SUNDAY, JULY 19TH, 2026​

8TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

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INTRODUCTION​

It is an age-old question: why is there evil in the world? In the parable of the
     wheat and the weeds Jesus suggests that both grow together until the harvest. With
     Paul, we long for the day that all creation will be set free from bondage and suffering.
     Having both weeds and wheat within us, we humbly place our hope in the promises
     of God, and from the Lord’s table we go forth to bear the fruit of justice and mercy.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Faithful God, most merciful judge, you care for your children with firmness and
     compassion. By your Spirit nurture us who live in your kingdom, that we may be

     rooted in the way of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.​

FIRST READING

ISAIAH 44:6-8
There are no other gods besides God: the word of the Lord does not fail to come
     to pass. We can trust in God, through whom Israel—and we—are redeemed.

6 Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel,
and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
I am the first, and I am the last;
besides me there is no god.
7 Who is like me? Let them proclaim it;
let them declare and set it forth before me.
  Who has announced from of old the things to come?
  Let them tell us what is yet to be.
  8 Do not fear or be afraid;
  have I not told you from of old and declared it?
  You are my witnesses!
  Is there any god besides me?
  There is no other rock; I know not one.

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PSALM

PSALM 86:11-17
(Response) Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth. (Ps. 86:11)

11 Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart to revere your name.
12 I will thank you, O Lord my God, with all my heart,
and glorify your name forevermore.
(Response) Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth. (Ps. 86:11)

13 For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the pit of death.
14 The arrogant rise up against me, O God,
        and a band of violent people seeks my life;
they have not set you before their eyes.
15 But you, O Lord, are gracious and full of compassion,
slow to anger, and full of kindness and truth.
16 Turn to me and have mercy on me;
give your strength to your servant, and save the child of your handmaid.
17 Show me a sign of your favor,
        so that those who hate me may see it and be put to shame;
because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
(Response) Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth. (Ps. 86:11)

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SECOND READING

ROMANS 8:12-25
For Paul, true spirituality means that we experience the reality of the Spirit, which
     enables us to pray as God’s children, keeps us in solidarity with creation, and gives
     us unseen hope that God will liberate us and creation from bondage to death and decay.

12 So then, brothers and sisters, we are obligated, not to the flesh, to live
     according to the flesh—13 for if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if
     by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who
     are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit
     of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption. When we
     cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we
     are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs: heirs of God and joint heirs with
     Christ, if we in fact suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

     18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with
     the glory about to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing
     for the revealing of the children of God, 20 for the creation was subjected to
     futility, not of its own will, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope
     21 that the creation itself will be set free from its enslavement to decay and will
     obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole
     creation has been groaning together as it suffers together the pains of labor,
     23 and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the
     Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
     24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes
     for what one already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for
     it with patience.​​

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​​​​GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Alleluia. My word shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the
     thing for which I sent it. Alleluia. (Isa. 55:11)

GOSPEL READING

MATTHEW 13:24-30, 36-43
   Jesus tells a parable about the coexistence of good and evil in this world. God’s
     judgment will remove all evildoers and causes of sin, but not until the end of human history.

24 [Jesus] put before [the crowds] another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may
     be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field,25 but while
     everybody was asleep an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and
     then went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds
     appeared as well. 27 And the slaves of the householder came and said to him,
     ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds
     come from?’ 28 He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him,
     ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he replied, ‘No, for in
     gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let both of
     them grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers,
     Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the
     wheat into my barn.’ ”

     36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples
     approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.”
     37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38 the
     field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds
     are the children of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil;
     the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the
     weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.
     41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom
     all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42 and they will throw them into the furnace of
     fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will
     shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!”​

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LICENSES & EXPIRATION DATES
Worship Service Content is used via permission through Augsburg Fortress Liturgies

Annual License #SB144368. The next Subscription Renewal Date is 2/28/2027.
Our Hymns and Worship Music are used via permission through CCLI One
License #11327166. The next Subscription Renewal Date is 1/31/2027.

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​SERMONS​
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BULLETIN FOR SUNDAY, JULY 19TH, 2026