T THE SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST T JULY 19, 2020

9:30 AM

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FIRST SAINT PAUL’S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 1301 North LaSalle Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60610

312.642.7172 www.fspauls.org

THE REV. DR. THOMAS R. JOHNSON, Pastor, tjohnson@fspauls.org MRS. MARLO SCHULZ-KITTL, Dir. of Family Ministry & Outreach, mschulz@fspauls.org

STEVEN WENTE, Cantor, swente@fspauls.org MARGARET DANILOVICH, Associate Cantor, mdanilovich@fspauls.org

ANNA ALBRECHT, Church Secretary, aalbrecht@fspauls.org

WELCOME… …in the strong name of Jesus Christ. We are glad you have joined us for worship! We hope you experience God's love and a nurturing community while you are with us. Your presence here makes our community richer and fuller. We worship online in an effort to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and encourage you to follow along in this document as you also watch or listen to the service. May the Lord bless our worship this day.

TODAY IN WORSHIP It is an age-old question: why is there evil in the world? In the parable of the wheat and the weeds Jesus suggests that both grow together until the harvest. With Paul, we long for the day that all creation will be set free from bondage and suffering. Having both weeds and wheat within us, we humbly place our hope in the promises of God, and from the Lord’s Table we go forth to bear the fruit of justice and mercy.

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The Seventh Sunday

After Pentecost

PASTOR’S WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Please note: LSB refers to the burgundy hymnal, Lutheran Service Book.

T Gathering T Stand

The sign of the cross T may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen. Matthew 28.19b; [18.20]

P If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and

cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1.8-9

Silence for reflection on God's Word and for self-examination.

Kneel

P Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have

sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what

we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not

loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal

punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us,

renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways

to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives

you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I

therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of

the T Son and of the Holy Spirit. [John 20.19-23]

C Amen.

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ENTRANCE HYMN My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less LSB 575

P The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the communion of the Holy

Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13.14

C And also with you.

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GLORIA IN EXCELSIS (Glory to God in the Highest) Luke 2.14; John 1.29

P The Lord be with you. 2 Timothy 4.22

C And also with you.

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P Let us pray.

Silence

P O Lord, pour out upon us the spirit to think and do what is right, that we, who cannot

even exist without you, may have the strength to live according to your will; through

your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

C Amen.

Sit

T Service of the Word T

FIRST READING Isaiah 44.6-8 There are no other gods besides God: the word of the Lord does not fail to come to pass. We can

trust in God, through whom Israel—and we—are redeemed. 6Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the first

and I am the last; besides me there is no god. 7Who is like me? Let them proclaim it, let

them declare and set it forth before me. Who has announced from of old the things to

come? Let them tell us what is yet to be. 8Do not fear, or be afraid; have I not told you from

of old and declared it? You are my witnesses! Is there any god besides me? There is no

other rock; I know not one.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

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PSALM 86.11-17 Setting by Ray Makeever

A Refrain

C Refrain

A 11Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk | in your truth;*

knit my heart to you that I may | fear your name.

C 12I will thank you, O Lord my God, with | all my heart,*

and glorify your name for- | evermore. Refrain

A 13For great is your | love toward me;*

you have delivered me from the neth- | ermost pit.

C 14The arrogant rise up against me, O God, and a band of violent men | seeks my

life;*

they have not set you be- | fore their eyes.

A 15But you, O Lord, are gracious and full | of compassion,*

slow to anger, and full of kind- | ness and truth.

C 16Turn to me and have mer- | cy upon me;*

give your strength to your servant; and save the child | of your handmaid.

A 17Show me a sign of your favor, so that those who hate me may see it and | be

ashamed;*

because you, O Lord, have helped me and com- | forted me.

C Refrain

SECOND READING Romans 8.12-25

For Paul, true spirituality means that we experience the reality of the Spirit, which enables us to

pray as God’s children, keeps us in solidarity with creation, and gives us unseen hope that God will

liberate us and creation from bondage to death and decay. 12So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the

flesh—13for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to

death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are

children of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you

have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16it is that very Spirit

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bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs,

heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may

also be glorified with him. 18I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth

comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19For the creation waits with eager

longing for the revealing of the children of God; 20for the creation was subjected to futility,

not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation

itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of

the children of God. 22We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains

until now; 23and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the

Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in

hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Stand

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

My word shall accomplish that which I purpose,

and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. - Isa. 55.11

We repeat the Alleluia

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HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 13.24-30, 36-43

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

Jesus tells a parable about the coexistence of good and evil in this world. God’s judgment will

remove all evildoers and causes of sin, but not until the end of human history. 24[Jesus] put before [the crowds] another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be

compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25but while everybody was

asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26So

when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27And the

slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in

your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ 28He answered, ‘An enemy has done

this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29But he

replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the

reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the

wheat into my barn.’ ” 36Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples

approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37He

answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38the field is the world,

and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil

one, 39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and

the reapers are angels. 40Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it

be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of

his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42and they will throw them into the furnace

of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine

like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!”

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.

Sit

SERMON Seed of Discord — Matthew 13.24-30, 36-43

Stand

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HYMN OF THE DAY Hark, the Voice of Jesus Calling LSB 827

© 2001 Stephen P. Starke. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License .NET, no. 100013586.

Public domain

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APOSTLES’ CREED P God has made us his people through our Baptism into Christ. Living together in trust and hope, we confess our faith.

C 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 T everlasting. Amen. “catholic” meaning the whole/universal Church

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

P Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according

to their needs.

A brief silence.

P Lord, in your mercy,

C Hear our prayer.

The prayers conclude:

P Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your

mercy; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

C Amen.

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LORD’S PRAYER P Lord, remember us in Your Kingdom and teach us to pray:

C 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. Matthew 6.9-13

T Sending T

P Let us bless the Lord. Psalm 103.1

C Thanks be to God.

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HYMN Come, Ye Thankful People, Come LSB 892

P Go in peace. Christ is with you.

C Thanks be to God.

SERVICE MUSIC

Prelude Come, Ye Thankful People, Come Ken Berg

Postlude Come, Ye Thankful People, Come Joel Raney

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SERVING IN WORSHIP TODAY

PRESIDING MINISTER SINGERS The Rev. Dr. Thomas R. Johnson Arlene Dahm LECTOR Margaret Danilovich Linda Kimbrough Pastor Johnson INSTRUMENTALISTS Linda Kimbrough Margaret Danilovich, organ & piano Jeffrey Leininger Jeffrey Leininger, guitar Rachel Leininger Rachel Leininger, recorder Betsy Pennington Taylor Karla Wente, flute Karla Wente Steven Wente, organ & piano Sue Wente

Acknowledgements: Liturgical texts from Lutheran Service Builder, license #10001126 and sundaysandseasons.org, used by permission of

AugsburgFortress License #25151.

Scripture quotations from The Holy Bible, New Revised Standard Version, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian

Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission,

AugsburgFortress License #25151. All rights reserved.

All other liturgical music from Lutheran Service Builder.

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First Saint Paul's Parish Notes

www.fspauls.org

WEDNESDAY NOON BIBLE STUDY

Join Pastor Johnson for Wednesday Noon Bible study via the Zoom information below. The group is

discussing 1 and 2 Samuel.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3126427172

Dial in: 312.626.6799

Meeting ID: 312 642 7172

IN-PERSON WORSHIP SERVICES

Brief, in-person services of Word and Sacrament will be held on Sunday mornings at 9 AM. Attendance

is limited to 18 households per service. So that we know how many to expect at the services and so

we can assure that attendance levels are appropriate for physical distancing, please reserve your seat(s)

on the FSP webpage (www.fspauls.org) or at:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904044FADAB23A7FE3-worship The sign-up closes at 8 AM

on the Friday before the Sunday service. We will resume Wednesday morning Communion services on

July 29 at 7:00 AM If you need help signing up for the service, please call the church office at

312.642.7172. We are looking forward to seeing you.

SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE STREAMING

Worship services will continue to be streamed at 9:30 AM every Sunday via the Zoom information

below.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3126427172

Dial in: 312.626.6799

Meeting ID: 312 642 7172

SUNDAY SCHOOL/ADULT BIBLE FORUM NEWS

"In our era of great challenge, we invite you to join us for the Heroes

of the Faith series which highlights men and women in the Bible who

overcame extraordinary difficulties. Their stories show that God chooses

ordinary people—people like you—to do His extraordinary work."*

God is the true hero of each Bible story! We invite you to join us as we

see how these biblical accounts resonate with our current lives and God's

work in and through us. More information on the schedule can be found

on our website: www.fspauls.org

Today: Samuel

July 26: David

August 2: Elijah and John the Baptist

August 9: Lydia, Dorcas and the women who supported ministry

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If you would like to join us for all-ages Sunday School at 10:45 AM, please email Marlo Schulz at

mschulz@fspauls.org.

Join us at 11 AM today via the Zoom information below for Adult Bible Forum:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3126427172

Dial in: 312.626.6799

Meeting ID: 312 642 7172

*Introduction from ©2009 Concordia Publishing House. Scripture: ESV®. For more information on the Heroes of Faith series

go to cph.org.

BOOK CLUB

Book Club will meet via Zoom conferencing this Wednesday, July 22 from 7:00-8:30 PM. The

featured book is by Francine Rivers called A Lineage of Grace. This book is a compilation of five

novelettes based on women in the lineage of Jesus. On July 22, we will discuss chapters 1-3 of the

second novelette, “Unashamed – Rahab, a Woman of Faith”. Be sure to also look over the questions

at the end of the novelette for chapters 1-3. Please contact Marlo Schulz-Kittl at mschulz@fspauls.org

for more information.

Join us on July 22 via the log in information below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3126427172

Dial in: 312.626.6799

Meeting ID: 312 642 7172

On August 5, we will discuss chapters 4-7 of the second novelette, “Unashamed – Rahab, a Woman

of Faith”.

PASTOR ON VACATION

Pastor Johnson will be on vacation July 20-24. For emergencies during this time, please contact Pastor

Elstner Lewis at 773.848.3911.

FROM THE BOARD OF STEWARDSHIP

During this time of social distancing and shelter in place, I know that all of us are grateful for the First

Saint Paul’s staff and volunteer leaders who work to provide online opportunities for worship and

education. I ask you to continue to support the ministry of First Saint Paul’s with your offerings. The

easiest method is to use Online Giving, which allows you to set up a recurring gift, make a one-time

donation to the general fund or select a specific purpose such as Community Meals, the music ministry,

Preserving God’s House or other ministry. Visit www.fspauls.org and click on “Online Giving.” You

may also mail a check to:

First Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church

1301 N. LaSalle Dr.

Chicago, IL 60610

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I look forward to the time when we can once again worship together in person. Until then, I thank

you for your prayers for First Saint Paul’s staff, members and friends and for your generous financial

support.

Yours in Christ, Asa Carter, Chair, Board of Stewardship

COMMEMORATIONS FOR THE WEEK

Mary Magdalene, Apostle

Wednesday, July 22

Sometimes called "the apostle to the apostles" because she told them of her encounter with the risen

Lord, Mary was a woman of Galilee who followed Jesus throughout his ministry. She was present at

Jesus' crucifixion and his burial.

Birgitta of Sweden, renewer of the church, died 1373

Thursday, July 23

Birgitta married at age thirteen and had four daughters. Widowed at age thirty-eight, she gave all that

she owned to the poor and founded a community of monks and nuns led by a woman. Her work is

continued today by the Society of St. Birgitta.

James, Apostle

Saturday, July 25

James and his brother John were the sons of Zebedee, fishermen by trade before their call from Jesus.

He was the first of the twelve apostles to be martyred, and his death is the only one recorded in

scripture (Acts 12.1-2).

READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY: EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

1 Kings 3.5-12; Psalm 119.129-136; Romans 8.26-39; Matthew 13.31-33, 44-52

GENERAL FUND

RECEIVED LAST WEEK: $7,380

RECEIVED TO DATE: $186,313