the fourth sunday after pentecost

AN ORDER OF SERVICE FOR USE AT HOME

THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

July 6, 2025

THE WORD OF GOD

Opening Hymn: All My Hope on God is Founded          #665

The Opening Acclamation                                               BCP p. 355

  Presider:    Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.     

  People:       And blessed be His kingdom, now and for ever.  Amen.

Collect for Purity                                                             BCP p. 355

The Collect of the Day

Lord God Almighty, in whose Name the founders of this country won liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the torch of freedom for nations then unborn: Grant that we and all the people of this land may have grace to maintain our liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.         

The First Reading                                          Deuteronomy 10:17-21

The Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of Lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. You shall fear the Lord your God; him alone you shall worship; to him you shall hold fast, and by his name you shall swear. He is your praise; he is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things that your own eyes have seen.

              Reader:  The Word of the Lord.                  People:  Thanks be to God.

Psalm 145

          1  I will exalt you, O God my King, 

                   and bless your Name for ever and ever.

          2  Every day will I bless you 

                   and praise your Name for ever and ever.

          3  Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; 

                   there is no end to his greatness.

          4  One generation shall praise your works to another 

                   and shall declare your power.

          5  I will ponder the glorious splendor of your majesty 

                   and all your marvelous works.

          6  They shall speak of the might of your wondrous acts, 

                   and I will tell of your greatness.

          7  They shall publish the remembrance of your great goodness; 

                   they shall sing of your righteous deeds.

          8  The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, 

                   slow to anger and of great kindness.

          9  The Lord is loving to everyone 

                   and his compassion is over all his works.

        10  All your works praise you, O Lord, 

                   and your faithful servants bless you.

        11  They make known the glory of your kingdom 

                   and speak of your power;

        12  That the peoples may know of your power 

                   and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

        13  Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; 

                   your dominion endures throughout all ages.

        14  The Lord is faithful in all his words 

                   and merciful in all his deeds.

        15  The Lord upholds all those who fall; 

                   he lifts up those who are bowed down.

        16  The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord, 

                   and you give them their food in due season.

        17  You open wide your hand 

                   and satisfy the needs of every living creature.

        18  The Lord is righteous in all his ways

                   and loving in all his works.

        19  The Lord is near to those who call upon him,

                   to all who call upon him faithfully.

        20  He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; 

                   he hears their cry and helps them.

        21  The Lord preserves all those who love him, 

                   but he destroys all the wicked.

        22  My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord; 

                   let all flesh bless his holy Name for ever and ever.

Second Reading                                Hebrews 11:8-16

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.” All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.

           Reader:     The Word of the Lord.                           People:    Thanks be to God.

Sequence Hymn       In Christ There is No East or West        #529

The Holy Gospel                                    Matthew 5:43-48

People: Glory to you, Lord Christ.

Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”              

Priest:          The Gospel of the Lord. People:     Praise to you, Lord Christ.

The Nicene Creed                                                               BCP p. 358

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE          

Rejoicing in the good news of God come near, let us pray for the church, those in need, and all of God’s creation.

O God, your grace sets us free.  Give to your church the freedom to follow you.  Guide us by your Spirit, that we may truly be your people and follow with joy the way of Jesus Christ.  Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

You call us to love all that you have made.  Teach us to live with wisdom and humility, that lands and creatures may not suffer at our hands, but flourish with our nurture.  Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Your care extends to every nation.  Wherever there is hardship, violence, suffering, or despair, come with your saving power and bring your people hope once again. We pray especially for the people of Ukraine and the Middle East, and for the victims of shootings Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Your compassion knows no bounds.   Wherever there is loneliness or despair, wherever there are cries for healing or forgiveness, show your mercy.  We lift before you Becky, Cathy, Donna, Helena, Holly, James, Jeanne, Karin, Lee, Lori, Louise, Lyndon, Miriam, Pat, Ray, Ron, Zach, and others? (pause). Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

You are our shelter and refuge.  Bless those who travel in these summer months; provide for those who seek work, and guard all who have nowhere to lay their heads.  Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

You are the joy of all your saints.  Like them, keep us faithful unto death, that we might ever follow the way of your Son and come to share in the joy that has no end.  Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Into your hands, O God of compassion, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your great mercy, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.  Amen.

The Confession of Sin                                                                      

Most merciful God,

we confess that we have sinned against you

in thought, word, and deed,

by what we have done,

and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved you with our whole heart;

we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.

We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,

have mercy on us and forgive us;

that we may delight in your will,

and walk in your ways,

to the glory of your Name.  Amen.

A Prayer for Spiritual Communion When We Cannot Receive The Sacrament

In union, O Lord, with your faithful people

at every altar of your Church

where the Holy Eucharist is now being celebrated:

I desire to offer you praise and thanksgiving.

I remember your death, Lord Christ,

I proclaim your resurrection,

and I await your coming in glory.

and since I cannot receive you today

in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood,

I ask you to come into my heart.

Cleanse and strengthen me with your grace, Lord Jesus,

and let me never be separated from you.

May I live in you, and you in me,

in this life, and in the life to come.  Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer BCP p. 364

Closing Hymn      God of Our Fathers                          #718

The Blessing

The Dismissal

  Presider:     Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

  People:        Thanks be to God.