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
We come, carrying just what we need for the journey:
five loaves, two fish.
We come, bringing whatever we have to offer:
our time, our talents, our gifts.
We come, knowing God will multiply our offerings:
in God’s hands, what we have is enough.
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
- You Thirsty Ones, Come (O) HEAVEN’S RAIN GTG 78
- The God of Abraham Praise (E) LEONI GTG 49, PH 488
- O God, You Are My God (O) STEP BY STEP GTG 743
- Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown / Oh tú, viajero extraño (O) YE BANKS AND BRAES SSS 24
WORD
- Come to Me, O Weary Traveler (O) AUSTIN GTG 183
- How Firm a Foundation (E) FOUNDATION GTG 463, PH 361
- Bring Many Names (O) WESTCHASE GTG 760
- I Love to Tell the Story of Jesus Here on Earth (G) Sing No Empty Alleluias, Chris Shelton, GIA
EUCHARIST
- Break Thou the Bread of Life (G) BREAD OF LIFE GTG 460, PH 329
- Ho, All Who Thirst (O) JACOB’S WELL GTG 479
- Loaves Were Broken, Words Were Spoken (G) BEACH SPRING GTG 498
- Come and Feast, for All Are Welcome (OG) REGENT SQUARE IHLC 110
SENDING
- Take Us as We Are, O God (G) ENDLESS FEAST GTG 312
- Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound (E) AMAZING GRACE GTG 649, PH 280
- We Walk by Faith and Not by Sight (O) DUNLAP’S CREEK GTG 817, PH 399
- He Looked Beyond My Fault (G) LONDONDERRY AIRE AAHH 249
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 17:1–7, 15
Metrical
- Hear, O Lord, My Plea for Justice [CHARLESTOWN; RUSSIAN TUNE OLD]; GTG 211, PP 31 (with refrain)
- Lord, Listen to My Righteous Plea [ROSALIE MCMILLAN]; PAS 17C, LUYH 888
- Hear, O God, My Plea for Justice [IN BABILONE]; PLP1 17
Responsorial
- Lord, Bend Your Ear; PAS 17A
- Keep Me as the Apple of Your Eye; PSA 11
Psalm 145:8–9, 14–21
Metrical
- I Will Exalt My God and King [JERUSALEM]; PAS 145B (sts. 3, 5–7)
- O My God and King and Savior [HOLY MANNA]; PAS 145F
- I Will Ever Sing Your Praises [8.7.8.7 D]; PCW 145
Responsorial
- I Will Praise Your Name Forever; PAS 145D
- The Lord Is Gracious and Full of Compassion [FOUNDATION]; HTP2 28
- We Are Fed by the Hand of the Lord; PND 50
Organ Music
- “Toccata on ‘Amazing Grace,’” NEW BRITAIN, J. Christopher Pardini, GIA (M)
- “There Is a Spirit That Delights to DO No Evil . . . ,” A Quaker Reader, Ned Rorem, BH (E)
- “How Firm a Foundation,” FOUNDATION, Seven Settings of American Folk Hymns, Wilbur Held, CON (E)
- “Cantilene Pastorale,” op. 15, no. 3, Alexandre Guilmant, ALF (M)
- “Prelude on Picardy,” Easy Modern Organ Music, John Joubert, OUP (E)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “God Be Merciful unto Us and Bless Us,” Philip Stopford, MSM, SATB, org (M)
- “God Be Merciful unto Us and Bless Us,” Daniel Pinkham, ECS, uni, org (M)
- “The Eyes of All Wait Upon Thee,” Jean Berger, AF, SATB (M)
- “God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending,” David Cherwien, MSM, SATB, org, opt brass (M)
- “More Than Enough,” Becki Slagle Mayo and Lynn Bailey Shaw, CGA, uni, pno (E)
- “My Song in the Night,” Paul Christiansen, BMP, SATB (MA)
- “Let Your Faith Be Stronger Than Your Fear,” Tom Trenney, BP, SATB, pno, solo (M)
- “I Will Arise,” arr. Robert Shaw and Alice Parker, Lawson Gould, SATB (M)
Handbell Music
- “How Firm a Foundation,” Brian Childers, 3–5 oct, BP, HB513, Level 3
- “The God of Abraham Praise,” Vicki Smith, 3–5 oct, CGA, CGB354, Level 2
- “Break Thou the Bread of Life,” Sandra Eithun, 3–5 oct, opt 2 oct hc, SFP, 249029, Level 2
Art
- Jacob and the Angel, Annette Gandy Fortt (VDL)
- Hand of God with Loaves and Fish, unidentified, stone sculpture, Brighton, UK (VDL)
- Loaves and Fish, fabric, U.S. Air Force Academy (VDL)
- Jacob Wrestles with the Angel, Peter Koenig (VDL)
