WORSHIP HELPERS: Reader – Jody Mischnick Lay Assistant – Luayne Weisgerber
God’s word is like the rain that waters the earth and brings forth vegetation. It is also like the sower who
scatters seed indiscriminately. Our lives are like seeds sown in the earth. Even from what appears to be
little, dormant, or dead, God promises a harvest. At the Lord’s table we are fed with the bread of life,
that we may bear fruit in the world.
(*) Please stand as you are able
(-) Please be seated
GATHERING
The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God.
-PRELUDE
-WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
*CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
L: Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who greets us in this and every season,
whose word never fails, whose promise is sure.
C: Amen.
L: Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of our neighbors.
Silence for reflection.
L: Merciful God,
C: we confess that we have sinned. We have hurt our community. We have squandered
your blessings. We have hoarded your bounty. In the name of Jesus, forgive us and
grant us your mercy.
Silence is kept for reflection.
L: God is a cup of cold water when we thirst. God offers boundless grace when we fail. Claim the gift
of God’s mercy: you are freed and forgiven in the name of ☩ Jesus Christ.
C: Amen.
*GATHERING SONG Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty ELW 533
*GREETING
L: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit
be with you all.
C: And also with you.
*CANTICLE OF PRAISE This is the Feast ELW p. 187
*PRAYER OF THE DAY
L Almighty God, we thank you for planting in us the seed of your word. By your Holy Spirit help us
to receive it with joy, live according to it, and grow in faith and hope and love, through Jesus Christ,
our Savior and Lord.
C Amen.
WORD
God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song.
-FIRST READING: Isaiah 55:10-13
(after the reading)
L The word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
-SECOND READING: Romans 8:1-11
(after the reading)
L The word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
-LET THE CHILDREN COME (Please pass worship cards to the center aisle)
*GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Alleluia. Lord, to Whom Shall We Go? ELW p. 188
*GOSPEL: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-13
L The holy gospel according to Matthew, the13th chapter.
C Glory to you , O Lord.
(after the reading)
L The Gospel of the Lord. C Praise to you, O Christ
-MESSAGE Pastor Megan Morrow
*HYMN OF THE DAY As Rain from the Clouds ELW 508
*APOSTLES’ CREED ELW p. 105
*PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
(Each petition ends with) L Hear us, O God. C Your mercy is great.
*SHARING OF GOD’S PEACE
L The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C And also with you.
(Please share a sign of God’s peace with one another, such as Peace be with you.)
-PRESENTATION OF THE GIFTS
The Offering is presented at the altar as the Offertory is sung and the Lord’s table is prepared.
-OFFERTORY We Are an Offering ELW 692
*OFFERTORY PRAYER
L God of field and forest, sea and sky, you are the giver of all good things. Sustain us with these gifts
of your creation, and multiply your graciousness in us, that the world may be fed with your love,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C: Amen
MEAL
God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ.
*GREAT THANKSGIVING DIALOGUE & PREFACE
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them to the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
P: It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,…we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
*HOLY, HOLY, HOLY ELW p. 190
*THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE
*LORD’S PRAYER
L Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.
C 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
*HOLY COMMUNION
(We invite you to come forward down the center aisle starting with the back pews. When you reach the
front, hold out your hands if you would like to receive communion, or hold your arms across your chest
to receive a blessing. If children receive communion in their home congregation, they are welcome to
receive communion at St. John’s. Just say, “Gluten free” if you would like gluten free wafers. There are
cups with red wine and white grape juice in the trays. Let us know if you’d like communion brought to
you in the pew. All are welcome at Christ’s table!)
*COMMUNION HYMNS
Lamb of God ELW p. 191
Lord, Let My Heart Be Good Soil (2 times) ELW 512
What Is This Place ELW 524
-POST-COMMUNION BLESSING
*PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
SENDING
God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world.
*BLESSING
L: The God who calls across the cosmos and speaks in the smallest seed ☩ bless, keep, and sustain you now and to the end of the age.
C: Amen.
*SENDING HYMN Build Us Up, Lord ELW 670
*DISMISSAL
L: Go in peace. Share the harvest.
C: Thanks be to God.
-POSTLUDE
ADDITIONAL WORSHIP SCHEDULES
ONLINE WORSHIP – VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT: Alliancestjohns.org
OR OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AT: Alliance NE St Johns Lutheran
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CARRY-IN BRUNCH– TODAY following worship! Please join us.
PRESCHOOL-Taking registrations now!! Please help spread the word. Thank you for all your
support of the Preschool!
SCRIPTURES FOR WEEK OF JULY 23rd– Isaiah 44:6-8, Psalm 86:11-17, Romans 8:12-25,
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43.
COMMUNITY TABLE – June 24th & 26th at 10:30am. Masonic Center-123 W 3rd Street.
WORSHIP HELPERS – July 23– Reader– Mary Crawford, Lay Assistant– Maurine Roller,
July 30– Reader– Kevin Horn, Lay Assistant– Luayne Weisgerber
ALTAR GUILD– We need volunteers to help with the Altar Guild. Contact Luayne Weisgerber
for additional information or to sign up. Thanks!
“GO AND…” – Ready, Set, Go! In the Great Commission, Jesus calls us to GO. We are taking
those words to heart. The Nebraska Synod Assembly launched a year-long focus to “Go And…”
We invite you to be part of this call to GO!
AUGUST – SHARE YOUR STORY
Children freely share their stories – often full of actions, sound effects, and details (sometimes
minute) that bring a story to life. We all have a story to share: stories of families, friendships,
histories, and faith. We connect the dots and see our connections.
Questions to consider:
When was the last time you listened to a child tell a story? What did you hear? What is a biblical
story that connects with your own story? What is your story? Where are you GOING to share
your story?
Prayer: Creator God, our story starts and ends with you. Give us the wisdom to see where and
how we might share our stories and the courage to share them. Amen.
To browse the full list of the monthly summaries and learn more about the “Go and…”
series, this is the link to use: https://nebraskasynod.org/go-and/
FINANCES
Actual expenses thru 7/9/2023 $90,175.00 Giving thru 7/9/2023 $74,472.23
Giving under actual expenses ($15,702.77)
27 Weeks of Budget Expenses $103,029.03
Giving under Budget Expenses ($28,556.80)
NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE OUR CHURCH FAMILY!
HOSPITALITY CREW
A crew of friends, families, or individuals is requested to sign up for a
month at a time to tidy up the Sanctuary following worship on Sundays.
Duties would include picking up bulletins, notes, etc., that may be in the
pews or on the floor from the service. Put bulletins in the office for recycling, put trash in the trash.
Fill hand sanitizer bottles in the pews, if needed. Replace Kleenex boxes in
the pews. Straighten Bibles and song books in the pew racks.
CHILDREN’S “WELCOME TO WORSHIP” BAGS
(One or more people working together)
These friends of children will update the activity bags. This can be done
by church season such as Summer, Fall, Advent, Christmas, Epiphany,
Lent and Easter.
There are clipboards in each bag that can be switched out by the theme
of the season. (There are color pages to be copied in a folder. These could
also be used for the “Pray Ground” tables.)
Church related activity items can replace the current secular items that
are in the bags. There are some boxes of inventory to pull possible items
from. There is also a budget item to purchase some religious inventory.
FOLDING FRIENDS
Friends may fold and stuff inserts in the Wednesday bulletins. (Probably
Wednesday mornings.) They may also fold and stuff inserts and bulletins
for the Sunday worship service. (Probably Thursday mornings.)
Bulletins for the children will need to be folded each week for the Sunday
worship service. (Anytime through the week.)
Other opportunities would include folding and stuffing inserts and newsletters (monthly/bi-monthly). Friends could also seal and stick address
labels on the newsletters in preparation for mailing. (Copies are usually
ready the Wednesday before the end of the month.)
SIGN-UP SHEETS ARE ON THE OAK TABLE IN THE FELLOWSHIP ROOM!
THANK YOU!
