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2nd Sunday after Pentecost

Kurt Christenson

Sunday, June 22, 2025

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SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

June 22, 2025

10:00 a.m.

PRELUDE Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness arr. by Kasen-Engel

Text by Howard “Rusty” Edwards who was born in 1955 in Dixon, Illinois. His education career began at Interlochen Arts Academy, Michigan, and then continued at the University of Nebraska. He taught for a short period before graduating Minnesota Luther Northwestern Seminary with his Masters of Divinity in 1985 and then, five years later, graduating with his Doctorate of Divinity at the Graduate Theological Foundation in Indiana. After this, he pastored a handful of churches for 27 years.

He has written a good number of hymns and psalm settings, for one of which Dave Brubeck wrote a tune. Edwards has been an Oxford Foundation Fellow, is an honorary citizen of Austin, Texas, and was awarded the title of Kentucky Colonel. He has been Visiting Fellow at Yale and at Africa University in Zimbabwe. He is a member of the Blues Hall of Fame.

Praise the One who breaks the darkness | With a liberating light.

Praise the One who frees the prisoners, | Turning blindness into sight.

Praise the One who preached the Gospel, | Healing every dread disease,

Calming storms and feeding thousands | With the very bread of peace

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

CONFESSION & FORGIVENESS

Blessed be the Holy Trinity, one God, who forgives all our sin, whose mercy endures forever. Amen.

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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

Most merciful God,

we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. 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. 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.

In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

GATHERING HYMN God, We Gather as Your People

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

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

O Lord God, we bring before you the cries of a sorrowing world. In your mercy set us free from the chains that bind us, and defend us from everything that is evil, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

FIRST READING: Isaiah 65:1-9

1 I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask,

to be found by those who did not seek me.

I said, “Here I am, here I am,” to a nation that did not call on my name.

2 I held out my hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not

good, following their own devices;

3 a people who provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens

and offering incense on bricks;

4 who sit inside tombs, and spend the night in secret places;

who eat swine’s flesh, with broth of abominable things in their vessels;

5 who say, “Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.”

These are a smoke in my nostrils, a fire that burns all day long.

6 See, it is written before me: I will not keep silent, but I will repay;

I will indeed repay into their laps

7 their iniquities and their ancestors’ iniquities together, says the Lord;

because they offered incense on the mountains and reviled me on the hills,

I will measure into their laps full payment for their actions.

8 Thus says the Lord: As the wine is found in the cluster, and they say, “Do not destroy

it, for there is a blessing in it,” so I will do for my servants’ sake,

and not destroy them all.

9 I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah inheritors of my

mountains; my chosen shall inherit it, and my servants shall settle there.

Word of God. Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

PSALM 22:19-28

19 But you, O Lord, be not | far away;

O my help, hasten | to my aid.

20 Deliver me | from the sword,

my life from the power | of the dog.

21 Save me from the | lion’s mouth!

From the horns of wild bulls you have | rescued me.

22 I will declare your name | to my people;

in the midst of the assembly | I will praise you. / R

23 You who fear the Lord, give praise! All you of Jacob’s | line, give glory.

Stand in awe of the Lord, all you off- | spring of Israel.

24 For the Lord does not despise nor abhor the poor in their poverty; neither is the

Lord’s face hid- | den from them;

but when they cry out, | the Lord hears them.

25 From you comes my praise in the | great assembly;

I will perform my vows in the sight of those who | fear the Lord.

26 The poor shall eat | and be satisfied,

Let those who seek the Lord give praise! May your hearts | live forever! / R

27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn | to the Lord;

all the families of nations shall bow | before God.

28 For dominion belongs | to the Lord,

who rules o- | ver the nations. / R

SECOND READING: Galatians 3:23-29

23 Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. 27 As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.

Word of God. Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Return | to your home,* and declare how much God has | done for you. (Luke 8:29)

GOSPEL READING: Luke 8:26-39 Glory to you, O God

Jesus’ mission includes foreigners and his authority extends to the casting out of demons. Some who witness Jesus’ work are seized with confusion and fear, but the man who was healed is commissioned to give testimony to God’s mercy and power.

26 Then Jesus and his disciples arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me”—29 for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) 30 Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. 31 They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.

32 Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

34 When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. 37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.

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

SERMON Pastor Kurt Christenson

HYMN OF THE DAY Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness

EXCHANGE OF PEACE

The Peace of Christ be with you always.

And also with you.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION Lord Listen to Your Children Praying

During the prayers when the Assisting Minister asks “and for what else do the people of God pray?” you are invited to pray aloud for whatever the Holy Spirit has laid on your heart. Please do not be concerned about waiting to speak until after another soul has finished their petition. Just say your prayer over the top, underneath or alongside the others. We will hear a marvelous mix of voices which God makes into a symphony of prayer.

*after each petition:

God of grace, hear our prayer.

APOSTLE’S CREED

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.

OFFERING

Give online using the button at the top right of the screen.

Music Adoration By Florence Price

in gratitude for Juneteenth this past week. Florence Price was born in Little Rock in 1887 and passed in 1953. Price is noted as the first African-American woman to be recognized as a symphonic composer, and the first to have a composition played by a major orchestra.

OFFERING PRAYER

Let us pray…Creator God, in your wisdom you bring forth all that is good and the harvest is plentiful. Strengthen us at your table with these gifts of the earth

and our labor, that we may work for the good of all; through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

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.

PREFACE

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:

SANCTUS

EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

On the night our Lord Jesus was betrayed…

Remembering, then, his death and resurrection, we take this bread and cup, giving you thanks that you have made us worthy to stand before you and to serve you as your priestly people.

Send your Spirit upon these gifts of your church; gather into one all who share this bread and wine; fill us with your Holy Spirit to establish our faith in truth, that we may praise and glorify you through your Son Jesus Christ; through whom all glory and honor are yours, almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy church, both now and forever.

Amen.

THE LORD'S PRAYER

Lord, remember us in your Kingdom and teach us to pray:

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. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

AGNUS DEI Lamb of God

COMMUNION MUSIC One Bread, One Body

COMMUNION BLESSING & PRAYER

Now may the body and blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ strengthen and keep you in his grace.

Amen.

Gracious God, you gathered us to your table and we drank deeply of your grace.

Send us out by your Spirit to love our neighbors as ourselves and proclaim your love in Jesus’ name. Amen.

SENDING SONG Lift Every Voice and Sing

2 Stony the road we trod, bitter the chast'ning rod, felt in the days when hope unborn had

died; yet with a steady beat, have not our weary feet come to the place for which our

parents sighed? We have come over a way that with tears has been watered;

we have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered,

out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last where the white gleam of

our bright star is cast.

3 God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou who hast brought us thus far on the way; thou who hast by thy might led us into the light, keep us forever in the path, we pray.

Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee; lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee; shadowed beneath thy hand may we forever stand,

true to our God, true to our native land.

BLESSING & DISMISSAL Aaronic Blessing Numbers 6:23-27

Go in peace. Live by the Spirit.

Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE Improv on Lift Every Voice and Sing FLC Musicians

The Rev. Kurt R. Christenson, Pastor

Bill Engel, Music Director

Earl Vaults, Tenor Saxophone

Michael Ruy, Guitar

Joann Masters, Cantor

Wane Gutterud, Lector

Eric Sloniker, Assisting Minister

David Pohl, Deacon Randy Sensmeier, Joyce Sensmeier, Paul Engel,

Jan Neuhaus, Billie Thompson, Elizabeth Connolly, Victoria Pearson, Singers

Brian Jensen, Rebecca Kjonegaard, Melodie Baker, Analiese Christenson, Sound, Video, & Computer

Ruth Clayton, Melinda Person, Kersten Sutter, Ushers

confession & forgiveness, prayer of the day, offering prayer, and dismissal

from Sundays and Seasons 2021, Year B

reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies annual license #SB137579

kyrie, preface, eucharist, sanctus, agnus dei, nunc dimittis

from Evangelical Lutheran Worship setting 2

reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies annual license #SB137579

hymn of praise

from Evangelical Lutheran Worship setting 3

reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies annual license #SB137579

Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE, License A-710629.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Keeping it out Front…Our Strategic Ministry At Work

First Lutheran Church Congregational Priorities:

Connecting with each other
Fostering leadership
Attending to our Virtual Community
Incorporating Children, Youth, & Families into the Life of the Congregation.
Justice focus of Anti-Racism, Diversity and Racial Justice

This Friday, June 27th @ 7:00: “Artists Respond--This is Our Lives!”

Visual artists, photographers, and performers respond with their own State of the Union answers to where we are right now re: race, gender rights, black history, arts funding. Among the artists contributing: Dorothy Annette, Donna Woods, Becket Logan, Yvette Deas, Portia Gregory, Frank DeLouise, Ron Christopher Jones, Bill Radatz, Kenny Ha, Kailey Madoka Agpaoa, and Michael Ruy. With new theater by Roy Sekigahama and Bil Wright. Suggested donation of $15 but pay what you can! Refreshments provided.

Next Sunday after worship: Anti-Racism Forum

Next Sunday our book study continues with Chapter 7 of So You Want to Talk About Race? by Ijeoma Oluo. Please bring in headlines about police violence for us to study together. Erin will lead the discussion. Mark your calendar for the remaining forum dates: August 3: Chapters 8-9, August 17: Chapters 10-12, August 31: Chapters 13-15, September 14 (tentative): Chapters 16-17.

Next ThursDIY: June 26

Our first ThursDIY was a success! Rich Masters and Paul Engel power-washed and then painted the safety strips on the stairs leading down from the parking lot and fixed the rattly fan in the men’s room. Richard Phillips and Wayne cleared out a dead bush and cleaned out a mess of unmentionable items from underneath the shrubbery along Ash St. Many thanks to them. Our next ThursDIY will be June 26. Hope to see you there. Please let Pastor Kurt know if you will attend. 8:00am to noon.

Construction Update

The tower has been cleaned and is now ready for a new coat of paint! The work will continue this week and be completed Saturday.

Pride Parade July 19: Sign-up Sheet in Lobby

The parade will take place on Saturday, July 19, followed by a Pride-themed worship on July 20. Float construction will be the weekend of July 12-13 at Ascension Lutheran. More information and T-shirt link can be found in the Heartbeat. Please sign up in the lobby today or next week if you plan to shuttle from the FLC parking lot.

This week at FLC

Monday	12:00 AA in the lobby 4:00 TACO meal and clinics
Wednesday	10:00 TACO Starbucks and snacks; Clothing closet; Showers
Thursday	12:00 Al Anon in the library
Friday	9:00 TACO meal 12:00 AA in the lobby 7:00 Artists Response Performance/Art Show
Saturday	9:00 Council Retreat 6:30 NEW AA in the lobby
Sunday	9:00 Bible Study 10:00 Worship 11:30 Anti-Racism Forum 3:00 Chinese Bible Church Worship