ASCENSION LUTHERAN CHURCH THE LUTHERAN CHURCH MISSOURI SYNOD LITTLETON, COLORADO July 9, 2017 10:00 am FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER ENTECOST Jesus Welcomes the Weary AS WE GATHER Are you tired? Are you burdened? Do you feel weary? Jesus says to you: Come to Me... and I will give you rest. As we come to Jesus in faith, He takes our burdens upon Himself and gives us rest for our souls. Yoked to Christ in our Baptism, our standing in the presence of God the Father is guaranteed because of Him. We gather together for worship today, knowing that as Jesus first comes to us with forgiveness and new life, we can then offer Him our prayers and praise. This is the Father s gracious will. May He bless us as we gather before Him!
GATHERING SONGS reservice Music The Heart Of Worship When the music fades, all is stripped away, and I simply come; Longing just to bring something that's of worth that will bless Your heart. I'll bring You more than a song, For a song in itself is not what You have required. You search much deeper within through the way things appear; You're looking into my heart. CHORUS: I'm coming back to the heart of worship, And it's all about You, all about You, Jesus. I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it, When it's all about You, all about You, Jesus. King of endless worth, no one could express how much You deserve. Though I'm weak and poor, all I have is Yours, ev'ry single breath. I'll bring You more than a song, For a song in itself is not what You have required. You search much deeper within through the way things appear; You're looking into my heart. CHORUS (2 X) Baloche Contemporary Service: Order of Worship ASTORAL GREETING ASTOR LARSON Congregation, please stand. INVOCATION astor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. eople: Amen.
Song of the Day You Never Let Go Redman Even though I walk through the valley Of the shadow of death Your perfect love is casting out fear And even when I'm caught in the middle Of the storms of this life I won't turn back I know You are near And I will fear no evil For my God is with me And if my God is with me Whom then shall I fear Whom then shall I fear CHORUS: CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION astor: eople: astor: Matthew 11:25 30; Romans 7:14 25a Jesus invites you: Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Let us come to Jesus in a time of silent prayer. We reflect upon our need for Jesus rest and forgiveness. astor: eople: astor: eople: Oh no You never let go Through the calm and through the storm Oh no You never let go In ev'ry high and ev'ry low Oh no You never let go Lord You never let go of me And I can see a light that is coming For the heart that holds on A glorious light beyond all compare And there will be an end to these troubles But until that day comes We'll live to know You here on the earth And I will fear no evil For my God is with me And if my God is with me Whom then shall I fear Whom then shall I fear CHORUS Yes, I can see a light That is coming for the heart that holds on And there will be an end to these troubles But until that day comes Still I will praise You Still I will praise You CHORUS Lord, You never let go Lord You never let go of me Almighty God, heavenly Father, We confess that we are burdened by our sin. What we want to do, we don t do. What we end up doing, we know that we are not supposed to do. We feel trapped. Your Word teaches us that we cannot escape our sinfulness. Only in Your mercy is there rest for our souls and relief from the burdens of our hearts. Father, fill us again with the assurance of the cross and the empty tomb, that we may receive anew the victory that is ours through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. The burdens that are so heavy for you are light for Jesus! As you have now confessed your sins, it is my privilege and joy to announce to you that Jesus has taken away your burdens by His death and resurrection. According to His own command, I, as a servant of the Word and as Your pastor, forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
WORD OLD TESTAMENT READING: Zechariah 9:9 12 (The King shall speak peace to the nations.) Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit. Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you. Lector: eople: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. EISTLE: Romans 7:14 25a (aul struggles with the sin within him.) We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! Lector: eople: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Congregation, please stand. HOLY GOSEL: Matthew 11:25 30 (Jesus offers rest to all who come to Him.) astor: eople: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the Eleventh chapter. Glory to You, O Lord. At that time Jesus said, I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. astor: eople: This is the Gospel of the Lord. raise to You, O Christ.
Children s Message astor John Larson Song of the Day Come As You Are Glover/Crowder/Maher Come out of sadness from wherever you've been Come broken-hearted let rescue begin Come find your mercy O sinner come kneel Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't heal Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't heal CHORUS: (So) Lay down your burdens lay down your shame All who are broken lift up your face O wanderer come home You're not too far So lay down your hurt lay down your heart Come as you are There's hope for the hopeless And all those who've strayed Come sit at the table come taste the grace There's rest for the weary Rest that endures Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't cure CHORUS Come as you are Fall in His arms Come as you are There's joy for the morning O sinner be still Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't heal Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't heal CHORUS Come as you are Come as you are Come as you are
SERMON The Cure astor John Larson Text: Matthew 11:25-30 AOSTLES CREED I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under ontius ilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence 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. RAYER SHARING OF THE EACE The peace of the Lord be with you always. C And also with you. You may now greet one another in the name of the Lord using...eace be with you
THE OFFERING MUSIC DUET DURING OFFERING Jesus, Lover of My Soul arr. Simeon Mareh Anita Baresel and Jenna Lawrenz, vocalists OFFERTORY RAYER Let us pray, C Heavenly Father, receive these gifts, symbols of the time, abilities, and resources we place at Your disposal in thanks for Your eternal grace, mercy, and peace. Receive them for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. HOLY COMMUNION AT ASCENSION The Lord, our Host, invites to his Supper those who are baptized into the Christian faith, confess him as Savior, have examined themselves, truly repent of sins, believe the Risen Lord is present in the sacrament with his true body and blood, and resolve to live faithfully and obediently. For those with an intolerance to alcohol, the center ring of the tray contains grape juice. Gluten free wafers are available to those with wheat allergies. Children who have not been instructed, yet desire a blessing, are invited to come forward with arms crossed. Come, for the Supper is ready! When receiving the bread and wine, the communicant may respond with Amen!, a word of affirmation and belief. HOLY COMMUNION OUR LORD S BODY AND BLOOD REFACE C C C 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.
THE WORDS OF CONSECRATION 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. For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup, we proclaim the Lord s death until he comes. THE LORD S RAYER LSB (Inside back-cover) DISTRIBUTION SONGS O Come To The Altar Are you hurting and broken within Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin Jesus is calling Have you come to the end of yourself Do you thirst for a drink from the well Jesus is calling Chris Brown CHORUS: O come to the altar The Father's arms are open wide Forgiveness was bought with The precious blood of Jesus Christ Leave behind your regrets and mistakes Come today there's no reason to wait Jesus is calling Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy From the ashes a new life is born Jesus is calling CHORUS X2 Oh what a Savior Isn't he wonderful Sing alleluia Christ is risen Bow down before him For he is Lord of all Sing alleluia Christ is risen Oh what a Savior Isn't he wonderful Sing alleluia Christ is risen Bow down before him For he is Lord of all Sing alleluia Christ is risen CHORUS X2 Bear your cross as you wait for the crown Tell the world of the treasure you've found
Come To the Table Cloninger Come to the table of mercy, prepared with the wine and the bread; All who are hungry and thirsty, come and your souls will be fed. Come at the Lord s invitation, receive from His nailscarred hand; Eat of the bread of salvation, drink of the blood of the Lamb. Hallelujah You Are Good We are standing in-between Hope and despair Believing in Your grace And the faith to declare You are with us Hallelujah Hallelujah You are good In the ashes and the dust The sorrow and pain Lies the promise of Your word And the pow'r of Your name You are with us Hallelujah Hallelujah You are good Matt Maher & Steven Curtis Chapman And when faith gives way to fear I will trust Your heart I will trust Your heart When I cannot feel You near I will trust Your heart I will trust Your heart There's a message being written With the morning sun And a new song for the broken Death has lost love has won You are with us Hallelujah Hallelujah You are good Hallelujah Hallelujah Hallelujah You are good MEN: MEN: TOGETHER: MEN: MEN: TOGETHER: Hallelujah (WOMEN: I have tasted) Hallelujah (WOMEN: I have seen it) Hallelujah You are good Hallelujah (WOMEN: I remember) Hallelujah (WOMEN: I believe it) Hallelujah You are good You are with us. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, You are Good!
COMMUNION BLESSING C The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. Amen. BENEDICTION C 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 give you peace. Amen. Closing Song Forever Reign Morgan Ingram You are good, You are good, when there s nothing good in me. You are love, You are love, on display for all to see. You are light, You are light, when the darkness closes in. You are hope, You are hope, You have covered all my sin. You are peace, You are peace, when my fear is crippling. You are true, You are true, even in my wandering. You are joy, You are joy, You re the reason that I sing. You are life, You are life, in You death has lost its sting. CHORUS: Oh, I m running to your arms, I m running to your arms. The riches of Your love will always be enough. Nothing compares to Your embrace. Light of the world, forever reign. You are more, You are more, than my words will ever say. You are Lord, You are Lord, all creation will proclaim. You are here, you are here, in Your presence I m made whole. You are God, You are God; Of all else I m letting go. CHORUS (2 x) My heart will sing, no other Name, Jesus, Jesus. My heart will sing, no other Name, Jesus, Jesus. CHORUS C Go in peace. Serve the Lord. Thanks be to God! CONGREGATIONAL CONCERNS
Serving in Worship OFFICIANT and CELEBRANT DIRECTOR OF MUSIC MINISTRIES The Rev. John R. Larson, astor Michael Zehnder ELDER 8:00 Norm Finfrock 10:00 Larry Buethe RAISE TEAM 10:00 All raise Band LECTOR 8:00 Scott Luethy 10:00 Jude Donovan ACOLYTE 8:00 Carter Murray 10:00 Isiah Ortiz USHERS 8:00 Art Gordan, Members of the Congregation 10:00 Jason Dierking, Members of the Congregation SERVER 10:00 Margo asha ALTAR GUILD FLOWERS CCLI License #1903595 hyllis McConnell, Sharon Seible William Dollar, in loving memory of Stephen Hunt