Lectionary Readings
Semicontinuous
Genesis 24:34–38, 42–49, 58–67
Isaac finds a wife, Rebekah, in the homeland of his father.
Psalm 45:10–17
A royal love song; come with joy to the palace of the king.
or Song of Solomon 2:8–13
One lover calls to another: Arise, my love, and come away.
Complementary
Zechariah 9:9–12
Rejoice, O people; the humble king is coming to set you free.
Psalm 145:8–14
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, full of love.
Romans 7:15–25a
Paul confesses his inner conflict with sin; only God can save.
Matthew 11:16–19, 25–30
Jesus says: Come to me; my yoke is easy, my burden is light.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
The Spirit of the Lord is here;
let us humble ourselves.
Prayer of the Day
Gracious and merciful God,
you bear our burdens
and break the chains that bind us.
Save us from the sin that we often fail to recognize.
Show us your path of love and justice,
that we might follow,
for your way is perfect,
now and forevermore. 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:
God is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Knowing that God is compassionate to all,
let us confess our sins.
Despite our best efforts,
we have not lived up to what we can do
or who we can be.
Even when our intentions are good,
our actions cause harm.
Even when we want to follow you more closely,
we end up turning away.
We are at war with ourselves,
and only you can bring peace.
Still our souls, order our steps,
guide our feet back to your way.
God upholds all who are falling,
and raises up those who are bowed down.
Jesus Christ rescues us from sin and death;
thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!
— 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 . . .
Enlighten us through the truth of your Word—
hidden from the wise, revealed to infants—
so that we may know and seek your gracious will.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the Spirit, we pray for the earth . . .
Look with love upon your whole creation:
let the winter of destruction be past;
let the springtime of healing begin.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the Spirit, we pray for all nations . . .
Gather all peoples at the oasis of your peace;
help us to remember our common heritage,
and pledge ourselves in love to one another.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the Spirit, we pray for this community . . .
Send us out into the streets and markets
to proclaim good news to our neighbors
and invite them to eat and drink with Christ.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the Spirit, we pray for loved ones . . .
Give rest to those who are weary
and weighed down by heavy burdens.
Hold them in your gentle hand.
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:
In the covenant of your steadfast love for your people,
you draw us into new and loving relationships,
with you, and with one another.
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 invites us to come and find rest for our souls.
With gentleness and humility, he calls us
to take up his yoke and learn from him.
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.
Rescue us, O Lord, from the wretched body of death,
and give us a place in the glorious body of Christ,
whose law is love, whose word is life.
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
“Rebecca at the Well”
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- Prepare the Way, O Zion (Oc) BEREDEN VÄG FÖR HERRAN GTG 106
- I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say (G) KINGSFOLD GTG 182
WORD
- Jesus Knows the Inmost Heart (E) LOE DE ÍSÁ GTG 427
- Come to Me, O Weary Traveler (G) AUSTIN GTG 183
- Come, Bring Your Burdens to God (G) WOZA NOMTHWALO WAKHO GTG 851
- There Is a Place of Quiet Rest (EG) MC AFEE GTG 824
- Jesus, Lover of My Soul (E) ABERYSTWYTH GTG 440
- People Need the Lord (G) PEOPLE NEED THE LORD AAHH 470
- Shine on Me (G) SHINE ON ME OLOF 548
- I Will Give You Rest (G) REST LUYH 666
EUCHARIST
- Thee We Adore, O Hidden Savior, Thee (EG) ADORO TE DEVOTE GTG 495
- Alleluia! Sing to Jesus (G) HYFRYDOL GTG 260
- Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling (G) SOFTLY AND TENDERLY GTG 418
- Before I Take the Body of My Lord (E) LAYING DOWN GTG 428
SENDING
- Now Go in Joy (E) JUNKANOO GTG 745
- Just a Closer Walk with Thee (G) CLOSER WALK GTG 835
- O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go (G) ST. MARGARET GTG 833
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 45:10–17
Metrical
- How Our Hearts with Joy Abound [GOTT SEI DANK DURCH ALLE WELT]; GTG 333
- For the Honor of Our King [MONKLAND]; PAS 45A
Responsorial
- Praise the Lord; PSA 39
- God of Love, We Praise You; PP 84
Song of Solomon 2:8–13
Metrical
- Come, Christians, Join to Sing [MADRID]; GTG 267
- Love Divine, All Loves Excelling [HYFRYDOL]; GTG 366
Psalm 145:8–14
Metrical
- Your Faithfulness, O Lord, Is Sure [WINCHESTER NEW]; GTG 42
- O Lord, You Are My God and King [JERUSALEM]; GTG 270
- I Will Extol You, O My God [NOEL]; PAS 145E
Responsorial
- Every Day We Will Bless You; PSA 147
- Psalm 145, A Responsorial Setting; PAS 145D
Organ Music
- “Aria on My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less,” John A. Behnke: The Essential Organ Preludes, John A. Behnke, CON (ME)
- “Antiphon III: I Am Black, But Comely, O Ye Daughters of Jerusalem, Op. 18, No. 3,” Fifteen Pieces for Organ, Marcel Dupré, HWG (M)
- “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say,” KINGSFOLD, Augsburg Organ Library: Summer, Aaron David Miller, AF (M)
- “The Church’s One Foundation,” O the Deep Love of Jesus: A Reformation Suite, Anna Laura Page, CON (ME)
Piano Music
- “Mélodie in A-flat Major,” Louise Farrenc, IMSLP.org (M)
- “Andante from Sonata in F Minor, H. 173,” Carl Philipp Emmanuel Bach, IMSLP.org (M)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “I Will Arise and Go to Jesus,” Hal Hopson, HOPE, 2 pt, pno (E)
- “Lord of All Hopefulness,” Daniel Kallman, https://kallmancreates.com, SAB, org, fl (ME)
- “How Firm a Foundation,” Tom Trenney, MSM, SATB, org (ME)
- “Gather Your Children, Dear Savior, in Peace,” Carl Schalk, MSM, SATB, org (M)
- “Come Find His Rest,” Dan Forrest, BP, SATB, pno, opt stngs (MA)
- “His Yoke Is Easy,” Messiah, George Frederic Handel, ECS, SATB, orch (A)
Art
- The Weight We Carry, Carol Aust, 2016 (EYE)
- Song of Solomon: “Arise my love . . . and come away . . . ,” Cláudio Pastro, 20th century (VDL)
- Like a Deer Leaping Mountains, Peter Koenig, 20th century (VDL)
- Rest in God, Liz Valente, 2021 (VDL)
