Sixth Week of Pentecost - The Lihu'e Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hawai'i July 4, 2021 - LIHUE LUTHERAN CHURCH
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Sixth Week of Pentecost
The Lihu’e Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Hawai’i
Ka Hale Pule 'O Na Lahui Apau . . .
Church Of All Peoples . . .
. . . Hele Pu Makou me Iesu Kristo
. . .Walking Together With Christ
July 4, 20212
The Lihu’e Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hawai’i
4602 Ho’omana Road, Lihue, HI 96766
The Rev. Dr. JP Paxton
Rhonda Pabo, Organist Liedeke Bulder, Lector
Church: (808) 245-2145 Fax: (808) 246-8626
E-Mail: staff@lihuelutheran.com Website: lihuelutheranchurch.com
Welcome to Our Guests
It is always a joy to share our faith and worship with people visiting from around the world.
Please know your presence and participation in our service is most appreciated. At Lihue Lu-
theran we celebrate Holy Communion at every service. You are certainly welcome in joining us
as our Lord comes to us in this holy meal.
Prayer Concerns
Please remember these people in your prayers during the week: Sally Rasay, Linda Garrett,
Stan Weeks, Ronnie Pacheco, Pagatpatan ohana, Villanueva ohana, Geronimo ohana, David
Gragg, Joe Morgan, Zosimo and Virginia Austria, Karen Kinoshita, Jake Whisenhunt, Rick
Rentz, Judy Hoffman, Norman Dibble, Kazue Zaima, Virginia Hines-Aflague, John Mattek, Gi-
rald II (Bobby Girald’s son), Kristie Schmid (Tony’s sister), Lolli Hagen, Abraham Torres, Sr.,
Kristy Kahananui, Sonny Koerte, Uncle Joe, Mallory Rodriguez, Steve Schantz, Peter Alisna,
Tirzah Pope, Pastor Matthew Weber, Joyce Anglemyer, Stephen Shioi, Peggy Hood, Jason Shi-
mono, Richard Rasay, Nancy Nelson (formely Mandell), Karen & Patrick Pavao, Edward Rasay,
Karen Richards (friend of Nancy Mandell), Marcos Larson (Liedeke’s son), Dora Jane Rowell,
Franklin Parraga, Penny Parraga, Leticia Ancog (Kurt Javinar’s sister), Yvonne Shinseki, Al
Dressler (Larry’s Father), Shirley Hallman (Denese Alcott’s Mother), Mercy Ballesteros, Mike
LaBerge, Anna Marie & Phil Croghan, Judy Carlson, Caroline Johnson, Sheila Belarmino, Ray
Roderick, The Church Council, and leaders in the ELCA. If you have additional prayer requests,
please let the church office know. “Ask it in my name . . .” Mahalo for your love.
Remembering Our Military
As we gather for worship, please remember those serving us in the military, and the families of
our Hawai’i National Guard. These names have been given by loved ones and family members:
Navy – TJ, Javinar, Kristian Matsumoto, Coast Guard - Brian Rodriguez, Navy - Kiana Alisna,
Coast Guard - Ke’ale Renta Army - Jason Lumacad, Levi Fajardo: Air Force - Steven Javinar,
Ikaika Fajardo, Army - Brandon Perkinson, Drew Cox, Tony Garton: National Guard - Benji Mac-
Kenzie, Eddie Resinto, Fred Casticimo, Philip Kamakea, Anthony Y. Torres, Master Sgt. If you
know of someone you would like added to our prayer list, please advise the church office.
Lihue Lutheran Spotlight
If you have a highlight, update, or other news that we can share with the congregation, email Pastor
JP so we can share with the congregation!3 Introduction Jesus does great deeds of power and gives his disciples authority over demons. Yet none of this power is unilateral; it all must be received by faith. Jesus asks his disciples to go out without money or supplies, so that they will be dependent on how others receive them. When we are sent from the assembly to witness and to heal, we are asked to be vulnerable, to be dependent on the reception of others. The Spirit always operates in the “between”: between Jesus and his Abba, between Jesus and us, between you and me, between us and those to whom we are sent. Overview Ready to Bear Witness Where does power come from? The usual answers—family connections, reputation, posses- sions—are all rejected in this reading from Mark’s gospel. Jesus’ power is not only independent of his family connection—it is hindered by it. While it isn’t entirely clear why the people of Naza- reth reject Jesus, the fact that they do may sound familiar to us. How often do we find exactly what we expect when we encounter something new? How open are we, really, to the possibility that God’s power might come from an unexpected corner? The first part of today’s reading sug- gests that even miracles take two things: both divine power and willing witnesses. Perhaps Jesus sends his disciples out stripped of their possession precisely so that they are ready to witness to God’s power in a new way. They go without any of the usual trappings of security or wealth, with no guarantee that their ministry will be received. In fact, Mark reminds us a few verses later (Mark 6:14-28) just how hostile the world can be to receiving the proclamation of the kingdom of God. John the Baptist will lose his life because of Herod’s resistance to re- pentance. Nevertheless, Jesus’ teaching continues to astound, and the word continues to spread. The willingness to bear witness, even when we are not certain of answered prayer or mission success, is a theme that unites all this day’s readings. Even the Psalm, in its simple gaze of faith, invites us to let go of results in favor of relationship. Paul’s sometimes confusing logic about spiritual experiences becomes clear as he sums up God’s word to him: “My grace is suffi- cient for you . . . .” That is a powerful word, which can make almost any experience an oppor- tunity to witness to Christ’s power. Theological Reflection This Sunday is Independence Day in the United States. Instead of talking about patriotic free- dom from the pulpit, use Martin Luther’s treatise The Freedom of a Christian in tandem with to- day’s gospel. What would it mean to not just represent but to embody freedom in Christ for the sake of one another, as opposed to conflating the expansiveness of Christian freedom with the selective nature of nationalistic freedom?
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Announcements and Weekly
Events!
Welcome, Check-In, and Announcements
In the Facebook chatbox share something good God is doing in your life.
Announcements
1. All church work day next weekend, Saturday, July 10!
Weekly Events
All Church Work Day
Saturday, July 10, @ 8am-12noon
Centering Prayer with Liedeke Bulder
Saturday, July 10, @ 9-10am via zoom https://us04web.zoom.us/j/90797734565
Fifth Week of Pentecost
Order for Worship
Moment of Mindfulness
*Confession and Forgiveness
All make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism
P Blessed be the Holy Trinity, ☩ one God, the God of manna, the God of
miracles, the God of mercy.
C Amen.
P Drawn to Christ and seeking God’s abundance, let us confess our sin.
Silence is kept for reflection on the Resurrection.
P God our provider,
C help us. It is hard to believe there is enough to share. We question you
ways when they differ from the ways of the world in which we live. We turn
to our own understanding rather than trusting in you. We take offense at
your teachings and your ways. Turn us again to you. Where else can we
turn? Share with us the words of eternal life and feed us for life in the
world. Amen.
P Beloved people of God: in Jesus, the manna from heaven, you are fed and
nourished. By Jesus, the worker of miracles, there is always more than enough.
Through Jesus, ☩ the bread of life, you are shown God’s mercy: you are forgiven and
loved into abundant life.
*Gathering Song Before You, Lord, We Bow6
*The Apostolic Greeting
P The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the
Holy Spirit, be with you all.
C And also with you.
*Prayer of the Day
P Let us pray. God of the covenant, in our baptism you call us to proclaim the coming of
your kingdom. Give us the courage you gave the apostles, that we may faithfully witness
to your love and peace in every circumstance of life, in the name of Jesus Christ, our
Savior and Lord.
C Amen.
First Reading Ezekiel 2:1-5
In 597 BCE, the priest Ezekiel was removed into exile in Babylon. While there, he received a vision of
God appearing majestically on a chariot throne. Today’s reading recounts God’s commissioning of Eze-
kiel during this vision. The prophet is to speak God’s word to a people unwilling to hear.7
1
[A voice] said to me: O mortal, stand up on your transgressed against me to this very day. 4The
feet, and I will speak with you.2And when he descendants are impudent and stubborn. I am
spoke to me, a spirit entered into me and set me sending you to them, and you shall say to them,
on my feet; and I heard him speaking to me. 3He “Thus says the Lord God.” 5Whether they hear or
said to me, Mortal, I am sending you to the peo- refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house),
ple of Israel, to a nation of rebels who have re- they shall know that there has been a prophet
belled against me; they and their ancestors have among them.
A The Word of the Lord C Thanks be to God.
Psalm Psalm 123
Our eyes look to you, O God, until you show us your mercy. (Ps. 123:2)
1
To you I lift up my eyes, until you show us your mercy.
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to you enthroned in the heavens. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy,
2
As the eyes of servants look to the hand of for we have had more than enough of con-
their masters, and the eyes of a maid to the tempt,
4
hand of her mistress, too much of the scorn of the indolent rich,
so our eyes look to you, O Lord our God, and of the derision of the proud.
Second Reading 2 Corinthians 12:2-10
Christians do not boast of their own accomplishments. Rather, Christian boasting focuses attention on
how the power of Christ is present in our lives, especially in times of weakness and vulnerability. No mat-
ter what our circumstances in life, Christ’s grace is sufficient for us.
2
I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from be-
was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the ing too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh,
body or out of the body I do not know; God a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me
knows. 3And I know that such a person—whether from being too elated. 8Three times I appealed to
in the body or out of the body I do not know; God the Lord about this, that it would leave me, 9but
knows—4was caught up into Paradise and heard he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,
things that are not to be told, that no mortal is per- for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I
mitted to repeat. 5On behalf of such a one I will will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses,
boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, ex- so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
cept of my weaknesses. 6But if I wish to boast, I 10
Therefore I am content with weaknesses, in-
will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. sults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for
But I refrain from it, so that no one may think the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then
better of me than what is seen in me or heard from I am strong.
me, 7even considering the exceptional character of
A The Word of the Lord C Thanks be to God.8
*Holy Gospel Mark 6:1-13
At home and abroad, Jesus and his disciples encounter resistance as they seek to proclaim God’s word
and relieve affliction.
P The Holy Gospel according to
Saint Mark, the sixth chapter.
1
[Jesus] came to his hometown, and his disciples Then he went about among the villages teach-
followed him.2On the sabbath he began to teach in ing. 7He called the twelve and began to send
the synagogue, and many who heard him were them out two by two, and gave them authority
astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all over the unclean spirits. 8He ordered them to
this? What is this wisdom that has been given to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no
him? What deeds of power are being done by his bread, no bag, no money in their belts; 9but to
hands! 3Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. 10He
and brother of James and Joses and Judas and said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay
Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And there until you leave the place. 11If any place
they took offense at him. 4Then Jesus said to will not welcome you and they refuse to hear
them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on
their hometown, and among their own kin, and in your feet as a testimony against them.” 12So they
their own house.” 5And he could do no deed of went out and proclaimed that all should repent.
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power there, except that he laid his hands on a few They cast out many demons, and anointed with
sick people and cured them. 6And he was amazed oil many who were sick and cured them.
at their unbelief.
P The Gospel of the Lord.
Keiki Sermon
Sermon9 *Hymn of the Day We All Are One in Mission
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*Apostles’ Creed
P Let us join together in reciting the Apostles’ Creed
A I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the
power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under
Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into
hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is
seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the liv-
ing 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.
*The Prayers of the Church
P Let us come before the triune God in prayer.
A God of all, through the waters of baptism you claim people of all races, ethnicities, and
languages as your beloved children. Sustain the baptized and increase their faith, that
your gospel may be proclaimed throughout the earth. Lord, in your mercy,
C Hear our prayer.
A God of the heavens, your creating Spirit animates the universe. We give you thanks for
the moon and stars, for the planets and the Milky Way Galaxy, and for all of the myster-
ies of the cosmos that remain unknown to us. Lord, in your mercy,
C Hear our prayer.
A God of freedom, you have liberated us from sin and death and rescue us from all forms
of spiritual, social, and political oppression. Defend us from tyrants in our midst and de-
liver us from all forms of slavery or corruption. Direct our freedom for works of liberation
and wholeness. Lord, in your mercy,
C Hear our prayer.
A God of compassion, you became vulnerable in the person of Jesus Christ in solidarity
with the disempowered. Strengthen those who feel faint, give courage to those who
fear, and bring wholeness to those in need. Lord, in your mercy,
C Hear our prayer.
A God of holiness, you send us out into the world to proclaim your love. We pray for our
outreach ministries, specifically, mobile munchies, the BOBS, the Ghetto Sweet Tarts,
and our Youth Group. Equip us as we leave this place to witness and serve our neigh-
bors. Lord, in your mercy,
C Hear our prayer.
Here other intercessions may be offered.11
A We give you thanks that in every time and place you call forth prophets who move us
towards freedom. Thank you for those who work for human rights, community organiz-
ers, and all who strive for liberty for all. Lord, in your mercy,
C Hear our prayer.
P We lift our prayers to you, O God, trusting in your abiding grace.
C Amen
*The Queen’s Prayer
English Translation 3. For thy grace I beseech thee.
1. O Lord thy Loving Mercy, Bring us ‘neath thy protection.
Is high as the Heavens. And peace will be thy portion
It tells us of thy truth. Now and forever more. Amen
And ‘tis filled with holiness
The Sharing of the Peace
P The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C And also with you.
P Let us share the peace of the Lord with those here locally and those joining us
online via Facebook live! As the ushers come forward, take a minute to share
“Aloha” with those joining us online!12 Offertory Word If God puts it on your heart to give, donations can be given here today, mailed in, or given online our website here or you can copy and paste the weblink below @ https://www.eservicepayments.com/cgi-bin/Vanco_ver3.vps? appver3=tYgT1GfNxRUldiimjHMvORYXmm3bazY6GfrmTtVDZydskSODEa- Up5lt373GHnco2evTpo0mld6BrVzd2nG0p8xSFKZ9u6c4AzLo4CjNx7k=&ver=3 Offertory Response Lord of Aloha
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*Offertory Prayer
P Let us pray. Jesus, Bread of life, you have set this table with your very self, and
called us to the feast of plenty. Gather what has been sown among us, and
strengthen us in this meal. Make us to be what we receive here, your body for
the life of the world.
C Amen
Invitation to Communion
Christ has set the table with more than enough for all. Come!
*The Words of Institution
(All are welcome to share in this meal with us. The sacraments are provided in accord-
ance to synodical guidelines in collaboration with CDC, state, and local precautions. If
you do not have sacraments, please raise your hand and an usher will bring them to you.)
*The Lord’s Prayer
P Let us pray the prayer our Lord taught us to pray...
C 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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass
against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For
thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen.
*The Post-Communion Blessing
P May the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you and keep you
in His grace.
C Amen.
*The Prayer After Communion
P Jesus, Bread of life, we have received from your table more than we could ever
ask. As you have nourished us in this meal, now strengthen us to love the world
with your own life. In your name we pray.
C Amen.14
*The Blessing
P The blessing of God, who provides for us, feeds us, and journeys with us, be
upon you forever in the name of Makua, ☩ Keiki Kane, and Uhane
Hemolele.
C Amen.
*The Sending Song O Beautiful for Spacious Skies15 Dismissal P Go in peace, you are the body of Christ. C Thanks be to God. Commemorations Jan Hus, martyr, died 1415 Tuesday, July 6, 2021 Hus was a Bohemian (present-day Czech Republic) priest who spoke against abuses in the church, and was seen by Martin Luther as his predecessor in the reforming movement. He was found guilty of heresy by a council of the church, and burned at the stake.
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“Those people”
When we read our Old Testament lesson, I think the impulse is to read it
as, “those people”. I think of a quote in the movie, Tropic Thunder, “What do you
mean those people.” The exact quote is, “What do you mean, you people,” but
I’ve amended it for this context.
When we read the Bible I think there is sometimes a depersonalized way
we read the stories and the people. The people in the bible are a lens through
which we see others, not ourselves.
The Bible is a timeless story. Therefore, it is always timely. What I mean
is this: it says something about the world and reveals truths about people. For
those whose eyes have been opened, or who are humble of heart, they will see
it. They will read Ezekiel 2 not as, “those people”, but with empathy and the abil-
ity to relate with things like:
• A nation of rebels
• Impudent
• Stubborn
I invite you into a different way of reading the Biblical text. Instead of
reading it as “those people,” see and examine, in what ways, the text reveals
aspects of your own heart and personality with God, and with others. Then, turn
to God in prayer.You can also read
