First Lutheran Church

10/12/2025 – Pentecost XVIII

PENTECOST XVIII

Worship Leaders Today

Presider:Presider: The Reverend Jeffrey C. Johnson

Assisting Minister: Sue Newbergl

Introduction to Today’s Service:

It’s a miracle! Multiple miracles! The waters of holy baptism have healed us. The body and blood of Jesus in holy communion have made us clean. We have died with Christ and been raised with him. For all this we have returned to offer thanks. From this place we are sent on our way rejoicing to share the good news.

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October 11, 2025

10/05/2025 – Pentecost XVII

PENTECOST XVII

Worship Leaders Today

Presider:Presider: The Reverend Jeffrey C. Johnson

Assisting Minister: Bill Kiesel

Introduction to Today’s Service:

A little faith goes a long way is Jesus’ point in the gospel. A mustard seed’s-worth of faith has miraculous potential. The patience, tenacity, and endurance required for the life of faith are the blessings received in holy baptism, holy communion, and the word read and proclaimed in this assembly. Anticipate them. Receive them with thanksgiving..

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October 4, 2025

2025 09 28 – A Heart for Ministry

Creative Spirit: A Heart for Ministry

Worship Leaders Today

Presider:The Reverend Jill Wiley

Introduction to Today’s Service:

This is the third of three special services while Pastor Jeff is on vacation. Come experience these with us.

Today: A Conversation with Pastor Ken Bjorkland.

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September 27, 2025

2025 09 21 – Feather on the Breath of God

Creative Spirit: Feather on the Breath of God

Worship Leaders Today

Presider:The Reverend Jill Wiley

Introduction to Today’s Service:

This is the second of three special services while Pastor Jeff is on vacation. Come experience these with us.

Today: Telling the Story of Faith for Hildegard of Bingham.

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September 20, 2025

2025 09 14 – Faith@Play

Creative Spirit: Faith@Play

Worship Leaders Today

Presider:The Reverend Jill Wiley

Assisting Minister: Nina Sousa

Introduction to Today’s Service:

This is the first of three special services while Pastor Jeff is on vacation. Come experience these with us.

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September 16, 2025

2025 09 07 – PENTECOST XIII

PENTECOST XIII

Worship Leaders Today

Presider:The Reverend Jeffrey C. Johnson

Assisting Minister: Katarina Sousa

Introduction to Today’s Service:

Called to contemplate the cost of discipleship, we might be helped by translating Paul’s request to Philemon into our prayer of the day: Refresh my heart in Christ. Strengthened by the company and forgiveness of Christ in holy communion and recalling God’s grace in remembrance of baptism, we can be strengthened in this hour to “choose life”—to choose life in God as our own.

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September 7, 2025

2025 08 31 – PENTECOST XII

PENTECOST XII

Worship Leaders Today

Presider:The Reverend Jeffrey C. Johnson

Assisting Minister: Sue Newberg

Introduction to Today’s Service:

Invited and inviting—that is the nature of the church. By God’s grace in holy baptism we have a place at Christ’s banquet table. When, by the power of that same Spirit, humility and mutual love continue among us, the church can be more inviting still.

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August 30, 2025

2025 08 24 – PENTECOST XI

PENTECOST XI

Worship Leaders Today

Presider:The Reverend Jeffrey C. Johnson

Assisting Minister: Chris Newman

Introduction to Today’s Service:

Remember the sabbath day. Call the sabbath a delight. This is the Lord’s day, and the Lord will do for us what the Lord does: feed us, forgive us, help and heal us. Rejoice at all the wonderful things God is doing.

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August 24, 2025

2025 08 17 – PENTECOST X

PENTECOST X

Worship Leaders Today

Presider:The Reverend Jeffrey C. Johnson

Assisting Minister: Pete Randall

Introduction to Today’s Service:

The word of God is a refining fire. Jesus is the great divide in human history. He invites our undivided attention and devotion. Today in worship we are surrounded by a great “cloud of witnesses.” In the word and in holy communion we are invited yet again to look to Jesus, “the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”

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August 16, 2025

2025 08 10 – PENTECOST IX

PENTECOST iX

Worship Leaders Today

Presider:The Reverend Jeffrey C. Johnson

Assisting Minister: Bill Kiesel

Introduction to Today’s Service:

Jesus says, “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” It is God’s promise from the beginning—to Abraham, to the early church, and to the “little flock” of which we are a part in today’s assembly. Faith, God’s baptismal gift, trusts the promises of God. Have no fear.

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August 9, 2025

2025 08 03 – PENTECOST VIII

PENTECOST VIII

Worship Leaders Today

Presider:The Reverend Jeffrey C. Johnson

Assisting Minister: Sue Newberg

Temple Talk: Reverend Jeffrey C. Johnson

Introduction to Today’s Service:

Today’s texts offer instruction and encouragement for all who are occasionally overwhelmed by the “unhappy business” of life. Jesus urges us to take care and be on guard against all kinds of greed. We who have died with Christ in holy baptism have also been raised with him and are encouraged to elevate our thinking, seeking the “things that are above.” To that end we seek the sustenance of the Lord’s supper and the encouragement of God’s word.

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August 2, 2025

2025 07 27 – PENTECOST VII

PENTECOST VII

Worship Leaders Today

Presider:The Reverend Jeffrey C. Johnson

Assisting Minister: Pete Randall

Temple Talk: Nancy Imai

Introduction to Today’s Service:

Persistence in prayer is encouraged by Jesus and wins the attention of God when Abraham intercedes for Sodom. The life of the baptized—to be rooted and built up in Christ Jesus—is to be nurtured with prayer. God hears and answers prayer and so strengthens God’s own. “When I called, you answered me; you increased my strength within me.”

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July 26, 2025

2025 07 20 – PENTECOST VI

PENTECOST VI

Worship Leaders Today

Presider:The Reverend Jeffrey C. Johnson

Assisting Minister: Dawn Caffelle

Introduction to Today’s Service:

Perhaps the church, at its best, is “all ears.” God urges the faithful, again and again, to “listen up!”—to heed the word that gives life. So it was with Abraham and Sarah, Mary and Martha, and the early church at Colossae. So it is today as we join the assembly to hear the word of God, the word of life.

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July 19, 2025

2025 07 13 – PENTECOST V

PENTECOST V

Worship Leaders Today

Presider: The Reverend Jeffrey C. Johnson

Assisting Minister: Jeanne Govoni



Bulletin Cover: “Good Samaritan with a Lily” by
Olga Bakhtina

Introduction to Today’s Service:

To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind is to reflect God’s mercy in responding to one’s neighbor. That mercy found its most profound expression in the “gospel that has come to you”—namely the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That gospel mercy comes to us again today: at the font, at the table, and from the pulpit. It is very near to you.

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July 12, 2025

2025 07 06 – PENTECOST IV

PENTECOST IV

Worship Leaders Today

Presider: The Reverend Jeffrey C. Johnson

Assisting Minister: Jeanne Govoni

Introduction to Today’s Service:

God is the source of our nourishment. Jesus’ invitation to “take and eat . . . take and drink” is a repeated one. In holy communion, in the word read and proclaimed, in the assembly of the people of God, the dominion of God has come near. Rejoice! Your name is written in heaven.

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July 5, 2025