Building Faith in the Family A Resource for Worship in the Home

June 28, 2020 This simple liturgy is designed to help you worship with your family if you are unable to meet with the congregation.

Invocation Leader: In the name of the Father and of the † Son and of the Holy Spirit. People: Amen.

THE CONFESSION OF SINS AND ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS Leader: Our help is in the name of the Lord, People: who made heaven and earth.

Leader: If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? People: But with You there is forgiveness; therefore, You are feared.

Leader: Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word and call upon Him in prayer and praise, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

People: Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen. Leader: Let us then confess our sins to God our Father. People: Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. 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. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. 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.

Leader: Almighty God, merciful Father, in Holy Baptism You declared us to be Your children and gathered us into Your one, holy Church, in which You daily and richly forgive us our sins and grant us new life through Your Spirit. Be in our midst, enliven our faith, and graciously receive our prayer and praise; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

People: Amen. Read Matthew 10:34-42

Reading Response Leader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God.

Apostles’ Creed

Sermon The sermon for today’s service can be found on Vimeo. If you don’t have access to the sermon, use the following summary and accompanying questions to discuss today’s text with your family.

Summary of Matthew 10:34-42 The radical nature of following Jesus may result in conflict and divisions within families. Jesus wants His disciples to strive for eternal life, even if this means sacrificing earthly benefits. In all honesty, we must confess that we often fail to put Jesus first in our lives, that we do not take up His cross and follow Him. What we fail to do, Jesus did for us. He took up His cross and paid the penalty for the sins of the world. In Him, we have peace (adapted from TLSB, pg. 1601).

Questions for Discussion 1. Jesus several times told His disciples to expect persecution—even from close friends or family members—when they

speak for Him. Why might this happen? 2. Do you think today’s Christians in America (you and people you know, for example) suffer persecution for their faith?

Talk about why or why not.

The Prayers of the Church Leader: Let us draw near to the Lord’s throne of grace and pray as He has commanded us, trusting in the Lord to hear

the prayers of His people and answer our petitions according to His mercy. O most merciful God, Lord of heaven and earth, we pray You to so rule and govern Your Church and all her pastors and ministers that she may be preserved in the pure doctrine of Your saving Word, defended against all adversity, and protected from all adversaries, that thereby faith may be strengthened and love increased in us. Lord, in Your mercy,

People: hear our prayer.

Leader: Grant health, wisdom and integrity to all in authority over us, especially to the president of the United States, the governor of this state, the Congress, all legislative bodies, and all judges and magistrates. Endow them with Your Spirit and with respect for Your Word, that they would serve Your good pleasure for the maintenance of righteousness and the punishment of wickedness so that we all may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty. According to Your gracious will, turn the hearts of our enemies and make them to walk with us in humility and peace. Lord, in Your mercy,

People: hear our prayer.

Leader: Grant to those in trouble, want, sickness, anguish of labor, peril of death or any other adversity the healthful Spirit of Your grace for healing, strength, comfort and relief. Bless especially those who suffer for the sake of Your name and Your Word. Hear us on behalf of _____________ and those we name in our hearts. Give them courage to stand firm in their afflictions and patience until the day of Your deliverance. Lord, in Your mercy,

People: hear our prayer.

Leader: Preserve us from pestilence and every evil. Give to us favorable weather and cause the fruits of the earth to prosper, that we may enjoy them in due season and offer You praise and thanksgiving for all Your goodness to us. Lend Your blessing to all honorable vocations and honest industry, that we may serve where our skills and abilities may be of good use. Bless the arts and music, that we may please You and be encouraged by all that is good, right, true and beautiful. Lord, in Your mercy,

People: hear our prayer.

Leader: Give to all husbands and wives grace to live together in love and faithfulness. Bless the homes and families of Your people, that they may be places where Your name is honored and love is nurtured. Give Your special grace to widows, orphans, expectant mothers, and the aged that we may grant them comfort, aid and protection. Lord, in Your mercy,

People: hear our prayer.

Leader: All these things for which You would have us ask of You, we pray You to grant to us for the sake of the bitter sufferings and death of Jesus Christ, our Lord, through whom we are bold to call You Father and in whose name we pray, trusting in Your mercy and confident that You will give answer to our prayers; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

People: Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

Collect of the Day Leader: Almighty God, by the working of Your Holy Spirit, grant that we may gladly hear Your Word proclaimed

among us and follow its directing; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

People: Amen.

Benediction Leader: The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the † Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless and preserve us. People: Amen.

Extending Your Worship

FOLLOWING JESUS TODAY— Family Discussion and Prayer Jesus tells His followers, “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” What do you think He meant by that? How or when might speaking up for God cause trouble, even with close friends or family members?

CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION? Most of us rarely suffer because of standing up for Jesus. Do you think this is because (choose one)… _____ A. our world is basically good and moral and we don’t need to? _____ B. it’s easier just to ignore wrongs, as long as they don’t affect us? _____ C. we think it wouldn’t do any good to speak out? _____ D. we’re worried about what others might say about us or do to us?

MATTERS FOR CHRISTIANS? Below are three issues that are often in the news and that can create strong feelings and disagreements. This exercise is not meant to provoke arguments. Just study the questions as a family and decide together.…

A. Is this something that Jesus (and His followers) would care about? B. If so, how can Christians study and get informed about the issue? C. Finally, after careful thought and prayer, what might followers of Jesus do—even if it brings persecution?

The cost and availability of health care and prescription drugs for everyone.

Reasons for and results of the huge gap between very rich and very poor people.

Suffering and death that is created by racism and injustice.

PRAYERS FOR COURAGE TO FOLLOW JESUS

O Lord, open my eyes that I may see the needs of others; Open my ears that I may hear their cries; Open my heart so that they need not be without succor; Let me not be afraid to defend the weak because of the

anger of the strong, Nor afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the

rich. Show me where love and hope and faith are needed, And use me to bring them to those places. And so open my eyes and my ears That I may this coming day be able to do some work of

peace for thee. Amen. - Alan Paton

Ever Present God, You called us to be in relationship with one another and promised to dwell wherever two or three are gathered. In our community, we are many different peoples; we come from many different places, have many different cultures. Open our hearts that we may be bold in finding the riches of inclusion and the treasures of diversity among us. We pray in faith. Amen.

- Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.