Third Sunday after Pentecost (Lectionary 11b)June 13 & 14, 2015Holy Communion (ELW I)

INTRODUCTION

The mustard seed becomes a great shrub that shelters the birds, recalling ancient images of the tree of life. We'd expect a cedar or a sequoia, but Jesus finds the power of God better imaged in a tiny, no-account seed. It's not the way we expect divine activity to look. Yet the tree of life is here, in the cross around which we gather, the tree into which we are grafted through baptism, the true vine that nourishes us with its fruit in the cup we share. It may not appear all that impressive, but while nobody's looking it grows with a power beyond our understanding.

CHILDREN are always welcome to our Worship Service. Rainbow bags and a cry room are available. A staffed nursery is also available if needed. An usher will gladly provide you with assistance.

As a worship courtesy, we ask that you please turn off or set to vibrate all cellular telephones and pagers during the worship service.

We ask that all present today please fill out the Attendance and Communion registration card found in your bulletin and place it in the offering plate so that we may record your presence with us.

PRAYER UPON ENTERING The PEW

Almighty and most merciful God, we call to mind before you all whom it is easy to forget: those who are homeless, destitute, sick, isolated, and all who have no one to care for them. May we bring help and healing to those who are broken in body or spirit, that they may have comfort in sorrow, company in loneliness, and a place of safety and warmth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE ORDER OF WORSHIP

Prelude Adagio, from Toccata, Adagio, and Fugue in C J.S. Bach

WELCOME

Invocation

In the name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit.Amen.

Gathering Song: We Plow the Fields and Scatter (ELW 681)

Greeting

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all!And also with you!

Kyrie

Canticle of Praise

Prayer of the Day

O God, you are the tree of life, offering shelter to all the world. Graft us into yourself and nurture our growth, that we may bear your truth and love to those in need, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Please be seated.

A Message for Our ChildrenFirst Reading: 1 Samuel 15:3416:13

34Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house in Gibeah of Saul. 35Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the LORD was sorry that he had made Saul king over Israel. The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons." 2Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me." And the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' 3Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you." 4Samuel did what the LORD commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?" 5He said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed is now before the LORD." 7But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." 8Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." 9Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." 10Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen any of these." 11Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here." 12He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; for this is the one." 13Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah. The word of the Lord.Thanks be to God.

Psalm 20

Refrain:

Tone:

1May the LORD answer you in the | day of trouble,the name of the God of Ja- | cob defend you;2send you help from the | sanctuaryand strengthen you | out of Zion;3may the LORD remember | all your offeringsand accept | your burnt sacrifice;4grant you your | heart's desireand prosper | all your plans. R

5We will shout for joy at your victoryand unfurl our banners in the name | of our God;may the LORD grant all | your requests.6Now I know that the LORD gives victory to | the anointed one;God will answer out of the holy heaven,gaining victory with a | strong right hand. R

7Some trust in chariots and | some in horses,but we rely on the name of the | LORD our God.8They collapse | and fall down,but we will arise | and stand upright.9O LORD, give victory | to the kingand answer us | when we call. R

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:610[1113] 1417 6So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord 7for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil. 11Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences. 12We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart. 13For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. 15And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them. 16From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. 17So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!

The word of the Lord.Thanks be to God.

Please stand for the reading of the gospel.

Gospel Acclamation

VERSE:Welcome with meekness the im- | planted word*that has the power to | save your souls. (James 1:21)

Gospel Mark 4: 26-34

The holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Mark.Glory to you, O Lord.

26He also said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, 27and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 29But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come." 30He also said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 31It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." 33With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; 34he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.

The gospel of the Lord.Praise to you, O Christ.

Please be seated.

Sermon Pastor Karen Asmus-AlsnauerPlease stand and sing:

Hymn of the Day: Lead Me, Guide Me (ELW 768)

Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God's 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 to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come 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.

Prayers of Intercession

Trusting the Spirit's power, we pray for the church, the world, and all of God's creation.

Please sit or kneel as you are able.

Each petition ends with:Lord, in your mercy,hear our prayer.

Receive these prayers, gracious God, and those prayers known only to you. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.Amen.

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

Brothers and sisters, if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Let us now confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Most merciful God,we confess that we are captive 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.

In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God 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.Amen.

Please stand and greet one another in the peace of the risen Christ.

Peace

The peace of Christ be with you always.And also with you.

Announcements

OFFERTORY: Chorale Fantasia on Lead Me, Guide Me Wells

OFFERTORY HYMN: Let the Vineyards Be Fruitful (ELW 182)

Offering Prayer

Let us pray. O God, ruler of heaven and earth, all that we have and all that we are come through you. We offer back with thanksgiving a portion of what you have given us: our time, our work, and our wealth. With them we dedicate our lives to the care and redemption of all that you have made, through Jesus Christ, who gave himself for the salvation of the world. Amen.

Dialogue

Preface

Holy, Holy, Holy

Eucharistic Prayer

Holy, mighty, and merciful Lord, heaven and earth are full of your glory.In great love you sent to us Jesus, your Son, who reached out to heal the sick and suffering, who preached good news to the poor, and who, on the cross, opened his arms to all.

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.

Remembering, therefore, his death, resurrection, and ascension, we await his coming in glory.

Pour out upon us the Spirit of your love, O Lord, and unite the wills of all who share this heavenly food, the body and blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord;to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and forever.Amen. Lord's Prayer

Risen Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach 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.

Invitation to Communion

All who desire to leave their old lives behind and live in Christ, come to the feast!

All baptized people are welcome to the table to receive Christs body and blood. If you have not been baptized, you are also welcome to the table as Gods guest; we are honored by your presence. We recognize the Body of Christ as the community of the baptized, so if you would like to become part of the Body of Christ, we encourage you to seek baptism. If you cant or dont wish to receive today, we encourage you to hold your hands over your chest for a blessing as you come forward.

Communion

The body of Christ, given for you.The blood of Christ, shed for you.Amen.

Lamb of God

Song During Distribution: How Great Thou Art (ELW 856)

Prayer after Communion

Almighty God, your gave your Son Jesus Christ both as a sacrifice for sin and a model of the godly life. Move us by your Holy Spirit to receive him always with thanksgiving and conform our lives to his; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.

Blessing

Almighty God, Father, +Son, and Holy Spirit bless you and keep you, now and forever.Amen.

SENDING HYMN: Sent Forth by God's Blessing (ELW 547) Dismissal

Go in peace. Love as God has loved you.Thanks be to God.

Postlude Prelude in C J. S. Bach

COMMEMORATIONS FOR THE WEEK

Sunday, June 14, 2015Basil the Great, Bishop of Caesarea, died 379; Gregory, Bishop of Nyssa, died around 385; Gregory of Nazianzus, Bishop of Constantinople, died around 389; Macrina, theologian, died around 379

The Cappadocian fathers, as the three men in this group are known, explored the mystery of the Holy Trinity. Basil's monastic rule forms the basis for Eastern monastic life. Gregory of Nazianzus defended orthodox Christianity in Constantinople. Gregory of Nyssa, Basil's younger brother, wrote on the spiritual life. Macrina, older sister of Basil and Gregory of Nyssa, was the leader of a community dedicated to asceticism, meditation, and prayer.

Sunday, June 21Onesimos Nesib, translator, evangelist, died 1931

Onesimos was born in Ethiopia. Captured and taken as a slave to Eritrea, he was there freed by Swedish missionaries. He translated the Bible into his native Oromo and returned to preach there.

The Altar flowers are administered by the worship committee. The 2015 Altar Flower chart is posted on the bulletin board in the lower lobby and there is attached to it a tear-off sheet for donors to complete and hand into the office or place in the offering plate for proper publication in the bulletin.

If you would like to purchase flowers for worship in memory of or in honor of someone, please sign up. The cost is $35 per arrangement, and checks should be made out to Trinity Lutheran Church. The contact person is Mary in the church office (614) 224.6818 or email: oldtrinityoffice@gmail.com

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING A MEMBER OF TRINITY Lutheran Church?

We receive members throughout the year by Baptism, Affirmation of Faith, Confirmation, Letter of Transfer, and New Member Instruction. Please contact the church office with any questions. 224-6818.

Please feel free to take your bulletin and happenings with you. If you wish to discard your bulletin, a recycling box is located at the exit. Thank you.