Welcome & Announcements
Welcome! It’s the 8th Sunday after Pentecost, in this season of worshiping from our individual homes. Our senior warden, Pam Evans has recorded a video of announcements.
Children’s Resources
- Lectionary-based readings and activities for families for the week of July 26
- Gospel Coloring Page (several parables from the gospel reading)
- Godly Play: The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Note: In our worship service the gospel reading includes this parable.)
Opening Hymn: 371 Thou, Whose Almight Word
1 Thou, whose almighty word
chaos and darkness heard,
and took their flight;
hear us, we humbly pray,
and, where the Gospel day
sheds not its glorious ray,
let there be light!
2 Thou who didst come to bring
on thy redeeming wing
healing and sight,
health to the sick in mind,
sight to the in-ly blind,
now to all humankind,
let there be light!
3 Spirit of truth and love,
life-giving holy Dove,
speed forth thy flight!
Move on the waters’ face
bearing the gifts of grace,
and, in earth’s darkest place,
let there be light!
4 Holy and blessèd Three,
glorious Trinity,
wisdom, love, might;
boundless as ocean’s tide,
rolling in fullest pride,
through the world far and wide,
let there be light!
Opening Acclamation and Collect of the Day
First Reading: Genesis 29:15-28
Psalm 105:1-11, 45b
Second Reading: Romans 8:26-39
Gospel Hymn: 509 Spirit Divine, Attend Our Prayer
1 Spirit divine, attend our prayers,
and make this house thy home;
descend with all thy gracious powers,
O come, great Spirit, come!
2 Come as the light; to us reveal
our emptiness and woe,
and lead us in those paths of life
whereon the righteous go.
3 Come as the fire, and purge our hearts
like sacrificial flame;
let our whole soul an offering be
to our Redeemer’s Name.
4 Come as the dove, and spread thy wings,
the wings of peaceful love;
and let thy Church on earth become
blest as the Church above.
5 Spirit divine, attend our prayers;
make a lost world thy home;
descend with all thy gracious powers;
O come, great Spirit, come!
Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:31-33,44-52
Sermon
A Poetic Offering
Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Special Music: They Will Know We are Christians by our Love
Prayers of the People
Closing Hymn: 691 My Faith Looks Up to Thee
1 My faith looks up to thee,
thou Lamb of Calvary,
Savior divine!
Now hear me while I pray,
take all my guilt away;
O let me from this day
be wholly thine.
2 May thy rich grace impart
strength to my fainting heart,
my zeal inspire;
as thou hast died for me,
O may my love to thee
pure, warm and changeless be,
a living fire.
3 While life’s dark maze I tread,
and griefs around me spread,
be thou my guide;
bid darkness turn to day;
wipe sorrow’s tears away,
nor let me ever stray
from thee aside.
A Blessing
