Lectionary Readings
Semicontinuous
2 Samuel 11:26—12:13a
Using the parable of a lamb, Nathan convicts David of his sins.
Psalm 51:1–12
Have mercy on me, O God, and cleanse me of my sin.
Complementary
Exodus 16:2–4, 9–15
God feeds the people in the wilderness with manna from heaven.
Psalm 78:23–29
The Lord rained down manna; the people ate and were filled.
Ephesians 4:1–16
There is one body and one Spirit; speak truth and grow in love.
John 6:24–35
Jesus teaches about the bread of heaven, food for eternal life.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
All you with grumbling stomachs,
hungry for bread, nourishment, and flourishing:
draw near to God.
All you with dry throats,
thirsting for water, wisdom, and justice:
draw near to God.
All you with empty arms,
searching for a warm embrace,
a meaningful life,
and a loving community:
draw near to God.
Prayer of the Day
Bread of life and manna from heaven,
you provide for each of us and for all of us.
You join every ligament, knitting us together,
a whole body.
May each of our parts promote our common growth
as your love feeds us.
Nourish us, fill us, enliven us,
so that we can feed each other
and seek the good of each and all,
both near and far.
This we pray
through the power of your Holy Spirit. 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.
You are the Bread of Life, O God,
and you promise that we will never hunger again,
but we do hunger, O Lord, and often for the wrong things.
You feed us with grace, but we hunger for achievements.
You offer us peace, but we hunger for control.
You bless us with plenty to share,
but we are quick to hoard the gifts we call ours.
Forgive us, O Bread of Life, and by your forgiveness
teach us to hunger for things that you do:
to hunger for justice, to long for equality,
to work for the common good
until none of your children have to hunger for bread.
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 the People
In our trouble and need, we look to the Lord,
the giver of our daily bread, saying:
God of abundant grace, hear our prayer.
We pray for the church . . .
Equip us for the work of Christ’s ministry;
by the gifts of your Holy Spirit
build us up in faith, hope, and love.
God of abundant grace, hear our prayer.
We pray for the world . . .
Protect the poor and vulnerable
from the schemes of the powerful and rich;
give justice to those who call on your name.
God of abundant grace, hear our prayer.
We pray for this community . . .
Let your kindness and compassion
be showered down upon us,
so that all may know your goodness and glory.
God of abundant grace, hear our prayer.
We pray for loved ones . . .
Have mercy on all those who suffer,
whether in sickness, sorrow, or sin;
give them the joy of your salvation.
God of abundant grace, hear our prayer.
Generous God, as you provide for us each day,
nourish and strengthen us in faith and faithfulness,
so that we may share your grace in a hungry world;
through Jesus Christ, the bread of life. 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 have heard our crying in the wilderness,
and you rain down your mercy upon us;
you provide the bread that we need this day.
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 bread you sent down from heaven;
he is the true bread, giving life to the world:
your enduring promise and our eternal food.
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.
Help us to lead a life worthy of your calling:
a life of humility and gentleness, patience and love,
keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
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
Elijah
Basilian Aleppian Order collection of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, 18th Century
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- Come Now, O Prince of Peace (E) O-SO-SO GTG 103
- Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken (O) AUSTRIAN HYMN GTG 81
- God Is Here Today (Dios está aqui) (E) DIOS ESTÁ AQUI GTG 411
- O Christ, the Great Foundation (E) AURELIA GTG 361
WORD
- Dear Lord and Father of Mankind (O) REST GTG 169
- Fill My Cup (G) FILL MY CUP GTG 699
- Help Us Accept Each Other (E) BARONITA GTG 754
- You Thirsty Ones, Come (G) HEAVEN’S RAIN GTG 78
EUCHARIST
- All Who Hunger (OG) HOLY MANNA GTG 509
- Blest Be the Tie That Binds (EG) DENNIS GTG 306
- We Come as Guest Invited (GE) WIE LIEBLICH IST DER MAIEN GTG 504
- When at This Table (E) FEASTDAY GTG 537
SENDING
- In Christ There Is No East or West (E) MCKEE GTG 317, ST. PETER GTG 318
- Lord, Make Us More Holy (E) LORD, MAKE US MORE HOLY GTG 313
- Together We Serve (E) SAN ANSELMO GTG 767
- We Are One in the Spirit (E) THEY’LL KNOW WE ARE CHRISTIANS GTG 300
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 51:1–12
Metrical
- Have Mercy, God, upon My Life [IRISH]; GTG 421
- God, Be Merciful to Me [GOD BE MERCIFUL, REDHEAD 76]; LUYH 622, PAS 51N, SSS 509 (with Spanish translation)
- Ten piedad de mí / Lord, Have Mercy on Me [TEN PIEDAD DE MÍ]; PAS 51E, SSS 520
- Have Mercy on Us, Living Lord [PTOMEY, CM]; PH 195, SGP 81
Responsorial
- The Sacrifice You Accept, O God; PSA 48, PH 196, PAS 51G
- Have Mercy on Me; PSA 47
- Have Mercy on Us; OLOF 677
- Misericordia, Señor / Be Merciful, O Lord; PAS 51M
- Have Mercy on Me, O Lord; PND 20
Psalm 78:23–29
Metrical
- We Will Tell Each Generation [ARISE/RESTORATION]; PAS 78E
- People of the Lord [JENNY VAN TSCHEGG]; GTG 632, PAS 78A, LUYH 728
Responsorial
- God Sent Them Food from Heaven; PSA 67
- Open Your Ears, O Faithful People [YISRAEL V’ORAITA]; PAS 78D
Organ Music
- “The Church’s One Foundation,” The Organist’s Library, vol. 68, Kevin Norris, LOR (ME)
- “One Bread, One Body,” Augsburg Organ Library: Baptism and Communion, Ron Schmoltze, AF (M)
- “Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart!” MARION, Augsburg Organ Library: Baptism and Communion, David M. Cherwien, AF (M)
- “The Chardon Jig,” Let the Organ Sound, John S. Dixon, LOR (E)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “How Can I Keep from Singing,” Jeffrey Honoré, CGA, SATB, pno (M)
- “The Church’s One Foundation,” arr. Michael Burkhardt, SATB, MSM, org, brass quin, hb (E)
- “Create in Me,” Carl Mueller, GSH, SATB, org (E)
- “Many Gifts, One Spirit,” Allen Pote, HOPE, SATB, keybd (E)
- “Come to the Table,” Robert Lau, Coronet Press, SATB, keybd (E)
- “For the Bread Which You Have Broken,” David Schelat, MSM, SAB, keybd (E)
Handbell Music
- “Holy Manna,” Patricia Hurlbutt, 2–3 oct, ALF, JMG1040, Level 2
- “Prelude on Holy Manna,” Cathy Marker, 3–5 oct, AGEHR, AG35364, Level 2
- “Festivity on CWM Rhondda,” Michael Joy, 3–6 oct, opt voices, CGA, CGB1247, Level 3+
Art
- The Lamb, Paul Klee (VDL)
- Bread of Life, photograph (VDL)
- Bread from Heaven, P. Solomon Raj (EYE)
- Israelites Gathering Manna, Ercole de’ Roberti (VDL)
