Sunday, June 25, 2023 - Order of worship at 11 am - Lutheran Church of the Redeemer Atlanta GA USA

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost – June 25, 2023

The Order of Worship at 11:00 am

As always, we pray that worship at Redeemer is a blessing for you, even as your participation blesses us, whether we are gathering in the name of Christ in-person or online. As you are comfortable, we encourage you to sing the hymns and to sing or speak the congregational portions of the liturgy in bold type.

Please use the links available on the viewing page to let us know that you are worshiping with us, to submit any prayer requests, to let us know if you need help or are available to help a neighbor, and to continue giving financially to support the ongoing ministries of Redeemer.

This bulletin contains content protected by copyright and is provided only for you to participate in worship. Please delete or destroy any physical or digital copy of the material following the service.

PRELUDE Prelude and Fugue in F Vincent Lübeck (1654-1740)

WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS GATHERING

The Holy Spirit gathers us in unity on the first day of the week, the day of Christ’s resurrection.

HYMN 796 How Firm a Foundation

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

In the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit. | Amen

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. | Amen

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.

Kneeling or seated

Most merciful God, | We confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. 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. 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

In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit. | Amen.

Standing GREETING

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. | And also with you.

KYRIE

Mark Helsel, cantor

In peace let us pray to the Lord.

For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.

Help, save, comfort and defend us, gracious Lord.

HYMN OF PRAISE

PRAYER OF THE DAY

The Lord be with you. | And also with you.

Teach us, good Lord God, to serve you as you deserve, to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to ask for reward, except that of knowing that we do your will, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. | Amen

Please use the Prayer Request link on the webpage to submit your requests.

WORD

God speaks to us in scriptures read, sung and preached. Seated

CHILDREN’S SERMON

THE FIRST READING Jeremiah 20:7-13 David Miller, lector Jeremiah accuses God of forcing him into a ministry that brings him only contempt and persecution. Yet Jeremiah is confident that God will be a strong protector against his enemies and commits his life into God’s hands.

O Lord, you have enticed me, and I was enticed; you have overpowered me, and you have prevailed.

I have become a laughingstock all day long; everyone mocks me.

For whenever I speak, I must cry out, I must shout, “Violence and destruction!” For the word of the Lord has become for me a reproach and derision all day long.

If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” then within me there is something like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.

For I hear many whispering: “Terror is all around!

Denounce him! Let us denounce him!”

All my close friends are watching for me to stumble. “Perhaps he can be enticed, and we can prevail against him, and take our revenge on him.”

But the Lord is with me like a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble, and they will not prevail. They will be greatly shamed,

for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten.

O Lord of hosts, you test the righteous, you see the heart and the mind; let me see your retribution upon them, for to you I have committed my cause.

Sing to the Lord; praise the Lord!

For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hands of evildoers.

Word of God, word of life. | Thanks be to God.

THE SECOND READING Romans 6:1b-11

In baptism we were incorporated into the reality of Christ’s death and resurrection. We have been made new in Christ through his death and resurrection to live freed from sin.

Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Word of God, word of life. | Thanks be to God.

Standing

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

THE HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 10:24-39

Jesus warns his disciples that their ministry in his name will meet with opposition. However, he assures them that they need not fear for the truth will come to light. Life is found in Christ.

Before the reading: The Holy Gospel according... | Glory to you, O Lord.

[Jesus said to the twelve:] “A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!

“So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

“Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.

“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.

Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”

After the reading: The Gospel of the Lord. | Praise to You, O Christ.

Ronald Bonner

By Gracious Powers

Standing APOSTLES’ CREED

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

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.*

On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints,

Text © 1974 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission.onelicense.net #A725004 Music © 2006 Augsburg Fortress

the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Kneeling or seated

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Each portion of the prayers concludes: God, in your mercy, | hear our prayer. At the conclusion of the prayers: Amen

Standing PEACE

The peace of Christ be with you always. | And also with you. Please share a sign of blessing with your fellow worshipers in whatever way is comfortable for you.

THANKSGIVING

Seated

GATHERING OF GIFTS

ANTHEM Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether

The Redeemer Choir

Harold W. Friedell

Draw us in the Spirit's tether; | For when humbly, in thy name, | Two or three are met together, | Thou art in the midst of them: | Alleluya! Alleluya! | Touch we now thy garment's hem.

As the brethren used to gather | In the name of Christ to sup, | Then with thanks to God the Father | Break the bread and bless the cup, | Alleluya! Alleluya! | So knit thou our friendship up.

All our meals and all our living | Make as sacraments of thee, | That by caring, helping, giving | We may true disciples be. | Alleluya! Alleluya! | We will serve thee faithfully.

B. R.

Standing OFFERTORY HYMN

OFFERING PRAYER

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. | Amen.

GREAT THANKSGIVING

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ; who on this day overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, mighty, and merciful Lord, heaven and earth are full of your glory.

In great love you sent to us Jesus, your Son, who reached out to heal the sick and suffering, who preached good news to the poor, and who, on the cross, opened his arms to all.

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Remembering, therefore, his death, resurrection, and ascension, we await his coming in glory.

Pour out upon us the Spirit of your love, O Lord, and unite the wills of all who share this heavenly food, the body and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all glory and honor, now and forever.

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray…

LORD’S PRAYER

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

All people are called to Christ’s table. Come, eat what is good. Seated

All who seek to meet the Risen Christ in the bread and wine are welcome to the feast. Those who are worshiping online can join the pastors on Zoom for communion following the postlude. Link

God, My Lord, My Strength

1 God, my Lord, my strength, my place of hiding and confiding in all needs by night and day; though foes surround me, and Satan mark his prey, God shall have his way.

2 Christ in me, and I am freed for living and forgiving, heart of flesh for lifeless stone; now bold to serve him, now cheered his love to own, nevermore alone.

3 Up, weak knees and spirit bowed in sorrow! No tomorrow shall arise to beat you down; God goes before you and angels all around; On your head a crown!

Text © 1969 Concordia Publishing House onelicense.net #A725004

Children of the Heavenly Father

HYMN 795

HYMN 781

Text © 1925 Board of Publication, Lutheran Church in America, admin. Augsburg Fortress onelicense.net #A725004

Standing

The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. | Amen

Let us pray. | We thank you, generous God, for the refreshment we have received at your banquet table. Send us now to spread your generosity into all the world, through the one who is our dearest treasure, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

SENDING

God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world.

BLESSING

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. | Amen.

HYMN 769

If You but Trust in God to Guide You

Text © 1978, 2006 Augsburg Fortress

SENDING

Go in peace. Share the harvest. | Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE Toccata on “How Firm a Foundtion” Craig Phillips (born 1961)

From sundaysandseasons.com. Copyright © 2021 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.

LAST WEEK AT REDEEMER Attendance for June 18: In person: 194, Livestream: 122

NEXT WEEK AT REDEEMER Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Master Planning Update: Please visit our website's Master Planning page under the "Latest" tab OR Click here to view the current update in our Master Planning process. We look forward to additional congregational input at a Combined Subject Area Group presentation on Sunday, August 6th

Wellness Summer Series

COMMUNITY

Wednesdays through August 16 | 12 – 12:30 PM | Sims Atrium

Throughout the Summer Redeemer will offer a mid-week lunch break so our community can reconnect body-mind-spirit through Gentle Yoga.

Adults $10 (over 12), $5 adults over 65, kids under 12 free Hosted by Community Engagement and Wellness Ministries

At-Home Pastoral Visit

If you or a loved one would like to receive a pastoral visit with communion at your home or residence, please contact Pastor Jenny McLellan at 404-874-8664 ext. 224 or jmclellan@redeemer.org

St. Luke Lutheran Church, in partnership with The Atlanta Pride Committee, Honors Stonewall Riots and Celebrates Pride with Drag Queen Worship Service

During this special service, attendees will have the opportunity to witness stunning offerings by some of Atlanta's most gifted drag queen performers, serving as a testament to our church's commitment to standing with the oppressed community and those on the margins. We hope that this celebration of diversity and inclusion will inspire all who attend to embrace the message of love, justice, and equality that lies at the heart of the gospel of Jesus.

Event Details: Drag Me to Church - A Commemoration of the Stonewall Riots

Date: TODAY | Time: Six o’clock pm

Location: 3264 Northside Pkwy NW, Atlanta, GA 30327

For more information about this worship service, St. Luke Lutheran, or media request, please contact Pride@stlukelutheran.org.

YOUTH

Come hang in the Youth Lounge all summer!

The Youth Lounge will be open all summer for Middle School Youth and High School Youth to hang out in from 10:00 AM-11:00 AM from May 28 to July 30.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Refugee Welcome Team Overview / Orientation Training Session | TODAY | Rudisill Hall | 12:30 to 2:00 pm

If you are interested in serving on the Core Team or Support Team OR interested in learning more before deciding to serve, join Pastor Jeff and Patti Linman and Jenny Garcia from Inspiritus. Core Team members provide regular direct support services and have one-on-one interaction with the family. Support Team members provide group or ad-hoc family support activities. Everyone is required to attend a training session before serving. Since Pastor Jeff and Patti are members of Epiphany in Suwanee and were asked by Inspiritus to help coordinate this ministry, this will also be an opportunity for everyone to meet them and for them to meet us. Box lunches will be provided so please RSVP by Friday, June 23 if you plan to attend to Eli Flournoy [eliflournoy69@gmail.com] and Pastor Jeff Linman [jlinman320@gmail.com]. SAVE

70’S Music Fest | August 10 | 4:30 – 7:30 PM

Families, business people & neighbors are welcome to join us at our block party-style music fest. Grab dinner from one of the onsite food/beer trucks, relax on the grass, or take a chair provided or dance on our 4th street! Balloons, bubbles, and a photo board.

Music by the versatile SPAGHETTI JUNCTION

Rain date August 17

Pastor Jonathan Book Study

Tuesdays | 5 PM

ADULT FAITH FORMATION

Study of Killers of the Dream by Lillian Smith

Pastor Jenny Book Study

Wednesdays | 7:30-8:30 pm

Study of: Sacred Pathways: Discover Your Soul's Path to God

We are unified in Christ, yet we are diverse in our devotional disposition. If you have ever been frustrated that you can't pray like Peter or preach like Paul, or sit still in contemplation, perhaps you haven't found the devotional expression that speaks to your soul, or not yet. Join Pastor Jenny on zoom on Wednesday nights this summer to explore nine different sacred pathways to approach God. Zoom Link

Keystone Ministry Bible Study

Thursdays through August 17 | 3 – 4:00 PM | Reception Room/ Zoom

Dig deep into the Gospel of Matthew, chapter by chapter, as we explore theological and contextual themes. Join Bill Pegram and Pastor Jenny McLellan through this summer to study the Gospel of Matthew. Sweet treats and coffee will be provided. Bibles will be available, or you can bring your own preferred Bible.

Bethlehem Film Series

Please join us to watch three films that address the ongoing struggle for human rights in the Middle East. Each showing will take place at 10 AM in Rudisill Hall. As each film is an hour long, you may wish to attend the 9 AM service on these weeks.

First film - TODAY “Seeing Through The Wall” This film follows a group of Jewish Americans who traveled to Israel and Palestine with their Rabbi, seeking to understand what life is like for Palestinians living in the Occupied Territories and in East Jerusalem.

July 16 “The Wanted 18”

August 6 “ ‘Til Kingdom Come”

Calendar for June 25 – July 1, 2023

Visit https://www.redeemer.org/blog/this-week/ for Zoom Links

June 25, 2023

Rudisill Hall

The Rev. Mark H. Larson Senior Pastor, ext. 201

The Rev. Dr. Ronald Bonner Pastor for Community Engagement, ext. 203

The Rev. Dr. Jonathan Trapp Pastor for Faith Formation, ext. 233

The Rev. Jenny McLellan Pastor for Congregational Care, ext. 224

STAFF

Bob Boyd Director of Operations and Finance, ext. 232

Kofi Broadnax ........................................................................ Property Administrator, ext. 210

Alexa Brooks .......................................................................................... Receptionist, ext. 200

Seth Brown ................................................................... Facilities and Media Director, ext. 218

Robin Durdin ............................................................ Office Administration Director, ext. 204

Kate Elkins .................................................................................... Preschool Director, ext. 252

Kira Garvie ...................................................................Organ Scholar, kgarvie@redeemer.org

David Hansen ........................................................................... Adult Choral Director, ext. 236

Sarah Hawbecker .......................................... Organist & Children’s Music Director, ext. 206

Deacon Mary Houck .....................................Children & Family Ministries Director, ext. 227

Jennifer Isaacson ....................................................... Financial Information Director, ext. 237

Larry Lowe ........................................................................................................Security Officer

Hillary Nelson ............................................................ Youth Director, hnelson@redeemer.org

Stacey Williams .............................................................................................. Head of Security