Lectionary Readings
Semicontinuous
Genesis 32:22–31
Jacob wrestles with a man from God, and receives a blessing.
Psalm 17:1–7, 15
Visit and test me in the night, O Lord; I will behold your face.
Complementary
Isaiah 55:1–5
Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; eat and be satisfied.
Psalm 145:8–9, 14–21
The Lord is gracious and merciful, giving food in due season.
Romans 9:1–5
Paul struggles with the issue of Israel’s relationship to the church.
Matthew 14:13–21
With five loaves and two fish, Jesus feeds a great multitude.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
God is great and greatly to be praised;
There is no end to God’s greatness.
God’s kingdom is an everlasting kingdom;
God’s dominion endures throughout all ages.
Prayer of the Day
Divine Ruler, you reign forever.
We exalt you above every struggle and distraction.
Fill our hearts with your desires
and give us the courage to pursue your kingdom
on earth as it is in heaven.
We look to you,
for the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and forever. 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:
When we call upon God,
God answers.
Even when our steps stray from God’s path,
even when our feet slip,
God listens to us and answers our prayers.
Let us offer our prayer of confession.
Generous God,
you freely offer us all we need.
You offer us the bread of life,
so we may never be hungry again.
You offer us living water,
so we will never thirst.
But we scoff at your gifts,
wasting our money, time, and energy
on things that do not satisfy.
Forgive us and call to us again,
reminding us of your gifts of new life
that are ours if we would only accept them.
Lifting water from the font:
Incline your ear, listen:
God makes an everlasting covenant with us.
God forgives us, renews us, refreshes us, and leads us onward.
Thanks be to God!
— Word —
Prayer for Illumination
At the lectern or pulpit:
Holy, Holy, Holy One,
guide us by the Spirit of truth
to hear the Word of life you speak,
and to give all glory, honor, and praise
to your threefold name;
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
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
Let us pray in the Spirit, who helps us in our weakness,
interceding with sighs too deep for words.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the Spirit, we pray for the church . . .
Let the mission and ministry of your church
be a sign of your miraculous grace,
feeding the hungry in Christ’s name.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the Spirit, we pray for the earth . . .
The eyes of all your creatures look to you,
for you give them their food in due season.
Open your hand, to touch and heal the earth.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the Spirit, we pray for all nations . . .
Hear the voices of those who cry for justice;
answer the prayers of those who struggle for peace.
Let your rule of love prevail throughout the world.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the Spirit, we pray for this community . . .
Teach us to use the resources you have given us
to respond to the hunger of our neighbors,
sharing Christ with them, in word and in bread.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the Spirit, we pray for loved ones . . .
Show your compassion to those who suffer,
uphold those who are falling,
and be near to those who cry to you.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the Spirit, we pray to you, O God,
confident that all things work together for good
for those who love you
and are called according to your purpose.
Above all, we give you thanks, O God,
that nothing can separate us from your love
in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Romans 8:26, 28, 39
— 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:
God of unending gifts,
we praise you for your abundant goodness.
As you are generous, we want to be generous too.
May the gifts we bring
extend your generosity into the world,
so that all people may be made whole
by your goodness and grace. Amen.
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 have made an everlasting covenant with us,
the promise of your faithfulness and steadfast love.
Even when we struggle against you, you never let us go.
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 show the abundance of your love.
With five loaves and two fish he fed a multitude;
still he feeds us with the extravagance of his grace.
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.
As you love and bless your chosen people, Israel,
let your church be a sign of Christ’s blessing and love,
calling all people into your gracious covenant.
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:
Holy Spirit, you have filled us with your life.
Christ our Savior, you have embraced us in your love.
God our Mother, you have fed us with your grace.
Now send us out into your beloved world
to share your life, your love, your grace with all.
Blessing and honor and glory to you,
holy, holy, holy Lord. Amen.
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
May the blessing of the Trinity—
holy, holy, holy Lord—
be with you now and always. Alleluia!
Isaiah 6:3
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
“Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here I am; send me!” Amen.
Isaiah 6:8
“Hand of God with Loaves and Fish”
Brighton, UK, 20th Century
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
-
Bring Many Names (Os) WESTCHASE GTG 760
-
You Thirsty Ones, Come (OcG) HEAVEN’S RAIN GTG 78
-
Ho, All Who Thirst (OcG) JACOB’S WELL GTG 479
-
Holy God, We Praise Your Name (E) GROSSER GOTT, WIR LOBEN DICH GTG 4
WORD
-
O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go (Os) ST. MARGARET GTG 833
-
When the Poor Ones (Oc) EL CAMINO GTG 762
-
The God of Abraham Praise (E) LEONI GTG 49
-
I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say (OcG) KINGSFOLD GTG 182
-
As the Deer Runs to the River (Oc) JULION OLOF 445
EUCHARIST
-
Eat This Bread (OcG) BERTHIER GTG 527
-
I Am the Bread of Life (OcG) I AM THE BREAD GTG 522
-
Feed Us, Lord (OcG) FEED US GTG 501
-
Come, Let Us Eat (OcG) A VA DE GTG 528
SENDING
-
Go to the World! (Os) SINE NOMINE GTG 295
-
Take Us as We Are, O God (G) ENDLESS FEAST GTG 312
-
How Firm a Foundation (E) FOUNDATION GTG 463
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 17:1–7, 15
Metrical
- Lord, Listen to My Righteous Plea [ROSALIE MCMILLAN]; PAS 17C
Responsorial
- Keep Me as the Apple of Your Eye; PSA 11
Psalm 145:8–9, 14–21
Metrical
- Te exaltaré, mi Dios, mi Rey [ECUADOR]; PAS 145C
Responsorial
- Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!; PP 286
Organ Music
-
“Cantabile in F Major, Op. 41, No. 4,” The Practical Organist: 50 Short Works for Church Services, Alexandre Guilmant, DP (MA)
-
“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” NETTLETON, Augsburg Organ Library: Summer, Aaron David Miller, AF (M)
-
“Just As I Am,” Six Organ Preludes on Gospel Hymns, Raymond H. Haan, MSM (E)
-
“Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ,” LINSTEAD, Augsburg Organ Library: Summer, Mark Sedio, AF (MA)
Piano Music
-
“Sonata in D Major, K. 430,” Sixty Sonatas, Vol. 1, Domenico Scarlatti, KAL (M)
-
“Reflets dans l’eau,” Images, Claude Debussy, HEN (A)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
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“Jesus, Feed Us,” Brian Wentzel, AF, SAB, pno (E)
-
“At the Table,” Victor Johnson, LOR, SATB, pno (ME)
-
“The Eyes of All,” Richard Proulx, World Library Publications, 2 pt, org (ME)
-
“O Love,” Elaine Hagenberg, BP, SATB, pno (ME)
-
“Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown,” Alice Parker, SATB, tenor, pno (M)
-
“Break Thou the Bread of Life,” Joyce Vickery, Vickery Music, SATB, opt children’s choir,
pno (M) -
“The Eyes of All Wait Upon Thee,” Jean Berger, AF, SATB, acap (MA)
Vocal Solos
-
“I Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray,” 30 Spirituals for Voice and Piano, Hall Johnson, GSH, high/medium/low (M)
-
“Be Thou My Vision,” The Sunday Worship Duet Book, Tom Fettke, Lillenas Publishing, high/medium duet (M)
-
“Field of Souls,” High Voice Treasury, arr. Lloyd Larson, Lillenas Publishing, high (ME)
Art
-
Animalia Rationalia et Insecta (Ignis): Plate XIV, Joris Hoefnagel, 1575–80 (VCS)
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Jesus Multiplies the Loaves and Fish, JESUS MAFA, 1973 (VDL)
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Words Can’t Feed the Hungry, Michal Pawlicki, 2012 (VDL)
-
Vision of the Sermon (Jacob Wrestling with the Angel), Paul Gauguin, 1888 (VCS)
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Jakob Ringt mit den Engel (Jacob Wrestles with the Angel), Max Beckmann, 1920 (VCS)
-
Loaves and Fishes, Nicholas Markell, 2016 (EYE)
