Category: Worship Services

Luke 12:49-56 | Often when we hear of “fire” in Scripture, our first inclination is to think of images of judgment, retribution, and punishment. But throughout Scripture, “fire” also points to the presence of God, and the ongoing work of God to (re)form the world into God’s original intention for wholeness and life. So, as we continue to follow the love of Jesus this summer, join us as we consider the power of God’s fire: refining us, the church, and all God’s creation more and more into the image of God’s Kingdom.

Sunday, August 17, 2025, Tenth Sunday after Pentecost Bulletin

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. Liturgy: Text Acknowledgement for Behold, I Make All Things New. Music: Benjamin Splichal Larson. Purchased by SOTC, 2019. Hymn of the Day: Let Refi ner’s Fire. Text and Music: Brian Doerksen. Text and Music: © 1990 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing. Covered under CCLI. Offering Song: On the Wind of Spirit. Text and Music: Mark Hayes. Text and Music: © 2016 The Lorenz Publishing Corporation. Covered under One License. Communion Song: Fresh Wind. Text and Music: Matt Cocker, Ben Fielding, Brooke Ligertwood, David Ware. Text and Music: ©2020 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia (Admin. by Hillsong Music Publishing USA). Covered under CCLI. Sending Song: Lord, Reign in Me. Text and Music: Brenton Brown. Text and Music: © 1996 Vineyard Songs (UK/Eire), administered by Integrity. Covered under One License.

Luke 12:32-40; Genesis 15:1-6 | Have you ever seen a dog run toward its owner at the end of the day when they get home? Most often, dogs are full of joy when they see their favorite human. Which, there’s something to be said about the relationship between a dog and its master. This weekend in our Gospel reading, we also hear of a warning of a master’s return. But unlike the joy that typically spreads over our faces as we greet a dog at the end of the day, so often, messages of our Lord’s return is painted with the complete opposite of joy. And yet, as Scripture points us to, the day of the Lord will be one filled with the fulfillment of all God’s promises to us, and to all the world. So, as we await the fullness of God’s Kingdom on earth as in heaven, then how are we to live? Join us this weekend for worship as we continue to follow the love of Jesus, and as we are summoned to live faithfully and generously in response to God’s faithfulness as we await with joy for our bridegroom’s arrival.

Sunday, August 10, 2025, Ninth Sunday after Pentecost Bulletin

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. Liturgy: Text Acknowledgement for Behold, I Make All Things New. Music: Benjamin Splichal Larson. Purchased by SOTC, 2019. Hymn of the Day: Faith Begins by Letting Go. Text and Music: Carl P. Daw Jr. b. 1944, J. G. Werner, Choralbuch, 1815. Text and Music: © 1996 Hope Publishing Company. Covered under One License. Offering Song: In Christ There Is No East or West. Text and Music: Mark Hayes. Text and Music: © 2016 The Lorenz Publishing Corporation. Covered under One License. Communion Song: We Walk by Faith. Text and Music: Marty Haugen. Text and Music: © 1984 GIA Publications, Inc. Covered under One License. Sending Song: This Is My Father’s World. Text and Music: Maltbie D. Babcock, 1858-1901, Franklin L. Sheppard, 1852-1930, adapt. Text and Music: © Public Domain.

Luke 12:13-21 | Every day, a myriad of things, ideas, and people vie for our attention. Drive anywhere on a highway, and the road is littered with billboards and signs desperate to get (and keep!) your attention, impacting where you go and what you do. What we give our attention to matters, and what we give our attention to is linked with how we live in relationship with God and one another. So as we strive to follow the love of Jesus, join us as we turn our attention to God, and as we open ourselves to receive from Christ that which truly satisfies: his Word of Truth.

Sunday, August 3, 2025, Eighth Sunday after Pentecost Bulletin

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. Liturgy: Text Acknowledgement for Behold, I Make All Things New. Music: Benjamin Splichal Larson. Purchased by SOTC, 2019. Hymn of the Day: Be Thou My Vision. Text and Music: Irish, 8th cent.; vers. Eleanor H. Hull, 1860-1935, alt.; tr. Mary E. Byrne, 1880-1931. Text and Music: © Oregon Catholic Press. Covered under One License. Offering Song: For the Beauty of the Earth. Text and Music: Mark Hayes and Marvin Gaspard. Text and Music: © 2019 The Lorenz Publishing Corporation. Covered under One License. Communion Song: Lord You Have My Heart. Text and Music: Martin Smith. Text and Music: © 1992 Thankyou Music Ltd.(Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing). Covered under CCLI. Sending Song: Lord Reign In Me. Text and Music: Brenton Brown. Text and Music: © 1996 Vineyard Songs (UK/Eire), administered by Integrity. Covered under One License.

Luke 11:1-13 | For many, the words of the Lord’s Prayer have been prayed over and over and over: weekly in worship, at momentous life occasions, and for some, daily as a part of one’s prayer practice. After using these words so frequently, it may be challenging to maintain the power of this prayer that Jesus taught his disciples – and us – to pray. And yet, in these words, we have the opportunity to connect to our source of life and to honestly present our needs and desires before the one who created us and all that is. So as we continue to follow the love of Jesus this summer, join us as we explore the power of prayer as a part of living as a disciple, and as we are sent to participate in the manifestation of God’s Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.  

Sunday, July 27, 2025, Seventh Sunday after Pentecost Bulletin

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. Liturgy: Text Acknowledgement for Behold, I Make All Things New. Music: Benjamin Splichal Larson. Purchased by SOTC, 2019. Hymn of the Day: There is a Longing in Our Hearts. Text and Music: Anne Quigley, b. 1955. Text and Music: © 1992 Anne Quigley, admin. OCP Publications. Covered under One License. Offering Song: Here at Your Table Lord. Text and Music: Mark Hayes. Text and Music: © 2016 The Lorenz Publishing Corporation. Covered under One License. Communion Song: Lord, I Need You.  Text and Music: Matt Maher, Daniel Carlson, Christy Nockels. Text and Music: © 2011 Capitol CMG, Inc. Covered under One License. Sending Song: Ten Thousand Reasons. Text and Music: Matt Redman, b. 1974 and Jonas Myrin, b. 1982. Text and Music: © 2011 Thanyou Music / Atlas Mountain Songs / worshiptogethe.com Songs / sixsteps Music, admon. CapitolCMGPublishing.com. Covered under CCLI. 

Luke 10:38-42 | This summer, we’ve been learning how to “follow the love of Jesus” through our lectionary readings. In many ways, we’ve focused on what we are to “do” as disciples. But, as we discover this weekend, living as a follower of Jesus is not simply about what we “do.”  Instead, we are also called to listen – and to be receptive – to the gifts, and the call, that God desires to place in our hands and our hearts. So as we position ourselves in a place of receptivity, open to the voice of Jesus, join us for worship as we receive Christ’s gifts to us, and as we are sent to serve not out of obligation, but as a grateful and faithful response.

Sunday, July 20, 2025, Sixth Sunday after Pentecost Bulletin

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. Liturgy: Text Acknowledgement for Behold, I Make All Things New. Music: Benjamin Splichal Larson. Purchased by SOTC, 2019. Hymn of the Day: Give Me Jesus. Text and Music: African American spiritual. Text: Public Domain. Music: © 2006 Augsburg Fortress
Offering Song: Breath on Me Breath of God. Text and Music: Mark Hayes. Text and Music: © 2016 The Lorenz Publishing Corporation Communion Song: Find Me at the Feet of Jesus. Text and Music: Chris Tomlin, Matt redman, Jonas Myrin. Performed by Christy Nockels. Text and Music: ℗ 2015 sixstepsrecords LLC and Capitol CMG, Inc. Covered under CCLI. Sending Song: My Life is In You. Text and Music: Daniel Gardner. Text and Music: © 1986 Integrity’s Hosanna! Music. Covered under CCLI.

Deuteronomy 30:9-14; Luke 10:25-37 | Often when we think of a thing being “near” to us, that thing is still something external” to us. For example, an item on our desk might be within our reach, and therefore is “near” to us. Or, a person might be sitting next to us, and therefore is “near” to us. But when we hear that God’s Word is “near” to us, God’s Word is not only something external to us, but is something that’s been imprinted internally on our being. In baptism, we publicly proclaim and trace this Word of God’s promise imprinted on our forehead. And from the font, we are sent to live as people reflecting Christ’s mercy. So as we continue to follow the love of Jesus this summer, join us as we remember God’s promise to us, and as we are summoned to live into the vision of God’s eternal life now.

Sunday, July 13, 2025, Fifth Sunday after Pentecost Bulletin

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. Liturgy: Text Acknowledgement for Behold, I Make All Things New. Music: Benjamin Splichal Larson. Purchased by SOTC, 2019. Hymn of the Day: God of Promise, Let These Signs of Grace. Text and Music: Paul Damico-Carper, b. 1981. Text and Music: © 2017 Paul Damico-Carper, admin. Augsburg Fortress. Covered under One License. Offering Song: We Have Heard the Joyful Sound. Text and Music: Mark Hayes, William J Kirkpatrick. Text and Music: © 2016 The Lorenz Publishing Corporation. Communion Song: You Have Called A People. Text and Music: Abigail Marthinet-Payne, Alanna Glover, Jacob Marthinet-Glover. Text and Music: © 2023 Emu Music Ltd. (Admin. by Integrity Music) Covered under CCLI.
Sending Song: Make Me an Instrument. Text and Music: Larry Olson & Karol Baer. Text and Music: © 1989 Dakota Road Music. Covered under One License.

Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 | Looking at summer gardens, it’s evident to see that it’s time to harvest! Depending on when gardeners first planted those seeds deep into the ground, many fruits and vegetables are coming to maturity. And, as it is with just about any produce, when it’s time to harvest, there’s no time to wait! Otherwise, a zucchini easily becomes a baseball bat and a strawberry can go from being the perfect red color to being rotten. So if there is an urgency to enter into the harvest of our gardens, is it any different as we consider Jesus’ command to go as laborers into the garden of God’s Kingdom? Join us this weekend as we take another step in following the love of Jesus – boldly gathering the harvest that is around us and relying on Christ and one another – and as we are assured of God’s gracious provision.

Sunday, July 6, 2025, Fourth Sunday after Pentecost Bulletin

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. Liturgy: Text Acknowledgement for Behold, I Make All Things New. Music: Benjamin Splichal Larson. Purchased by SOTC, 2019. Hymn of the Day: Send Me, Jesus. Text: South African. Music: South African. Text and Music: Public Domain. Offering Song:: I Have Decided to Follow Jesus. Text: Anonymous. Music: Anonymous. Text and Music: Public Domain. Communion Song: Jesus You Have Called Us.  Text and Music: Joel Payne. Text and Music: © Joel Payne – RESOUNDworship.org (Admin. By Jubilate Hymns Ltd.). Covered under CCLI. Sending Song: Build Us Up, Lord. Text and Music: Mark Glaeser, b. 1956, and Donna Hanna, b. 1952. Text and Music: © 2003 Augsburg Fortress. Covered under One License.

Luke 9:51-62 | This summer, as we continue to follow the love of Jesus, we hear Jesus offer his response to three people who wish to follow him. In short, Jesus asks them for their complete devotion, asks them to live as participants in the mission of God’s Kingdom, and asks them to look forward, not backwards. By the end of our passage, we never know how those three people responded to Jesus’ request. But today, and every day, we – as disciples and as the church – are given the invitation to respond to God’s gracious love by living out what Jesus asks of us. So as we continue to follow the path of Christ, leading to fullness of life and joy, join us for a pit stop along the way before moving forward with Christ in the fullness of the Spirit.

Sunday, June 29, 2025, Third Sunday after Pentecost Bulletin

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. Liturgy: Text Acknowledgement for Behold, I Make All Things New. Music: Benjamin Splichal Larson. Purchased by SOTC, 2019. Hymn of the Day: O Jesus, I Have Promised. Text: John E. Bode, 1816-1874, alt. Music: Neuvermehrtes Gesangbuch, Meiningen, 1693. Text and Music: Public Domain. Communion Song: I Surrender All. Music: Rosemary Siemens. Recorded and Produced by Eli Bennett. https://rosemarysiemens.com Sending Song: Step by Step. Text and Music: David Strasser “Beaker”. Text and Music: © 1991 by BMG Songs, Inc. and Kid Brothers Of St. Frank Publishing. Covered under CCLI. 

Hebrews 10:19-25; John 15:1-11 | This summer, we’re following the love of Jesus, and diving into how we are called to live as disciples of Christ. It may be tempting to think that we can follow Jesus as individuals, but this week we discover that God calls us to live in community. “Community” is a word that is often used within the church and has likely become watered-down. But as our Scripture readings point to, community is built upon Christ as our source of life, and is lived out as we provoke and encourage one another to love and good works. So, as we continue into the summer, join us as we gather in community with one another and with Christ, and as we’re sent to live the confession of our hope.

Sunday, June 22, 2025, Second Sunday after Pentecost Bulletin

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. Liturgy: Text Acknowledgement for Behold, I Make All Things New. Music: Benjamin Splichal Larson. Purchased by SOTC, 2019. Hymn of the Day: Bind Us Together, Lord. Text: Bob Gillman, b. 1946. Music: Bob Gillman, b. 1946. Integrity Hosanna! Music.. Covered under One License subscription. Offering: Sunday Joy! Text and Music: Mark Hayes Text and Music: © 2016 The Lorenz Corporation (admin. by Music Services). Covered under One License subscription. Sending Song: I Have Decided to Follow Jesus. Text: Anonymous. Music: Anonymous. Text and Music: Public Domain.

Psalm 51; Hebrews 10:11-25; John 13:31-35 | This summer, we’re following the love of Jesus. To “follow” implies being with at least one other person. We follow Jesus, and we walk together. Which, is what we mean when we use the word “synod” within the church. The word “synod” comes from a Greek word that means “walking together.” We walk together with one another at Shepherd of the Cross, within the Muscatine community, within the Southeastern Iowa Synod, within the ELCA, and within the broader church. Even in various ministry contexts, we are bound together by the same Spirit that opens our hearts to the love of God. So this weekend, as we hear an update from the Southeastern Iowa Synod, and as we hear our synodical bishop – Bishop Amy Current – preach, join us for worship as we unite ourselves with all God’s people in Christ’s mission.

Sunday, June 15, 2025 Bulletin

Copyright acknowledgments: Music covered under Augsburg Fortress License #SB135131, CCLI License #1141706, One License #738128-A. Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. Liturgy: Text Acknowledgement for Behold, I Make All Things New. Music: Benjamin Splichal Larson. Purchased by SOTC, 2019. Gathering: Oh, Sing to the Lord. Text: Brazilian folk song; tr. Gerhard M. Cartford, b. 1923, Spanish and English. Music: Brazilian folk tune. Text and Music: © Gerhard Cartford, admin, Augsburg Fortress. Covered under One License subscription. Hymn of the Day: Spirit, Open My Heart. Text: Ruth Duck, b. 1947. Music: Irish melody; adapt. Alfred V. Fedak, b. 1953. Text: © 1996 Pilgrim Press. Music: © 2011 Alfred V. Fedak. Covered under One License subscription. Communion Song:Stir the Fire. Text: Hebrews 10:24-25. Music: www.youtube.com/@faithfulsong. Sending Song: Take My Life That I May Be. Text: Frances R. Havergal, 1836-1879, adapt,; Spanish text: Vicente Mendoza, 1875-1955. Music: William Dexheimer Pharris, b. 1956; arr. Mark Sedio, b. 1954. Music: © 1999 Augsburg Fortress. Covered under One License subscription.