1

March 29, 2020 Livestream worship

Healing Prayer Service

St. Paul Lutheran Church Beloit, Wisconsin

www.stpaulbeloit.org

Worship Bulletin

2

GATHERING – The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God.

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

CALL TO WORSHIP

PASTOR: Jesus began his ministry to the world led by the Spirit into the wilderness.

People: As we continue our Lenten journey, let us be led by the Spirit, even into the uncomfortable places.

PASTOR: In those forty days, and in that wilderness place, Jesus was faced with hunger, doubt and temptation.

People: As we seek to follow Jesus, we would be led by the Spirit, even into the uncomfortable choices.

PASTOR: Jesus left the wilderness, faithful and obedient to God, rejoicing in the One in whom he trusted.

People: As we continue on our path to faithfulness, we will be led by our Christ, rejoicing in the Lord our God.

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.

PASTOR: In the name of the Triune God, the Creator, the ☩ Redeemer, and the Sustainer.

People: Amen.

PASTOR: God of all mercy and comfort, come to the help of your people. Turn us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of Jesus, our Savior. Silence is kept for reflection.

PASTOR: Gracious God, People: have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned away from you, knowingly and unknowingly. We have sinned against you and against one another. We have let fear and pride keep us from loving ourselves, our neighbors, and you. Turn us back to you, O God. Heal our hearts and minds by your presence and power, that we may find comfort, hope and courage in you. Amen.

PASTOR: Receive the good news: God turns to you in love. “I will put my spirit in you, and you shall live,” says our God.

All your sin is forgiven in the name of ☩ Jesus Christ,

who is the free and abounding gift of God’s grace for you. All: Amen.

3

KYRIE “Circle Me, Lord”

4

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Pastor: Let us pray. A brief silence is kept before the prayer

Pastor: Almighty God, your Son came into the world to free us all from sin and death. Breathe upon us the power of your Spirit, that we may be raised to new life in Christ and serve you in righteousness all our days, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. All: Amen.

WORD – God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song.

FIRST READING: ROMANS 10:8-13

Reader: A reading from Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, the 8th chapter:

8 [It is written] The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the message of faith that we preach). 9 Because if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and in your heart you have faith that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 Trusting with the heart leads to righteousness, and confessing with the mouth leads to salvation. 11 The scripture says, All who have faith in him won’t be put to shame. 12 There is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord is Lord of all, who gives richly to all who call on him. 13 All who call on the Lord’s name will be saved.

Reader: Word of God, word of life. People: Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 7:15-29

PASTOR: The holy gospel according to St. Matthew. People: Glory to you, O Lord.

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you dressed like sheep, but inside they are vicious wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruit. Do people get bunches of grapes from thorny weeds, or do they get figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, and every rotten tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit. And a rotten tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore, you will know them by their fruit. 21 “Not everybody who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will get into the kingdom of heaven. Only those who do the will of my Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 On the Judgment Day, many people will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name and expel demons in your name and do lots of miracles in your name?’ 23 Then I’ll tell them, ‘I’ve never known you. Get away from me, you people who do wrong.’ 24 “Everybody who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise builder who built a house on bedrock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the wind blew and beat against that house. It didn’t fall because it was firmly set on bedrock. 26 But everybody who hears these words of mine and doesn’t put them into practice will be like a fool who built a house on

5

sand. 27 The rain fell, the floods came, and the wind blew and beat against that house. It fell and was completely destroyed.” 28 When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were amazed at his teaching 29 because he was teaching them like someone with authority and not like their legal experts.

PASTOR: This is the Gospel of our Lord. People: Praise to you, O Christ.

KIDS’ TIME Pastor Lucy

SERMON Pastor Lucy

SONG OF THE DAY “You Are Near” by Dan Schutte

6

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Intercessor: Turning our hearts to God our Healer, we pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need. A brief silence.

Intercessor: God of life, bind your faithful people into one body. Enliven the church with your Spirit and bless the work of those who work for its renewal. In this uncertain time, empower us to be renewed in you. Accomplish your work of salvation in us and through us, for the sake of the world. Lord, in your mercy. People: Hear our prayer.

Intercessor: God of life, show redemption to all the world: to places of violence, bring peace; to places of chaos, bring order; to places of despair, bring hope; to places of injustice, bring justice; to places of poverty, bring empowering care. Come quickly with your hope. Lord, in your mercy. People: Hear our prayer.

Intercessor: God of life, you are the strength of those who suffer. Bring healing and wholeness to all. Be present with all who are sick or in pain; bring peace and hope to all who are in mental, emotional or physical distress. We pray especially for all those on our prayer list, and for those on our hearts and minds, who we name before you now… (long pause for people to name their prayers)… Fill us with compassion and keep us faithful in prayer. Lord, in your mercy. People: Hear our prayer.

Intercessor: God of life, we give thanks for opportunities for this congregation to collaborate with our community in caring for the needs of our neighbors. In this time of sheltering in place, be with those ministries who seek to serve the most vulnerable, especially Caritas, Family Promise, and our own Soup Lunch ministry. Give them creativity, flexibility, and the financial support they need. Lord, in your mercy. People: Hear our prayer.

Intercessor: God of life, you are our resurrection. We remember all those who have died and trust that, in you, they will live again. Breathe new life into our dry bones, that we, too, might live with you forever. Lord, in your mercy. People: Hear our prayer.

Intercessor: Heal our world, heal our bodies, strengthen our hearts and our minds, and in the midst of turmoil, give us hope and peace; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. All: Amen.

PRAYER & ANNOINTING FOR HEALING

PASTOR: We give you thanks, O God, source of life and health, for in Jesus you became flesh and came to know the depth of human suffering. You sent your disciples to heal those who were sick. Bless the tools each of us has to share your healing power: oil for anointing, cell phones and computers for reaching out, cards and stamps sent through the mail. May each of us be bearers of your healing powers, but may we first receive it, and be healed, strengthened, and renewed by your Holy Spirit. All: Amen.

7

PASTOR: The ministry of Jesus invites us to new life in God and with each other. In our own ways, in our own homes today, we offer one another a sign of the healing God brings and in doing so proclaim the Good News that God desires us to be healthy and one in the body of Christ. You are invited to offer yourself now – to another person in the room with you, or virtually to Pr. Lucy – and receive a sign of healing and wholeness in the name of the triune God. People: Blessed be God, who forgives all our sins, who heals all our ills, who crowns us with mercy and love.

You may turn to one another as you are gathered and offer this prayer, making the sign of the cross on each person’s forehead or forehand. If you are alone, please accept this prayer of blessing for yourself as Pastor Lucy prays it:

Name, in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ, may you be strengthened and filled with God’s grace, that you may know the healing power of the Spirit.

There will be a short time of contemplative music and prayer so that all may share a sign of healing and grace, as you are able, with one another.

PASTOR: Let us pray. God of mercy, source of all healing, we give you thanks for your gifts of strength and life, and especially for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ, the health and salvation of the world. Help us by your Holy Spirit to feel your power in our lives and to know your eternal love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. All: Amen.

OFFERING

You are invited – and encouraged – to continue to give as you are able in this time of worshipping apart. You can mail your offerings to St. Paul: 617 St. Lawrence Ave, Beloit, WI 53511. Or give online at: https://tithe.ly/give?c=531526.

PEACE

PASTOR: The peace of Christ be with you always. People: And also with you.

PASTOR: Take a moment now, close your eyes, take several slow deep, breaths, and focus a prayer of peace on a few people whom God brings to your mind.

LORD’S PRAYER

PASTOR: Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.

All: 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.

8

SENDING – God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world.

SENDING BLESSING

PASTOR: Remember this promise: The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart, and All who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved.

Holy God, who knows all our needs, ☩ bless you,

strengthen you, and keep you in love and in peace. All: Amen.

SENDING SONG “Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me” ELW #623 – see next page

DISMISSAL

AM: Be kept now in peace, and live to love and serve the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE

SERVING YOU TODAY

Pastor Rev. Lucy Wynard Organist & Director of Music David Frank Reader Greg Wilson Intercessor Hayden Murry Camera Operators Travis Bell & Alexus Blazer

The liturgy and songs are adapted and printed from Sundays and Seasons.com. ©2020 Augsburg Fortress. Reprinted and streamed by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS006078 and One License license # A-712252.

9