Lectionary Readings
Semicontinuous
1 Kings 2:10–12; 3:3–14
Solomon becomes king and asks God for the gift of wisdom.
Psalm 111
Praise the Lord; the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.
Complementary
Proverbs 9:1–6
Wisdom calls: Come, eat of my bread and drink of my wine.
Psalm 34:9–14
Those who seek the Lord will enjoy goodness and lack nothing.
Ephesians 5:15–20
Be filled with the Spirit, singing to God and always giving thanks.
John 6:51–58
Jesus says: My flesh and blood are food and drink for eternal life.
— Gathering —
Call to Worship
We seek wisdom.
Come, let us worship God.
God fills us with the Spirit.
Come, let us worship God.
We give thanks for life.
Come, let us worship God.
Prayer of the Day
O Source of all wisdom,
you invite us to eat of your bread
and drink of your cup
so that we might walk in the way of insight.
Like Solomon, we seek your guidance above all else.
May we not treat your wisdom
like information that answers our questions.
Instead, may we inhabit your wisdom
as we would dwell in a home you have built,
our whole lives long. Amen.
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Thanksgiving For Baptism
At the baptismal font:
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
O Lord our God, we give you thanks
for the grace that is at work in us
through the gift of our baptism—
the sign of your threefold name,
the communion of your faithful people,
the promise of your glorious realm.
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
poured out upon us in baptism,
let your grace and peace grow in us,
until we gather at your heavenly throne
to give you thanks and praise forever;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession and Pardon
At the baptismal font:
It is only by the power of God
that we are able to stand against evil.
Trusting in God’s grace, let us confess our sin.
O Lord, the voice of your wisdom rings out in the world,
guiding us to place our trust in you.
The voice of your wisdom rings out in the world,
challenging us to seek the things that matter.
Too often, O Lord, we refuse to listen.
We place our trust in things that are fleeting.
We seek the things that make us comfortable,
rather than seeking the way of your peace.
Forgive us, God of grace,
and teach us to walk in the path lined by your wisdom.
Lifting water from the font:
Now stand firm in your faith,
covered by the saving grace of God
and ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Thanks be to God.
— Word —
Prayer for Illumination
At the lectern or pulpit:
Faithful God, how blessed are those
who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Sanctify us by your Word and Spirit
so that we may glorify you
in the company of the faithful;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture
Before the readings:
The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.
Listen to the word of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 6:4
After the readings:
Keep these words in your heart.
The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.
Thanks be to God.
Deuteronomy 6:6
Sermon
Ascription of Praise
After the sermon:
To the Lord our God, Alpha and Omega,
be all glory and honor forever. Amen.
Revelation 21:6
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Affirmation of Faith
Time after Pentecost
The life, death, resurrection,
and promised coming of Jesus Christ
has set the pattern for the church’s mission.
His human life involves the church
in the common life of all people.
His service to men and women
commits the church
to work for every form of human well-being.
His suffering makes the church sensitive
to all human suffering
so that it sees the face of Christ
in the faces of persons in every kind of need.
His crucifixion discloses to the church
God’s judgment on the inhumanity
that marks human relations,
and the awful consequences
of the church’s own complicity in injustice.
In the power of the risen Christ
and the hope of his coming,
the church sees the promise
of God’s renewal of human life in society
and of God’s victory over all wrong.
The church follows this pattern
in the form of its life
and in the method of its action.
So to live and serve
is to confess Christ as Lord.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.32–33
Prayers of Intercession
Holy God,
hear our prayer.
We pray for the healing of the earth . . .
Provide relief in the parched places
and teach us all sustainable care.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for animals who are losing habitat
due to human consumption . . .
Provide food and shelter in the midst of danger.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for all who covet what they do not have . . .
Disentangle us from systems of greed.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those whose words hurt others . . .
Humble them with your kindness.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for all who work for peace . . .
Sustain them with your goodness.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for all who advocate for the needy . . .
Work alongside them to establish your justice.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of life,
call to us when we do evil and teach us to listen,
that we may learn to fear you.
Through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
— Eucharist —
Invitation to Offering
At the communion table:
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,
to present yourselves as a living sacrifice,
holy and acceptable to God.
Let us offer our lives to the Lord.
Romans 12:1
Prayer of Dedication
At the communion table:
We give you thanks and praise, O God,
for you have chosen the poverty of the world
to make your people rich in faith.
Help us to put our faith into practice
through the offering of our lives—
giving food to the hungry,
clothes to the naked,
and shelter to the poor;
all for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord,
your Word made flesh. Amen.
James 2:5, 14–17
Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God:
You invite us into the house of your wisdom,
giving us bread to eat and wine to drink,
and teaching us to walk in your way of truth.
Therefore we praise you, joining the song
of the universal church and the heavenly choir
A Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”) is sung.
Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior:
You sent Jesus to share your life with us;
nourished by your Word and filled with your Spirit,
we live in Jesus and Jesus lives in us.
The words of institution are included here.
Remembering your goodness and grace,
we offer ourselves to you with gratitude
as we share this joyful feast.
A Memorial Acclamation (e.g., “Christ has died”) is sung.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon this bread and cup;
make us one in the body and blood
of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Fill us with the power of your Holy Spirit,
so that our lives may become joyful songs,
hymns of thanksgiving and praise to you.
Through the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Spirit,
we bless you, God of glory,
now and forever.
An Amen is sung.
Lord’s Prayer
Breaking the Bread
Communion of the People
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Prayer after Communion
At the communion table:
God of glory, in this holy feast
you have made us one with Christ
and with that great multitude of the faithful—
those who hunger and thirst no more
and worship night and day in your temple.
Lead us in the paths of righteousness
and guide us to the springs of the water of life,
until we join the choir of the redeemed,
singing: Salvation belongs to our God
who is seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb: Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
The blessing of the one God—
Spirit, Son, and Father—
be with you now and always. Alleluia!
Ephesians 4:4–6
Lead a life worthy of your calling,
giving glory to God in all things. Amen.
Ephesians 4:1
Christ Preaching to the Multitudes
James Smetham, 19th Century
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- All Hail to God’s Anointed (ROCKPORT) GTG 149 (O)
- When in Our Music God Is Glorified (ENGELBERG) GTG 641 (E)
- Now Thank We All Our God (NUN DANKET ALLE GOTT) GTG 643 (E)
- Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle (FORTUNATUS NEW) GTG 225 (G)
WORD
- Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (SWING LOW) GTG 825 (O)
- My Life Flows On (HOW CAN I KEEP FROM SINGING) GTG 821 (E)
- Christ Jesus Lay in Death’s Strong Bands (CHRIST LAG IN TODESBANDEN) GTG 237 (G)
- According to Thy Gracious Word (SONG 67) AM 420b (G)
EUCHARIST
- Come, My Way, My Truth, My Life (THE CALL) UMH 164 (O)
- Let Us Offer to the Father / Te Ofrecemos Padre Nuestro (OFERTORIO) TFWS 2262 (E)
- Feed Us, Lord (FEED US) WAS 3167 (G)
SENDING
- You Satisfy the Hungry Heart (BICENTENNIAL) GTG 523 (O)
- Come, Labor On (ORA LABORA) GTG 719 (E)
- We Will Walk with God (SIZOHAMBA NAYE) GTG 742 (E)
- Now Let Us from This Table Rise (NIAGARA) VU 483 (G)
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 111
Metrical
- My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less [CATHERINE] RIL 459
- God Is So Good [GOD IS SO GOOD] GTG 658
Responsorial
- Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia PSA 111
- God Commands an Eternal Covenant UMH 832
Psalm 34:9–14
Metrical
- Lord, I Bring My Songs to You [LUX PRIMA] PAS 34D
- Praise Is Rising, Eyes Are Turning [IRREGULAR] GWA 114
Responsorial
- I Will Bless the Lord at All Times PAS 34A alternate refrain
- Come Bless the Lord PP 66
Organ Music
- “Loving Spirit,” OMNI DIE, Praise! (Eight Pieces for Organ), arr. Emma Lou Diemer, SAC (M)
- “Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele,” BWV 654, Neue Bach-Augsgabe, Serie IV, Band 2, J. S. Bach, IMSLP (M)
- “Trio No. 1,” 10 Trios for Organ, op. 49, Joseph Rheinberger, IMSLP (E)
- “Now Thank We All Our God (Setting 2),” Ten Chorale Improvisations, Set 8, arr. Paul Manz, MSM (ME)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “Zadok the Priest,” G. F. Handel, CPDL, SATB, org (A)
- “Taste and See,” Ralph Vaughan Williams, OUP, SATB, org (M)
- “With a Voice of Singing,” Martin Shaw, GSH, SATB, keybd (E)
- “The Call of Wisdom,” Will Todd, OUP, flex, keybd (E)
- “Praise His Holy Name,” Keith Hampton, earthsongs, SATB, pno (M)
Art
- Flying with Fabrics, Melissa Sarris, 2023 (melissasarris.com/stitching-exchange)
- AIDS Memorial Quilt, 1985–present (aidsmemorial.org)
- Wisdom, Prudence, and Knowledge, Master of the Cité des Dames, 1410 (VDL) (PD)
- Solomon Praying to the Holy Spirit, Guillaume Vrelant, 1481 (VDL) (PD)
