06/14/2026
The Zoom link for our worship service for the Third Sunday After Pentecost, Year A, Sunday, June 14, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. PDT is right here.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82432073616?pwd=TWk5dmlaMnBRU2J4bno2emdkSFBEdz09
St. Paul Lutheran Church
Second Sunday After Pentecost, Year A
Sunday, June 14, 2026
Communion Bread: Susan Set-up: Pat Coffee Hour: Kit Sunday School: Sally
Plentiful Harvest
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus speaks of the church’s mission with images drawn from daily life. The harvest is already plentiful, he says, but laborers are needed for work in the fields of daily life. What are we to do? We are to do that to which our worship invites us: Let our conversation be shaped by the good news, extend Christ’s peace wherever we find ourselves, and share our bread with the hungry.
Sunday, June 14, 2026
Lectionary 11, Year A
Third Sunday after Pentecost
Prelude
(During Prelude, light candles and return to seat)
--------------------------GATHERING--------------------------
The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God
Confession and Forgiveness
All may make the sign of the cross, the sign that is marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.
[PL] Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, whose compassion endures forever. Amen.
Let us confess our sin to God.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Compassionate God,
we confess to you all our sins. Our burden is heavy, and we cannot free ourselves. In your mercy, call us back to you. Your yoke is easy and your burden is light. Restore us to dwell in your peace. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
In the name of God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, your sins are forgiven.
Rest in God’s love.
Amen.
Gathering Song
All People That on Earth Do Dwell – ELW 883
All People That On Earth Do Dwell ELW 883
youtube.com
Greeting
[PL] The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.
Prayer of the Day
[AM]Let us pray… God of compassion,
you have opened the way for us and brought us to yourself. Pour your love into our hearts, that, overflowing with joy, we may freely share the blessings of your realm and faithfully proclaim the good news of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
[PL] Dismiss children for Sunday School.
--------------------------------WORD------------------------------
God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song.
First Reading: Exodus 19:2-8a
Reader: A reading from the book of Exodus:
2 [The Israelites] journeyed from Rephidim, entered the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness; Israel camped there in front of the mountain.3 Then Moses went up to God; the Lord called to him from the mountain, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the Israelites: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now, therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, 6 but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.”
7 So Moses went, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8a The people all answered as one, “Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do.”
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm: Psalm 100
Reader: Let us read the Psalm responsively.
1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness; come into God’s presence with a song.
3 Know that the Lord is God, our maker to whom we belong;
we are God’s people and the sheep of God’s pasture.
4 Enter the gates of the Lord with thanksgiving and the courts with praise;
give thanks and bless God’s holy name.
5 Good indeed is the Lord, whose steadfast love is everlasting,
whose faithfulness endures from age to age.
Second Reading: Romans 5:1-8
Reader: A reading from the book of Romans:
1 Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 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. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. 8 But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Setting 4, ELW 151
Gospel Acclamation ELW setting 4
youtube.com
Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia.
Gospel: Matthew 9:35-10:8
[PL] The holy gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord.
35 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. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
10:1 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. 2 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; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Cananaean and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not take a road leading to gentiles, and do not enter a Samaritan town, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Cure the sick; raise the dead; cleanse those with a skin disease; cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.
[PL]The gospel of our Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
Message 6/14/26- Third Sunday After Pentecost, Year A
Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and from Jesus our Risen Lord, and from the Holy Spirit, now come to us, my dear sisters and brothers.
In this second week of ordinary time, we begin a series of three Sundays where we hear Jesus proclaim what is called the “missionary discourse.” This is the time in Jesus’s ministry when he sends his followers to expand his ministry. As he moves through towns and villages, teaching and healing, he is moved with compassion for the crowds. This compassion leads to the commissioning of the Twelve, sending them out to extend his mission.
So who is a missionary? When Jesus sends the Twelve, he tells them, “As you go, proclaim the good news: the kingdom of heaven has come near. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with a skin disease, cast out demons.” But what does it mean that the disciples are sent with an instruction to proclaim the good news, but they are also instructed to heal and restore?
Depending on our church traditions, gospel work that focuses on healing and justice can be suspect, can be seen as “social justice,” disconnected from the what is called “real” evangelism, proclamation of the good news of our faith. On the other hand, some ministries focus their work entirely on the teaching and proclamation of the gospel, with very little thought toward justice and healing.
So who really is a missionary? Was my Aunt Esther a missionary? Esther was my dad‘s oldest sister. She grew up with him on the homestead there in South Dakota, but went off to college and became a school teacher. But she always felt called to be a missionary, and actually got as far as Chicago and a Baptist missionary training school. And then, Lloyd wanted to get married. So she gave up her dream of becoming a missionary overseas, and became a rancher‘s wife, raising cattle, and six children, there on rangeland leased from the Lakota tribe on the Pine Ridge reservation. But at some point, aunt Esther remembered that she was a teacher. She got a job teaching in the public school in Norris, South Dakota. Most of the students there were Native American, and she taught them to read. Was my Aunt Esther a missionary?
And just in case none of you knew my Aunt Esther, was Delores Ruge a missionary? Delores grew up here at Saint Paul, and she, too, wanted to be a missionary. She went back east to school and eventually became a deaconess, working with young people. But her life changed, and she came back to Vancouver, helping her mother and attending St. Paul again. In Delores’s last few years at St. Paul, she taught Pat Irland how to do the newsletter, and so we still have a newsletter, even though Delores has died. Was Delores Ruge a missionary?
And if you didn’t know either my Aunt Esther or Dolores, what about the half a dozen people in church today who will be out of here right after the service to take lunch next-door to the men in our homeless shelter? They sit in church, they load up the food, and they bring lunch. Aren’t these people sent on a mission by Jesus?
What Jesus tells us today is simple instructions to those he is sending: ““As you go, proclaim the good news: the kingdom of heaven has come near. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with a skin disease, cast out demons.” Both. And. The work of one sent by Jesus considers everything; the preaching of the gospel is never to be separated from the work of the gospel to bring healing and wholeness.
These verses capture the heart of discipleship: we are called to respond to the needs of the people, rely on God’s care for us, and carry out the work of healing and restoration. This passage challenges us to see discipleship not as just belief, but as active participation in the work of restoration of humanity. Jesus’s commissioning of the Twelve challenges modern disciples to see faith as active participation in God’s mission. The work of healing, restoration, and justice is not for Jesus alone; it is entrusted to us as his followers. Matthew lists the twelve apostles. He names them in pairs. We could draw the conclusion that this was because they were being sent out on this mission in twos. These verses remind us that we are not in this work of God alone, but that we are a community working together to spread the gospel.
And the good news in a nutshell today? It’s the last words that Jesus says to his disciples as he sends them. In the original translation, he says, “Freely you have received. Freely give.” We are called to do that.
Amen.
Silence for reflection follows the sermon.
To hear an audio recording of this sermon, click here after the service:
https://stpaulvancouver.com/sermons/
Hymn of the Day
Lord, You Give the Great Commission – ELW 579 vv 1, 2 & 5
Lord, You Give The Great Commission | Sunday of the Word of God | Catholic/Christian Hymn w/Lyrics
youtube.com
Last Verse: Lord, you bless with words assuring:
“I am with you to the end.”
Faith and hope and love restoring,
may we serve as you intend and, amid the cares that claim us,
hold in mind eternity: With the Spirit’s gifts empow’r us
for the work of ministry.
APOSTLES’ CREED
[PL] – With the whole church, let us confess our faith:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living 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.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[AM] Gathered together by the Holy Spirit, let us pray for the church and the needs of the world.
A brief silence.
God of freedom, you ransomed Israel from slavery to be a holy people. As we observe Juneteenth this coming week, free us also to be a people who proclaim your liberating love. God of grace, hear our prayer.
God of creation, you call all the earth to make a joyful noise to you. Let us join the chorus of the natural world in proclaiming your glory. God of grace,
hear our prayer.
God of the nations, you sent Jesus as peace for all of humankind. Bring an end to war and conflict, bring hope to places devastated by destruction, and sustain those who advocate for peace. God of grace, hear our prayer.
God of grace, you pour hope and love into our hearts in times of shame and doubt. Protect those experiencing housing insecurity. Uplift anyone struggling with hopelessness, illness, or other worries. God of grace,
hear our prayer.
God of all, you call your children to serve in a plentiful harvest. Give us the wisdom to know how best to serve our local community and our neighbors. God of grace, hear our prayer.
God of faith, we give thanks for the saints who earnestly seek you. Guide us as we seek to follow those who have led your church.
God of grace, hear our prayer.
[PL] Trusting you receive all our prayers, we commend our spoken and unspoken prayers to you, O God, through Jesus our Savior. Amen.
WE SHARE GOD’S PEACE
[PL] The peace of Christ be with you all. And also with you.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mick – Welcome
· Welcome visitors. Please fill out a visitor card found in the pew pockets. We’d love to hear from you.
· Communion is at the rail! All are welcome to participate.
· Offerings will be received at the back of the church as you exit. One slot is for St. Paul; the other slot is for Community. Today’s community offering goes to our Hunger Fund if you’d like to contribute.
· St. Paul continues to provide shelter meals for “Geri’s guys” next door. We are providing lunch today, June 14. The next opportunity to serve is dinner, Monday, June 22. Sign-ups at the ushers’ table if you would like to help.
· Poetry Group meets every second and fourth Sunday afternoon at 3:00. The next meeting is this Sunday, June 14th. All budding poets or poetry lovers are welcome.
· Thursday, June 18th (6:30-8:30pm) we are hosting a “Clark County Interfaith Coalition” event with congressperson, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. Among other topics she will be sharing how her faith informs her work, including a time of Q & A.
· Quilters meet at 1:30 PM on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday each month. The next meeting is Wednesday, June 24th. No quilting experience needed. There are sewing as well as non-sewing tasks that you could help with. They’d love to have you join in.
· The city is conducting parking studies. Please take a “Church Parking” sign to put in your vehicle. Signs are available at the ushers table.
· Please note: the sacristy door is damaged. Please do not open that door.
-------------------------------MEAL----------------------------
God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ.
OFFERING PRAYER
Loving God,
we offer at your table the gifts of our hearts. Help us take heart in you and share freely of your love, so that all creation can taste your abundance. We ask this in the name of Jesus, through the Spirit abiding with us now and forever. Amen.
GREAT THANKSGIVING DIALOGUE
[PL] The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
PREFACE
[PL] It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ; who on this day overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
Setting 4, ELW 153
ELW Setting 4 "Holy, Holy, Holy"
youtube.com
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
Lord God of pow’r and might,
heav’n and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE
[PL] Holy, mighty, and merciful Lord, heaven and earth are full of your glory. In great love you sent to us Jesus, your Son, who reached out to heal the sick and suffering, who preached good news to the poor, and who, on the cross, opened his arms to all.
In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.
Remembering, therefore, his death, resurrection, and ascension, we await his coming in glory.
Pour out upon us the Spirit of your love, O Lord, and unite the wills of all who share this heavenly food, the body and blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord; to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
[AM] Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.
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.
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
[PL] Heaven has come near. Come, share in the feast!
COMMUNION AT THE RAIL
Communion Hymn
Now the Feast – ELW 167 v 2
Now the Feast
youtube.com
BLESSING AFTER COMMUNION
[PL] The body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ strengthen and keep you in his grace. Amen.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
[AM] Let us pray...Compassionate God,
through the gifts of bread and wine our hearts are filled with the abundance of your love. Strengthen us that we, through this holy meal, may share your love freely, as you have shared with us. We ask this in the name of Jesus, through the Spirit nourishing us now and forever. Amen.
------------------------------SENDING----------------------------
God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world.
BLESSING
[PL] Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer, ☩ one God, bless, heal, and hold you today and always. Amen.
SENDING SONG
(During hymn, extinguish candles and recess.)
Hallelujah! We Sing Your Praises – ELW 535
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