Everything you need for July 23 online worship.
Preparations for Worship:
- Do your best to eliminate distractions like the phone, TV, etc.
- Worship actively! Whether you are by yourself or with others, try reading the parts of the service aloud (responses, lessons, and prayers).
- This service is for children too. Help them participate. Ask those who have that ability to read a prayer or lesson aloud. Take a moment to describe what’s happening. Ask questions. Encourage little ones to draw what they are hearing while you all listen. Unlike our more typical Sunday worship at church, you can pause at any time for questions and discussion.
- Before you begin, load each of the videos below. (You might first have to get past a distracting ad.)
- Pause for a moment of quiet meditation. Then pray:
“Heavenly Father, I have come to worship you. Draw near to me in your gracious Word, and assure me of your loving kindness. Curb my wandering thoughts, that with undivided attention I may hear your voice and speak your praise. Through Jesus Christ. Amen.”
PRAYER OF THE DAY
O God, so rule and govern our hearts and minds by your Holy Spirit that, ever mindful of your final judgment, we may be stirred up to holiness of living here and dwell with you in perfect joy hereafter; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
LESSON – ISAIAH 44:6-11
6This is what the Lord, the King of Israel, Israel’s Redeemer, the Lord of Armies, says. I am the first, and I am the last. Except for me, there is no god. 7For who is like me? Let him declare it. Let him recite in order for me the things that took place since the time I established an ancient people. Or let them declare what is yet to come, and what is going to take place. 8Do not tremble, and do not be frightened. Did I not announce this to you, and declare it already long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any god except me? There is no other Rock. I am not aware of any other. 9All those who form an idol are good for nothing. All the things which delight them provide no benefit. As for their witnesses—they do not see. They know nothing, so they will be ashamed. 10Who is this who forms a god or casts a metal image that can provide no profit? 11Look at him! All his associates will be ashamed. The craftsmen are merely men. Let them all gather themselves and take a stand. They will be terrified and ashamed together.
LESSON – ROMANS 1:18-25
18Indeed, God’s wrath is being revealed from heaven against all the ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who try to suppress the truth by unrighteousness. 19This happens because what can be known about God is evident among them, because God made it evident among them. 20In fact, his invisible characteristics—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, because they are understood from the things he made. As a result, people are without excuse, 21because, even though they knew God, they did not honor him or give him thanks as God. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless heart was darkened.
22Although they claim to be wise, they have become fools 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human, or like birds, four-footed animals, and crawling things. 24So, as they followed the sinful desires of their hearts, God handed them over to the impurity of degrading their own bodies among themselves. 25Such people have traded the truth about God for the lie, worshipping and serving the creation rather than the Creator, who is worthy of praise forever. Amen.
DEVOTION – MATTHEW 13:24-30, 36-43
OFFERING
Offerings may be given on-line at tithe.ly/risensavior, mailed to the church, or dropped off at the church.
Our members have joined together in faith and love to do the Lord’s work in this community and around the world. Guests need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our ministry.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Redeemer and Lord of hosts, the future is in Your hands.
Remove all fear from us, and keep us mindful that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us.
We give You thanks for all who serve as instruments of Your compassion, those who care for the elderly at home, and those who work in retirement and nursing facilities.
Grant that we also may serve as Your hands, feet and voices to give comfort and company to the lonely.
Dear Father, we thank you for WELS Mission to the Visually Impaired, which helps congregations share God’s Word with those who are struggling with blindness or vision challenges. Bless their efforts as they encourage and advise individuals and congregations and offer Christian publications in audio or braille formats.
May these resources help the visually impaired to join with their brothers and sisters in Christ to worship you.
O Lord, You are slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
Be patient with those who do not repent or believe. Send Your Holy Spirit to bring them into saving faith.
We commend to You all who endure the bondage of decay through infirmity and weakness.
Deliver them according to Your will, and strengthen and preserve their faith, that they may rejoice that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed in us.
Lord God, You have called us according to Your purpose. You cause all things to work together for our good. Keep us safe until that day when You gather us with the saints into Your kingdom, which has no end; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who taught us to pray…
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.