06/02/2026
The Holy Trinity:
Almighty Creator and ever-living God: we worship your glory,
eternal Three-in-One, and we praise your power, majestic One-in-Three. Keep us steadfast in this faith, defend us in all adversity, and bring us at last into your presence, where you live in endless joy and love, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Genesis 1:1—2:4:
1In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, 2the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.
3Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
6And God said, “Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so. 8God called the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.
9And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. 11Then God said, “Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” And it was so. 12The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. 13And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.
14And God said, “Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, 15and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. 16God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. 17God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, 18to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.
20And God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.” 21So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. 22God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.
24And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.” And it was so. 25God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good.
26Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.” 27So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”
29God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. 30And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.
31God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
2Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. 2And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. 3So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.
4These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created. In the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens,
Psalm 8
1O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.
2Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger.
3When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established;
4what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them?
5Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor.
6You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet,
7all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,
8the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
9O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
2 Corinthians 13:11-13"
11Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. 13The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
Matthew 28:16-20:
16Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Devotion:
[Jesus said,] "And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)
Matthew's gospel ends with this passage, known as the Great Commission. Jesus makes one last appearance to his apostles and commissions them to make disciples by baptizing in the name of the Holy Trinity and teaching what he commanded. But he also makes a promise to them that is the beating heart of this gospel: He will be with them always.
The disciples had been with Jesus for three unforgettable years. They had learned a great deal from him. But now it was time for them to learn one more truth: Jesus did not have to be physically present to be with them. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, he would now be with them in a powerful new way.
We can read these words of Jesus because the apostles did as Jesus commanded, with Jesus' help and guidance. Their commission is now ours, and the promise Jesus made is for us as well. God blesses us, encourages us, and guides us as we continue his mission to love and bless this world.
Let us pray: Loving God, be with me as I join in your mission to love and bless the world, through Christ. Amen.
We pray this week for: ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission
by Reverend James Laurence
in "Christ in Our Home" from Augsburg
published May 31, 2026
Hymn of the Day:
All glory be to God on high, who hath our race befriended!
To us no harm shall now come nigh, the strife at last is ended.
God showeth His good will to men
, And peace shall reign on earth again;
O thank Him for His goodness!
2 We praise, we worship Thee, we trust,
we give Thee thanks forever,
O Father, that Thy rule is just, and wise, and changes never.
Thy boundless pow'r o'er all things reigns,
Thou dost whate'er Thy will ordains:
'Tis well for us Thou rulest.
3 O Jesus Christ, Thou Son of God, begotten of the Father,
Who hast our fallen race restored,
and wandering sheep dost gather
Thou Lamb of God, enthroned on high,
Behold our need and hear our cry,
Have mercy on us, Jesus!
4 O Holy Spirit, precious Gift, Thou Comforter unfailing,
Do Thou our troubled souls uplift, against the foe prevailing,
Avert our fears and calm our dread,
for us the Savior's blood was shed;
We trust in Thee to help us. Amen.
(by Nicholas Decius, 1525)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X573xDqDKAc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRh3TeOnxuc
The morning prayers:
Gathered together by the Holy Spirit, let us pray for the church and
the needs of the world.
Holy God, we are in awe of your creative work. Continue that work in your church, making us a new creation that proclaims your
presence and love. God of grace, hear our prayer.
Creator God, nature reveals your power and glory. Protect water
sources, vegetation, and wildlife as reminders of who you are.
God of grace, hear our prayer.
Redeemer God, you call us to pray for those in authority. Guide our leaders to pursue the work of fostering peace and community.
God of grace, hear our prayer.
Sustaining God, you are mindful of your people in every
circumstance. Heal those who are sick. Provide for all who hunger.
Protect those in harm’s way. Comfort any experiencing hardship, especially all those on our prayer list, and all those we name aloud our in our hearts before you now. (brief silence) God of grace, hear our prayer.
Gracious God, we pray for the children of our church and
community. Provide for their needs. Support their caregivers.
Nurture their faith. God of grace, hear our prayer.
Loving God, we give thanks for those who have died and claimed
their baptismal promises. Strengthen us to live as they did in
communion with you. God of grace, hear our prayer.
Uniting God, bless and watch over the people and ministry of our congregations. Strengthen and support us in our shared ministry together, that we may continue to witness the good news of your Son to all those we may encounter. God of grace, hear our prayer.
Trusting you receive all our prayers, we commend our spoken
and unspoken prayers to you, O God, through Jesus our Savior.
Amen
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.
Hymn:
We all believe in one true God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Ever present help in need, praised by all the heav'nly host,
By whose mighty power alone, all is made and wrought and done.
We all believe in Jesus Christ, Son of God and Mary's Son,
Who descended from his throne, and for us salvation won,
By whose cross and death are we, rescued from all misery.
We all confess the Holy Ghost, who from both fore'er proceeds,
Who upholds and comforts us, in all trials fears and needs,
Blest and Holy Trinity, Praise forever be to thee.
Amen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyM9a1JdkIs
