Midweek Philippians 7

Rejoice in the Lord

Paul’s Letter to the Philippians

We live in interesting times. We were unable to worship together during Holy Week. Many have lost much of their income. Uncertainty lies behind us, beside us, and before us. How can we as God’s people walk by faith and not by sight in these interesting tim

A good place for us to turn is Paul’s letter to the Christians in the city of Philippi. He wrote to them from Rome. He was under house arrest, awaiting an appeal before the emperor. He could not move freely. He had spent years in Judea unable to move ahad almost died on the journey to Rome. Now he had jailers behind him, beside him, and before him.

In those circumstances he writes to inform his brothers and sisters in Christ about how he was doing. Led by the Spirit he used the word “jshort letter. He urged them to Rejoice in the Lord alwayswe do that? We will spend 8 weeks looking at this letter.

Rejoice

Opening Hymn: Rejoice, My

Opening Responses M: Christ is risen!

C: He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

M: How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?from me?

C: How long must I wrestle with my sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?

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May 27, 2020

Rejoice in the Lord Always!

Paul’s Letter to the Philippians

We live in interesting times. We were unable to worship together during Holy Week. Many of their income. Uncertainty lies behind us, beside us, and before us.

How can we as God’s people walk by faith and not by sight in these interesting times?

A good place for us to turn is Paul’s letter to the Christians in the city of Philippi. He wrote to them from Rome. He was under house arrest, awaiting an appeal before the emperor. He could not move freely. He had spent years in Judea unable to move around freely. He had almost died on the journey to Rome. Now he had jailers behind him, beside him, and

In those circumstances he writes to inform his brothers and sisters in Christ about how he was doing. Led by the Spirit he used the word “joy” or a variant of it 16 times in this

Rejoice in the Lord always. How could he do that? How can we do that? We will spend 8 weeks looking at this letter. This week we will focus on…

Rejoice in All Things!

Heart, Be Glad and Sing Hymn 443:1-2

? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face

How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have How long will my enemy triumph over me?

Morrison Zion Evangelical

Lutheran Church

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

Our mission is to Glorify God

as we Gather

around the Gospel to help people

Grow in the Gospel

and Go

with the Gospel

Welcome! We thank God that you have joined us at worship today.

Today we gather together in the presence of God. He is present among us in a special way through his Word and Sacrament. We humbly acknowledge our sin and rejoice in the good news of forgiveness through the life and death of Christ. This is the focus of our worship.

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M: Look on me and answer, LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

C: But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the LORD’s praise, for he has been good to me. Psalm 13

Prayer M: Holy Spirit, you work in us what we could never do on our own. We rejoice in your incredible gift of faith in Jesus! We are in constant need of your ongoing work. We are often weak and wander from your love. Strengthen us through the Gospel that we are better equipped to rejoice in all things!

C: Amen.

Psalm M: Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled.

C: You who answer prayer, to you all people will come.

M: When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions.

C: Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts!

M: We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.

C: You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas,

M: who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength,

C: who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations.

M: The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.

C: You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so you have ordained it.

M: You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops.

C: You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance.

M: The grasslands of the wilderness overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness.

C: The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing. Psalm 65

Prayer M: Heavenly Father, the gifts of your grace surround us daily in large and small ways. They come to us

in the forgiveness of sins and in the beauty of the flowers in the field. Help us to focus on all your blessings, great and small, so that we may always rejoice in all things.

C: Amen.

M: Gather us, Lord, as your holy people.

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Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia Christian Worship Supplement 719:1,5

Reading Ephesians 3:7-21 7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his

power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being

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rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

M: We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield.

C: In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.

All: May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you Psalm 33:20-22

Hymn Let All things Now Living Hymn 260

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Sermon Philippians 4:2-9 2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask

you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Prayer of the Church

Lord’s Prayer 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.

Blessing M: The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; Do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8

C: Amen.

Closing Hymn: Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow Hymn 334

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