Lectionary Readings
Micah 6:1–8
What does the Lord require? Justice, kindness, and humility.
Psalm 15
Those who do what is right live in the presence of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18–31
The foolishness of the cross shames the wisdom of the world.
Matthew 5:1–12
Jesus begins his Sermon on the Mount with the Beatitudes.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
Blessed:
the poor in spirit,
those who mourn,
the meek.
We gather to hear who Christ calls blessed;
those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
the merciful, the pure in heart,
the peacemakers, the persecuted.
Blessed.
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 faith, hope, and love you give to us
through the blessing of our baptism—
claiming us as your beloved children,
calling us to the path of discipleship,
revealing to us the light of your glory.
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
poured out upon us in baptism,
help us to follow you with faith,
to trust in you with hope,
and to serve you with love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession and Pardon
At the baptismal font:
God has told us what is good, what is required:
Do justice. Love kindness. Walk humbly with God.
These commands are so simple,
yet we know we have not always followed them.
With that knowledge, we confess.
Merciful God,
we fail to do what is right.
Instead, we pursue evil
and do not speak the truth.
Even when we try our best to be faithful,
still we turn away from you.
Forgive us, accept us, and redeem us,
that we may seek to do what you call good.
Lifting water from the font:
Christ Jesus, who became for us
wisdom and righteousness,
sanctification and redemption,
is the one who judges us.
Christ is the one who was born for us
and forgives us with abundant love.
We will boast of all the good God has done for us!
Thanks be to God!
— Word —
Prayer for Illumination
At the lectern or pulpit:
Saving God, source of our calling,
your Word is full of power and glory.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us
so that we may receive your grace
and live as your beloved children;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture
Before the readings:
Speak to us, Lord, for your servants are listening.
1 Samuel 3:9–10
After the readings:
A new teaching, with authority!
Thanks be to God.
Mark 1:27
Sermon
Ascription of Praise
After the sermon:
To the Lord who speaks to us, strengthens us,
and blesses us with peace,
be all glory and honor forever. Amen.
Psalm 29:1, 11
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Affirmation of Faith
God’s sovereign love is a mystery
beyond the reach of the human mind.
Human thought ascribes to God
superlatives of power, wisdom, and goodness.
But God reveals divine love in Jesus Christ
by showing power in the form of a servant,
wisdom in the folly of the cross,
and goodness in receiving
sinful men and women.
The power of God’s love in Christ
to transform the world
discloses that the Redeemer
is the Lord and Creator
who made all things
to serve the purpose of God’s love.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.15
Prayers of Intercession
We approach God in prayer not as strangers,
but as beloved children, baptized in Christ Jesus.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
As children of God, we pray for the church . . .
Bless those who are merciful and pure in heart
with the vision of your new creation
and mercy enough to share with all.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
As children of God, we pray for the earth . . .
Bless the meek; may the earth that they inherit
be a place of wonder and glory,
of beauty and blessing for all creatures.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
As children of God, we pray for all nations . . .
Bless the peacemakers, your beloved children.
Bless those who are persecuted,
and give them a place in your holy realm.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
As children of God, we pray for this community . . .
Bless those who hunger and thirst;
feed them with your righteousness
and satisfy them with your justice.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
As children of God, we pray for loved ones . . .
Bless those who mourn, and comfort them.
Bless those who are poor in spirit;
let your heavenly realm be their reward.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Holy One, as you are well pleased with Christ,
help us to live in a way that will be pleasing to you.
As you have called us to listen to Christ,
help us to always heed his word and seek his will.
These things we pray in the name of Jesus,
your beloved Child, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Matthew 3:17, 17:5
— Eucharist —
Invitation to Offering
At the communion table:
There is only one Lord and God,
from whom all things come
and for whom we live.
Let us offer our lives to the Lord.
1 Corinthians 8:4–6
Prayer of Dedication
At the communion table:
God of glory,
as people brought gifts to the infant Jesus,
we bring our gifts to you.
May these gifts be used
to lift up those who are oppressed,
to bring deliverance to those who are in need,
to support those who are poor,
and to help those who are in trouble. 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 delivered us from captivity and made us your people.
You ask us not for burnt offerings, or rivers of precious oil,
but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with you, our God.
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:
He taught us what it means to be truly blessed—
to be merciful and meek, peaceful and pure in heart—
to such as these the kingdom of heaven belongs.
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.
Teach us the wisdom of the cross, the message of Christ crucified.
Let the weak be lifted up, and the mighty be made humble,
so that we may boast in nothing other than the grace of our Lord.
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
We give you thanks and praise, O God,
that you have fed us with your mercy
and poured out your Spirit in this place.
Continue to nourish and fill us each day,
that we may live as your beloved people;
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
Beloved children of God,
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,
the grace of Jesus Christ,
and the blessing of the Lord forever. Alleluia!
Mark 1:11, 9:7
As Jesus called the first disciples,
so he calls to us this day:
Follow me. Amen.
Mark 1:17, John 1:43
“Sermon on the Mount”
Laura James, 2010
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- God of Great and God of Small (OG) GOD OF GREAT AND SMALL GTG 19
- In the Cross of Christ I Glory (EG) RATHBUN GTG 213, PH 84
- Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle (E) FORTUNATUS NEW GTG 225
- What Gift Can We Bring That Will Please You, O God? (O) FOUNDATION Sing No Empty Alleluias, Chris Shelton, GIA
WORD
- What Does the Lord Require of You? (O) MOON GTG 70
- O for a Closer Walk with God (O) CAITHNESS, DALEHURST GTG 739, PH 396, 397
- Shall Tribulation or Distress (G) ROMANS 8 GTG 823
- Kneel at the Cross (E) KNEEL AT THE CROSS AAHH 241
EUCHARIST
- The Bread and the Wine Are Here (G) LOVE FEAST GTG 512
- For Everyone Born (OEG) FOR EVERYONE BORN GTG 769
- When the Lord Redeems the Very Least (G) I’LL FLY AWAY GTG 852
- Un raudal de bendiciones / Showers of Blessing (G) LUX EOI SSS 247
SENDING
- Give Thanks for Those Whose Faith Is Firm (G) REPTON GTG 731
- We Will Walk with God (Sizohamba naye) (O) SIZOHAMBA NAYE GTG 742
- God Weeps with Us Who Weep and Mourn (E) MOSHIER GTG 787
- O Great Creator, Loving Friend (O) MARYTON IHLC 7
Psalms and Canticles
Metrical
- Lord, Who May Dwell within Your House [RIDGEMOOR, CRIMOND]; GTG 419, PAS 15D,
LUYH 612 - Lord, Who Are They That May Dwell [STELLA CARMEL]; PAS 15A
- Señor, ¿quién entrará? / O Lord, Who Enters In; SSS 499
Responsorial
- Lord, Who May Be Welcome in Your Tent; PAS 15B, PND 6
- I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me; PAS 15C
- Those Who Do Justice Will Live (Gelineau); PSA 9
- The Righteous Shall Abide [FESTAL SONG]; HTP2 154
Organ Music
- Andante Cantabile, Symphony no. 4, op. 13, Charles Widor, multiple editions (MA)
- “Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness,” SCHMUCKE DICH, Johannes Brahms, multiple editions (M)
- “Tierce en Taille,” First Organ Book, Pierre Du Mage, Kalmus (ME)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “What Does the Lord Require?,” Eric Nelson, MSM, SA(T)B, pno (E)
- “Glory,” arr. Mark Brymer, HAL, SATB, pno, opt orch (ME)
- “Psalm 15,” Joel Martinson, SEL, 2 pt mx, cantor, org, ob, opt. cong (E)
- “What Does the Lord Require?,” Andrew Bruhn, KJO, SATB, pno, opt perc (E)
- “You Got to Get Low,” William Allen Pasch, AF, SATB, acap (M)
- “What Does the Lord Require of You?,” Alfred V. Fedak, MSM, SATB, org (E)
- “The Beatitudes,” Philip Stopford, MSM, SATB div, acap (M)
Handbell Music
- “In the Cross of Christ I Glory,” Cathy Moklebust, 2–3 oct or 3–5 oct, opt B-flat or C inst, CGA, CGB773 or CGB774, Level 2
- “Just a Closer Walk with Thee,” John A. Behnke, 3–6 oct, opt 3–5 oct hc, John A. Behnke
Publishing, JAB017, Level 3 - “For Everyone Born,” Sandra Eithun, 3–7 oct, opt 3–5 oct hc, LOR, 20/2141L, Level 3+
Art
- Sermon on the Mount, Laura James (VDL)
- Sermon on the Mount, Károly Ferenczy (VDL)
- Dorothy Day with Homeless Christ, Kelly Latimore (VDL)
- The Sermon on the Mount, JESUS MAFA (VDL)
- Litany of the Blessed, Jan Richardson (JR)
