The Serpant
Villains & Heroes of the Bible
Our new Sermon Series, Villains and Heroes of the Bible, begins appropriately with the Serpent in Genesis. Where God begins with abundance to Adam and Eve: “You may eat from any tree,” the Serpent narrows all of creation down to the one thing withheld, a forbidden tree. This makes God seem restrictive instead of generous. In that subtle shift, the Serpent still holds up the same mirror to humanity today: surrounded by abundance, we fixate on what we do not have. Let us be fully grateful for the freedom given to us by our God of love and abundance, demonstrated in Jesus.
9:00 AM Service
Bulletin
GATHERING CAMP SONGS
“My Lighthouse”
“Holy Time”
WELCOME
GATHERING HYMN
“Goodness is Stronger Than Evil”
ELW # 721
PRAYER OF THE DAY
God our creator,
you call us to reflect your goodness in the world. Give us the strength to overcome evil with the goodness and grace that we receive from your almighty hand, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
STORY TIME
Sarah Blasing, Meghan Kelley, Caleb Wragge
COMMISSIONING OF CAMP STAFF
At camp this summer, do you promise to do your work faithfully and prayerfully?
I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.
Do you promise to love each camper equally, and each other equally, like you are all a family?
I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.
Do you promise to remember that it is your real self, not your ideal self, whom God loves and wants to use?
I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.
Though you are a leader at camp, camp is for you too. Do you promise to care for yourself, asking for support whenever you need it?
I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.
Do you promise to remember and to share with our campers that life is beautiful and mysterious, and that it is full of hope, even when that hope feels thin?
I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.
Do you, the community of St. Andrew, promise to uphold and support these camp leaders in these commitments and their ministry?
We do, and we ask God to help and guide us.
• • •
READING
Genesis 3:1-7
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’ ” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die, for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
• • •
SERMON
“The Serpent”
Pastor Matthew
PRAYERS OF GOD’S PEOPLE
THE LORD’S PRAYER
OFFERING INTRO
OFFERING OF MUSIC
“New Every Morning” (Audrey Assad)
Elliana Meier, Rachel Calvert, Tim Graf
OFFERING PRAYER
Blessed are you, O God, ruler of heaven and earth. Day by day you shower us with blessings. As you have raised us to new life in Christ, give us glad and generous hearts, ready to praise you and to respond to those in need, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
BEFORE YOU GO
BENEDICTION
HYMN
“This is My Father’s World”
ELW # 824
SENDING
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
POSTLUDE
“Go in Peace”
Tim Graf, Elliana Meier, Rachel Calvert
10:30 AM Service
Bulletin
OPENING MUSIC
“My Lighthouse”
WELCOME
“Let It Be Jesus”
PRAYER
SERVICE OF HOLY BAPTISM
- Foster Dale Bunting
- Rory David Bunting
STORY TIME
Sarah Blasing, Meghan Kelly, Caleb Wragge
COMMISSIONING OF CAMP STAFF
At camp this summer, do you promise to do your work faithfully and prayerfully?
I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.
Do you promise to love each camper equally, and each other equally, like you are all a family?
I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.
Do you promise to remember that it is your real self, not your ideal self, whom God loves and wants to use?
I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.
Though you are a leader at camp, camp is for you too. Do you promise to care for yourself, asking for support whenever you need it?
I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.
Do you promise to remember and to share with our campers that life is beautiful and mysterious, and that it is full of hope, even when that hope feels thin?
I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.
Do you, the community of St. Andrew, promise to uphold and support these camp leaders in these commitments and their ministry?
We do, and we ask God to help and guide us.
• • •
READING
Genesis 3:1-7
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’ ” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die, for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food and that it was a delight to the eyes and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.
• • •
SERMON
Pastor Matthew
PRAYERS OF GOD’S PEOPLE
THE LORD’S PRAYER
OFFERING INTRO
OFFERING/OFFERING OF MUSIC
“New Every Morning”
Elliana Meier, Rachel Calvert, Worship Band
BEFORE YOU GO
CLOSING SONG
“Let It Be Jesus” (reprise)
Prayers
As a community of faith, we are connected through joy, sorrow, worship, and prayer. Please pray for the people listed below.
Prayers of Mourning
We ask for God’s loving embrace to hold all those who mourn, especially:
- The family of Diane Stromberg
- The Seitz, Readers, and Pflaum families on the death of Julie’s mother, Toots
- Friends and family of MaryAnn Smith
- Mary Hanson and family on the death of Ralph Hanson
Prayers of Healing and General Prayers
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:
- Jenny Bartlett, Debbie Flach's daughter
- Sharon Olsen
- Muad Aziz
- Bob and Carol Webster's daughter, Sara
Long Term Prayers
- Donna Jones and her family
- Crosby Urlick
- Nicholas Priest
- Madelyn Astry
- Paul Skoog’s Brother, Dan
- Jim Hornbacher
- Julie Bergquist
- John Rostad
- Kathy Hoagland
- Ron Wolfbauer
- We pray for all people experiencing war & violence
- For the people of Haiti, who are enduring ongoing political upheaval, severe economic challenges, and gang-related violence
- All those in the military who are serving our country
- 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 Kristin.