Lectionary Readings
Semicontinuous
2 Samuel 5:1–5, 9–10
David becomes the new king, a shepherd to the people of Israel.
Psalm 48
Let Mount Zion rejoice in the greatness of the Lord our God.
Complementary
Ezekiel 2:1–5
The Lord sends Ezekiel as a prophet to the house of Israel.
Psalm 123
We lift our eyes to you, O God; we have had our fill of contempt.
2 Corinthians 12:2–10
God’s grace is sufficient for us; power is made perfect in weakness.
Mark 6:1–13
Prophets are not honored at home; Jesus commissions the twelve.
— Gathering —
Call to Worship
Across generations and in all lands,
God calls and sends.
Come, let us worship God.
Again and again, people respond
with faithfulness and humility.
Come, let us worship God.
Even in our weakness, we bear the message
of repentance and new life.
Come, let us worship God.
Prayer of the Day
O Teacher,
in Jesus Christ you have shown
that even a prophet
can be rejected by those who think they know best.
Teach us to listen for your word in our midst;
let us not be too proud to hear.
Open our hearts to those we too easily disregard
and the voices we readily exclude.
All 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 love, O God, and you have loved us from the beginning.
Forgive us when we do not share your love with the world:
when we choose selfishness over compassion;
what feels comfortable rather than what is right;
when we strive for success instead of faithfulness;
when we value independence over community.
Forgive us, O God, of the ways we fall short.
Free us to try again,
and let your love lead the way.
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:
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
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 Intercession
We look to you, O God;
hear our prayer.
We pray for those called to lead . . .
Make them good shepherds of your people.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those called to bear witness . . .
Give them courage to speak the truth.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for the proud and powerful . . .
Humble them with your glory.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for the weak and lowly . . .
Strengthen them with your grace.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who are sick . . .
Let them know wholeness and healing.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who feel unwelcome . . .
Help them find a place to call home.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We look to you, O God.
Have mercy upon us,
that we may see your blessing;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. 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:
Your love is everlasting and your mercy is great.
When we rebelled against you, you sent your prophets
to proclaim your word and call us to fix our eyes upon you.
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 healed those who believed in him
and taught your wisdom to all who would hear,
that all might repent and find new life.
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.
Through your Spirit give us strength in our weakness
and equip us to be sent out as bold disciples,
proclaiming your love and grace to the world.
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 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
Martyrdom and Death of John the Baptist
Cathédrale d’Amiens, 1519
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies (RATISBON) GTG 662 (G)
- How Firm a Foundation (FOUNDATION) GTG 463 (E)
- My Soul Cries Out with a Joyful Shout (STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN) GTG 100 (E)
- Our God, Our Help in Ages Past (ST. ANNE) GTG 687 (O)
WORD
- Lord of All Hopefulness (COURTNEY) GTG 683 (G)
- The Hands That First Held Mary’s Child (RESIGNATION) RS 970 (G)
- Be Still, My Soul (FINLANDIA) GTG 819 (E)
- Shepherd Me, O God (SHEPHERD ME) G3 35 (O)
EUCHARIST
- Allí está Jesús / Look Closely and See (SUS HECHOS) SSS 125 (G)
- I Need Thee Every Hour (NEED) GTG 735
- Shepherd of Souls, Refresh and Bless (ST. AGNES) G3 910 (O)
SENDING
- Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound (AMAZING GRACE) GTG 649 (E)
- When Peace like a River (VILLE DU HAVRE) GTG 840 (E)
- We’ll Understand It Better By and By (BY AND BY) ZSS 168 (E)
- Lead Me, Guide Me (LEAD ME, GUIDE ME) GTG 740 (O)
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 48
Metrical
- Through the Years You Safely Guide Us [MOSHIER] OLOF 247
- O Lord My God [HOW GREAT THOU ART] GTG 625
Responsorial
- In the Midst of Your Temple, O God PAS 48B
- Tell to Every Generation UMH 782
Psalm 123
Metrical
- To You, O Lord, We Lift Our Eyes [CANNONS] GTG 788
- Señor, ten piedad de nostros (Argentina) [IRREGULAR] GWA 50
Responsorial
- Our Eyes Rest on You PAS 123A
- Lord, to You I Lift My Eyes PSA 127
Organ Music
- “Here I Am, Lord (I, the Lord of Sea and Sky),” Augsburg Organ Library: Epiphany, arr. Robert Buckley Farlee, AF (MA)
- “Komm Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott,” BuxWV 199, Complete Organ Works, vol. 3, Dietrich Buxtehude, IMSLP (M)
- POOR WAYFARING STRANGER, King of Kings, vol. 4, arr. Eurydice V. Osterman, GIA (MA)
- VII. LAUDA SION, Eight Short Preludes on Gregorian Themes, op. 45, Marcel Dupré, Summy-Birchard (E)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “The Summons,” John Bell, GIA, SATB, pno, C inst (E)
- “Lord, Here I Am,” John Ness Beck, BP, SATB, pno (E)
- “My Grace Is Sufficient,” Randall Thompson, ECS, acap (M)
- “The Call,” Z. Randall Stroope, MSM, SATB, org (M)
- “Amazing Grace,” arr. Mack Wilberg, OUP, SATB, org, bagpipes (A)
- “You Do Not Walk Alone,” Elaine Hagenburg, BP, SATB, pno (M)
Art
- Seventy-two Disciples, “The Gospel Book,” Ethiopian liturgical book, 1480–1520 (VDL)
- There Will Be No Miracles Here, Nathan Coley, 2007–9 (VCS)
- David Is Anointed and Affirmed as King, Dura Europos, Syria, 3rd century (VDL) (PD)
- A Mountain Place from Series of Repetitions, Xu Bing, 1987 (MoMA)
