T R I N I T Y LUTHERAN CHURCH LUTHERAN CHURCH - MISSOURI SYNOD FARIBAULT MINNESOTA INDEPENDENCE DAY FOR FREEDOM Saturday/Sunday, June 30 & July 1, 2018 5:30 PM & 8:00 AM AS WE GATHER For freedom Christ has set us free (Galatians 5:1). On this day when people across our great land celebrate the freedoms that belong to us in the United States of America, the people of God bow before the Lord in humble praise and prayer, acknowledging the true source of our freedom. Set free from our captivity to sin and Satan by the redeeming work of Christ, we live as free people. We belong to God! As citizens of heaven with temporary citizenship in our country, we treasure all the earthly blessings we now have, including the freedoms of our country. Today, let us use those freedoms for the sake of the One who sets us free. We are free to love our God. We are free to worship Him in Spirit and truth. We are free to love our neighbor. And we are free to bring the saving Gospel to all we meet. God bless America! And God bless all His people this day and every day with the freedom that is ours in Christ! OPENING HYMN Before You, Lord, We Bow LSB 966 INVOCATION In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (A time for silent reflection on our sins)
2 Let us then confess our sins to God our Father. Most merciful God, we confess our faults to You. We are captive to the sin that surrounds us. Nothing we can do will ever set us free. You alone provide liberty for the captives and freedom for those under sin s curse. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen. Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. In Christ Jesus, you who once were held in captivity are now set free free indeed! As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. PSALM 118:1 9 (to be read responsively) 1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Let Israel say, His steadfast love endures forever. 3 Let the house of Aaron say, His steadfast love endures forever. 4 Let those who fear the LORD say, His steadfast love endures forever. 5 Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. 6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? 7 The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. 8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. GLORY BE TO THE FATHER AND TO THE SON AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT. AS IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING; IS NOW, AND WILL BE FOREVER. AMEN. HYMN OF PRAISE Great Is Thy Faithfulness LSB 809 PRAYER OF THE DAY The Lord be with you. And also with you.
3 Together, let us pray. Gracious Father, thank You for this good land in which we live. We especially thank You for the freedom we have to worship You and share the good news of Your salvation with all people. Help us to always treasure the freedoms of our country and the great love You have for us. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen OLD TESTAMENT READING (Liberty is proclaimed to the captives.) Isaiah 61:1 7 1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, devastations; they shall repair the ruined because the LORD has anointed me to cities, the devastations of many bring good news to the poor; he has generations. 5 Strangers shall stand and sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, tend your flocks; foreigners shall be your to proclaim liberty to the captives, and plowmen and vinedressers; 6 but you the opening of the prison to those who shall be called the priests of the LORD; are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the they shall speak of you as the ministers LORD s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; you shall eat the wealth of of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to the nations, and in their glory you shall grant to those who mourn in Zion to boast. 7 Instead of your shame there give them a beautiful headdress instead shall be a double portion; instead of of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; mourning, the garment of praise instead therefore in their land they shall possess of a faint spirit; that they may be called a double portion; they shall have oaks of righteousness, the planting of everlasting joy. the LORD, that he may be glorified. 4 They shall build up the ancient ruins; Lector: This is the Word of the Lord. they shall raise up the former Thanks be to God. EPISTLE (For freedom Christ has set us free.) Galatians 5:1, 13 14 5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom Lector: This is the Word of the Lord. as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Thanks be to God.
4 HOLY GOSPEL (The Son of God sets you free.) John 8:31 36 The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the eighth chapter. Glory to You, O Lord. 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. 33 They answered him, We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, You will become free? (8:00 ONLY) CHILDREN S MESSAGE 34 Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to You, O Christ. HYMN OF THE DAY God Bless Our Native Land LSB 965 SERMON GOD S LOVE IN OUR NATION (Text: Galatians 5:1, 13-14; John 8:31-36) ~The Rev. Paul Rieger TITHES AND OFFERING (Please fill out Friendship Pads; Ushers will collect them.) (8:00) God of Our Fathers ~Summer Choir APOSTLES CREED (See inside back cover of hymnal) PRAYER OF THE CHURCH Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs. (after each petition the pastor will say Lord, in Your mercy and the congregation will respond, Hear our prayer. ) INDEPENDENCE DAY LITANY FOR OUR COUNTRY As we celebrate later this week, let us pray this Litany for. We remember the birth of our nation, and the gifts of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Let us offer our thanks and prayers to God, the giver of all good gifts. For patriots who dreamed of and fought for a free nation. We thank You Lord.
5 Pastor For the men and women who laid the foundation of our democracy, and who pledged liberty and justice for all, We thank You Lord. For the brave soldiers who have fought for our country, for all who paid for our freedom by their service, and those who paid by their sacrifice, We thank You Lord. For this good land, with its peaks and valleys, coasts and deserts, fields and meadows, We thank You Lord. Lord, we pray for the United States, that we might always be a nation which defends and promotes liberty and freedom, truth and justice. We pray to You, Lord. Be with our country so that we may always be a nation where all are free to worship and pray, We pray to You Lord. For those who are elected to govern and lead, may they be guided by You and be ever aware of the trust that has been given them, We pray to You Lord. For all of us gathered here, that we would be a people who repent of our sins and who always return to You and to Your grace, We pray to You, Lord. Gracious God, Father of all nations, bless and defend us and our land; prosper the work of our hands, and increase in us Your grace and compassion. We give You our offerings of thanks, our Rock and our Salvation, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen Together, let us pray the Lord s Prayer. LORD S PRAYER (See inside back cover of hymnal)
BENEDICTION 6 May the God of peace who raised Christ from the dead Strengthen your inner being for every good work. And may the blessing of God Almighty Father, Son and Holy Spirit Rest upon you and dwell within you This day and evermore. Amen MATTERS OF IMPORTANCE CLOSING HYMN God Bless America God bless America! Land that I love. Stand beside her, and guide her Through the night with the Light from above. From the mountains to the prairie To the ocean, bright with foam. God bless America, my home sweet home, God bless America, my home sweet home. God Bless America by Irving Berlin Copyright 1938, 1939 by Irving Berlin Copyright Renewed 1965, 1966 by Irving Berlin Copyright Assigned the Trustees of the God Bless America Fund International Copyright Secured All Rights Reserved Reprinted by Permission * * * TO GOD BE THE GLORY * * *
7 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Creative Worship for the Lutheran Parish, Series B, Quarter 3. Copyright 2018 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Leading Worship Pastor The Rev. Paul Rieger Organist Nancy Simonson Special Music 8:00 Summer Choir Lay Lectors 5:30 Donna Rae Schultz Radio Club Jim Boldt Greeters 5:30 Norma Kielmeyer, Scott Howard 8:00 John & Joanne Cross, Tammy Schwichtenberg; Ushers 5:30 Eric Remold, Dan & Judy Valentyn; 8:00 Bob Reineke, Curt Fuchs, Gary Mrosko; Nursing Home Ministry Randy Helbling Altar Guild Gloria Cloutier
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