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11th Sunday after Pentecost
Kurt Christenson
Kurt Christenson
Sunday, August 9, 2026
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Prelude              "There’s Something about That Name”  

      words and music by William and Gloria Gaither

 

Welcome & Announcements

 

*Confession & Forgiveness

Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, whose compassion endures forever.

Amen.

Let us confess our sin to God.

 

Compassionate God, we confess to you all our sins. Our burden is heavy, and we cannot free ourselves. In your mercy, call us back to you. Your yoke is easy and your burden is light. Restore us to dwell in your peace. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

 

Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” In the name of God,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, your sins are forgiven. Rest in God’s love. Amen.

 

Gathering Hymn My Life Flows On In Endless Song”

 

*Prayer of the Day

O God our defender, storms rage around and within us and cause us to be afraid. Rescue your people from despair, deliver your sons and daughters from fear, and preserve us in the faith of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

 

Old Testament Reading 1 Kings 19:9-18

9At Horeb, the mount of God, Elijah came to a cave and spent the night there.

Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10He answered, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts, for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.”

11He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind, and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake, 12and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire, and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. 13When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14He answered, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts, for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.” 15Then the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. 16Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel, and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. 17Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill, and whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill. 18Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

 

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

Psalm Psalm 85:8-13

8I will listen to what the Lord God is saying;

  for you speak peace to your faithful people and to those who turn their hearts to you.

9Truly, your salvation is very near to those who fear you,

  that your glory may dwell in our land. 

10Steadfast love and faithfulness have met together;

  righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

11Faithfulness shall spring up from the earth,

  and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

12The Lord will indeed grant prosperity,

  and our land will yield its increase.

13Righteousness shall go before the Lord

  and shall prepare for God a pathway.

The Epistle Lesson  Romans 10:5-15

5Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them.” 6But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7“or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8But what does it say?

“The word is near you,in your mouth and in your heart”

(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim), 9because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For one believes with the heart, leading to righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, leading to salvation. 11The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” 12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. 13For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

14But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? 15And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

 

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

 

*Gospel Acclamation

*Gospel      Matthew 14:22-33    Glory to you O Lord

22Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and go on ahead to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, while he dismissed the crowds.23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. 25And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. 26But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

28Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

 

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

 

Sermon         Pastor Kurt Christenson

 

*Hymn of the Day Eternal Father Strong to Save”

 

*Prayers of Intercession (Sung at beginning and end of prayers)

Response to each petition: Merciful God, receive 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.

 

*Exchange of Peace

The peace of the Lord be with you. And also with you.

 

Offering

Give online using the button at the top right

Or

Text “Give” to (866) 870-5222

 

Offertory Hymn Story              Chuck Leib       

  “When Peace Like A River (It Is Well With My Soul)”

 

*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. We ask this in the name of Jesus, through the Spirit abiding with us now and forever. 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.

 

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:

 

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.

 

Holy God, you alone are holy, you alone are God.  The universe declares your praise: beyond the stars; beneath the sea; within each cell; with every breath.

We praise you, O God.

 

Generations bless your faithfulness: through the water; by night and day; across the wilderness; out of exile; into the future.

We bless you, O God.

 

We give you thanks for your dear Son: at the heart of human life;

near to those who suffer; beside the sinner; among the poor; with us now.

We thank you, O God.

 

In the night in which he was betrayed…

Remembering his love for us on the way, at the table, and to the end, we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

 

We pray for the gift of your Spirit: in our gathering; within this meal;

among your people; throughout the world.

Blessing, praise, and thanks to you, holy God, through Christ Jesus,

by your Spirit, in your church, without end. 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

Verse 4:

Beautiful Savior, Lord of the nations,

Son of God and Son of Man!

Glory and honor, praise, adoration,

now and forevermore be thine!

 

Communion Distribution

 

Communion Hymn When Peace Like A River  (It is Well With My Soul)”

 

*Communion Blessing and Prayer

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. We ask this in the name of Jesus, through the Spirit nourishing us now and forever. Amen.

 

*Sending Hymn What a Fellowship, What a Joy Divine”

 

*Blessing & Dismissal

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn look upon you with favor and give you peace. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

Go In Peace, Serve the Lord!

Thanks Be To God!

 

Postlude                What a Fellowship, What a Joy Divine”        tune- Showalter     Reprise by FLC musicians