5th

Sunday after Pentecost, July 5, 2020

Sermon Series on the Fruit of the Spirit: KINDNESS

WELCOME/ANNOUNCEMENTS

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

P: We gather in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen

P: Merciful God, by the fruit of your Spirit you make us witnesses of Jesus' life, and your love for the world. We

know that the fruit of the Spirit consists of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness

and self-control. Yet, so often, our words and actions do not show forth these gifts or bear proper witness to You.

We come into your presence, confessing our sin and need for grace. Silence for reflection

P: Gracious God,

C: We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed. We have not loved you with our

whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have been impatient with you and each

other. We have neglected to dwell in your joy and peace, and struggled to live kindness, generosity,

faithfulness, gentleness or self control. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us,

renew us, and lead us that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy

name. Amen.

P: God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin, and made us alive together with Christ. By

grace you have been saved. In the name of Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Almighty God fill you with the

fruit of the Spirit, that Christ may live in your hearts, and be proclaimed in your words and actions.

C: Amen.

HYMN: All Are Welcome

PRAYER OF THE DAY

P: Gracious God, set us free to live as disciples of Christ. Fill us with your Spirit, so that we might bear the fruit

of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no limit to

this fruit. This week we especially long to experience and exhibit, your KINDNESS. Amen

C: Amen.

READINGS: GENESIS 18:1-15

The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day.

He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet

them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, ‘My lord, if I find favour with you, do not pass by your servant. Let

a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that

you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.’ So they said,

‘Do as you have said.’ And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, ‘Make ready quickly three measures

of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.’ Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it

to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it

before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate. They said to him, ‘Where is your wife Sarah?’

And he said, ‘There, in the tent.’ Then one said, ‘I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah

shall have a son.’ And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old,

advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying,

‘After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?’ The LORD said to Abraham, ‘Why did

Sarah laugh, and say, “Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?” Is anything too wonderful for the LORD?

At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son.’ But Sarah denied, saying, ‘I did not

laugh’; for she was afraid. He said, ‘Oh yes, you did laugh.’

Reader: The word of the Lord. Congregation: Thanks be to God.

Titus 3:3-7

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our

days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another. But when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our

Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his

mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit he poured out on us richly through

Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope

of eternal life.

Reader: The word of the Lord. Congregation: Thanks be to God.

MATTHEW 25: 31-40

P: The Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew, the 25th

chapter. Congregation: Glory to you, O Lord.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory.

All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates

the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will

say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from

the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to

drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care

of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw

you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a

stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison

and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these

who are members of my family, you did it to me.’

P: The Gospel of our Lord. Congregation: Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON: THE FRUIT OF KINDNESS

HYMN OF THE DAY: To Be Your Presence

APOSTLE’S CREED

P: Though physically distanced, we are still united, all around the world, as the one body of Christ through the

power of the Holy Spirit. Let us confess our faith together, using the Apostle’s Creed:

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

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and

born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again 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.

Note: the word “catholic” here means the church around the world.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

(after hearing, “Lord in your mercy,” respond: Hear our Prayer)

(after hearing the final prayer petition,: “Together with the whole church, let us pray together using the words

Jesus taught us: 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. )

SHARING OF PEACE

OFFERING: Through our offering, we give a portion of what God has first given us back to God to support the

work of God in and through this congregation. Thank you for your financial and prayer support that makes the

many ministries of Zion’s possible, together with your gifts of time and talent. If you would like to make an

offering on this day, you can:

Mail a check to Zion’s Lutheran, PO Box 658, Jonestown PA 17038 or

Give electronically by visiting: http://www.zionsjonestown.com/giving/, and choosing either our PayPal

account, or Simply Giving. Simply giving is our regular electronic offering service, which offers both one-

time options, and regular, automatic options. Simply Giving fees are less than PayPal fees, so if you’re

giving regularly, this is an awesome program to check out. Any questions, contact:

pastorckurtz@gmail.com.

If you are experiencing financial hardship right now, please know that we understand that you may not be able to

give as you’d like. If you are in need of financial assistance, please contact Pastor Caitlin

(pastorckurtz@gmail.com or 717 819 0420) as we have funds set aside to assist you.

BENEDICTION AND DISMISSAL

P: The grace of Jesus Christ frees you from sin for life lived in the Spirit. May God’s Holy Spirit bear in you the

fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. May God’s Holy

Spirit lead you, in every situation, to love, in word and deed. Go forth, in freedom, to love and serve the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

PIANIST: Maryann Guldin

LECTOR: Jim Gill

PRAYER LEADER: Nancy Ludwig

VIDEOGRAPHER: Jim Cascarino

POSTLUDE: Maryann Guldin

"KINDNESS" BANNER was made by William and Amelia Riddell