In a world driven by performance, we are entirely accustomed to getting exactly what we earn. But when it comes to our standing before God, the economy of "wages" is a terrifying reality—as St. Paul reminds us in Romans 6, the wages of sin is death. Left to our own efforts, we are trapped in a cycle of striving that leads only to captivity. Thankfully, the Good News of the Gospel is that God does not deal with us in wages, but in grace. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the ledger is wiped clean, and we are given the free gift of righteousness and eternal life.
This radical gift changes how we live in a broken world. In our Gospel reading from Matthew 10, Jesus candidly warns His disciples of the trials and persecutions that come with proclaiming His name. Yet, because we are securely held by a Father who numbers the very hairs on our heads, we do not have to live in fear of what the world can do to us. We are freed from the burden of trying to earn our salvation, released instead to boldly acknowledge Christ and live out our faith in true freedom.
Service times:
- Live on YouTube
- In person worship
Order of service:
Readings:
- Reflection on God's Forgiveness is from Romans 5:8-11
- Psalm reading is from Psalm 91:1–10
- Old Testament reading is from Jeremiah 20:7–13
- New Testament reading is from Romans 6:12–23
- Holy Gospel is from Matthew 10:5a, 21–33
Songs and Hymns:
- God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It
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Text by Erdmann Neumeister, trans. Robert E. Voelker, public domain
Tune by Johann Caspar Bachofen, © 1991 Robert E. Voelker, used with permission, LSB Hymn License #110001220 - Salvation unto Us Has Come
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Text: Paul Speratus, 1484–1551; tr. The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, alt.
Tune: Etlich Cristlich lider, 1524, Wittenberg
Text and tune: Public domain - Just as I Am, without One Plea
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Text by Charlotte Elliott
Tune by William B. Bradbury
Public domain - Your Table I Approach
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Text: Gerhard Wolter Molanus, 1633–1722; tr. Matthias Loy, 1828–1915, alt.
Tune: Trente quatre Pseaumes de David, 1551, Geneva, ed. Louis Bourgeois
Text and tune: Public domain - Children of the Heavenly Father
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Text by Carolina Sandell Berg, trns. Ernst W. Olson
Tune by Lofsanger och andeliga wisor, 1873
© Augsburg Publishing House
Used with permission, CCLI license # 20286740 - Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus
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Text: Sigismund von Birken, 1626–81; tr. Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978, alt.
© 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, used with permission: LSB Hymn License #110001220
Tune: Georg G. Boltze, 18th cent., public domain - Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing
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Text: John Fawcett
Tune: Henry T. Smart
Public domain
Liturgies:
- Gloria in Excelsis
- Text: Stephen P. Starke
- Sanctus
- Text: Stephen P. Starke
- Agnus Dei
- Text: Stephen P. Starke
Announcements:
- Sunday, Jun 21:
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- Worship Service (Rev. Heath Curtis): 9 AM to 10:15 AM
- Sunday School: 10:30 AM to 11:45 AM
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Sanctuary.
- Adult Bible Study: 10:45 AM to 11:45 AM
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Downstairs.
- Discovering Christianity Class: 10:45 AM
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Downstairs.
- Special Congregational Meeting: 11:45 AM
- Wednesday, Jun 24:
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- Men’s Bible Study: 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM
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Downstairs.
- Thursday, Jun 25:
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- AA Meeting: 6:30 PM
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Downstairs.
- Saturday, Jun 27:
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- Women’s Bible Study: 10 AM to 11:30 AM
- AA Meeting: 1:30 PM
- Saturday, Jul 11:
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- A Beautiful Opportunity to Love and Serve Our Neighbors: 8 AM to 12 PM
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Loving & Serving our Neighbors
- Saint James Education Support
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2026-2027 School Year
- Can You Trust Your Bible Translation? (Ep146)
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A common urban myth about Christian origins sometimes gets passed around when people talk about the Bible is that no one can really know what the Bible says since the translations we have now are just translations of older translations. Chuck and Aaron talk about this popular misunderstanding as well as other questions related to our English translations of the Bible on this episode of Craving Answers, Craving God.
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