1. Amen In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
Gracious Lord, we give You thanks for the day, especially for the good we were permitted to give and to receive. The day is now past, and we commit it to You. We entrust to You the night and rest in Your peace, for You are our help, and You neither slumber nor sleep. Hear us for the sake of Your name. Amen.

2. God loves me dearly, Grants me salvation, Loves even me.
Refrain

3. Therefore I’ll say again: God loves me dearly, Loves even me.

4. He sent forth Jesus, My dear Redeemer, He sent forth Jesus
God Loves Me Dearly
He sent forth Jesus,
My dear Redeemer,
He sent forth Jesus
And set me free.
Refrain

5. Therefore I’ll say again: God loves me dearly, Loves even me.

6. Jesus, my Savior, Himself did offer; Paid all I owed.
God Loves Me Dearly
Jesus, my Savior,
Himself did offer;
Paid all I owed.
Refrain
Public domain

7. Therefore I’ll say again: God loves me dearly, Loves even me.

8. The Psalm
“Children and parents gather together to pray, share, sing, and speak the poetry of God, words that promise Jesus for His children. Select verses are in bold print to encourage responsive reading”

9. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.

10. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.

11. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

12. Litany
Holy One, Your Son taught with authority. Through those You have called into His holy ministry, use that authority to forgive sins, strengthen faith and empower lives of good works, so that the people of this world see Your love in us. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Gracious Creator, Your Son commanded demons and they obeyed Him, so that afflicted people were set free. Give courage, faith, peace and relief to our sisters and brothers in faith around the world who are persecuted for confessing Christ. Protect their lives and hold them in Your care. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father and source of all healing, Your Son restored Simon’s mother-in-law and countless others who were brought to Him. Through Him, we bring to You now those in need of healing and help, especially, Jeff Bierman, Shirley Betts & Keith Houseman. In the way and at the time You know best relieve their suffering. Grant them faith and patience as they wait for You. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

13. Father and source of all healing, Your Son restored Simon’s mother-in-law and countless others who were brought to Him. Through Him, we bring to You now those in need of healing and help, especially, Jeff Bierman, Shirley Betts & Keith Houseman. In the way and at the time You know best relieve their suffering. Grant them faith and patience as they wait for You. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Creator of life, we marvel that before we were even formed in the womb, You knew us and set us apart. In Holy Baptism, You named us Your own. Keep us thirsting for the living water of Your Word, for the gift of the Supper, for the embrace of Your forgiveness. Renew those observing baptismal birthdays [] and also each of us in the faith of our Baptism and draw back to Your church all who have strayed from the faith. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly King, You govern all who govern on earth. Guide our president, Congress and judiciary; our governor, legislature and judges; and our local leaders. Provide for their needs. Protect our citizens, restrain evil and defend the unborn and those who cannot defend themselves. Watch over our armed forces and give them courage and strength for their tasks. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

14. We marvel, O Father, at the love that brought Your Son down from heaven to die our death and bring us everlasting life. Pour into us His love, which is patient and kind, does not envy or boast, is not proud, rude, self-seeking or easily angered, always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres in its care even for those who seem least lovable. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father of glory, as we gather at Your Son’s wedding feast to receive His body and blood, strengthen our faith, establish our love and make us bold witnesses to the hope of eternal life. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

15. Salutation and Collect of the Day
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
Almighty God, heavenly Father, You have blessed us with the joy and care of children. Give us calm strength and patient wisdom that, as they grow in years, we may teach them to love whatever is just and true and good, following the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

16. Readings 2 Samuel 18:31-19:6……..page 270
Jeremiah 31:15-17………...page 659
Luke 15:11-24……………….page 874

17. The Crosses of Parenthood
Parenting after the fall IS NOT EASY
The parents love wants the best for their children.
Parents are subject to the pain of their children in their compassion AND ALSO pain their children cause them.
Parents authority is limited
cannot force the child to obey from the heart
Cannot protect their child from all tribulations, trials and temptations they will encounter.

18. The child’s life is not beyond God’s control
Parts of a child’s life are beyond parental control – much to their anguish
Some assume the right parenting can cure any “problem child” – that we can transform the child with the right training or enough love.
The child’s life is not beyond God’s control
We walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7)
We parent by faith

19. To raise children…raise = lift up
THE WORK OF PARENTS
To raise children…raise = lift up
Discipline
Educate
Provide for
Equip them for eternal life
Prepare their children for their callings
As family members
As Productive members of society
As Christians

20. Tribulations in Parenting
There is much to worry about in parenting (What worries you?)
There are also acute concerns – a hurt child tears at a parents heart – just watch a parent run when they hear “that scream”
Jeremiah 31 – Rachel’s daughters tears have been wiped away by Jesus, Son of David, son of Judah, son of Leah
These tribulations are indeed crosses to bear
Sacrifice to help child
Grief when a child dies
Love combined with compassion (suffering with) intensifies the relationship – can be healing when reciprocated

21. Prodigal Children
Sometimes, no matter what the parent does, the child rejects the parents and what they stand for.
Can be very faithful loving, can be harsh and controlling
The emotional response is to reject the child – this is exactly the wrong thing to do!
Disinheriting a child rends the one flesh union that is the family. It is saying no to the cross of parenthood, to the vocation of parent.
It is critically important that the parent continues to be there when the child falls away. The child is still family.
Must demonstrate to the child that their sin does not cancel out your love.

22. The constant love can reach the child’s heart.
Showing this radical love, of continuing to contact, invite, help the child is manifesting God’s grace – bearing the cross.
We are those rebellious children – yet God brought us back (While we were still sinners Christ died for us)
The constant love can reach the child’s heart.
Keep praying for the child no matter what.
St. Augustine’s mother was a devout Christian, kept praying for him through all of his heresies and sins and in her last year of life he converted to Christianity.

23. Conclusion The Bible is filled with dysfunctional families.
2 Samuel chapters 13-20
David’s son Absalom staged a rebellion against him and drove him from his throne.
Children must bear the responsibility for what they do – it is not always the parents fault.
Parents are to consider if they followed their vocation to the best of their ability and leave the results in God’s hands – Sometimes parents are prodigals – Most often both sides need to seek forgiveness

24. David had many wives – one-flesh union?
Each wife had her own children, they schemed for advantage – half-brothers/sisters became rivals. Violated family unity
Amnon raped his half-sister Tamar.
King David was very angry, but did not enforce the law on his own son (stoning), no punishment thus no justice for Tamar – Clearly torn between father/king role. David should have demanded justice for his daughter….did nothing
Tamar’s brother Absalom vowed revenge – murdered Amnon – David did nothing! (Incest, rape, murder) His spirit was pining after his children.

25. David banished Absalom – thus rejecting him, cutting him off…doing the opposite of what a parent should do.
3 years later Absalom was allowed to come back, but David said “He is not to come into my presence” (14:24)
Absalom hurt and bitter – relationship destroyed – became angry with whole family – he raised a military, staged an uprising and drove David out.
David gathered his forces, gave instructions to deal gently with Absalom, but he ended up getting caught in a tree and Joab killed him.
David cries out as any parent would, “Would that I had died instead of you!”

26. This is truly bearing a cross, to desire to die rather than your child.
Another son of David, Jesus Christ, hung on a tree, was pierced, and died as a substitute for Absalom, for all prodigal children, and for all of us.
He atoned for the sins of bad parenting – Davids and ours – and for the sins of Amnon, Absalom and all of ours.
This is the love of God, to whom we are all Absaloms and prodigals.
This is the love of Christ’s which is channeled in and through the vocation of fathers and mothers.

27. Confession
P If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
C But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
P Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

28. C Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

29. Absolution
P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.

30. Creed First Article Second Article
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
Second Article
And 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 crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell.

31. The third day He rose again from the dead
The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

32. Third Article 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 T everlasting. Amen.

33. Offering
We will pass the offering plate around for our general offering.

34. Prayer of Thanksgiving
Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have had mercy on those whom You created and sent Your only-begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior. With repentant joy we receive the salvation accomplished for us by the all-availing sacrifice of His body and His blood on the cross.
Gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, we beg You, O Lord, to forgive, renew, and strengthen us with Your Word and Spirit. Grant us faithfully to eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us do in His own testament. Gather us together, we pray, from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Graciously receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and worship, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

35. The Words of Our Lord
Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My T body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”
In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My T blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

36. Proclamation of Christ
As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
O Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, in giving us Your body and blood to eat and to drink, You lead us to remember and confess Your holy cross and passion, Your blessed death, Your rest in the tomb, Your resurrection from the dead, Your ascension into heaven, and Your coming for the final judgment. So remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

37. C 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.

38. Pax Domini Distribution The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Amen.
Distribution
OUR COMMUNION PRACTICE: It is our public confession that each individual who partakes of the Lord’s Supper here at St. Peter, receives the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Those who participate in this Sacrament publicly bear witness to their unity in faith and doctrine. We welcome to commune, those who are confirmed members of St. Peter and of other congregations of our Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. If you have not previously communed here at St. Peter, please speak with one of the pastors prior to communing.

39. Post-Communion Collect
Let us pray.
We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

40. I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light
1 I want to walk as a child of the light. I want to follow Jesus. God set the stars to give light to the world. The star of my life is Jesus. Refrain

41. I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light
In Him there is no darkness at all. The night and the day are both alike. The Lamb is the light of the city of God. Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.

42. I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light
I want to see the brightness of God. I want to look at Jesus. Clear Sun of Righteousness, shine on my path, And show me the way to the Father. Refrain

43. I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light
In Him there is no darkness at all. The night and the day are both alike. The Lamb is the light of the city of God. Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.

44. I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light
I’m looking for the coming of Christ. I want to be with Jesus. When we have run with patience the race, We shall know the joy of Jesus. Refrain
© 1970, 1975 Celebration. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License .NET, no

45. I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light
In Him there is no darkness at all. The night and the day are both alike. The Lamb is the light of the city of God. Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.

46. Evening Prayer
Merciful Father, whose guiding hand has brought us to the completion of this day, we humbly pray You to stay with us and shelter us in quiet hours of the night that we, who are wearied by the changes and chances of this passing world, may rest in Your changeless peace; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
AMEN
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

47. Benediction The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you peace.
Amen.