Roots of Life Community, ELCA Lutheran Sunday, July 19, 2020

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

Wheat and Thistles

SUNDAY JULY 12, 2020 18th Sunday of Pandemic

WELCOME Pastor: This is the day the Lord has made. ALL: We will rejoice and be glad in it!

CALL TO WORSHIP Reader: Is anything too wonderful for the LORD? ALL: Nothing is too wonderful for you. Reader: You make wonders bloom from your hands ALL: And from imagination springs amazing things. Reader: Your wonders will never cease. ALL: Your wonders will never cease. Reader: Old women bear children. ALL: Trees bear fruit out of season. Reader: Rocks give forth springs of water. ALL: Seas part. Reader: Storms are stilled. ALL: Sickness and disease are cured. Reader: Whole nations are brought out of bondage. ALL: Crowds are fed from your hand. Reader: Dry bones are enlivened. ALL: The dead are raised to life. Reader: Your wonders never cease. ALL: Your wonders never cease. Reader: We enter your presence with thanksgiving. ALL: And your courts with praise.

Reader: We give thanks to you. ALL: We bless your name. Reader: For you are good; your steadfast love endures forever. ALL: And your faithfulness to all generations. Amen.

SONG MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING LESS ELW 596

1 My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; no merit of my own I claim, but wholly lean on

Jesus' name.

Refrain On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.

2 When darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his un-changing grace; in ev'ry high and stormy gale

my anchor holds within the veil. Refrain

3 His oath, his covenant, his blood sustain me in the raging flood; when all supports are washed away, he then is all my hope and stay. Refrain

4 When he shall come with trumpet sound, oh, may I then in him be found, clothed in his righteousness alone,

redeemed to stand before the throne! Refrain

Text: Edward Mote, 1797-1874, alt.

OLD TESTAMENT Isaiah 44:6-8 The Message Reader: GOD, King of Israel your Redeemer, GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies, says: “I’m first, I’m last, and everything in between.  I’m the only God there is. Who compares with me?  Speak up. See if you measure up. From the beginning, who else has always announced what’s coming?  So what is coming next? Anybody want to venture a try? Don’t be afraid, and don’t worry: Haven’t I always kept you in-formed, told you what was going on? You’re my eyewitnesses: Have you ever come across a God, a real God, other than me?There’s no Rock like me that I know of.” This is the Word of the Lord. ALL: Thanks be to God.

CHILDREN’S MESSAGE

GOSPEL Matthew 13:24-30 The Message Pastor: He told another story. “God’s kingdom is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. That night, while his hired men were asleep, his enemy sowed thistles all through the wheat and slipped away before dawn. When the first green shoots appeared and the grain began to form, the thistles showed up, too. “The farmhands came to the farmer and said, ‘Master, that was clean seed you planted, wasn’t it? Where did these thistles come from?’ “He answered, ‘Some enemy did this.’ “The farmhands asked, ‘Should we weed out the thistles?’

“He said, ‘No, if you weed the thistles, you’ll pull up the wheat, too. Let them grow together until harvest time. Then I’ll instruct the harvesters to pull up the thistles and tie them in bundles for the fire, then gather the wheat and put it in the barn.’” This is the Gospel of the Lord. ALL: Praise to you O Christ.

SERMON MESSAGE Pastor Teri Ditslear

SONG LET US BREAK BREAD TOGETHER ELW 471

1 Let us break bread together on our knees; let us break bread together on our knees.

Refrain When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun, O Lord, have mercy on me.

2 Let us drink wine together on our knees; let us drink wine together on our knees. Refrain

3 Let us praise God together on our knees; let us praise God together on our knees. Refrain

Text: African American spiritual

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Reader: Confident of your care and helped by the Holy Spirit, we pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need.

(A brief silence)

Reader: God of the harvest, you sow the good seed of the gospel of Jesus Christ into your field. Help your church throughout the world to be both diligent and patient, full of resolve and gentle-ness, that our witness may be faithful to your intentions. Lord, in your mercy, ALL: hear our prayer.

Reader: God of all space and time, your whole creation groans in labor pains, awaiting the gift of new birth. Renew the earth, sky, and sea, so that all your creation experiences freedom from the bondage of decay. Lord, in your mercy, ALL: hear our prayer.

Reader: God of the nations, teach us your ways, that we may walk in your truth. Mend the fabric of the human family, now torn apart by our fearful and warring ways in the Middle East, China and South Africa. Guide us by your mercy, grace, and steadfast love. Lord, in your mercy, ALL: hear our prayer.

Reader: God of hope, you accompany those who suffer and are near to the brokenhearted. Open our hearts to your children who are lonely and abandoned, who feel trapped by despair, and all who suffer in any way especially, Amy, Mary Ellen, and Matt. Lord, in your mercy, ALL: hear our prayer.

Reader: God of the seasons, in the midst of summer, give us re-freshment, renewal, and new opportunities. We especially pray

for Michaela as she delivers a baby in the very near future. We pray for the safety of those who travel. We pray for those who cannot take the rest they need. Lord, in your mercy, ALL: hear our prayer.

Reader: God of Wisdom, we lift up to you now teachers and stu-dents, parents, and all who make education possible for our chil-dren. We ask that you give us confidence in our systems, while raising up good leaders to help us navigate this unsettling health crisis across our country. Bring an end to public shaming and bul-lying. Help us to bring about a peaceful community where we can feel comfortable in our work, and play. Lord, in your mercy ALL: hear our Prayer

Reader: God of life, those who have died in you shine like the sun in your endless kingdom. We remember with thanksgiving the saints of all times and places and saints close to us especially Su-san. Gather us with them on the day of salvation. Lord, in your mercy, ALL: hear our prayer.

Reader: In the certain hope that nothing can separate us from your love, we offer these prayers to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. ALL: Amen.

STEWARDSHIP MOMENT

OFFERING PRAYER Pastor: God of goodness and growth, all creation is yours, and your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens. Water and word, wine and bread: these are signs of your abundant grace. Nourish us through these gifts, that we might proclaim your steadfast love in our communities and in the world, through Jesus Christ, our strength and our song. ALL: Amen.

SHARING THE EUCHARIST Pastor: First we confess. Let us pray: Gardener God, Forgive us for the times we have kept our seeds in the packet, For the times we’ve been too scared to risk, too selfish to love, too embarrassed to try. ALL: Gardener God, have mercy on us   Pastor: Forgive us for where we have let weeds grow in the soil of our lives, For the times we have forgotten to pray, for the days when we don’t bother to listen, for the moments when we neglect the stirring of your spirit. ALL: Gardener God, have mercy on us   Pastor: Forgive us for when we have trampled on the seedlings of others Through careless words or outright criticism, through envy or feeling threatened, through being insensitive or wrapped up in ourselves ALL: Gardener God, have mercy on us  

Pastor: Forgive us for when we think it’s all down to us. When we forget that to grow we need the earth of our community, The water of other people’s contribution, The sunshine of your favor, The nutrients that come through conversation and challenge. ALL: Gardener God, have mercy on us. Amen.

AFFIRMATION (based on the grace ethos/values create, participate, risk, engage) ALL: We believe in the Creator who imagined this world  And then made it with all its earthy glory. Who made us in God’s image, With the same gift of imagination. Made to CREATE To look after the earth and develop its resources.

We believe in Jesus the Son of God Who most perfectly embodied that God-like image. He was able to see what God was doing and join in. Participating in the overflow of God’s love for the world. Who call us to PARTICIPATE In the the same love for the world.

We believe in the Spirit of Life,  Who animates us with the breath of God. Who assures us that we are God’s children.

Who calls us to RISK,  To offer up the gifts we have been given.

We believe that one day God will make all things new. While we wait we will ENGAGE In our communities, our neighborhoods and our workplaces. Bringing foretastes of that new creation now, Sharing the good news of God’s wonderful Kingdom. Amen.

COMMUNION PRAYER Pastor: Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies it remains a single seed, but if it dies it will produce lots of wheat. 

Wheat is ground to make flour  Flour is mixed with water, salt and yeast to make bread.

ALL: Bread is your body Your body is broken For healing

Unless a grape pip falls to the ground and dies it remains a single seed, but if it dies it will produce lots of grapes on the vine. 

Grapes are crushed to make juice Juice is mixed with water, yeast and sugar to make wine.

ALL: Wine is your blood Your blood is poured out  For forgiveness

Thank you so much for gifts of bread and wine to remember you by. Thank you so much for being the seed that fell to the ground and died that we might have new life. Send your Spirit on these gifts. 

Come to the table  You are welcome if you are waiting  You are welcome if you are buried You are welcome if you are hidden You are welcome if nothing’s happening You are welcome if you are growing You are welcome if you are flourishing All are welcome at God’s table, especially those who know they are poor, weak and broken. God is here, the One who makes the seed grow. ALL: Amen

WORDS OF INSTITUTION Pastor: On the night he was betrayed . . .

LORD’S PRAYER Pastor: Let us pray the words our Savior taught us: ALL: 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 Pastor: Friends of Jesus, come to the table. Receive nourishment for your journey.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION Pastor: God of the welcome table, in this meal we have feasted on your goodness and have been united by your presence among us. Empower us to go forth sustained by these gifts so that we may share your neighborly love with all, through Jesus Christ, the giver of abundant life. Amen.

BLESSING Pastor: Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. God, the creator, ☩ Jesus, the Christ, and the Holy Spirit, the comforter, bless you and keep you in eternal love. ALL: Amen.

SONG FOR THE FRUIT OF ALL CREATION ELW 679

1 For the fruit of all creation, thanks be to God. For these gifts to ev'ry nation, thanks be to God.

For the plowing, sowing, reaping, silent growth while we are sleeping,

future needs in earth's safekeeping, thanks be to God.

2 In the just reward of labor, God's will is done. In the help we give our neighbor, God's will is done.

In our worldwide task of caring for the hungry and despairing,

in the harvests we are sharing, God's will is done.

3 For the harvests of the Spirit, thanks be to God. For the good we all inherit, thanks be to God.

For the wonders that astound us, for the truths that still confound us,

most of all, that love has found us, thanks be to God.

Text: Fred Pratt Green, 1903-2000 Text © 1970 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

SENDING Pastor: Go in peace. Christ is with you. ALL: Thanks be to God.

PRAYER REQUESTS Prayers, please, for Kyle and Michaela Watson as they prepare

for the new addition to their family, Amy Graham, Lynda & Mary, Laurie and Bill (friends of Marsha), Linda and Wayne, (friends of Illona), Ollie Hagen (mother of Randy Hagen), Steven Hahn, Calvin

Gunter (friend of Sterleys), Dan Turnock (Colleen’s dad), Griff (friend of Linda Seifert), Robbie (friend of Doug Mehlan), Sylvia Brown (Neilia’s mother), Grace Polley (mother of Nancy Polley), David Young (Ricke’s father), Dylan Arnheim and family (friends of Michelle Mehlan Clarke), Mary Ellen Williams and Jan and Bill Johnston (friends of Pat), Arnold Family, Meg and Kim Sweet,

Kyree, Jordyn, Mira, King and Kentrill, Xavier, Hunter; Tim Den-ton, Aidan Sunday, Fran Parker (Gail’s mother), Dennis Griffin (Katie Griffin’s father); Kris and Lindsay, Matt, Shelby Harper (and all those with job uncertainty), all health care workers, all those who work daily to provide our essential needs at risk to their own health, for all those families affected by the corona

virus around the world and for the family of Shirley’s friend Su-san who passed away this week.

If you have a prayer concern or want to be a part of the prayer

team, please contact Marsha Bragg at mabrgg@gmail.com

ONLINE GIVING Please see Community Administrator Pat Wehmeier for an invitation to

join our online directory and giving program. Or call her at 847-508-0521.

ROOTS OF LIFE WELCOME STATEMENT

We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, straight, gay, filthy rich or dirt poor. We extend a special welcome to those who are crying newborns, those who are skinny as a rail, or who could stand to lose a few pounds. You are welcome whether you can sing like Adele or, like our Pastor, who cannot carry a tune in a bucket. You are welcome here if you are just browsing, just woke up, or just got out of jail.

We don't care if you are more Catholic than the Pope, more Lutheran than Brother Martin, or haven't been to church since your niece's baptism. We extend a special welcome to those who are over 70 but not grown up yet and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome soccer moms, NASCAR dads, starving artists, tree huggers, accordion players, latte sip-pers, vegetarians, and junk food eaters. We welcome those who are strug-gling with addiction or currently in recovery. If you blew all your of-fering money at the casino or horse track, you are welcome here. We welcome you if you are down in the dumps, or if you don't like "organized religion;” we have been there too.

We offer a special welcome to those who think the world is flat, who work too hard, who don't work, can't spell, or have a college degree. You are wel-come here if you are a Jesus freak, or if you are here because grandma is in town and wanted to go to church. We welcome those who are inked, pierced or both. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a little prayer right now, those who had religion shoved down their throat as a kid, and those who got lost in traffic and wound up here by mistake. We welcome tourists, seekers, doubters, bleeding hearts . . . and YOU!

Damos la bienvenida a todos los que no hablan bien el inglés.

We welcome the participation of people of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities, and educational backgrounds and economic conditions—all who want to join in the community to honor God and be of service to people . . .