15870 46th Avenue N, Plymouth | (763) 559-0579 Email: office@AscensionPlymouth.com Website: www.AscensionPlymouth.com A member of the WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod)

Brian Roloff, Pastor | pastorroloff@AscensionPlymouth.com

Welcome! We are glad that you have joined us for worship.

Brian Roloff, Pastor | pastorroloff@AscensionPlymouth.com Susan Decker, Music Director

Tammy Melott, Preschool Director/Teacher Jennifer Tripp, Teacher

June 14, 2020

THE ORDER OF WORSHIP

(P:=Pastor, C:=Congregation, ♫:=Congregation sings) (All hymns used by permission. CCLI License #440614.)

All scripture quotations are taken from the NIV and are used by permission.

WORSHIP THEME:

God’s Inspired Word is the Foundation of our Faith and Life OPENING HYMN: # 416 How Firm a Foundation (vs 1-2)

How firm a foundation, O saints of the Lord, Is laid for your faith in his excellent Word! What more can he say than to you he has said Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled? In ev’ry condition, in sickness, in health In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth, At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea- The Lord, the Almighty, your strength e’er shall be.

INVOCATION

P: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen.

Please stand

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CONFESSION OF SINS & ANNOUNCEMENT OF GOD’S FORGIVENESS

P: Beloved in the Lord; let us draw near with a true heart and confess sins to God our Father, asking him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.

C: Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve your punish-ment both now and in eternity. But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.

P: God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given his only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Fa-ther and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C: Amen

PRAYER OF THE DAY

O God, you rule over all things in wisdom and kindness. Take away everything that may be harmful and give us whatever is good; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Please be seated

THE WORD

FIRST LESSON: Deuteronomy 11:18-21, 26-28

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.

See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse— the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.

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SECOND LESSON: Matthew 7:15-29

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but in-wardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do peo-ple pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. THE APOSTLES’ CREED (all say)

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was cru-cified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose

again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life ever-lasting. Amen.

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SERMON SONG: Thy Word

refrain Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

When I feel afraid, think I’ve lost my way, still You’re there right beside me. And nothing will I fear as long as you are near. Please be near me to the end.

refrain

I will not forget Your love for me, and yet my heart forever is wandering. Jesus be my guide and hold me to Your side, and I will love You to the end.

refrain SERMON THEME: “Here’s All you really need to know”

1. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God 2. And are justified freely by God’s grace

TEXT: Romans 3:21-25a, 27-28

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.

Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Almighty and everlasting God, you have joined all believers everywhere into one spiritual temple in Christ. We rejoice that by your grace you have reconciled us to each other and made us here at Ascension a family in the Lord. We praise you for having guarded and kept us during these months apart and at last have given us the opportunity to reunite together to hear your Word, glorify your majesty, and mutu-ally encourage one another. We thank you for guiding this renovation project from beginning to end and for all the laborers and dedicated volunteers who have worked

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together to make this a beautiful place for your name and a house of prayer for your people. Continue to bless all who gather here with mutual love, health, harmony, and peace.

Gracious Father, in your Word you have declared that the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord. May these truths of your law and your gospel always keep us on the narrow way of faith. Use your holy law to convince us that we cannot live a godly life outside your commands and thereby drive us to confess our sinfulness and flee to your free grace in Christ. Through your gospel deliver us from guilt and condemnation and clothe us in the righteousness and merits of our Savior.

Lord Jesus, you are the Prince of Peace. By your life, death, and resurrection you reconciled us to God and keep us safe in his grace. We pray for all those who keep us physically safe—police officers, soldiers, and others—who daily experience the sinfulness and ugliness and dangers of our fallen world in ways that many of us do not. Preserve their lives and guard their hearts so that they may stay sensitive to the needs of all those when they are called to serve. In these restless and turbulent times enable us who know your peace to be peacemakers. Help us by word and ex-ample to promote harmony, fairness, forgiveness, respect, and open dialogue in our homes, workplaces, churches, schools, and society. Use our deeds and conversa-tions as doorways to proclaim the eternal peace you came to bring to human hearts.

Into your hands, O Lord God, we commend ourselves and all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy shown in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. LORD'S PRAYER (all pray)

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

BLESSING

P: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.

C: Amen. CLOSING HYMN: # 416 How Firm a Foundation (vs 3-4)

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“Fear not, I am with you. Oh, be not dismayed, For I am your God and will still give you aid; I’ll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand, Up held by my righteous, omnipotent hand. “When through the deep waters I call you to go, The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow. For I will be with you your troubles to bless And sanctify to you your deepest distress.”

CONNECTION CARD ON OUR APP

At this time we ask everyone to take a moment and fill out the info on the connec-tion card, located under the Worship Today button. Please fill out any information that needs to be updated and submit.

THE OFFERING

Dear guests, please don’t feel obligated to take part in our offering. We’re glad you’re here to listen to the message about Jesus.

If members or guests would like to give an offering electroni-cally, they can do so by going to ascensionplymouth.com and click on the GIVE tab on your right hand side or use our App. THANKS TO THOSE WHO SERVED:

Guest Preacher: Steve Petersen

Pianist: Susan Decker

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CONFIRMATION SUNDAY - JUNE 21ST

Since Martin Luther first wrote his Small Catechism in 1529, it

has served as the basis of instruction in the basic truths of the

Christian faith in the Lutheran Church. Luther’s hope was that

by having consistent instruction in the Word of God Christians would be equipped

to understand and interpret the Scriptures on their own and participate more fully in

the life of the Church. Over time the rite of confirmation developed, in which young

Christians, after having been instructed in the Word, would publicly announce their

dedication to Christ and confess their willing agreement with the truths they had

been taught.

Next Sunday in the 10:00 service, we will be welcoming Ethnee Horton,

McKenzie Schmidt, and Brian Vacek as communicant members of Ascension.

Please congratulate and continue praying for these young Christians as they continue

to grow in the faith and knowledge of their God and Savior.