Bells

Opening Prayer 1

Gracious God, you have made all of the peoples of the earth for your glory. You invite us to serve you in freedom and in peace. Give to the people of our nation a zeal for justice and the strength for forbearance,  that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will. We ask this on a day of celebration, a day of hope for a nation made free. We ask this in the name of the one who welcomes all to be free indeed. Inspire us to live and worship in your freedom and for the sake of your Kindom. Amen.

Welcome

Introit    Fanfare For the Common Man     Copeland

Call To Worship 2

ONE: O Lord, you are gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

ALL: You are good to all people, with compassion for all of your creation.

ONE: All your works give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your faithful people bless you.

ALL: They speak of the glory of your realm and tell of your wondrous deeds.

ONE: You are faithful in your words, O Lord, and gracious in all your deeds.

ALL: You uphold all who are falling and raise up those who are bowed down.

ONE: Let us worship God.

Hymn 385   All People That on Earth Do Dwell

Affirmation of Faith 3

We believe in God the Creator, who created and is creating everything: the universe, the world, the plants and animals, and us; each of us, unique, individual and beloved of God. We believe in God the Christ, who saved and is saving everything: the universe, the world, the plants and animals, and us: each of us; unique, individual and beloved of the Christ. We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who guided and is guiding everything: the universe, the world, the plants and animals, and us; each of us, unique, individual and beloved of the Spirit. We believe that this one God in three persons, is present among us, working directly in our lives and the lives of all who are born into this world, striving to bring us back into harmony with all creation and with God: forgiving, healing, touching everyone, never rejecting any who willingly receive this freely offered gift of love and grace and eternal life. Amen.

Response Hymn 286

Breathe on me, Breath of God;

fill me with life anew,

That I may love what thou dost love,

and do what thou wouldst do

Sharing the Peace of Christ

ONE: The peace of Christ be with you.

RESPONSE:  And also with you.

Response Hymn 295

Go to the world! Go into all the earth.

Go preach the cross where Christ renews life's worth,

Baptizing as the sign of our rebirth. Alleluia. Alleluia

Scripture: Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

ONE: This is the word of the Lord.

RESPONSE:  Thanks be to God.

Anthem    Born Free     John Barry and Don Black

Sermon:     Reverend Debra McGuire

Hymn 183  Come to Me, O Weary Traveler

Invitation to the Offering 4

All things in heaven and earth belong to God, who is coming in glory to reveal a new creation. God has abundantly blessed us and called us to be a community that blesses others through the sharing of our love, our talents, and our material possessions. Let us rejoice now in what we have been given and in what is ours to give.

Offertory  

Prayer of Dedication 5

Lord God, your truth endures from age to age, and you provide for your people's needs far beyond what we can imagine. Bless this offering we make in your name as a portion of our full-hearted devotion. Send your Spirit upon those who will guide its use for the healing of this world you love. We offer our gifts in gratitude for the new life we have found in Christ. Bless what we give and bless what we keep, that all may be used for your glory. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.     

Sacrament of the Lord's Supper

Preparation of the Table

Invitation and Great Prayer of Thanksgiving 5

Welcome to the delight that is this table. Our Lord's table. Welcome to the table where the love of God meets Humanity. We welcome everyone to this table, no matter your church background, your knowledge of biblical ideas, no matter your sexual orientation or gender truth, no matter your mood. Wherever and whoever you are you are welcome here, you belong, you are worthy.

This is for you, but it may change you from one who is anxiously concerned about their own redemption into one who knows that Christ's body is the earth and all who walk upon it, are one in Him. Into knowing that we are not redeemed by our being good but by our being connected. Into knowing that daring to eat at the table of Jesus Christ has unimaginable consequences.

So come, come to be made whole, and to participate in the work of making us one with God and each other.

ONE: The Lord be with you

ALL: And also with you

ONE: Lift up your hearts

ALL: We lift them up to the Lord

ONE: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

ALL: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

ONE: It is truly right and our greatest joy to give you thanks and praise, eternal God, creator of the universe. You made us from the dust of the earth, Breathed into us the breath of life, And set us in your world to love you. We rejected your love, your peace. We chose to live in enmity with one another Rather than peace with you and all creation. But you did not reject us, and you called us back to you over and over again. We thank you for the prophets like John who prepared the way of peace. Therefore we praise you, Joining our voices with the heavenly choirs And with all the faithful of every time and place, Who forever sing to the glory of your name, saying together:

ALL:  Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

ONE:  We give you thanks for Jesus at whose birth the angels sang of the coming reign of peace on earth, who fed the hungry, humbled the mighty, and proclaimed the good news. With thanks and praise we offer ourselves to you, sharing this holy meal, Remembering Christ's dying and rising, And praying: Come, Lord Jesus! Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us— this bread, this cup, this people— Christ's body and blood, that brings us peace. As you make us one in the Spirit, grant us the strength and wisdom to seek peace in the world. Keep us in the peace of Christ until you gather us at your table in glory Guide us in the path of peace. Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor are yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen.

Words of Institution

Sharing of the Cup and Bread

Prayer of Thanksgiving

God our hope, we give you thanks that you have given us this foretaste of the heavenly realm of justice and peace. Strengthen us with this food from your table as we seek to serve you. Lead us in lives of purpose and joy as we await the coming again in glory of Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Prayers of the People

ONE: Lord in your Mercy,

ALL: Hear our prayers.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Hymn 337   My Country Tis of Thee

Pastoral Blessing

Community Charge

Go out into the world in peace. Have courage! Hold on to what is good. Return no person evil for evil. Strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering. Honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit!  

Postlude

1 adapted from the Book of Common Prayer

2 Worship Resources for July 5, 2026

3 Lisa Frenz, Thanksgiving Liturgy Mount Carmel

Evangelical Lutheran Church Portland, Oregon

4 A New Start

5 Rev. Nathan Williams, Covenant Presbyterian Church, West Des Moines, IA

6 re: worship