirit,
    thanks be to God.
For the good we all inherit,
    thanks be to God.
For the wonders that astound us,
for the truths that still confound us,
most of all, that love has found us,
    thanks be to God.

Prayer

P: Almighty God, we thank you for teaching us the things you want us to believe and do. Help us by your Holy Spirit to keep your Word in pure hearts that we may be strengthened in faith, guided in holiness, and comforted in life and in death, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: A-men.

Blessing

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 T give you peace.

Amen.

Hymn: 689 Renew Me, O Eternal Light

1 Renew me, O eternal Light,
and let my heart and soul be bright,
illumined with the light of grace
that issues from your holy face.

2 Destroy in me the lust of sin,
from all impureness make me clean.
O grant me pow’r and strength, my God,
to strive against my flesh and blood.

3 Create in me a new heart, Lord,
that gladly I obey your Word.
O let your will be my desire
and with new life my soul inspire.

4 Grant that I only you may love
and seek those things which are above
till I behold you face to face,
O Light eternal, through your grace.

Text: tr. August Crull, 1845–1923, alt.; Johann F. Ruopp, 1672–1708, abr.
Text: Public domain

Acknowledgments

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, New International Version^®, NIV^®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.^TM Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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