PRELUDE
“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” (arr. Sondra K. Tucker)
Jodi Edstrom, Tim Graf
WELCOME
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God,
our creator,
our protector,
our wellspring of life.
Amen.
Trusting that God receives our words and the meditations of our hearts, let us confess our sin.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Merciful God,
you speak blessing and compassion into the world.
Forgive us for the ways we act
with judgment, cruelty, or indifference.
We ignore the needs of our neighbors;
we resist your call to oppose injustice;
we give in to scarcity and fear;
we assume the worst about one another.
Cleanse us from our faults
and release us from their grasp.
Show us your lovingkindness.
Restore our hearts and repair your world,
that we may live in Christ’s ways. Amen.
God proclaims these words of assurance:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you.
I have called you by name. You are mine.”
In ☩ Christ, you are forgiven.
In the Spirit, you are made free.
Refreshed by the waters of mercy,
live anew as beloved children of God. Amen.
OPENING HYMN
“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” (St. 1-2, 4) ELW # 631
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Merciful God, your mercy is at work in the world through your church and through every act of loving kindness that turns strangers into friends. Shape us into “little Christs” who offer ourselves in service to a hurting world around us, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
ANTHEM
“My Jesus, I Love Thee” (arr. Paul Sjolund)
Canticle Choir, Larry Bach (Director)
Jodi Edstrom (Flute)
READING
Luke 15:11-32
Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living.
When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything.
But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ So he set off and went to his father.
But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.
“Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’
Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends.
But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
SERMON
“How does God show up in the world?”
OFFERING OF MUSIC
“Just as I Am” (Matt Maher)
Alan Bach, Tim Graf
OFFERING PRAYER
God of grace, your love reaches to the heavens,
and your abundance to the depths of the seas.
Bless what we offer to your service: our gifts, our abilities, and our hearts.
Let us overflow with gratitude and generosity, now and always. Amen.
APOSTLE’S CREED
We believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
We 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.
We 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.
PRAYERS OF GOD’S PEOPLE
THE LORD’S PRAYER
BEFORE YOU GO
BENEDICTION
HYMN
“Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling” ELW # 608
SENDING
Go now in peace. Live in hope.
Thanks be to God!
POSTLUDE
“Sonata RV810- Allegro” (Antonio Vivaldi)
Jodi Edstrom, Tim Graf
The Musicians for Today’s Worship
- Tim Graf (Director of Worship & Music)
- Larry Bach (Canticle Choir Director)
- Alan Bach
- Jodi Edstrom
- Canticle Choir
- Brass Ensemble
Prayers
As a community of faith we are connected through joy, sorrow, worship, and prayer. Please pray for the people listed below.
Your prayers are greatly appreciated!
We ask for God’s loving embrace to hold all those who mourn, especially:
- Catherine Marks’ friend Darcy and family on the death of Brian
- Linda Hallonquist and her sons Brett, Chad, and Jason mourn the death of her husband, Ken.
- Rebecca Willette, John Willette, and their family—Teddy, Megan, and Hannah—as well as Rebecca’s brother, John Platt, and his family, Ryan and Amelia, as they mourn the loss of their grandmother, Joan Platt.
- Carolyn Ball on the death of her partner, Gary Kasner
- Death of Rich Greunhagen’s brother Jerry
Prayers of Mourning:
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice. Psalm 130:1–2
For I am convinced that neither death nor life… nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38–39
Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die’. John 11:25–26
As we are praying for all members of the St. Andrew community, this week we pray especially for God’s comfort, healing, protection, and strength to be present with:
- Deb Haake’s sister and former St. Andrew Pastor Donna Rohrer
- Prayers for Katrin (Katy) Halvorson’s father, Sig Silnes, and sister-in-law, Denise Silnes
- Dale and Janet Riley
- Diane DePoe
- Jen Hoffer
- Chad Winebrenner
- KariLyn Carlson’s friend, Mary
- Keith Carlson’s coworker’s mom
- Leroy Thomsen
- Kris Hanson
Long Term Prayers:
- Carl Nelson
- Sara Goke, daughter of Curt and Jane Goke
- David Olson
- Paul Skoog’s Brother Dan
- Joyce Butler
- Jim and Racee Hornbacher
- Julie Bergquist
- John Rostad
- Gordon Gilbert
- Kathy Hoagland
- Dave & Sherri Anderson’s daughter, Sarah Anderson-Jacobson
- Ron Wolfbauer
- Dick Smith
- For the people in California and emergency responders fighting the fires in LA
- For the people of Haiti enduring ongoing political upheaval, severe economic challenges, and gang-related violence.
- For the people of the Middle East and Ukraine – non-violence and peace.
- All those in the military serving our country
General Prayers:
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you. Psalm 55:22a
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
Names will remain listed until more are added unless otherwise requested. To add a name to the prayer list, click Prayer Requests or contact Pastor Peter Johnson. add a name to the prayer list, click Prayer Requests or contact Pastor Peter Johnson.
See what’s happening at St. Andrew
There’s always something happening here at St. Andrew and we’re so glad to offer ministries and events for people of all ages! Visit our Events Page to see all of our events, and visit our Ministries Page to learn about all of our communities of faith!
The Pastors of St. Andrew
Pastor Peter Johnson
Senior Pastor
Pastor Matthew Ian Fleming
Pastor of Teaching & Young Adults
Pastor Jeanne Aamot
Visitation Pastor