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 —
Opening Sentences
We ponder your steadfast love, O God,
and our praise reaches to the ends of the earth.
Tell the next generation:
Our God will be our guide forever.
Come, let us rejoice.
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 the People
In the communion of the Holy Spirit,
we call on the name of the Lord, saying:
By your Spirit, O God, transform our lives.
We pray for the church . . .
Let the power of Christ dwell within us,
turning our weakness into your strength,
turning our guilt into your grace.
By your Spirit, O God, transform our lives.
We pray for the world . . .
Strengthen us, through your word,
to stand up to oppressive powers
and stand alongside those who are oppressed.
By your Spirit, O God, transform our lives.
We pray for this community . . .
Teach us to honor the prophets among us—
even those from our own hometowns—
listening when they speak your truth.
By your Spirit, O God, transform our lives.
We pray for loved ones . . .
Have mercy on all who are suffering,
reach out to them with kindness
and nourish them through your love.
By your Spirit, O God, transform our lives.
Gracious God, continue to pour out your power
in the church, in the world, and in our daily lives,
so all will know that you are at work among us;
through Jesus Christ, our living 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:
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
- All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name! (G) CORONATION GTG 263
- Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah (O) CWM RHONDDA GTG 65
- Give Thanks (E) GIVE THANKS GTG 647
- How Firm a Foundation (OE) FOUNDATION GTG 463
WORD
- O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go (E) ST. MARGARET GTG 833
- O Carpenter, Why Leave the Bench (G) LEWIS-TOWN GTG 162
- Take Up Your Cross, the Savior Said (E) BOURBON GTG 718
- When We Must Bear Persistent Pain (EG) PROSPECT GTG 807
EUCHARIST
- When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (E) HAMBURG GTG 223, ROCKINGHAM GTG 224
- Break Thou the Bread of Life (G) BREAD OF LIFE GTG 460
- Somos pueblo que camina (We Are People on a Journey) (G) SOMOS PUEBLO SSS 683
- You Are My Strength When I Am Weak (You Are My All in All) (E) JERNIGAN GTG 519
SENDING
- Just a Closer Walk with Thee (E) CLOSER WALK GTG 835
- Lord, You Give the Great Commission (G) ABBOT’S LEIGH GTG 298
- The Lord Now Sends Us Forth (Enviado soy de Dios) (G) ENVIADO GTG 747
- Will You Come and Follow Me (The Summons) (GE) KELVINGROVE GTG 726
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 48
Metrical
- Great Is the Lord Our God [DIADEMATA]; PAS 48A, LUYH 249
- Great and Praiseworthy God of All Dominion [ISTE CONFESSOR]; PLP1 48
Responsorial
- In the Midst of Your Temple; PAS 48B
- Praise the Lord in Zion; PSA 43
- Your Paths, O Lord, Are Love and Faithfulness; HTP2 85
- Sing Praise to God [SLANE]; PP 92
Psalm 123
Metrical
- To You, O Lord, We Lift Our Eyes [CANNONS]; GTG 788
- Up to You I Lift My Eyes [THE CALL]; PAS 123B, LUYH 421
Responsorial
- Our Eyes Rest on You; PAS 123A
- Lord, I Call to You; PSA 127
Organ Music
- “Marching to Zion,” Augsburg Organ Library: Healing Funeral, John Ferguson, AF (MA)
- “Amazing Grace,” We Gather Together, Christian Harmon, LOR (E)
- “Fanfare Joyeux,” Fanfares, Trumpet Tunes, and Toccatas, Craig A. Penfield, LOR (E)
- “Fanfare and Trumpet Tune on NETTLETON,” Wonder and Praise, David Lansky, LOR (M)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “My Grace Is Sufficient,” Randall Thompson, ECS, SATB, acap (M)
- “Lead Me Guide Me,” arr. Robert Morris, AMP, SATB, acap (M)
- “How Firm a Foundation,” Robert Shaw and Alice Parker, Lawson-Gould, SATB, acap (M)
- “Let Mt. Zion Rejoice,” J. B. Herbert, LOR, SATB, sop, tenor, org (E)
- “You Do Not Walk Alone,” Elaine Hagenberg, BP, SATB, pno (M)
- “Let Thy Hand Be Strengthened,” G. F. Handel, CPDL, SATB, keybd (A)
- “Irish Blessing,” The Oxford Book of Flexible Anthems, Bob Chilcott, OUP, FLEX, keybd (E)
Handbell Music
- “Grace All-Sufficient,” Sondra K. Tucker, 3–6 oct, Casa Publications, CSHB034, Level 2
- “God’s Grace, All Sufficient,” Margaret R. Tucker, 3–5 oct, opt fl, CGA, CGB236, Level 2
- “Grace,” Jason Krug, 2–6 oct, opt hc, ROP, RO3326, Level 2+
Art
- Prophet Ezekiel, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Sistine Chapel (VDL)
- Healing of the Lame Man, Raphael (VDL)
- Calling of the Disciples, P. Solomon Raj (EYE)
- Paul’s Prayer, Anneke Kaai (AK)
