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6th Sunday after Pentecost/Pride Sunday

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Sunday, July 20, 2025

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SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

HAPPY PRIDE

July 20, 2025

10:00 a.m.

PRELUDE Jesus Loves Me Anna Bartlett Warner (1859) Michael Ruy, guitar

What the World Needs Now is Love Burt Bacharach and Hal David

sung by Colette Thomas

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

OPENING PRAYER

The boundless grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the wisdom of God, and the light of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.

Let us pray together:

Loving God, the time is now, the kingdom of God is here, and you call us together as your people. Open our ears that we may hear your call. Open our hands that we may give them to your service. Open our hearts that we may love all whom you create. Strengthen us by your Spirit that we may serve your world in the grace of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

GATHERING HYMN All Are Welcome

THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM

The time is now.

The kingdom of God has come near.

Today, we reaffirm the baptismal promise of God’s love that was marked on many of our foreheads with water, Spirit, and oil. For many of us, this sign of God’s love happened when we were too young to remember it, before anyone could know who we would become, the choices we would make, how our bodies would transform, or whom we would love. Others were older and able to bring the fullness of themselves to the baptismal font and experience the unconditional love of God.

Regardless of when baptism happens, these waters create a loving and eternal covenant with God and enable the gathered faithful to commit to supporting, loving, and open relationship with all God’s creation.

Like the Israelites who wandered in the wilderness for years, Jonah’s stubborn descent into the belly of a whale, and the simple fishermen who do their best to understand Jesus’ parables, our faith journey is full of ups, downs, and trying to do our best.

Today, at these baptismal waters we recommit ourselves to proclaiming a full welcome to all God’s children. Today especially we commit ourselves again to reconciling with the individuals and communities of all sexual orientation and gender identities who have felt like God’s promises were not available to them. May these swirling, cleansing waters now affirm the fullness of who you are and inspire you to proclaim God’s love and reconcile with others.

May this living water assure you that you and your family are affirmed and loved by God. May each drop be a blessing from God on each and every cell of your whole body, which are most fearfully and wonderfully made. Refreshed by these waters, let us prepare our hearts and minds for worship.

The time is now! The day has come. The kingdom of God is here!

Listen in stillness. Proclaim in song, All are welcome!

Reconcile your people. Open our doors, Gather us at your table.

For the time is now! The day has come. The kingdom of God is here!

All Are Welcome vs. 4, 5

Let us build a house where hands will reach beyond the wood and stone

to heal and strengthen, serve and teach, and live the Word they've known.

Here the outcast and the stranger bear the image of God's face;

let us bring an end to fear and danger:

Refrain All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

Let us build a house where all are named, their songs and visions heard

and loved and treasured, taught and claimed as words within the Word.

Built of tears and cries and laughter, prayers of faith and songs of grace,

let this house proclaim from floor to rafter:

Refrain All are welcome, all are welcome, all are welcome in this place.

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

Let us pray together: God of Boundless love, you require each of us to love justice. May we follow Christ’s example to see, name, and care for all whom we encounter. May your love and grace fill our words and actions, turning us away from the sins of homophobia, transphobia, and racism, to live for you and serve our neighbor. Soften our hearts and expand our awareness today to share in the spirit of the Kingdom of God, making the church a place where community is built to experience your grace through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

FIRST READING: Genesis 18:1-10a

The Lord visits Abraham and Sarah to tell them that the long-awaited promise of the birth of a child will be fulfilled for them in their old age.

1 The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. 2 He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. 3 He said, “My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. 4 Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” 6 And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.” 7 Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. 8 Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

9 They said to him, “Where is your wife Sarah?” And he said, “There, in the tent.” 10a Then one said, “I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.”

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

PSALM 15

1 Lord, who may dwell in your | tabernacle?

Who may abide upon your | holy hill?

2 Those who lead a blameless life and do | what is right,

who speak the truth | from their heart; / R

3 they do not slander with the tongue, they do no evil | to their friends;

they do not cast discredit up- | on a neighbor.

4 In their sight the wicked are rejected, but they honor those who | fear the Lord.

They have sworn upon their health and do not take | back their word.

5 They do not give their money in hope of gain, nor do they take bribes a- | gainst the

innocent.

Those who do these things shall never be | overthrown. / R

SECOND READING: Colossians 1:15-28

This letter offers a mystical teaching, that the great mystery of God is “Christ in you.” Because Christ is present in the church, Christians share in his life, suffering, and glory.

15 Christ Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;16 for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

21 And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him—23 provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. I, Paul, became a servant of this gospel.

24 I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. 25 I became its servant according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery that has been hidden throughout the ages and generations but has now been revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

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

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Blessed are those who hold the word fast in an honest | and good heart,* and bear fruit with pa- | tient endurance. (Luke 8:15)

GOSPEL READING: Luke 10:38-42 Glory to you, O God

During his visit to the home of Mary and Martha, Jesus reminds Martha that her concern for her many tasks distracts from the one thing that precedes all else: abiding in the presence of God.

38 Now as Jesus and his disciples went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. 40 But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42 there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

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

SERMON Rev. Brian Oltman

HYMN OF THE DAY Let There Be Peace on Earth

EXCHANGE OF PEACE

The Peace of Christ be with you always.

And also with you.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION Lord Listen to Your Children Praying

Sung before and after the first and last petitions of prayer.

*after each petition:

God of grace, hear our prayer.

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.

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 QR code to the right

Music Migratory V by Adam Guettal

sung by Colette Thomas with Gary Muhlbach on Piano

We sail above the weather / We search the ocean floor

We rival our creation / Still yearning for more

But can we fly together / A migratory V?

How wonderful if that's what God could see

A single voice in whispered prayer / Can only pray to travel there

But all as one / We sound the everlasting sound

And sing our salvation / Aloft and in formation

A migratory V / How wonderful if that's what God could see

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

Pianosong by Paul Halley for Communion with Gary Muhlbach, piano

COMMUNION MUSIC Jesus Loves Me!

1 Jesus loves me! this I know, for the Bible tells me so;

little ones to him belong, they are weak, but he is strong.

Refrain Yes, Jesus loves me, yes, Jesus loves me,

yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.

2 Jesus loves me! he who died heaven's gates to open wide;

he will wash away my sin, let his little child come in. Refrain

3 Jesus loves me! he will stay close beside me all the way;

when at last I come to die, he will take me home on high. Refrain

COMMUNION BLESSING & PRAYER

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

Amen.

Gracious God, called by you and nourished at your table of grace we are now sent out to be in relationship with our world, to love and to serve. You have challenged us by the Word, fed us with Bread and Wine, and strengthened us by the Spirit for the ongoing and hard work of reconciliation. Let us go now from this community and proclaim a word of God’s love for each of God’s children. Let us show that the distinctions of gender identity, of sexual orientation, of race, of passions, of angers and delights do not and cannot separate us from your love or from one another. Let us go from this community into the community of the world and proudly proclaim together: The time is now! The day has come. The kingdom of God is here! Amen.

Go out in response to the voice of God who calls you. Go out to proclaim the message of repentance, for the Kingdom of heaven is near. Go out united in purpose reconciling the whole world to God.

Amen.

SENDING HYMN All The Colors of the Rainbow

BLESSING & DISMISSAL

Go in peace. Live by the Spirit.

Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE All Are Welcome arr. by Engel with intro by Randy Sensmeier from his

book “TEN PIANO ESSAYS on tunes of Marty Haugen.”

Sanctuary Flowers were provided by Frank DeLouise and Chuck Leib in Gratitude for “Lutherans For Love” and from Bill Engel and DonnaJoette to welcome our special singers and dancers the past two weeks

The Rev. Kurt R. Christenson, Pastor

The Rev. Brian Oltman, Preacher

Bill Engel, Music Director

Earl Vaults, Tenor Saxophone

Colette Thomas, Singer

Michael Ruy, Guitar

Paul Engel, Cantor

Joann Masters, Lector

Chuck Leib, 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, Sound, Video, & Computer

Ruth Clayton, Melinda Person, Kersten Sutter, Ushers

Joann Masters, Kersten Sutter, Kaaren Nyberg, Martha Radatz, Fellowship Snacks

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

Welcome to the Pulpit: Rev. Brian Oltman

Thank you to Pastor Brian Oltman for joining us today to preach! Pastor Brian Oltman grew up just west of Minneapolis in Glencoe MN. In 1990 he graduated from Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, IA and has served various parishes in CA and MN, along with being a chaplain with Sharp Hospitals in San Diego, CA. Most recently he served for seven years as part time pastor at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Coronado, CA. He is a licensed therapist with a PsyD and MA in clinical counseling from Antioch University in Los Angeles, CA. Currently Pastor Brian has a busy private counseling practice at the New Life Center at the First United Methodist Church in San Diego. When not working he plays with his 3 rescue kittens, sings in the SDGMC and spends time with his partner of almost 20 years.

Special Music Donations

Thanks to all donors to Special Music this month for keeping dancers and singers at our Sunday service for Pride month. Last week was extra special with Yasmina Devos, Ron Christopher Jones, Bil Wright, and Jakub Kulke and today we have Colette Thomas singing. It is extraordinary to welcome these people at our table on Sunday. The gifts of Spirit are alive and well here at FLC. If you haven’t already, please consider making a donation to special music to ensure these rich musical offerings can continue.

TACO Bites

FLC Night at TACO: August 4

Fellow FLC volunteers, August 4 is the first Monday of April and our evening to assist with serving dinner at TACO. Please consider giving 2 hours of your time for this worthwhile and heartwarming experience. If you can give of your time from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday August 4, please let Joann Masters know, either at church or by email: jbmasters56@gmail.com, and she'll take care of signing you up. Come join the fun! Looking forward to seeing you there.

TACO Pantry Drive: Ending soon!

TACO’s food pantry is running extremely low and they could use some donations to refresh it. These are items used by clients who have kitchens but need help affording groceries. Please bring pantry-stable items during the month of July and place them in the bin in the lobby.

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
Thursday	12:00 Al Anon in the library
Friday	9:00 TACO meal 12:00 AA in the lobby
Saturday	6:30pm AA in the lobby
Sunday	9:00 Bible Study 10:00 Worship 11:30 De-escalation/ICE Training 3:00 Chinese Bible Church Worship