Worship and Devotions

Ninth Sunday After Pentecost

July 26, 2026

Welcome visitors and old friends. Welcome regardless of belief, ethnic background, sexual orientation, gender, socio-economic status, marital status, age, abilities, or life situation. Welcome believers and doubters as well as doubting believers. Welcome to share the fullness of Christ's love for the world!(Adapted from The welcome message from the Thomas Community in Finland. "Celebrating milestone moments" by Rev. Jukka Joensuu. Canada Lutheran January/February 2024 Vol. 39 No. 1; chorus of ELW 523)

As Solomon prays for wisdom, we seek to more deeply know the treasures of faith. In today’s gospel Jesus offers everyday images that reveal to us the reign of God: a tree that becomes a sheltering home, yeast that penetrates and expands, a treasured pearl, a net that gains a great catch. Even as we seek the riches of God’s reign, the great surprise is that God’s grace finds us first!

Emancipation Sunday

The 2025 ELCIC National Convention formally designated the last Sunday in July as Emancipation Sunday. Emancipation Sunday commemorates the coming into effect of the Slavery Abolition Act on August 1, 1834 - Emancipation Day - freeing approximately 800,000 enslaved people in British colonies, including Canada.

Music

Freedom Is Coming

Freedom Is Coming | Anders Nyberg | SATB Choir with Lyrics | Sunday 7pm Catholic Church Choir - YouTube

Prayer

Beloved and sovereign God, through the death and resurrection of your Son you bring us into your kingdom of justice and mercy. By your Spirit, give us your wisdom, that we may treasure the life that comes from Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Amen.

Readings

Semi-continuous Readings

Genesis 29:15-28; Psalm 105:1-11, 45b; Romans 8:26-39

Gospel - Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

Alternate Readings

1 Kings 3:5-12; Psalm 119:129-136

1 Kings 3:5-12

Because Solomon did not ask for long life, riches, or the defeat of his enemies, God gave him what he asked for: wisdom to govern the people well.

⁵ At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” ⁶ And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you, and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. ⁷ And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. ⁸ And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. ⁹ Give your servant, therefore, an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil, for who can govern this great people of yours?” ¹⁰ It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. ¹¹ God said to him, “Because you have asked this and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or for the life of your enemies but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, ¹² I now do according to your word. Indeed, I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you, and no one like you shall arise after you.”

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Romans 8:26-39

These words celebrate the depth of God’s actions for us. Through Christ’s death for us and the activity of the Spirit praying for us, we are fused to God’s love poured out in Jesus Christ. Nothing, not even death itself, is able to separate us from such incredible divine love.

²⁶ The Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words. ²⁷ And God, who searches hearts, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. ²⁸ We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. ³⁰ And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

³¹ What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? ³² He who did not withhold his own Son but gave him up for all of us, how will he not with him also give us everything else? ³³ Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is to condemn? It is Christ who died, or rather, who was raised, who is also at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. ³⁵ Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? ³⁶As it is written “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than victorious through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Music

Neither Death Nor Life

Neither Death nor Life - ELW 622

Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

Glory to you, O Lord.

Throughout Matthew’s gospel, Jesus and his disciples proclaim the good news that “the kingdom of heaven is near!” Here, Jesus offers several brief parables that explore the implications of this announcement for people’s lives.

³¹ [Jesus] put before [the crowds] another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field;³² it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” ³³ He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and reburied; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. ⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; ⁴⁶ on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. ⁴⁷ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; ⁴⁸ when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. ⁴⁹ So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous ⁵⁰ and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. ⁵¹ “Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” ⁵² And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

The Gospel of Our Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Music

Welcome Table

Welcome Table (with lyrics) - ELW/ACS 969 - YouTube

Prayers of Intercession

Trusting in God's steadfast love for all God has made, let us pray for the church, the world, and all of creation.

A brief silence.

God, our wisdom and our song, we pray for the whole church in Canada and across the world, that we may be a voice for truth and reconciliation, a place of refuge for the marginalized, and a faithful witness against racism and injustice in all its forms. Be with our leaders, both lay and ordained, that they may be a prophetic witness to the Gospel. God of grace, hear our prayer.

God of compassion and perseverance, we remember on this day all those whose bodies were stolen by the Transatlantic Slave Trade, those who suffered lives of hardship, dehumanization, and family separation as a result of the cruel institution of slavery, those whose spirits were broken, and those who engaged in acts of resistance, both small and large, striving to be free. We remember the significance of August 1, 1834, when slavery was abolished across the British Empire, including Canada and British colonies in the Caribbean. We give thanks for the bravery and determination of the abolitionists, Black and white, who dedicated themselves to ending the institution of slavery. We pray for all in our world, of whatever race, who suffer the horrors of modern slavery. Your Son came to bring good news to the poor and freedom for the oppressed. We pray for all working to combat modern slavery and to end human trafficking. God of grace, hear our prayer.

God our breath and our heartbeat, help us to recognize signs of your presence among us. Protect and support diverse ecosystems, from national parks to family farms, from ranches to wild places. God of grace, hear our prayer.

God our peace and our guide, help our leaders and all leaders of nations around the world that they may govern with equity and compassion. God of grace, hear our prayer.

God our intercessor and our lawgiver, dismantle the barriers to care and recognition, healing and comfort to all who live with chronic illness, mobility struggles, pain, uncertainty and grief, especially the unhoused everywhere; the families of all who have died from toxic drug overdoses; the families of all murdered and missing Indigenous persons; and others whom we name in our heart. God of grace, hear our prayer.

God our redeemer, may we trust your love above and beyond all else that distracts, annoys, frightens, exhausts, or divides us. God of grace, hear our prayer.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

God who seeks, finds, and saves, for our community’s part in the ongoing gift of creation, and for the riches of faith and hope which came before, we give you thanks. God of grace, hear our prayer.

Grateful for your abundant provision and trusting in your goodness, we cast all our cares upon you, through the abundant grace of Christ Jesus.

Amen.

Music

Build A Longer Table

Build a Longer Table (with Lyrics) All Creation Sings 1062 - YouTube

Season After Pentecost Devotional Practices