Lectionary Readings
Semicontinuous
Amos 7:7–17
Amos has a vision of the Lord standing by a wall with a plumb line.
Psalm 82
God stands in judgment, giving justice to the poor, weak, and lowly.
Complementary
Deuteronomy 30:9–14
The word is near to you, in your mouth and heart for you to observe.
Psalm 25:1–10
Lead me in your truth, O Lord, and teach me; you are my salvation.
Colossians 1:1–14
To the Colossians: we pray that you lead lives worthy of the Lord.
Luke 10:25–37
The Great Commandment and a good Samaritan: who is my neighbor?
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
We come with willing hearts and eager minds.
Lead us in your truth,
O God of our salvation!
We come in our weakness and wander.
Teach us your ways,
O God of our salvation!
We come seeking the path of justice.
We are ready to follow,
O God of our salvation!
Prayer of the Day
O God of our salvation,
we wonder in ceaseless prayer:
Who is our neighbor?
Is our neighbor the one who comes
morning after morning
asking for a spare coin?
the kid who kicked our political signs
and vandalized our church?
the famous politician who calls us names?
the stranger next door?
the one who leaves needles in the park?
the drag queen reading poems in the library?
And you say:
The neighbor is the one who shows mercy.
You say: I am your neighbor.
Teach us to recognize you among us. 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:
Claiming us in love,
God beckons us to grow in that love
and to reflect that love to others.
Yet sin obstructs our efforts
and prevents us from living as God intends.
In penitence and faith,
let us seek God’s forgiveness.
Gracious God,
Jesus tells us that our lives are enriched
by loving you and loving our neighbors.
We confess that love is hard for us.
We are too selfish or too pessimistic,
too hollow or too hardened,
or just too tired
to give ourselves to love’s demands.
Forgive our arrogance and our listlessness.
Cleanse our hearts
that we might find the strength
to do what love requires
and the grace to receive
what love has to give.
We pray in the name of Jesus,
whose love has no boundary. Amen.
Lifting water from the font:
Mercy ceaselessly flows from the heart of God.
This is good news!
In Jesus Christ 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 Word of God is near.
Deuteronomy 30:14
After the readings:
The Word of God is with us,
on our lips and in our hearts
for us to observe.
Thanks be to God.
Deuteronomy 30:14
Sermon
Ascription of Praise
After the sermon:
In the name of Christ, our all in all. Amen.
Colossians 3:11
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
Surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses,
we pray for the fulfillment of God’s promise,
saying: In faith, O God, we seek your grace.
We pray for the church . . .
Let the good news of our faith and your love
spread throughout the whole world
as a sign of the gospel at work among us.
In faith, O God, we seek your grace.
We pray for the world . . .
Rise up to judge and rule the nations,
so that the oppressed may find freedom
and the poor may be delivered from evil.
In faith, O God, we seek your grace.
We pray for this community . . .
Establish fairness and equality in this place.
Let this city be rebuilt
on that good foundation,
so that all may find refuge and welcome here.
In faith, O God, we seek your grace.
We pray for loved ones . . .
Be mindful of all who need healing,
whether from sickness, sin, or shame.
Show them your mercy and steadfast love.
In faith, O God, we seek your grace.
Strengthen us to run the race that is before us,
laying aside the heavy burdens
of sin and death
and following the pioneer
and perfecter of our faith:
Jesus Christ,
our crucified and risen Lord. 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:
Generous God, we give you thanks
for all your blessings to us.
Use these gifts we offer
as a sign of your great love for the world,
so that all may know and share
the abundance of your grace;
in your holy name we pray. Amen.
2 Corinthians 8:12–15
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 draw near to us through your word,
blessing us with great abundance
and calling us to seek the good of all.
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 has taught us what it truly means
to love you, our Lord and God,
and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
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.
Fill us with the knowledge of your will
so that we may lead lives worthy of our Lord,
bearing fruit in every good work.
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:
The kingdom of God,
the power of Christ,
and the glory of the Spirit
be with you forever. Alleluia!
Luke 11:2
Go in peace to love the Lord your God
and love your neighbor as yourself. Amen.
Luke 10:27
Symbol of the Gospel of Luke
Stained Glass, Corning, Ohio
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- O Worship the King (P) LYONS GTG 41
- Let All the World in Every Corner Sing (G) AUGUSTINE GTG 636
- Be Thou My Vision (O) SLANE GTG 450
WORD
- Come Sing, O Church, in Joy! (P) DARWALL’S 148TH GTG 305
- What Is the World Like (G) NEW WORLD GTG 771
- Lead Me, Guide Me (E) LEAD ME, GUIDE ME GTG 740
EUCHARIST
- Taste and See (P) TASTE AND SEE GTG 520
- Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love (G) CHEREPONI GTG 203
- We Come as Guests Invited (O) WIE LIEBLICH DER MAIEN GTG 504
SENDING
- The Lord Now Sends Us Forth (G) ENVIADO GTG 747
- Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song (E) LES PETITES SOEURS GTG 737
- To God Be the Glory (O) TO GOD BE THE GLORY GTG 634
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 82
Metrical
- There Where the Judges Gather [MEIRIONYDD, KELVINGROVE]; PAS 82A, LUYH 292, PP 150 (with refrain)
- Within the Courts of the Divine [CMD]; SGP 117
Responsorial
- The Lord Hears the Cry of the Poor; GTG 763, PAS 82B
- Arise, O God, Arise and Rule the Earth; PAS 82B (alt. refrain), PSA 73
Psalm 25:1–10
Metrical
- Lord, to You My Soul Is Lifted [GENEVAN 25]; GTG 420, PH 178, PAS 25D, LUYH 625
- Lord, I Gladly Trust [REDHEAD 76]; PAS 25B, LUYH 354
Responsorial
- To You, O Lord, I Lift My Soul; PAS 25A (pointed vv.), G3 39 (through-composed vv.)
- Lord, You Are My Strength; PSA 23
- To You, O God, I Lift Up My Soul; PAS 25C
- Lead Me in Your Truth [PICARDY]; HTP2 152
Organ Music
- “God of Grace,” CWM RHONDDA, Ten Chorale Improvisations, Set 5, Paul Manz, MSM (M); also available in A New Liturgical Year, ed. John Ferguson, AF
- “DARWALL’S 148TH,” Hymn Prelude Library: Lutheran Service Book, vol. 3, J. Wayne Kerr, CON (E)
- “Carillon Fantasy on AZMON,” An American Perspective, Settings of Old and New Tunes for Organ, Marilyn Biery, AF (M)
- “Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart,” MORECAMBE, Augsburg Organ Library: Summer, Joe Utterback, AF (M)
Piano Music
- “Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life,” GERMANY, The Church Pianist’s Library, vol. 24, Terry Osman, LOR (M)
- “Come, Christians, Join to Sing,” MADRID, Songs of the Father’s Love, Penny Rodriguez, LOR (M)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “Rabbi, Weave Your Net of Words,” Alice Parker, SEL, SATB, keybd (M)
- “The Good Samaritan,” Lynn Shaw Bailey and Becki Slagle Mayo, CGA, uni/2 pt, keybd (E)
- “Psalm 121 (A Psalm for Help),” Heather Sorenson, HAL, SATB, keybd, opt inst (M)
- “Above All Else,” Joel Raney, HOPE, SATB, keybd (ME)
- “Vision Prayer,” Molly Ijames, LOR, SATB, keybd, vc (ME)
- “The Old Rugged Cross,” arr. Doug Andrews, HAL, SAB, keybd (E)
- “God Be in My Head,” Andrea Ramsey, AMP, SA or 2 pt, pno (E)
Vocal Solos
- “O God of Mercy,” Oxford Solo Songs (Sacred), Simon Lole, OUP, low/high (MA)
- “The Power of Your Love,” Geoff Bullock, musicnotes.com (E)
- “This Is My Prayer,” Sacred Songs, vol. 2, Gwyneth Walker, ECS, high (M)
Art
- Good Samaritan, John August Swanson, 2002 (EYE)
- Christ Pantocrator, from the Bible of St. Louis, 1226-34 (VCS)
- The Good Samaritan, from the Rossano Gospels, 6th century (VCS)
- The Good Samaritan, Paula Modersohn-Becker, 1907 (PD)
- The Good Samaritan, Francesco Bassano the Younger, 1575 (PD)
