Worship Outline and Sermon

Worship Outline: June 7, 2026 - Time after Pentecost (Holy Communion)

Introduction to the day

Though Jesus was a devout Jew who practiced his faith, he was criticized for eating with tax collectors and sinners—the religiously non-observant. Jesus criticizes the self-righteous and reminds us that mercy is to be at the heart of our religious practices. God continues to be made known in those on the margins of society, like Matthew the tax collector and the hemorrhaging woman. As we gather each Lord’s day we receive the healing that makes us well and sends us forth to be signs of God’s mercy for the world.

(* = please stand, as able)

Quiet Time for Reflection and Prayer

Prelude

Welcome and Announcements

Special Music Lord of the Dance – Choir

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asBIoEvuES8

(Text: Sydney Carter. Music: traditional Shaker melody, adapt. Sydney Carter, Text and music: © 1963 Stainer & Bell Ltd. (admin. Hope Publishing Company). Podcast with permission under OneLicense.net #A-714392. All rights reserved.)

*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.

*Prayer of the Day

O God, you are the source of life and the ground of our being. By the power of your Spirit bring healing to this wounded world, and raise us to the new life of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Duet “Come and Behold Him” – Shirley Barrow and Artith Francis

First Reading: Psalm 33:1-11

Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord! (Ps. 33:12)

1 Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous;
praise is fitting for the upright.
2 Praise the Lord with the lyre;
make music for God with a ten-stringed harp.
3 Sing for the Lord a new song;
play your instrument skillfully with joyful sounds.
4 For your word, O Lord, is right,
and faithful are all your works.
5 You love righteousness and justice;
your steadfast love fills the whole earth.
6 By your word were the heavens made,
by the breath of your mouth all the hosts of heaven.
7 You gather up the waters of the ocean as in a water-skin
and store up the depths of the sea.
8 Let all the earth hear the Lord;
let all who dwell in the world stand in awe.
9 For God spoke, and it came to pass;
God commanded, and it stood fast.

10 The Lord brings the will of the nations to nothing
and thwarts the designs of the peoples.
11 Your will, O Lord, stands fast forever,
and the designs of your heart from age to age.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Hymn Morning Has Broken (# 556)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmV9E7qU6IM

Morning has broken

Like the first morning;

Blackbird has spoken

Like the first bird.

Praise for the singing!

Praise for the morning!

Praise for them, springing

Fresh from the Word!

Sweet the rain’s new fall,

Sunlit from heaven,

Like the first dewfall

On the first grass.

Praise for the sweetness

Of the wet garden,

Sprung in completeness

Where God’s feet pass.

Mine is the sunlight!

Mine is the morning,

Born of the one light

Eden saw play!

Praise with elation,

Praise ev’ry morning,

God’s re-creation

Of the first day!

Second Reading: Romans 4:13-25

Paul presents Abraham as a living model of right relationships. For Abraham and for us, a right relationship with God involves trusting that God’s promises will be fulfilled because God makes the dead alive and calls into existence what otherwise does not exist.

13 The promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law, neither is there transgression.

16 For this reason the promise depends on faith, in order that it may rest on grace, so that it may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (who is the father of all of us, 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”), in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18 Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become “the father of many nations,” according to what was said, “So shall your descendants be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), and the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. 20 No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 Therefore “it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” 23 Now the words, “it was reckoned to him,” were written not for his sake alone 24 but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was handed over for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.

The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

*Gospel Acclamation (p. 102, sung)

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Lord, to whom shall we go?

You have the words of eternal life.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

*Gospel: Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

The Holy Gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus demonstrates God’s mercy and power, accepting the unacceptable and curing the incurable. Even the dead receive new life.

9 As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax-collection station, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him.

10 And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with Jesus and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12 But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13 Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

18 While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. 20 Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from a flow of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, 21 for she was saying to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.” 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that moment. 23 When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24 he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. 26 And the report of this spread through all of that district.

The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon – Pastor Matthew

*Hymn of the Day Children of the Heavenly Father (# 781)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQW1bAlVTHo

Children of the heav’nly Father

Safely in his bosom gather;

Nestling bird nor star in heaven

Such a refuge e’er was given.

God his own doth tend and nourish,

In his holy courts they flourish.

From all evil things he spares them,

In his mighty arms he bears them.

Neither life nor death shall ever

From the Lord his children sever;

Unto them his grace he showeth,

And their sorrows all he knoweth.

Though he giveth or he taketh,

God his children ne’er forsaketh;

His the loving purpose solely

To preserve them pure and holy.

(Text: Carolina Sandell Berg; tr. Ernst W. Olson. © 1925, 1953, Augsburg Fortress. Reprinted with permission under OneLicense.net #A-714392. All rights reserved. Music: Swedish folk tune, public domain.)

*Apostles’ Creed (p. 105)

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.

*Prayers of Intercession

Gathered together by the Holy Spirit, let us pray for the church and the needs of the world. A brief silence.

God of mercy, you call us to a life filled with acts of mercy. Ground us in following Christ, that we might extend the mercy we receive. God of grace,

hear our prayer.

God of creation, all you have made is yours. Revive lands in need of healing and make us wise stewards of all you have given us to tend. God of grace,

hear our prayer.

God of the nations, you promise to deliver those who call on you. Bring an end to conflict, bigotry, and injustice in all their forms wherever they are found. God of grace,

hear our prayer.

God of comfort, you provide for those in need. Bring an end to addiction. Comfort people as they mourn. Provide tenderly for those in need. Those we remember include … God of grace,

hear our prayer.

God of quiet spaces, listen now to our silent prayers … God of grace.

hear our prayer.

God of blessings, you send the Holy Spirit to provide varieties of gifts in the body of Christ. Accompany those studying and working at Luther College and Luther College High School. God of grace,

hear our prayer.

God of life, we give you thanks for saints whose lives revealed your faithfulness. May remembering their faithfulness strengthen our own. God of grace,

hear our prayer.

Trusting you receive all our prayers, we commend our spoken and unspoken prayers to you, O God, through Jesus our Savior.

Amen.

*Peace

The peace of Christ be with you always.

And also with you.

Offering (please be seated)

As our offerings are being collected by passing plates down the pews, please join in singing:

Offertory We Praise You, O God (# 870)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8ipl2Kl9xU

We praise you, O God, our redeemer, creator;

In grateful devotion our tribute we bring.

We lay it before you; we kneel and adore you;

We bless your holy name, glad praises we sing.

We worship you, God of our fathers and mothers;

Through trial and tempest our guide you have been.

When perils o’ertake us, you will not forsake us,

And with your help, O Lord, our struggles we win.

With voices united our praises we offer

And gladly our songs of thanksgiving we raise.

With you, Lord, beside us, your strong arm will guide us.

To you, our great redeemer, forever be praise!

(Text: Julia C. Cory. Music: A. Valerius, ‘Nederlandtsch Gedenckclank,’ 1626. Text and music: public domain.)

Offering Prayer

Loving God, we offer at your table the gifts of our hearts. Help us take heart in you and share freely of your love, so that all creation can taste your abundance. Amen.

*Great Thanksgiving (p.107, sung)

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ; who on this day overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hG49pxojgjk

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.

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.

Invitation to Communion

Heaven has come near. Come, share in the feast! The body and blood of Christ given and shed for you.

If watching online, when the presiding minister says, ‘The body and blood of Christ, given and shed for you,’ we welcome all to take and eat a piece of bread, remembering and giving thanks for the promises given us in Christ Jesus. Please also do so, taking a glass of wine or another beverage.

During Communion, please join in singing,

As We Gather at Your Table (# 522, st. 1 and 2)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBrw4S2xHWc

As we gather at your table,

As we listen to your word,

Help us now, O God, your presence;

Let our hearts and minds be stirred.

Nourish us with sacred story

Till we claim it as our own;

Teach us through this holy banquet

How to make Love’s vict’ry known.

Turn our worship into witness

In this sacrament of life;

Send us forth to love and serve you,

Bringing peace where there is strife.

Give us, Christ, your great compassion

To forgive as you forgave;

May we still behold your image

In the world you died to save.

(Text: Carl P. Daw. © 1989, Hope Publishing Co. Reprinted with permission under OneLicense.net #A-714392. All rights reserved. Music: ‘Oude en Nieuwe Hollantse Boerenlities en Contradansen,’ 1710; arr. Julius Röntgen, public domain.)

Prayer after Communion

Compassionate God, through the gifts of bread and wine our hearts are filled with the abundance of your love. Strengthen us that we, through this holy meal, may share your love freely, as you have shared with us. Amen.

*Blessing

Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, ☩ one God, bless, heal, and hold you today and always.

Amen.

*Sending Song Sent Forth by God’s Blessing (# 547)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvW9yGEunOE

Sent forth by God’s blessing,

Our true faith confessing,

The people of God from this dwelling take leave.

The supper is ended.

Oh, now be extended

The fruits of the service in all who believe.

The seed of Christ’s teaching,

Receptive souls reaching,

Shall blossom in action for God and for all.

Your grace shall incite us,

Your love shall unite us

To work for your kingdom and answer your call.

With praise and thanksgiving

To God ever-living,

The tasks of our ev’ry-day life we will face –

Our faith ever sharing,

In love ever caring,

Embracing God’s children, the whole human race.

With your feast you feed us,

With your light now lead us;

Unite us as one in this life that we share.

Then may all the living

With praise and thanksgiving

Give honour to Christ and his name that we bear.

*Dismissal

Go in peace. Share the good news!

Thanks be to God.

Sermon: June 7, 2026 - Time after Pentecost

Text: Matthew 9:9

My call to ministry here did not begin, as it did with Matthew in our reading, hearing the clear voice of Jesus saying ‘Follow me.’ Rather, the first voice I heard came from a former pastor here, Adam Prashn. He saw me at a church convention and said very directly: ‘Our Saviour’s-Immanuel is coming open in Thunder Bay. You should think about it.’ Then abruptly he turned away and left. I only knew Adam in passing, but I understood that Kaija knew him much better. She was also a pastor on leave at the time. As she was standing beside me, I turned to her and declared that it was not nice that he was suggesting to her that she move to Thunder Bay, without thinking about me. In her calm Finn manner, knowing she was right, she replied, ‘He was talking to you.’

I went back to Windsor, tried to forget about it, but couldn’t. Finally I called Bishop Lee in Winnipeg, told him about the conversation. Bishop Lee said, ‘Well, send your resume. I’ll leave it on my desk; I’m retiring; the next Bishop can deal with it.’ So I did; so did Bishop Richard, and so did the people of Our Saviour’s-Immanuel. Kaija and I arrived here on Jan. 1, 1995. Two weeks later, when it was colder than I ever remembered, I phoned Pastor Prashn in Kingston and exclaimed, ‘It’s your fault that I’m here in this cold!.” Laughter filled the phone.

Now, here we are, 32 years to the week that he first spoke to me. I joked with some of you that I should just pull out my first sermon here and preach it again. Receiving some encouragement, I did find it. While I won’t be using it all, which, by the way is twice as long as I now preach, I did find words that still speak to my heart.

I began by thanking you for your kindness and thoughtfulness during that first week, making me feel at home right away. I also gave thanks for sharing with me an exciting vision of the ministry we would be doing together. At the same time I confessed that while that week had flowed so smoothly, there had been moments when I felt like most other people who have moved, or changed jobs, or had a lifestyle change. I had this sense of being overwhelmed, those times when I had to stop and sort through everything that was happening. On those occasions, the word and question most frequently in my mind seemed to be ‘really?!’’

Even though we hear about Matthew getting up right away and following Jesus, there were many times later on when he likely also thought that same question, or mulled it over quietly with the other disciples, out of earshot of Jesus. Everything was new, different. While some followed Jesus, others protested that they were the wrong sort of people, and that Jesus was no Messiah. Instead of building on his popularity, Jesus kept raising opposition, and, worse, predicting his own death. Was this really how it was going to turn out? Had he really made the right decision to follow?

Jesus doesn’t answer this question for Matthew in our reading. Still he does announce good news. To follow Jesus is not about having all the answers, or being the right kind of people, or having it all together. It is about receiving the gifts of grace, forgiveness, and love. It is about hearing the good news that Creator comes to us in the midst of our brokenness, our confusion, our doubts, our ‘reallys?,’ and tells us we are not alone, and that we are beloved children. Indeed the name Matthew means just that, ‘child of God.’ It is about God promising to go with us into a future with countless questions, revealing to us how we may live in and serve the world. It is about the Spirit praying with us and for us, even we cannot find the words. In the midst of our many ‘really’s?’, God calls us to follow, again, and again.

I realize that for this community of faith the announcement of my resignation in order to retire has led many to ask that same question. ‘What is really going to happen next in this congregation, in our ministry together? What does God really want us to do in this time and place?’ Believe it or not, those were also questions in that first sermon! The answer I shared also remains my thought today: God during the days, months, and years ahead promises to be with you as you worship together, learn, witness, serve, and support one another. As you continue to spread the Gospel, God will provide you with the gifts and vision you need to accomplish your goals. This congregation, and its predecessors, have achieved much in your history. Immanuel, God is with you. In the name of Our Saviour, the Spirit enables you to rise to continue your lives of faith, your lives together, with new beginnings, continuing to search for answers, answers that will come and guide you.

This isn’t my farewell sermon. You’ve got to put up with me for four more. Still, I give thanks to God for answering that ‘really?’ question all those years ago, and in the years since. I feel privileged to have been called by you, and to have served you as pastor, all these years. Together we have heard each other’s stories, shared our journeys of faith and life, been together in joy and laughter and beautiful surprises, as well as during the trying, questioning, times of our lives. May God continue to call you to follow, and to lead you, and to answer your questions, so that together you may spread the good news, serving the world, in Our Saviour’s name.

Amen.

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