The 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 12 Jul 2020

+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening:

Let your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of your humble servants; and, that we may receive what we ask, teach us by your Holy Spirit to ask only those things that are pleasing to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the same Spirit lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

” The seeds that fell on good ground are the people who hear and understand the message.
They produce as much as a hundred or sixty or thirty times what was planted.”

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You Crown The Year (Psalm 65:11) – Hillsong

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A Reading from the Old Testament: Isaiah 55:10-11 (CEV)

Rain and snow fall from the sky.
But they don’t return
without watering the earth
that produces seeds to plant
and grain to eat.
That’s how it is with my words.
They don’t return to me
without doing everything
I send them to do.”
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Isaiah 55 · Canyon Worship · Amanda Riffe

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A Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 13:1-9 (CEV)

A Story about a Farmer

That same day Jesus left the house and went out beside Lake Galilee, where he sat down to teach. Such large crowds gathered around him that he had to sit in a boat, while the people stood on the shore. Then he taught them many things by using stories. He said:

A farmer went out to scatter seed in a field. While the farmer was scattering the seed, some of it fell along the road and was eaten by birds. Other seeds fell on thin, rocky ground and quickly started growing because the soil wasn’t very deep. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched and dried up, because they did not have enough roots. Some other seeds fell where thornbushes grew up and choked the plants. But a few seeds did fall on good ground where the plants produced a hundred or sixty or thirty times as much as was scattered. If you have ears, pay attention!
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The Sower’s Song – Andrew Peterson

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Pastoral Prayer:

+ O Lord, our God: Your thoughts and ways are higher than ours.

• You save us, and your fearsome deeds answer our prayers for justice!
• You give hope to people everywhere on earth, even those across the sea.
• You are strong, and your mighty power put the mountains in place.
• You silence the roaring waves and the noisy shouts of the nations.

+ O Lord,our God: we come to you because you are merciful and will forgive our sins.

• Break down the strongholds within us, and deliver us from the lies and deceit of the evil one….
• Sink deep, lasting roots in our fickle hearts, and enable us to withstand times of trouble….
• Bushwhack our worried, anxious hearts, and free us to trust and love you, and those around us….
• Refresh and renew our open hearts, and produce in us the good works of faith, hope, and love….

+ O Lord, our God: send forth your powerful Word into every tribe and nation; Usher in a season of repentance and revival across the earth, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who rules with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
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A Reading from the Epistles: Rom 8:18-23 (CEV)

A Wonderful Future for God’s People

I am sure that what we are suffering now cannot compare with the glory that will be shown to us. In fact, all creation is eagerly waiting for God to show who his children are. Meanwhile, creation is confused, but not because it wants to be confused. God made it this way in the hope that creation would be set free from decay and would share in the glorious freedom of his children. We know that all creation is still groaning and is in pain, like a woman about to give birth.

The Spirit makes us sure about what we will be in the future. But now we groan silently, while we wait for God to show that we are his children. This means that our bodies will also be set free.
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His Mercy Is More – Praise and Harmony Beautiful God

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Closing – Romans 8:17 (CEV)

God’s Spirit lets us know that together with Christ we will be given what God has promised.
We will also share in the glory of Christ, because we have suffered with him.
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+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen