St. John’s Lutheran, Folcroft
Worship Service July 31, 2022
https://stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE Voluntary in D (Charpentier)
* CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, whose steadfast love endures forever. Amen.
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Merciful God,
we confess that we have not followed your path
but have chosen our own way.
Instead of putting others before ourselves,
we long to take the best seats at the table.
When met by those in need,
we have too often passed by on the other side.
Set us again on the path of life.
Save us from ourselves
and free us to love our neighbors. Amen.
Hear the good news!
God does not deal with us according to our sins
but delights in granting pardon and mercy.
In the name of Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven.
You are free to love as God loves. Amen.
* PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray.
Benevolent God, you are the source, the guide, and the goal of our lives. Teach us to love what is worth loving, to reject what is offensive to you, and to treasure what is precious in your sight, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
* indicates please stand as you are able
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
* GATHERING SONG Lord of Light (ELW 688)
FIRST READING: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23
2Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher,
vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
12I, the Teacher, when king over Israel in Jerusalem, 13applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to human beings to be busy with. 14I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
2:18I hated all my toil in which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to those who come after me 19—and who knows whether they will be wise or foolish Yet they will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. 20So I turned and gave my heart up to despair concerning all the toil of my labors under the sun, 21because sometimes one who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by another who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. 22What do mortals get from all the toil and strain with which they toil under the sun 23For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity.
PSALM: Psalm 49:1-12
1Hear this, | all you peoples;
give ear, all you who dwell | in the world,
2you of high degree and low,
rich and | poor together.
3My mouth shall | speak of wisdom,
and my heart shall meditate on | understanding.
4I will incline my ear | to a proverb
and set forth my riddle upon the harp.
5Why should I be afraid in | evil days,
when the wickedness of those at my | heels surrounds me,
6the wickedness of those who put their trust in | their own prowess,
and boast of | their great riches
7One can never redeem another,
or give to God the ransom for another’s life;
8for the ransom of a life | is so great
that there would never be enough to pay it,
9in order to live forever and ever
and never | see the grave.
10For we see that the wise die also; like the dull and stupid they perish and leave their wealth to those who come | after them.
11Their graves shall be their homes forever, their dwelling places from generation to | generation,
though they had named lands after themselves.
12Even though honored, they cannot | live forever;
they are like the | beasts that perish.
SECOND READING: Colossians 3:1-11
1So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
5Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). 6On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. 7These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. 8But now you must get rid of all such things—anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. 9Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices 10and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. 11In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!
* GOSPEL: Luke 11:1-13
The holy gospel according to Luke. Glory to you, O Lord.
1[Jesus] was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”2He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.
3Give us each day our daily bread. 4And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial.”
5And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ 7And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ 8I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.
9“So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish 12Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion 13If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
MEDITATION
*HYMN OF THE DAY Jesus, Priceless Treasure (ELW 775)
* 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, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
OFFERING
Offerings may be made on line through our website: stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org or sent by mail to
St. John’s Lutheran church, 1500 Glen Avenue, Folcroft, PA 19032.
Those who are worshipping in person can place their offerings
in the plate at the door as they enter or leave.
* PRAYERS OF THE INTERCESSION:
Trusting in God’s extraordinary love, let us come near to the Holy One in prayer.
O God, you are wholeness. Where there is division in your church, bring reconciliation and healing. Guide the work of theologians, Sunday school teachers, seminary professors, and all who provide instruction for the building up of your church. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
O God, you are the source of all life. Where creation cries out in distress, bring relief and renewal. Bless farmers, ranchers, distributors, and all who provide our food. Nourish the land and all its habitants. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
O God, you are wisdom. Where nations and communities yearn for peace, bring justice. Strengthen those who toil for the welfare of others, especially military personnel, police, first responders, and activists, and for the healing of the nations. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
Lord, we pray for the Ukrainian people that they be surrounded by your love and protection against the attacks on their country. Lift them up and protect them, end this war against them and let your peace reign. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
O God, you are life. Where your people are overwhelmed with the busy-ness of life, bring encouragement. Accompany all who experience emotional, mental, or physical distress. Renew us at your table of mercy.. We pray especially for Sherrie, Ana, Lillian, Helen, Arlene, Jose, Hoon, the Melendez family, Connie, Pat, Hazel, Deb, Joe, Ruth, Lisa, Bill, Rick, Dick, Alisia, Jacklyn, Lillian, Alexis, Jim and those we now raise before you in our hearts. We pray for those affected by the Covid virus in mind, body or spirit. Grant them healing and wholeness. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
O God, you are our treasure. Where scarcity and anxiety pervade your church, bring abundance and vitality. Guide the work of church councils and committees and give them clarity for the work of ministry in this place. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
O God, you are resurrection. We give you thanks for all your saints. Inspire us by their example of faithful living to set our minds on things above and to be rich in love toward you. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
Receive the prayers of your children, merciful God, and hold us forever in your steadfast love; through Jesus Christ, our holy Wisdom. Amen.
* LORD'S PRAYER
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.
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.
* BLESSING:
The God of peace, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you, comfort you,
and show you the path of life this day and always.
Amen.
* SENDING SONG God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending (ELW 678
* DISMISSAL: Go in peace. Love your neighbor. Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE Allegro (Scarlatti)
You are welcome to watch the live service at 10:15 am at https://www.facebook.com/stjohnslutheranfolcroft
Or you can watch live streaming on the St. John's website: https://stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org
If you are having trouble accessing, please let us know.
The ETERNAL CANDLE is sponsored for the month of July by MaryAnne Rossi in memory of loved ones.
Announcing St. John’s fundraiser for July…SCHOOL SUPPLIES! We are asking for monetary donations only to support our students at St. John’s. We want to supply each with funds to purchase grade specific supplies they need for their classes. We hope to give each family the collected funds within the first week or two of August, so please get your donations in early.
Thank you in advance for your generosity! Last year we were able to give 7 of church children a gift card for school supplies. No donation is too small. Donations can be sent to the church through mail or dropped off at the church during Sunday service.
If you would also like to pick-up some school supplies, we will donate them to Delcroft Elementary, as we did last year. Please only grab items off this list: kid’s scissors, number 2 pencils, 24 pack crayons, non-spiral wide ruled composition books, spiral bound single subject notebooks and three subject notebooks
Each week, we collect food for our hungry neighbors in need in our SHARING GOD'S BOUNTY WAGON. Hunger doesn’t take a vacation. Please consider making a donation of a food item each week.
YOU CAN HELP! You can be a good steward AND get your grocery shopping done. Did you know that if you purchase a grocery food gift card from St. John’s, our congregation will receive 5% of all sales of gift cards. Please see Ruth Weaver if you wish to purchase and gift cards. Thank you for helping us raise that 5% for
Are you on FACEBOOK Do you ever like or share the church's posts We hope you do. Every little activity on our page is a good thing. More eyes to see what we're about and what we have going on is helpful. And if you leave a comment, even better. Others that may check our Facebook page out see that we're a busy, happening church. If you need our social media addresses on Facebook or Instagram, see Elaine Fisher or check out the hashtag on the bulletin board in the hallway for information.
We are registered as Saint Johns Evangelical Lutheran Church for Amazon Smile. Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of eligible smile.amazon.com purchases to the charities selected by customers. To register your charity designation, you will need to go to Smile.amazon.com. Then you select our name as your charity. Again, the name is registered as Saint Johns Evangelical Lutheran Church. You will only have to register once. Next time you plan to shop online, go first to smile.amazon.com and you will be redirected to your own Amazon account. Your charity designation will be listed on the top left. So far, we have received over $156, just by doing your shopping through Smile.amazon.
The Finance Committee is looking for a member or two to join us in managing the finances of the church. This committee should have at least five members to be able to function correctly. Currently, committee consists of Chairperson, Barb Lynn, Financial Secretary, MaryAnne Rossi and Treasurer, Sherrie Modge. Pastor Wende is also a member of this committee. Ideally during the formation of the budget, we would be able to rely on the voices of a few other members. You do not need any degree or accounting classes to join. As Barb says, if you can balance your checkbook, you can be a member! Please consider joining!
Our Financial Response (May)
CURRENT
Budgeted costs per month $ 9,048.05
Offering last month $ 5,483.29
Budget required to date (5 months) $ 45,240.25
Total received to date $ 27,214.70
MISSION SUPPORT
Budget required to date (5 months) $ 2,500.00
Total received to date $ 2,491.55
Please continue to support St. John's. Our expenses continue each month
even if we are not all worshipping together inside our building.
Your offering and tithes may be made on line through our website: stjohnslutheranfolcroft.org or sent by mail to
St. John’s Lutheran church, 1500 Glen Avenue, Folcroft, PA 19032.
