Fourth Sunday After Pentecost                                                           July 6, 2003

SALEM  EVANGELICAL  LUTHERAN  CHURCH

10   McClellan  Circle  -  Buffalo, New York

Phone:  824-2787

e-mail: salemoncircle@yahoo.com

website:  www.salembuffalo.com

Rev. David F. C. Wurster, Ph.D.  -  Pastor  -  825-3253

Rev. Richard E. Blemaster, Pastor Emeritus

No Sunday School & Bible Classes until September 7

Worship  .  .  .  .  9:30 a.m.

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Thought  for  Worship  Preparation  -  Lutheran Americans are people of a double revolution:  The revolution of 1776 and the reformation of 1517.  The reformers wrote that Christian people should learn the difference between spiritual power and secular power and to reverence both authorities and powers as the two highest gifts of God on earth (Augsburg Confession 28).  It is through these powers that God gives the gift of peace to His people. 

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G A T H E R I N G

HYMN  -  (rise)  --  “America the Beautiful”

      1.   O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain,

            For purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain!

            America!  America!  God shed His grace on thee,

            And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.

      2.   O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years,

            Thine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears!

            America!  America!  God shed His grace on thee,

            And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.

INVOCATION  -  speak  responsively:

      P:   Let us begin in the name of the Father,

      C:  God over all nations and peoples, who wills that His creation remain

            free.

      P:   And of the Son,

      C:  In whom we are free indeed.

      P:   And of the Holy Spirit,

      C:  Agent of liberation, ever freeing us and calling us to live in freedom.

            In Your name we begin this time together!  Amen.

CONFESSON  AND  ABSOLUTION

      P:   God of all mercy and consolation, come to the aid of Your people,

            turning us from our sin of living to self to live for You alone.  Give us

            the power of Your Holy Spirit that, attentive to Your Word, we may

            confess our sins, receive Your forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of

            Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

      C:  Amen

      P:   Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

      P:      Gracious God,

      C:  have mercy on us.  In Your compassion forgive us our sins, known

            and unknown, things done and left undone.  Uphold us by Your

            Spirit so that we may live and serve You in newness of life, to the

            honor and glory of Your holy name through Jesus Christ our

            Lord.  Amen

      P:      Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our

            Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of

            the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life.

      C:  Amen

KYRIE  AND  HYMN  OF  PRAISE  -  “God of Our Fathers”

      1.   God of our fathers, whose almighty hand

            Leads forth in beauty all the starry band

            Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies:

            Our grateful songs  before Your throne arise.

      2.   Your love divine has led us in the past;

            In this free land by You our lot is cast;

            Oh, be our ruler, guardian, guide, and stay;

            Your Word our law, Your paths our chosen way.

      3.   From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence

            Make Your strong arm our ever sure defense.

            Your true religion in our hearts increase;

            Your bounteous goodness nourish us in peace.

      4.      Refresh Your people on their toilsome way;

            Lead us from night to never - ending  day;

            Fill all our lives with heav’n – born love and grace

            Until at last we meet before Your face.

COLLECT  FOR  THE  DAY

      (Announcements and Children’s Message)

 

T H E      W O R D

 

OLD  TESTAMENT  --  Ezekiel 17:22-24

GRADUAL  -  (insert)

EPISTLE  -  2 Corinthians 5:1-10

GOSPEL  -  Mark 4:26-34

HYMN  OF  THE  DAY  -  “Be Thou My Vision”

      1.   Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;

            Naught be all else to me, save that thou art;

            Thou my best thought by day and by night,

            Waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

      2.   Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;

            I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord.

            Thou my soul’s shelter, thou my high tower,

            Raise thou me heav’nward, O Pow’r of my pow’r.

      3.   Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise,

            Thou mine inheritance, now and always;

            Thou, and thou only, first in my heart,

            Great God of heaven, my treasure Thou art.

      4.   Light of my soul, after victory won,

            May I reach heaven’s joys, O heaven’s Sun!

            Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,

            Still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

SERMON  -  “Stories of Fire and Ice” – Mark 4:26-34

CREED:  Apostles’  Creed

      I believe in God, the Father almighty,

            creator of heaven and earth.

      I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord.

            He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

                  and born of the virgin Mary.

            He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

                  was crucified, died, and was buried.

            He descended into hell.

            On the third day He rose again.

            He ascended into heaven,

                  and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

            He will come again 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

 

 

PLEDGE  OF  ALLEGIANCE  TO  THE  AMERICAN  FLAG

      I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the

      Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with

      liberty and justice for all.

NATIONAL  ANTHEM:  “The Star-Spangled Banned”

      1.   Oh, say can you see, by the dawn’s early light

            What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming,

            Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,

            O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?

            And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air

            Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

            Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

            O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

PLEDGE  OF  ALLEGIANCE  TO  THE  CHRISTIAN  FLAG

      I pledge allegiance to the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to the faith

      for which it stands, one Savior eternal, with mercy and grace for all.

HYMN  -  “Lift  High  the  Cross”

      Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim

      Till all the world adore His sacred name.

      Come, Christians, follow where our captain trod,

      Our King victorious, Christ, the Son of God.

            REFRAIN;  Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim

                                 Till all the world adore His sacred name.    (Be seated)

PRAYERS  FOR  TODAY’S  NEEDS  AND  MISSIONS

      At words of  “Let us pray to the Lord”  -

            Response of Congregation:  “Lord, have mercy”

SHARING  OF  THE  PEACE  &  GREETINGS

 

T H E   W O R D   I N   T H E   S U P P E R

OFFERING  AND  MUSIC –

HYMN  405  -  rise  to  sing  -

      1.   We give You but Your own, in any gifts we bring;

            All that we have is Yours alone, a trust from You, our King.

      2.   May we Your bounties thus as stewards true receive

            And gladly, Lord, as You bless us, to You our firstfruits give.

                  (Used By Permission.  CCLI Lic. #1497520)

 

PREFACES  AND  SANCTUS:

      P:   The Lord be with you.

      C:  And also with you.

      P:   Lift up your hearts.

      C:  We lift them to the Lord.

      P:   Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

      C:  It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

      P:   It is truly good, right, and salutary . .  evermore praising You and saying:

      C:  Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of pow’r and might:  Heaven and earth

            are full of Your Glory.  Hosanna.  Hosanna.  Hosanna in the highest.

            Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the

            highest.

PRAYER

      P:   Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have had mercy on

            us children of men, and have given Your only-begotten Son, that who-

            ever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  We give

            You thanks for the redemption You have prepared for us through Jesus

            Christ.  Send Your Holy Spirit into our hearts, that He may establish in

            us a living faith, and prepare us joyfully to remember our Redeemer and

            to receive Him who comes to us now in His body and blood.

      C:  Amen.  Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your

            kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as in heaven.  Give us

            today our daily bread.  Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who

            sin against us.  Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

            For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours now and

            forever.  Amen.

WORDS  OF  INSTITUTION  by  Pastor

PEACE  &  AGNUS  DEI  -  speak  responsively:

      P:   The peace of the Lord be with you always.

      C:  And also with you.

            Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

            Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

            Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.

                                          (Be  seated)

COMMUNION  &  COMMUNION  HYMNS:

“THIS  IS  MY  FATHER’S  WORLD”

      1.   This is my Father’s world,  and to my list’ning ears

            All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.

            This is my Father’s world; I rest me in the thought

            Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;  His hand the wonder wrought.

                                                                                                        (continued over)

      2.   This is my Father’s world; the birds their carols raise;

            The morning light, the lily white, declare their maker’s praise.

            This is my Father’s world; He shines in all that’s fair. 

            In the rustling grass I hear Him pass; He speaks to me ev’rywhere.

      3.   This is my Father’s world; Oh, let me not forget

            That, though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.

            This is my Father’s world; Why should my heart be sad?

            The Lord is king, let the heavens ring;

            God reigns, let the earth be glad!

 

“GOD  BLESS  AMERICA”

      God bless America, land that I love.

      Stand beside her and guide her

      Thru the night with a light from above.

      From the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam,

      God bless America, my home sweet home,

      God bless America, my home sweet home.

 

“LET  THERE  BE  PEACE  ON  EARTH”

      1.   Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me;

            Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.

            With God as our Father, brothers all are we.

            Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.

      2.   Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now.

            With ev’ry step I take, let this be my solemn vow:

            To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally.

            Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.

“America”

      1.   My country, ‘tis of thee, sweet land of liberty; of thee I sing.

            Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride,

            From every mountain side, let freedom ring.

      2.   Our father’s God, to Thee, author of liberty, to Thee I sing.

            Long may our land be bright with freedom’s holy light;

            Protect us by Thy might, Great God, our King!

 

S E N D I N G

CANTICLE:  “Go, My Children, with My Blessing”

      1.   “Go, my children, with my blessing, never alone.

            Waking, sleeping, I am with you, you are my own.

            In my love’s baptismal river I have made you mine forever.

            Go, my children, with my blessing, you are my own.”

      2.   “Go, my children, sins forgiven, at peace and pure.

            Here you learned how much I love you, what I can cure.

            Here you heard my dear Son’s story, here you touched Him, saw

                  His glory.

            Go, my children, sins forgiven, at peace and pure.”

      3.   “Go, my children, fed and nourished, closer to Me.

            Grow in love and love by serving, joyful and free.

            Here my Spirit’s power filled you, here my tender comfort

                  stilled you.

            Go, my children, fed and nourished, joyful and free.”

      4.   “I the Lord will bless and keep you, and give you peace.

            I the Lord will smile upon you, and give you peace.

            I the Lord will be your Father, Savior, Comforter and Brother.

            Go, my children, I will keep you, and give you peace.”

PRAYER  &  BENEDICTION

HYMN  -  “Battle Hymn of the Republic”

      1.  Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;

           He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.

           He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword;

           His truth is marching on.

           Chorus:  Glory! glory, hallelujah!  Glory! glory, hallelujah!

                           Glory! glory, hallelujah!  Our God is marching on.

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ASSISTANTS  IN  TODAY’S  WORSHIP

Celebrant  .  .  .  Rev. David F. C. Wurster, Ph. D.                  Lector  .  .  .  Joanne Kushka

Organist  .  .  . .  Lois L. Jones                      

Assistants  .  .  .  Roy Sheppard & Ray Yox                       Prayer  Leader .  Melissa Banas

Welcomers . . .   Sharon Croston & Richard Landseadel

Acolytes  .  .  .    Bernie Bruenn & Jeremy Calzone

Ushers  .  .  .  .    Paul  Yox,  Erik  Radtke,  Julie  Schmidt,  Robert  Schmidt  Jr.

                           Robert  Schmidt  Sr.

Altar  .  .  .  .  .    Sallie Langner & Lois Mudie

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WELCOME  -  To all who have joined us for our first outdoor worship service

                         (weather permitting) this summer.  Guests, please join us again.

SICK  -  Karen Kopta; Carl Carlson

FLOWERS  -  One sidepiece is given by Marilyn Young & Marjorie Yearke in

         memory of father, William Meissner, whose birthday would have been July 12 . . . The other sidepiece is given by Pastor & Ruth Wurster in thanksgiving for the blessings for 33 years in the ministry – date of ordination: July 5.

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BIRTHDAY  -  Betty Radke’s 81^st  this Tuesday.

THIS  -  Mon.  -  Quilting Group at Lime Lake; Tues.  -  7:00, V.B.S. Staff      

WEEK   Training;  Thurs.  -  9:30, Bible Study.

OFFICE  HOURS – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday – 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

                                      Wednesday – 9:00 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.

OFFERING  UPDATE – Weekly current collected June 29, 2003 – $1,949.00;

                      attendance - 122;  Weekly current needed: $2,958.83. FINANCIAL  UPDATE:  “Current” is presently at: negative $2,593.19 as of May 31, 2003.