Serving on JUNE 15, 2008

8:00 AM

Usher: Kathy Van Orden
Usher: Muriel Schulz

First Reading: Vic and Ann Cooper
Psalm: Stephanie Cooper
Second Reading: Janet Murry

Prayers: Jim Babcock

Chalice: Vic Cooper

Chalice: Jim Babcock

10:00 AM

Usher: Gail Connolly
Usher: Nan Wilson

First Reading: Sandy/Elizabeth Pringle
Psalm: Rob Nelson
Second Reading: Laurie Nelson

Prayers: Jeanne Kipp

Chalice: Gwen Fleischer

Chalice: Susan Mulledy-DeFrank

THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST (JUNE 15, 2008)

Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.


Genesis 18:1-15 This selection will be read by Ann Cooper and Vic Cooper at the 8:00 AM service and by Elizabeth Pringle and Sandy Pringle at the 10 AM service.


FEMALE READER: The LORD appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said,

MALE READER: "My lord, if I find favor with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on-- since you have come to your servant."

FEMALE READER: So they said, "Do as you have said." And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said,

MALE READER: "Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes."

FEMALE READER: Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.
They said to him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" And he said,

MALE READER: "There, in the tent."

FEMALE READER: Then one said, "I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son." And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, "After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?" The LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, and say, `Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too wonderful for the LORD? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son." But Sarah denied, saying, "I did not laugh"; for she was afraid. He said, "Oh yes, you did laugh."

Psalm 116:1, 10-17
Dilexi, quoniam

CANTOR: I love the LORD, because he has heard the voice of my supplication, * because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him.

PEOPLE: How shall I repay the LORD * for all the good things he has done for me?

CANTOR: I will lift up the cup of salvation * and call upon the Name of the LORD.

PEOPLE: I will fulfill my vows to the LORD * in the presence of all his people.

CANTOR: Precious in the sight of the LORD *
is the death of his servants.

PEOPLE: O LORD, I am your servant; * I am your servant and the child of your handmaid; you have freed me from my bonds.

CANTOR: I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving * and call upon the Name of the LORD.

PEOPLE: I will fulfill my vows to the LORD * in the presence of all his people,

CANTOR: In the courts of the LORD'S house, *
in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Hallelujah!

Romans 5:1-8

Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person-- though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.

Matthew 9:35-10:8-23

Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."

Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, `The kingdom of heaven has come near.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.