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9th Sunday After Pentecost
10:00 AM Service July 26, 2026
PRELUDE
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
RINGING OF THE BELL
Please stand as you are able.
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, whose compassion endures
forever. Amen.
Let us confess our sin to God.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Compassionate God, we confess to you all our sins. Our burden
is heavy, and we cannot free ourselves. In your mercy, call us
back to you. Your yoke is easy and your burden is light. Restore
us to dwell in your peace. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying
heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” In the name of God,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, your sins are forgiven. Rest in God’s
love. Amen.
GATHERING HYMN “Shout to the Lord” Hymn #821
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.
HYMN OF PRAISE “Praise, Praise, Praise the Lord!” Hymn #875
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray. Beloved and sovereign God, through the death and
resurrection of your Son you bring us into your kingdom of
justice and mercy. By your Spirit, give us your wisdom, that we
may treasure the life that comes from Jesus Christ, our Savior
and Lord. Amen.
Please be seated.
WORD
FIRST READING 1 Kings 3:5-12
Because Solomon did not ask for long life, riches, or the defeat of
his enemies, God gave him what he asked for: wisdom to govern the
people well.
5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and
God said, “Ask what I should give you.” 6 And Solomon said, “You
have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father
David because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness,
and in uprightness of heart toward you, and you have kept for
him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on
his throne today. 7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your
servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little
child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is
in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people so
numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. 9 Give your servant,
therefore, an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern
between good and evil, for who can govern this great people of
yours?”
10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 God said to
him, “Because you have asked this and have not asked for yourself
long life or riches or for the life of your enemies but have asked for
yourself understanding to discern what is right,
12 I now do according to your word. Indeed, I give you a wise and
discerning mind; no one like you has been before you, and no one
like you shall arise after you.”
Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.
PSALM 119 Psalm 119:129-136
129 Your decrees are wonderful;
therefore I obey them with all my heart.
130 When your word is opened it gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.
131 I open my mouth and pant
because I long for your commandments.
132 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
as you always do to those who love your name.
Refrain
133 Order my footsteps in your word;
let no iniquity have dominion over me.
134 Rescue me from those who oppress me,
and I will keep your commandments.
135 Let your face shine upon your servant
and teach me your statutes.
136 My eyes shed streams of tears,
because people do not keep your teaching.
Refrain
SECOND READING Romans 8:26-39
These words celebrate the depth of God’s actions for us. Through
Christ’s death for us and the activity of the Spirit praying for us, we
are fused to God’s love poured out in Jesus Christ. Nothing, not
even death itself, is able to separate us from such incredible divine love.
26 The Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to
pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with groanings too
deep for words. 27 And God, who searches hearts, knows what is the
mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according
to the will of God.
28 We know that all things work together for good for those who
love God, 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 within a large
family. 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 are we to say about these things? If God is for us,
who is against us? 32 He who did not withhold his own Son but gave
him up for all of us, how will he not with him also give us everything
else? 33 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who
justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? It is Christ who died, or rather, who
was raised, who is also at the right hand of God, who also intercedes
for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will
affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or
sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all day long;
we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than victorious through him
who loved us. 38 For I am convinced 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.
Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.
CHILDREN’S SERMON Pastor Chris Steubing
Please stand as you are able for the gospel reading.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
GOSPEL Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
The holy gospel according to Matthew.
Glory to you, O Lord.
Throughout Matthew’s gospel, Jesus and his disciples proclaim the
good news that “the kingdom of heaven is near!” Here, Jesus offers
several brief parables that explore the implications of this announcement
for people’s lives.
31 [Jesus] put before [the crowds] another parable: “The kingdom of
heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his
field;32 it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is
the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the
air come and make nests in its branches.”
33 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like
yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour
until all of it was leavened.”
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which
a man found and reburied; 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 on finding one pearl of great value, he 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 caught fish of every kind; 48 when it was full, they drew it
ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out 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
furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51 “Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” 52 And he
said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple in
the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings
out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ
SERMON Pastor Chris Steubing
HYMN OF THE DAY “The Reign of God, like Farmer’s Field”
Please stand as you are able.
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
Together with the whole church, we confess our faith:
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.
THE PRAYERS
...God of grace, (sung response, “The Spirit…”).
SHARING THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.
Let us share the peace with one another.
OFFERING
CHOIR ANTHEM “Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God”
The congregation is invited to stand and join in singing on the last verse as the
offering is brought forward.
OFFERING PRAYER
Let us pray. Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things.
Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts:
our selves, our time, and our possessions. Use us, and what we
have gathered, in feeding the world with your love, through the
one who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer (Sung)
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 debts, as we forgive
our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us
from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the
glory, forever. Amen.
BENEDICTION
Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
SENDING HYMN “God of Grace and God of Glory” Hymn #705
DISMISSAL
Heaven has come near. Go, share the good news!
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!
POSTLUDE
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Thanks to all who have donated!
Anyone who wishes to contribute please do so
NO LATER THAN SUNDAY, AUGUST 2.
Much appreciated!!
Carol Borchelt
Announcements/Reminders
For children and parents
After the children’s sermon, children are invited to go with
Ms. Ameya to the fellowship hall for Sunday school children’s
time. Youth are invited to join for a devotion and hang out time
after worship in the youth room. Ameya would like to extend a
warm invitation to any adults who would like to assist her or simply
observe on Sundays. Whether it’s during worship or fellowship
time, it’s a beautiful opportunity to bond with and get to know
the vibrant youth and children of our congregation. If interested,
email her at ameyas-intern@standrewofcl.org.
There are “busy bags” at the sanctuary entrance to help keep
children engaged during services.
There is a cry room in the back of the sanctuary with a changing
table and a large nursery space down the hallway past the fellow
ship hall available for families with young children. Each of the
spaces include access to listen to the worship service.
Please join us for fellowship time after worship in
our fellowship hall!!!
Church Staff and today’s worship leaders:
Pastor—Rev. Chris Steubing
Visitation Pastor—Rev. Judi Miller
Our Reader—Wendy Kuenemann
Our Liturgist—Ken Kleid
Organist/Pianist—Jimmy Cheung
Choir and Hand Bell Director—Wendy Kuenemann
Children & Youth Ministry Intern—Ameya Steubing
Office Administrator—Trista Stubblefield