EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST July 26, 2020

St. John Lutheran Church and School The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod

Reverend Jeff Caithamer revcaithamer-at-stjohn-lcms.org School Principal: Tim Gabbert

Divine Service IV *stand as you are able

OPENING HYMN 752 Be Still, My Soul

1 Be still, my soul; the Lord is on your side: Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain; Leave to your God to order and provide; In ev’ry change He faithful will remain. Be still, my soul; your best, your heav’nly Friend Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

2 Be still, my soul; your God will undertake To guide the future as He has the past. Your hope, your confidence let nothing shake; All now mysterious shall be bright at last. Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

3 Be still, my soul; though dearest friends depart And all is darkened in this vale of tears; Then you will better know His love, His heart, Who comes to soothe your sorrows and your fears. Be still, my soul; your Jesus can repay

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From His own fullness all He takes away.

4 Be still, my soul; the hour is hast’ning on When we shall be forever with the Lord, When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored. Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past, All safe and blessed we shall meet at last. *INVOCATION, CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

P In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C Amen. P Our help is in the name of the Lord, C who made heaven and earth. P If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? C But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared. P Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word, call upon Him in prayer and praise, and

receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the fellowship of this altar, 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.

C Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.

P Almighty God, merciful Father, in P Almighty God in His mercy has Holy Baptism You declared us to be given His Son to die for you and Your children and gathered us into for His sake forgives you all your Your one, holy Church, in which sins. As a called and ordained You daily and richly forgive us our servant of Christ, and by His sins and grant us new life through authority, I therefore forgive you Your Spirit. Be in our midst, enliven all your sins in the name of the our faith, and graciously receive our Father and of the Son and of prayer and praise; through Your Son, the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ, our Lord. C Amen. C Amen.

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*SERVICE OF THE WORD

INTROIT

KYRIE: Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.

GLORIA IN EXCELSIS

1 To God on high be glory And peace to all the earth; Good-will from God in heaven Proclaimed at Jesus’ birth! We praise and bless You, Father; Your holy name we sing- Our thanks for Your great glory, Lord God, our heav’nly King. 2 To You, O sole-begotten, The Father’s Son, we pray; O Lamb of God, our Savior, You take our sins away. Have mercy on us, Jesus; Receive our heart-felt cry, Where You in pow’r are seated At God’s right hand on high—

3 For You alone are holy; You only are the Lord. Forever and forever, Be worshiped and adored; You with the Holy Spirit Alone are Lord Most High, In God the Father’s glory. “Amen!” our glad reply.

SALUTATION AND COLLECT OF THE DAY P The Lord be with you. C And also with you. P Let us pray. C Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT READING: Deuteronomy 7:6-9 6 “You are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 Know therefore that the

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LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.”

P This is the Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.

GRADUAL

EPISTLE READING: Romans 8:28-39 28 We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

P This is the Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.

*ALLELUIA and VERSE Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, The Son of God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

*HOLY GOSPEL

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the thirteenth chapter.

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C Glory to You, O Lord. 44[Jesus said] “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. 47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 “Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” 52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

P This is the Gospel of the Lord. C Praise to You, O Christ.

*CREED Apostles’ Creed I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His 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 into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,

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

HYMN OF THE DAY 713 From God Can Nothing Move Me

1 From God can nothing move me; He will not step aside But gently will reprove me And be my constant guide. He stretches out His hand In evening and in morning, My life with grace adorning Wherever I may stand.

2 When those whom I regarded As trustworthy and sure Have long from me departed, God’s grace shall still endure. He rescues me from sin And breaks the chains that bind me. I leave death’s fear behind me; His peace I have within.

3 The Lord my life arranges; Who can His work destroy? In His good time He changes All sorrow into joy. So let me then be still: My body, soul and spirit His tender care inherit According to His will.

4 Each day at His good pleasure God’s gracious will is done. He sent His greatest treasure In Jesus Christ, His Son. He ev’ry gift imparts. The bread of earth and heaven Are by His kindness given. Praise Him with thankful hearts!

5 Praise God with acclamation And in His gifts rejoice. Each day finds its vocation Responding to His voice. Soon years on earth are past; But time we spend expressing The love of God brings blessing That will forever last!

6 Yet even though I suffer The world’s unpleasantness, And though the days grow rougher And bring me great distress, That day of bliss divine, Which knows no end or measure, And Christ, who is my pleasure, Forever shall be mine.

Δ7 For thus the Father willed it, Who fashioned us from clay; And His own Son fulfilled it And brought eternal day. The Spirit now has come, To us true faith has given;

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He leads us home to heaven. O praise the Three in One!

SERMON “The Cost” Matthew 13:44-52

*PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

*COLLECT

*POST-COMMUNION COLLECT

*BENEDICAMUS and BENEDICTION P Let us bless the Lord. C Thanks be to God. P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.

C Amen.

CLOSING HYMN 830 Spread the Reign of God the Lord

1 Spread the reign of God the Lord, Spoken, written, mighty Word; Ev’rywhere His creatures call To His heav’nly banquet hall.

2 Tell how God the Father’s will Made the world, upholds it still, How His own dear Son He gave Us from sin and death to save.

3 Tell of our Redeemer’s grace, Who, to save our human race And to pay rebellion’s price,

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Gave Himself as sacrifice.

4 Tell of God the Spirit giv’n Now to guide us on to heav’n, Strong and holy, just and true, Working both to will and do.

5 Enter, mighty Word, the field; Ripe the promise of its yield. But the reapers, oh, how few For the work there is to do!

6 Lord of harvest, great and kind, Rouse to action heart and mind; Let the gath’ring nations all See Your light and heed Your call.

Preaching: Rev. Jeff Caithamer Organist: Keith Williams Videographer: Lou Ann

OUR CONGREGATIONAL FAMILY – We remember the following people in our prayers: for healing and recovery: John, Lee, Tom, Linda, Deb-sister of Pam, Jan, Opal, Hendricks-grandson of Dan & Joanie, Jacob-great grandson of Bob & Joan, Maria, Brett-cousin of the Kindts’, Merv, Jessica-granddaughter of Bob & Joan, Joan Gray-mother of Bill, Judy-mother of Rochelle, Rebecca-daughter of Marvin & Esther, Roy-father of Anne, Dan-brother of Bonnie, Todd; for successful treatments: Kendra (school parent), Earl, Jayne, Linda, Roxy, Joan, Jeanette, Nancy; for those in the military: Roberto, Adam, Joshua, Nick, Taylor, Andy, Brandon, Ben, Allyson, Zachary; for our homebound: Phyllis, Mavis, Walt.

For requests for the prayer chain or to be added to the chain: http://stjohnmedia.org/church/PrayerList.html

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Voter’s Meeting today at 1:00pm. We will meet in the fellowship hall. If the number of people exceeds safe distancing, we will move to the sanctuary.

This Summer, Our Sunday School Students will explore 3 in 1: Discovering Our Triune God. Each of the weekly Bible stories helps students discover something about our triune God. Today's Sunday School lesson explores, "Jesus is Our Lord: Jesus Ascends to Heaven." Students will learn that after Jesus descended into hell and rose again from the dead, He ascended into heaven to prepare a place for all believers. Families could discuss, "What does it mean to you that Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us?" Please contact Mrs. Jones if you have not received the Sunday School pages for the month of June.

Church Directory Photo Dates and Registration: Our registration site is open. Go to the church website, https://www.stjohn-lcms.org/, and click on the link. It will direct you to the registration site. You can set the appointment. We will have stations set up after the church services in July to help with registration if needed. Or you can call the church office. The dates of the photo sessions are August 4, 5, 18, 19, 20, 31 and September 1. The session times are 2pm -9pm. If you have questions contact Faith

. OUR WEEK AHEAD Today Eighth Sunday after Pentecost; 8:00 Holy Communion; 9:30 Adult

Bible Class; 10:45 Holy Communion; 1:00 Voter’s Meeting Tuesday 10:00 Adult Bible Class; 6:00 Parish Ed; 7:00 Youth Board Wednesday 7:15 Holy Communion Sunday Ninth Sunday After Pentecost; 8:00 Holy Communion; 9:30 Adult Bible

Class; 10:45 Holy Communion

Email Addresses – Pastor Caithamer has compiled a list of members’ email addresses to communicate with the congregation. If you are not receiving these email communications, please call the church office with your email address so we can add you to the list. If we have your email address and you are not getting them, please check your spam folder.

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The church Keys and Fobs – Please turn your keys and fobs into the church office if your serving time has concluded so we have enough to distribute to incoming officers.

Sign Up for Church Services: Please contact the church office 359-1123 between the hours of 10am and 2pm, Monday through Friday, to sign up for Sunday’s services. Or you can email pmartin-at-stjohn-lcms.org. You can also sign up anytime by emailing Pastor (revcaithamer-at-stjohn-lcms.org). Thank you to those who sign up ahead of time for church services. It does make the task of preparing for the Lord’s Supper easier and in allowing enough space for everyone in the sanctuary. We do know that circumstances do not always allow for everyone to sign up ahead of time, so we will still welcome those who may come otherwise unannounced.

Available – If you are in need, several home-made masks have been donated to the church and school and can be found on the narthex table. Adult and children sizes are available.

LWML - It is that time of year to collect school supplies for Lutheran World Relief. As of now they will have a truck in October to collect LWR supplies. Most of the supplies go to countries with very little and/or disaster areas around the world. A list of items is included with the bulletin. Please place the LWR School Kit items in the bag in the box in the coatroom. School supplies are on sale so now is a great time to purchase for the school kits. Please return school supplies before October 19, 2020 (packing date). Please do not add other items or leave out any of the items listed. All items should be new and in good condition.

St. John Golf Outing – U of I Golf Course, Saturday, September 26th. We will have more information, including registration forms, available in August.

St. John Arts & Crafts Fair – 2nd Annual, coming October 24th, 2020. More information about reserving booth space and other details will be available soon. Contact the school office with any questions.

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LEARN BY HEART THE FAMILY ALTAR

The families of St. John are encouraged to learn these words from the Small Catechism by heart this week:

Baptism

What is Baptism? Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God’s command and combined with God’s word.

Which is that word of God? Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” [Matt. 28:19]

Psalm 28

Bible Passage: One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. Psalm 27:4

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Eighth Sunday after Pentecost July 26, 2020

INTROIT Ps. 105:2-6; antiphon: Ps. 105: 1

Oh give thanks to the LORD; call up- I on his name;* make known his deeds among the I peoples!

Sing to him, sing prais-1 es to him;* tell of all his I wondrous works!

Glory in his I holy name;* let the hearts of those who seek the I LORD rejoice!

Seek the LORD I and his strength;* seek his presence con- I tinually ! -Remember the wondrous works that I he has done,* his miracles, and the judgments he I uttered,

0 offspring of Abraham, his I servant,* children of Jacoh, his I chosen ones!

Glory be to the Father and I to the Son* and to the Holy I Spirit;

as it was in the be- I ginning,* is now, and will be forever. I Amen.

Oh give thanks to the LORD; call up- I on his name;* make known his deeds among the I peoples!

COLLECT OF THE DAY Almighty and everlasting God, give us an increase of faith , hope, and love, that,

receiving what You have promised, we may love what You have commanded; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

GRADUAL Rom. 11 :33, 36

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and know!- I edge of God!* How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable I his ways!

For from him and through him and to him are I all things.* To him be glory forever. I Amen.

DAILY READINGS July 26: I Sam. I0:l-27; Acts22: l7-29:27: I Sam. 12: l-25 : Acts22:30-23:l1;28: I Sam. 13:1-18: Acts 23: 12-35: 29: I Sam. 14:47- 15:9; Acts 24: 1-23; 30: I Sam. 15: 10-35: Acts 24:24-25: 12: 31: I Sam. 16: 1-23: Acts 25: 13-27; August 1: I Sam. 17: 1-19; Acts 26: 1-23.

The Introit. Collect. and Gradual are from /,11rhcru11 Savi, .·c Buuk: Altar Book, copyright © 2006 CPH. All Scripture quotations. including those from Lutheran Senice Buuk, arc from the ESV"' Bible {The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). copyright (!) 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by pcm1ission. All rights reserved . © CPH Prinlt:!d in USA Concordia Publishing Houst:! • Your church ' s publisht:!r • Visit us al CPH.org 2074

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost Old Testament Reading: Deuteronomy 7:6-9

6"Y ou are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen y_ou to be a people fur his treasured posses-sion, out of all the peoples who arc on the face of the earth . 7It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose tu, ~-o~ you were the fewest of all peoples , . but 1l '.s because the LORD loves you and 1~ keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you ~ut with a mighty hand and redeemed you trom the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his com-mandments , to a thousand generations."

Epistle: Romans 8:28-39 28We know that for those who love God

all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also pre-destined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brothers. 30And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

11 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us , who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? -11Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 14Who is Lo condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died-more than that, who was raised-who is at the right hand of God, who in-deed is interceding for us. 35Who shall sep-arate us from the love of Christ? Shall

tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness , or danger, or sword? 36As il is wrillen.

"'For your sake we are being killed all the day long ;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life . nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Holy Gospel: Matthew 13:44-52 44[Jesus said:) "The kingdom of heaven

is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

45"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46who. on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

47"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gath-ered fish of every kind . 48When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous sound throw them into the fiery furnace . ln that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

51 "Have you understood all these things?" They said to him. "Yes." 52And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."