Today’s Readings and Hymns: (Click on each blue arrow to expand/collapse each section.)
1
Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness,
you that seek the Lord.
Look to the rock from which you were hewn,
and to the quarry from which you were dug.
2
Look to Abraham your father
and to Sarah who bore you;
for he was but one when I called him,
but I blessed him and made him many.
3
For the Lord will comfort Zion;
he will comfort all her waste places,
and will make her wilderness like Eden,
her desert like the garden of the Lord;
joy and gladness will be found in her,
thanksgiving and the voice of song.
4
Listen to me, my people,
and give heed to me, my nation;
for a teaching will go out from me,
and my justice for a light to the peoples.
5
I will bring near my deliverance swiftly,
my salvation has gone out
and my arms will rule the peoples;
the coastlands wait for me,
and for my arm they hope.
6
Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
and look at the earth beneath;
for the heavens will vanish like smoke,
the earth will wear out like a garment,
and those who live on it will die like gnats;
but my salvation will be forever,
and my deliverance will never be ended.
1
I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with my whole heart;
before the gods I will sing your praise.
2
I will bow down toward your holy temple and praise your name, because of your steadfast love and faithfulness;
for you have glorified your name and your word above all things.
3
When I called, you answered me;
you increased my strength within me.
4
All the rulers of the earth will praise you, O Lord,
when they have heard the words of your mouth.
5
They will sing of the ways of the Lord,
that great is the glory of the Lord.
6
The Lord is high, yet cares for the lowly,
perceiving the haughty from afar.
7
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you keep me safe;
you stretch forth your hand against the fury of my enemies; your right hand shall save me.
8
You will make good your purpose for me;
O Lord, your steadfast love endures forever; do not abandon the works of your hands.
1I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.
3For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, 5so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. 6We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; 7ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; 8the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.
13Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
The church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord; she is his new creation by water and the word. From heav’n he came and sought her to be his holy bride; with his own blood he bought her, and for her life he died.
Elect from ev’ry nation, yet one o’er all the earth, her charter of salvation one Lord, one faith, one birth: one holy name she blesses, partakes one holy food, and to one hope she presses, with ev’ry grace endued.
Though with a scornful wonder this world sees her oppressed, by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed, yet saints their watch are keeping; their cry goes up: “How long?” And soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song.
Yet she on earth has union with God, the Three in One, and mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won. Oh, blessed heav’nly chorus! Lord, save us by your grace, that we, like saints before us, may see you face to face.
Built on a rock the church shall stand, even when steeples are falling; crumbled have spires in ev’ry land, bells still are chiming and calling— calling the young and old to rest, calling the souls of those distressed, longing for life everlasting.
Surely, in temples made with hands God the Most High is not dwelling— high in the heav’ns his temple stands, all earthly temples excelling. Yet God who dwells in heav’n above deigns to abide with us in love, making our bodies his temple.
Christ builds a house of living stones: we are his own habitation; he fills our hearts, his humble thrones, granting us life and salvation. Where two or three will seek his face, he in their midst will show his grace, blessings upon them bestowing.
Yet in this house, an earthly frame, Jesus the children is blessing; hither we come to praise his name, faith in our Savior confessing. Jesus to us his Spirit sent, making with us his covenant, granting his children the kingdom.
Take my life, that I may be consecrated, Lord, to thee; take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love; take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for thee.
Take my voice and let me sing always, only, for my King; take my lips and let them be filled with messages from thee.
Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold; take my intellect, and use ev’ry pow’r as thou shalt choose.
Worship Leaders: Pastor Denise Keltz, Jim Thompson
Music: Deb Jenks (organ and piano); Centre Park Flutes: Dawn Main, Cynthia Miller-Aungst, Virginia Schulze-Johnson, and Donnasue Thompson; Men’s Ensemble: Patrick Skoniczin (soloist)
Additional Resources:
View and print the pre-reader’s version of this Sunday’s children’s bulletin: Pre-reader’s Version View and print the reader’s version of this Sunday’s children’s bulletin: Reader’s Version
The radio program Sing for Joy follows the weekly Sunday lectionary through music and reflection. To listen, click here: Sing for Joy. Program host Pastor Bruce Benson ties the biblical readings of the day with musical selections from a number of sources brought together by Dr. John Ferguson, retired professor of organ and church music. The program is produced by St. Olaf College.
Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE #A-730287 and CCLI licenses #21502973 and #21502966. All rights reserved.
