15870 46th Avenue N, Plymouth | (763) 559-0579 Email: office@AscensionPlymouth.com Website: www.AscensionPlymouth.com A member of the WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod)

Brian Roloff, Pastor | pastorroloff@AscensionPlymouth.com

Welcome! We are glad that you have joined us for worship.

Brian Roloff, Pastor | pastorroloff@AscensionPlymouth.com Susan Decker, Music Director

Tammy Melott, Preschool Director/Teacher Jennifer Tripp, Teacher

July 19, 2020

We are pleased you could join us. May your worship with us draw you closer to God and equip you for a life of even more dynamic Christian discipleship. If you need assistance during the service, please speak to one of the ushers.

THE ORDER OF WORSHIP

(P:=Pastor, C:=Congregation, ♫:=Congregation sings) (All hymns used by permission. CCLI License #440614.)

All scripture quotations are taken from the NIV and are used by permission.

WORSHIP THEME:

Honor Those in Authority

OPENING HYMN: # 285 The Ten Commandments Are the Law (vs 5)

“Give to your parents honor due, Be dutiful and loving, too, And help them when their pow’rs are few; So shall it go well with you.” Have mercy, Lord!

Please stand CALL TO WORSHIP

P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.

C: And also with you.

P: God invites us to come into his presence and worship him with humble and penitent hearts. Therefore, let us acknowledge our sinfulness and ask him to forgive us.

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C: Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful, and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve your punish-ment both now and in eternity. But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord have mercy on me, a sinner.

P: God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given his only Son to be

authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Fa- ther and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen.

PRAYERS FOR MERCY

P: For all that we need in life and for the wisdom to use all your gifts with grai-tude and joy, hear our prayer, O Lord.

C: Lord, have mercy.

P: For the steadfast assurance that nothing can separate us from your love and for the courage to stand firm against the assaults of Satan and every evil, hear our prayer, O Christ.

C: Christ, have mercy.

P: For the well-being of your holy Church in all the world and for those who offer here their worship and praise, hear our prayer, O Lord.

C: Lord, have mercy.

P: Merciful God, maker and preserver of life, uphold us by your power and keep us in your tender care.

C: Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Almighty Lord, you rule over all things in mercy and in might, and give of your authority for the blessing of all humanity. Help us to honor and obey those you have placed in authority over us, just as we would respect and obey you, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spir-it, one God, now and forever. Amen.

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Please be seated

THE WORD

MEDITATION: Honor Your Parents

LESSON: Ephesians 6:1-3

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” FOURTH COMMANDMENT AND LUTHER’S EXPLANATION (all say)

Honor your father and mother, that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.

What does this mean? We should fear and love God that we do not dishonor or anger our parents or others in authority, but honor, serve and obey them, and give them love and respect.

MEDITATION: Honor the Governing Authorities

LESSON: 1 Samuel 24:1-22

After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.” So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats. He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. The men said, “This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’ ” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD'S anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD.” With these words David rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way. Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? This day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my master, because he is the LORD'S anointed.’ See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. Now understand and recognize that I am

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not guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you. “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? May the LORD be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.” When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud. “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. You have just now told me of the good you did to me; the LORD delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the LORD reward you well for the way you treated me today. I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. Now swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my fa-ther’s family.” So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold. SONG: All Hail King Jesus

All hail, King Jesus! All hail Emmanuel. King of Kings, Lord of lords, Bright Morning Star. And throughout eternity I’ll sing your praises, And I’ll reign with You throughout eternity.

MEDITATION: Honor those who care for your soul

LESSON: Matthew 23:1-12

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. “Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’ “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

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INSTALLATION OF ELDERS AND OFFICERS

President ............................................. Jeff Siewert

Secretary ............................................. Brian Stein

Financial Secretary ..................................... Nate Zeitler

Treasurer ............................................. Scott Apelt

Education Elder ..................................... Jon Klockziem

Group Life Elder ...................................... Randy Hebb

Outreach Elder ...................................... Wayne Johnson

Support Elder .......................................... Bob Boone

Worship Elder ........................................ Mike Melott

Please stand

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Merciful Father in heaven, grant wisdom to all fathers and mothers as they seek to provide for the physical and spiritual needs of the children you have given them. May the spirit of Christ dwell in our hearts and in our homes so that we serve as examples of Christian love and godliness in a cold and ungodly world. Move chil-dren to love and honor their parents in everything, for you intend to pour out every blessing upon their obedience.

Lord of the nations, in the midst of these turbulent times we beg you to give under-standing, moral strength, and courage to our President and Congress and Supreme Court, to our Governor and State Legislature and to all who have authority over us so that they can work together to promote justice, moral decency, godly values, and good order in our land. Instill a respect for our government representatives in the hearts of all journalists, broadcasters, authors, educators, and those who influence public opinion that all our citizens might show their reverence for you by honoring and respecting your representatives in the government.

Lord of the Church, continue to guide and prosper your flock, the worldwide fel-lowship of all believers. Look with your grace and favor upon our Wisconsin Syn-od and bless our family here at Ascension. May your ministers always proclaim your pure Word in all its fullness and beauty and your people joyfully hear, believe, and obey it. We thank you for stirring up the hearts of our church officers, elders, committee leaders, and volunteers to serve you and your people so that this minis-try can continue to flourish for the spread of the gospel.

Holy Father, grant that what we have prayed for, we may work toward, under the guidance of your Holy Spirit, that at the Day of Judgment we may be found worthy to join the saints and angels and enter into your gift of eternal light and life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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LORD'S PRAYER (all pray)

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

BLESSING

P: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.

C: Amen.

Please be seated

CLOSING HYMN: # 619 God Bless our Native Land

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CONNECTION CARD ON OUR APP

Please take a moment and fill out the info on the connection card, located under the Worship Today button on our app or on our website. Please fill out any information that needs to be updated and submit.

THE OFFERING

Dear guests, please don’t feel obligated to take part in our offering. We’re glad you’re here to listen to the message about Jesus.

If members or guests would like to give an offering electroni-cally, they can do so by going to ascensionplymouth.com and click on the GIVE tab on your right hand side or use our App. Collection plates are located by the sanctuary doors.

THANKS TO THOSE WHO SERVED:

Pianist: Susan Decker

Small Choir: Marcia Michalik, Ruth Mitchell, Lisa Molitor, Pastor Roloff Flute: Ashley Arnold

AV: Stu Gilbert & Christy Roloff

God bless our native land! Firm my she ever stand Through storm and night! When the wild tempests rave Ruler of wind and wave, Do thou our country save By thy great might.

For her our prayers shall rise To God above the skies; On him we wait. Thou who art ever nigh, Guarding with watchful eye, To thee aloud we cry, God save the state!

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DISTRIBUTION

Communicant members of Ascension Lutheran are invited to receive the Lord’s Supper. If you have never communed with us before, we ask that you first speak

with our pastor to learn how you can establish a communing fellowship with us. We are eager to help anyone to take this step.

Please Note: The center cups of the individual trays contain white grape juice. Gluten-free wafers are available upon request. Please speak with the pastor before the worship service, if you would like a gluten-free wafer.

THE SACRAMENT

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

Then he took the cup, gave thanks, gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."

P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C: Amen

PRAYER

P: Hear the prayer of your people, O Lord, that the lips which have praised you here may glorify you in the world, that the eyes which have seen the coming of your Son may long for his coming again, and that all who have received in his true body and blood the pledge of your forgiveness may be restored to live a new and holy life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen

July 26 8:30 am 10:00 am

Join us:

Our Mission The mission of Christian Life Resources is to use life and family issues as bridges to convey the love of God and to share the message of salvation through Christ. This organization educates people on what God’s Word has to say about the value and sanctity of human life. The intent is to mobilize Christians to make God-pleasing decisions about life and family issues. We focus attention on many issues such as: abortion, infertility, birth control, post-abortion syndrome, infanticide, medical directive statements, assisted suicide, and euthanasia. You may also access CLR’s Position Statement on Abortion and CLR’s Position Statement on Euthanasia.

GUEST PREACHER: PASTOR FLEISCHMANN Rev. Robert Fleischmann has been the National Director of Christian Life Resources since 1988. He is adjunct to Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary where he teaches a pastoral approach to eldercare and related life issues. He teaches an online Master’s certificate course at Concordia University on Bioethics and Biotechnology. He speaks throughout North America on the Biblical approach to various life and family issues and counsels people with God’s Word in correct decision-making.

CHRISTIANLIFERESOURCES.COM info@christianliferesources.com 1-800-729-9535

* A freewill offering will be available *