First Lutheran Church

First Lutheran Church is live

7th Sunday after Pentecost

Kurt Christenson

Sunday, July 27, 2025

Chat

Scripture

Playlist

Loading chat...

SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

July 27, 2025

10:00 a.m.

Today we give thanks for three faithful musicians and composers of hymns: Johann Sebastian Bach, died 1750; Heinrich Schütz, died 1672; George Frederick Handel, died 1759; musicians. Their commemoration day is July 28.

These three German-born musicians have done much to enrich the life of the church. Schütz was an early master who focused on settings of biblical texts. Bach wrote over 300 cantatas along with works for organ and instrumental pieces, and has been called the "fifth evangelist" for the way he proclaimed the gospel in music. Handel's great work, Messiah, is a setting of scriptural texts.

PRELUDE The Trumpet Shall Sound

I Know that my Redeemer Liveth Handel

Instrumental Music today is chosen from different times of the Church year. All selections support the faith of these important figures in history recalling the Resurrection and the life everlasting through our Saviour and Lord.

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 Let The Whole Creation Cry J.S. BACH arr

Text: Stopford A. Brooke, 1832-1916, alt.

Music: Jakob Hintze, 1622-1702; arr. Johann Sebastian Bach,

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.

Almighty and ever-living God, you are always more ready to hear than we are to pray, and you gladly give more than we either desire or deserve. Pour upon us your abundant mercy. Forgive us those things that weigh on our conscience, and give us those good things that come only through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

FIRST READING: Genesis 18:20-32

20 Then the Lord said, “How great is the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah and how very grave their sin! 21 I must go down and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me, and if not, I will know.”

22 So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, while Abraham remained standing before the Lord. 23 Then Abraham came near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will you then sweep away the place and not forgive it for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” 26 And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will forgive the whole place for their sake.” 27 Abraham answered, “Let me take it upon myself to speak to my lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 29 Again he spoke to him, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” 30 Then he said, “Oh, do not let my lord be angry if I speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” 31 He said, “Let me take it upon myself to speak to my lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” 32 Then he said, “Oh, do not let my lord be angry if I speak just once more. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.”

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

PSALM 138

I thank you, Lord, with all my heart, that you have heard the words of my mouth.

In the presence of the angels I will bless you. I will adore before your holy temple. Refrain

I thank you for your faithfulness and love which excel all we have ever knew of you. On the day I called, you answered; you increased the strength of my soul. Refrain

The Lord is high yet looks on the lowly and the haughty God knows from afar. Your love, O Lord, is eternal, discard not the work of your hands. Refrain

SECOND READING: Colossians 2:6-19

6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

8 Watch out that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have come to fullness in him, who is the head of every ruler and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a spiritual circumcision, by the removal of the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ; 12 when you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, 14 erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it.

16 Therefore, do not let anyone condemn you in matters of food or drink or of observing festivals, new moons, or Sabbaths. 17 These are only a shadow of what is to come, but the body belongs to Christ. 18 Do not let anyone disqualify you, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, initiatory visions, puffed up without cause by a human way of thinking, 19 and not holding fast to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and tendons, grows with a growth that is from God.

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

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Ask, and it will be given you; search, and | you will find;* knock, and the door will be o- | pened to you. (Luke 11:9)

GOSPEL READING: Luke 11:1-13 Glory to you, O God

1 Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”2 So he said to them, “When you pray, say:

Father, may your name be revered as holy.

May your kingdom come.

3 Give us each day our daily bread.

4 And forgive us our sins,

for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.

And do not bring us to the time of trial.”

5 And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ 7 And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything out of friendship, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

9 “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asked for a fish, would give a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if the child asked for an egg, would give a scorpion? 13 If you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

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

SERMON Pastor Kurt Christenson

HYMN OF THE DAY Thine is the Glory George F. Handel

EXCHANGE OF PEACE

The Peace of Christ be with you always.

And also with you.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION Lord Listen to Your Children Praying

Response to each petition: God of grace, hear our prayer.

We sing before and after the first and last petitions of 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 We share together in our ancient story of faith

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 Your Will Be Done South African Traditional

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 My Soul Now Magnifies Heinrich Schütz

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 O God of Matchless Glory R. Sensmeier

BLESSING & DISMISSAL Aaronic Blessing Numbers 6:23-27

Go in peace. Live by the Spirit.

Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE Now Thank We All Our God J.S. Bach

The Rev. Kurt R. Christenson, Pastor

Bill Engel, Music Director

Earl Vaults, Tenor Saxophone

Michael Ruy, Guitar

Paul Engel, Cantor

Jan Neuhaus, 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

Melinda Person, Paula Gutterud, 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

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

TODAY after worship: De-escalation Training and ICE Policy (Required for Staff)

You are invited to join FLC staff for a de-escalation training presented by Leo Groenenberg-Violette, our TACO social worker. He’ll help us understand how to assess situations, reflect on our verbal and nonverbal communication, and decide how to safely respond in loving ways. Following his presentation, Erin will present the new FLC ICE policy and help us build a shared understanding of our rights and obligations during ICE visits. Council members and ushers are strongly encouraged to attend.

Next ThursDIY: July 31

Our next ThursDIY will be July 31. Hope to see you there from 8am-noon. Please let Pastor Kurt know if you will attend.

FLC Night at TACO: August 4

Joann needs a couple more people to help out with the TACO meal hosted by FLC on Monday, August 4 from 3:00-5:00. If you’d like to join, please connect with Joann to sign up.

Next Sunday after worship: Anti-Racism Workshop Continues

We will be meeting at 11:30 to continue our anti-racism discussion using the book So You Want to Talk About Race? by Ijeoma Oluo. For this session, we will focus on racism in the education space. Please read chapters 7-8 on affirmative action and the school-prison pipeline prior to the session and bring your books. No homework prior to this session, but it’s important that everyone does the reading so we can have a relevant discussion!

New Bible Study

Over the remaining summer weeks (through August), the Sunday morning Bible Study will be taking a long look at the books of Galatians and Colossians. These two relatively short letters written by St. Paul invite us to consider what it means to live as disciples of Jesus. Galatians in particular was a favorite of Martin Luther’s. In its verses he found comfort, inspiration and the knowledge that he wasn’t saved so much by how good he was but by how good God Is! Galatians has been referred to as the “Magna Carta” of Christian Freedom.

TACO Bites

July food drive: 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.
“Bike the Bay the TACO Way” will take place on September 6. You can support TACO by riding the 30-mile coastal route or donating to someone who will be! More information on the TACO website
New website: Have you checked the TACO website recently? Lane has been doing some wonderful updates and adding new content. Make sure to check it out! (tacosd.org)

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
Saturday	12:00 TACO First Saturday Giveaway 6:30 AA in the lobby
Sunday	9:00 Bible Study 10:00 Worship 11:30 Anti-Racism Forum (Chapters 7-8) 3:00 Chinese Bible Church Worship