Lectionary Readings
Semicontinuous
Exodus 3:1–15
Moses meets the Lord in a burning bush, and learns God’s name.
Psalm 105:1–6, 23–26, 45b
Give thanks to the Lord, who sent Moses to set the people free.
Complementary
Jeremiah 15:15–21
Jeremiah laments his calling, but God promises to redeem him.
Psalm 26:1–8
Vindicate me, O Lord; I have trusted you and walked in integrity.
Romans 12:9–21
Love one another; seek what is good; live peaceably with all.
Matthew 16:21–28
Jesus says: If any wish to follow me, they must take up their cross.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
We sing aloud a song of thanksgiving
and recount all of God’s wonderful deeds.
Prayer of the Day
Lamb of God, your burden is easy.
Good shepherd, your way is righteous.
Give us the resolve to follow wherever you lead,
knowing the hills and valleys ahead,
the places of great suffering
and deep hope along the way.
May we live our lives worthy
of the calling you have given us,
in the strong and gentle name of Christ Jesus. 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:
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.
deny ourselves, take up our crosses,
lose our lives?
Forgive us, Savior,
but we’d rather you do it for us.
Forgive us, Christ,
but we are overwhelmed with what you ask of us.
We long to see you come in glory,
but fear the road we must take.
Have mercy on our weakness.
Be patient with our stumbling.
Do not leave us behind, even when we are slow to follow,
and lead us in your ways of peace.
Christ does not abandon us,
but died for us, was raised for us, and loves us still.
This is the good news that prevails!
In Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection,
we are forgiven!
— 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 faithful followers of our Lord Jesus Christ,
unashamed to stand with him and share his cross,
unafraid to offer our lives in love for the world.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the name of Jesus, we pray for the earth . . .
Let this wondrous world you have made
continue to blaze with your glory;
do not let it be consumed by greed.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the name of Jesus, we pray for all nations . . .
Teach us not to act with vengeance and violence,
or to respond to evil with evil,
but to live in peace, and overcome evil with good.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the name of Jesus, we pray for this community . . .
Help us to extend hospitality to strangers,
to contribute to the needs of the poor,
and to live in harmony with our neighbors.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the name of Jesus, we pray for loved ones . . .
Let us rejoice with those who rejoice
and weep with those who weep,
sharing the grace and love of Christ with all.
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:
Your name is a secret that cannot be uttered;
your glory is a fire that cannot be put out.
Yet you come to us in mercy; you speak to us with love.
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 calls us to take up our cross and follow him—
letting go of fear, setting our minds on holy things,
and giving our whole lives for the sake of the gospel.
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.
By your Spirit, help us to love and honor one another,
living in the grace of Christ that binds us together
and sends us forth to witness and serve.
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
“Burning Bush”
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- The God of Abraham Praise (Os) LEONI GTG 49
- You Are Holy (Os) YOU ARE HOLY GTG 705
- I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord (E) ST. THOMAS GTG 310
WORD
- What Wondrous Love Is This (OsG) WONDROUS LOVE GTG 215
- Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me (Oc) TOPLADY GTG 438
- Out of the Depths (Oc) AUS TIEFER NOT GTG 424
- You Are My Refuge, Faithful God (Oc) MORNING SONG GTG 214
- Beneath the Cross of Jesus (OcG) ST. CHRISTOPHER GTG 216
- When the Lord Redeems the Very Least (E) I’LL FLY AWAY GTG 852
- Where He Leads Me (G) NORRIS AAHH 550
EUCHARIST
- We Are Standing on Holy Ground (Os) HOLY GROUND GTG 406
- There Is a Redeemer (OcG) GREEN GTG 443
- Where Charity and Love Prevail (E) TWENTY-FOURTH GTG 316
- Take Us as We Are, O God (E) ENDLESS FEAST GTG 312
SENDING
- O God, Who Gives Us Life (Os) NOEL GTG 53
- In a Deep, Unbounded Darkness (Os) DIVINUM MYSTERIUM GTG 850
- I, the Lord of Sea and Sky (Oc) HERE I AM (Schutte) GTG 69
- Lift High the Cross (G) CRUCIFER GTG 826
- Spirit, Open My Heart (E) WILD MOUNTAIN THYME GTG 692
- Lord, Make Us More Holy (E) LORD, MAKE US MORE HOLY GTG 313
- Must Jesus Bear the Cross Alone (G) MAITLAND OLOF 424
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 105:1–6, 23–26, 45b
Metrical
- Praise the Lord, the Day Is Won [GAUDEAMUS PARITER]; PAS 105C
Responsorial
- Alleluia, Alleluia; PAS 105B
Psalm 26:1–8
Metrical
- Let This Be My Supreme Desire [WINCHESTER OLD]; PAS 26B
Responsorial
- O Lord, Still Guide Us on Our Way; PP 194
Organ Music
- “Processional on O Waly Waly,” John A. Behnke: The Essential Organ Preludes, John A. Behnke, CON (E)
- “Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness,” SCHMÜCKE DICH, Five Chorale Preludes on Joyful Themes, Tom Mueller, CON (M)
- “The God of Abraham Praise,” YIGDAL, Augsburg Organ Library: Autumn, Richard Proulx, AF (M)
- “Will You Come and Follow Me,” Draw Us In: Organ Settings, David Lasky, AF (ME)
Piano Music
- “Contentment: A Rag,” Complete Rags for Piano, William Bolcom, HAL (MA)
- “Chorale,” Album for the Young, Op. 68, Robert Schumann, HEN (ME)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “Go Down Moses,” Vicki Tucker Courtney, BRI, 2 pt, pno (E)
- “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian,” Becki Slagle Mayo, CGA, SATB, pno (E)
- “Love Shall Overcome,” Carlos Colòn-Quintana, MSM, SATB, pno, cl (ME)
- “Come, Follow Me,” John Leavitt, GIA, SAB, org, ob (M)
- “Will You Come and Follow Me,” Tom Trenney, MSM, SATB, pno (M)
- “Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal,” Alice Parker, ALF, SATB div, acap (MA)
- “Go Down Moses,” Adolphus Hailstork, TPR, SATB, bari, acap (A)
Vocal Solos
- “The Gift of Love,” Hal Hopson, HOPE, medium (E)
Art
- Landscape with Moses and the Burning Bush, Domenichino (Domenico Zampieri), 1610-16 (PD)
- Fellowship of Believers_89, Wayne Forte, 2016 (EYE)
- Helping Hand, Carol Aust, 2016 (EYE)
- The Burning Bush, Jan Richardson (JR)
- Burning Bush, Annette Gandy Fortt (VDL)
- BP_Moses & the Burning Bush, P. Solomon Raj, 2016 (EYE)
