Lectionary Readings
Semicontinuous
Exodus 1:8—2:10
Pharaoh orders the drowning of Hebrew boys, but Moses is spared.
Psalm 124
Were the Lord not on our side, the water would have consumed us.
Complementary
Isaiah 51:1–6
Look to the rock from which you were hewed; God will deliver.
Psalm 138
I sing your praise, O Lord; do not forsake the work of your hands.
Romans 12:1–8
Offer yourselves to God as a living sacrifice; one body, many gifts.
Matthew 16:13–20
Who is Jesus? Peter answers: You are the Messiah, the Son of God.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
Thus says the Lord:
We gather as the body of Christ.
We are many individuals,
but together we are one.
Each of us has our own gifts,
our own calling, our own role,
but all of us proclaim
Jesus Christ is the Messiah!
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:
We seek the will of God,
but still find ourselves conformed to this world,
instead of being transformed into God’s image.
Let us seek forgiveness
for the ways we have turned away from justice and mercy.
Almighty God,
When faced with earthly powers that seem overwhelming,
we crumble.
We fear this world.
We fear losing our status, our stability, our station
more than we fear you.
Forgive our shortcomings
and teach us to trust in you
when we take a risk for what we know is right.
Lifting water from the font:
If God was not on our side,
we could not stand in the judgment.
But God is with us, steadfast and faithful,
as we seek to live in 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
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
With one mind in Christ, and one heart in the Spirit,
let us pray to the Lord of heaven and earth.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the name of Jesus, we pray for the church . . .
Make us one body in Christ, many as we are,
and empower us by the gifts of your Spirit
to live in faith and seek your will in the world.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the name of Jesus, we pray for the earth . . .
Do not let the rising waters overwhelm us.
Help us to escape from the trap we have made,
and to seek the healing of your creation.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the name of Jesus, we pray for all nations . . .
Let the leaders of the nations learn from you
to have regard for the poor and lowly
and to deliver them from their trouble.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the name of Jesus, we pray for this community . . .
Give rest to those whose work seems endless.
Hear the cries of those who are oppressed,
who endure harsh treatment and hard labor.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the name of Jesus, we pray for loved ones . . .
Protect children who are in jeopardy;
encourage those who struggle against evil;
sustain those whose work is to care for others.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Enable us, O God, by the power of your Spirit,
to live our lives in a way that is worthy of the gospel,
to the glory of the name that is above all names,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Philippians 1:27, 2:5, 9–11, 13
— 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:
Merciful and gracious God,
you abound in steadfast love and faithfulness.
With gratitude, we bring our gifts to you.
Bless these gifts and bless our lives
that together we may share your mercy and grace
for the world you dearly love. 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:
We give thanks to you with our whole hearts, O Lord,
for you draw us up out of danger and death;
you stretch out your hand to deliver us from evil.
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:
Jesus is the Messiah, the one you sent to save us.
He came to build his church among us,
and to give us the keys to the kingdom of heaven.
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.
Receive our lives as a living sacrifice of praise to you.
Renew and transform us according to your will,
and teach us to use your gifts of grace for good.
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 Gives the Keys to the Kingdom to Peter”
Bertel Thorvaldsen, ca. 1817–1818
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- The Play of the Godhead (OE) PERICHORESIS GTG 9
- My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less (OG) SOLID ROCK GTG 353, PH 379
- Somos el cuerpo de Cristo / We Are the Body of Christ (G) SOMOS EL CUERPO DE CRISTO GTG 768
- King of Kings (G) KING OF KINGS STF 2075
WORD
- Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken (OG) AUSTRIAN HYMN GTG 81, PH 446
- As a Child Rests (O) AS A CHILD RESTS GTG 474
- I Sing a Song of the Saints of God (E) GRAND ISLE GTG 730, PH 364
- Let Hope Be Reborn (O) MIDWIFE Sing No Empty Alleluias, Chris Shelton, GIA
EUCHARIST
- I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord (G) ST. THOMAS GTG 310, PH 441
- Take Me to the Water (O) TAKE ME TO THE WATER GTG 480
- We Who Once Were Dead (O) MIDDEN IN DE DOOD GTG 502
- Kadazan Kanou Kanou Tumanud do Tuhan / Come One and All, Let’s Follow Christ, Our Lord (E) KANOU STB 78
SENDING
- When Israel Was in Egypt’s Land (O) GO DOWN MOSES GTG 52, PH 334
- Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory (OG) BATTLE HYMN GTG 354
- Now There Is No Male or Female (O) OMNI DIE GTG 493
- King of Glory, King of Peace (G) GENERAL SEMINARY EH 382
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 124
Metrical
- Our Help Is in the Name of God [OLD 124TH / GENEVAN 124]; GTG 330, PAS 124A, LUYH 498
- Unless the Lord Had Stood with Us [CM]; MPS 124
- If God Had Not Been on Our Side [CM]; PCW 124
- Nuestra ayuda viene del Señor / Our Help Is in the Name of the Lord; SSS 385
Responsorial
- Praise the Lord; PP 250
- Our Help Is in the Name of the Lord; PAS 124C
- Our Help Is in the Name of the Lord [OLD 124TH / GENEVAN 124]; HTP2 34
Psalm 138
Metrical
- With Grateful Heart My Thanks I Bring [ST. PETERSBURG, SOLID ROCK]; GTG 334, PAS 138A, LUYH 585
- With All My Heart I Thank You, Lord [GENEVAN 138]; PAS 138C, LUYH 323
- O Lord, My Heart Will Sing [ENVIADO SOY DE DIOS]; PP 276 (with refrain), PCW 138 (as 6.6.6.6.8.8)
Responsorial
- Thank You, Lord; PAS 138B
- The Rulers of All the Earth Will Praise You; PSA 141
Organ Music
- “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” Prayerful Preludes Set 10, Robert J. Powell, MSM (E)
- “The Solid Rock,” SOLID ROCK, In Memoriam, Ross Anderson, LOR (E)
- Prelude No. 2 in G Major, Felix Mendelssohn, multiple editions (M)
- “Be Still, My Soul,” FINLANDIA, Three Hymn Settings for Organ and Bass Instrument, Donald Busarow, CON (E)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “Be Not Afraid,” Craig Courtney, BP, SATB, keybd (M)
- “Psalm 124,” Valerie Shields, BH, SAB, pno (M)
- “Many Gifts, One Spirit,” Allen Pote, Theodore Presser, SATB, pno (M)
- “My Eternal King,” Jane Marshall, CF, SATB, org (A)
- “All Thy Gifts of Love,” David Brunner, BH, SATB, pno (MA)
- “He is Marvelous,” Rosephanye Powell, HAL, SATB, pno (M)
- “The Meditations of My Heart,” Elaine Hagenberg, BP, SATB, pno (M)
- “My God Is a Rock,” arr. Robert Shaw and Alice Parker, Lawson Gould, SATB div, solo (MA)
Handbell Music
- “The Solid Rock,” Jason W. Krug, 3–6 oct and pno, HOPE, hb, 2908, full score/pno, 2908D, Level 2
- “Go Down Moses,” Bill Ingram, 3–5 oct, HOPE, 2669, Level 2+
- “Songs of Loudest Praise,” Derek Hakes, 3–7 oct, opt 3–5 hc, LOR, 20/1905L, Level 3-
Art
- The Finding of Moses, Alexander Francois Loemans, 1870 (VDL)
- Christ Gives the Keys of the Kingdom to Peter, Bertel Thorvaldsen, 1817 (VDL)
- Symbols of Peter, stained glass, Babraham, UK, 1966 (VDL)
