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
Jesus says, “Come to me,
all you that are weary,
and I will give you rest.”
All of us know what it is like to be weary.
All of us carry heavy burdens.
Let us accept Christ’s invitation.
We long to rest in God.
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.
Faithful One,
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.
Lifting water from the font:
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”
Nicolas Poussin, 1648
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- Come, Christians, Join to Sing (O) MADRID GTG 267, PH 150
- Jesus, Lover of My Soul (O) ABERYSTWYTH GTG 440, PH 303
- Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing (E) NETTLETON GTG 475, PH 356
- O Come, All You People / Aso, aso, aso ngane (G) Papua New Guinea STB 4
WORD
- Softy and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling (G) SOFTLY AND TENDERLY GTG 418
- How Clear Is Our Vocation, Lord (EG) REPTON GTG 432, PH 419
- Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive (G) DETROIT GTG 444, PH 347
- Rejoice in God (O) MT. GRETNA Rejoice in God, K. Lee Scott, MSM
EUCHARIST
- God the Sculptor of the Mountains (G) JENNINGS-HOUSTON GTG 5
- Before I Take the Body of My Lord (E) LAYING DOWN GTG 428
- Take, O Take Me as I Am (OG) TAKE ME AS I AM GTG 698
- O Heart Bowed Down with Sorrow (G) COME UNTO ME SON 932
SENDING
- Ride On! Ride On in Majesty! (O) ST. DROSTANE GTG 198, PH 91
- Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (E) HYFRYDOL GTG 366, PH 376
- Arise, Your Light Is Come! (O) FESTAL SONG GTG 744, PH 411
- People Need the Lord (G) Greg Nelson and Phil McHugh AAHH 470
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 45:10–17
Metrical
- Hear, O Daughter, and Reflect [7.6.7.6D, trochaic]; SGP 70
- A Noble Theme Has Stirred My Heart [TALLIS’ CANON]; PLP1 45
- How Our Hearts with Joy Abound [GOTT SEI DANK DURCH ALLE WELT]; GTG 333
Responsorial
- Take, O Take Me as I Am; PAS 15B (alt. refrain)
- Praise the Lord; PSA 39
Psalm 145:8–14
Metrical
- O Lord, You Are My God and King (I Will Exalt My God and King) [JERUSALEM]; GTG 270, PH 252, PAS 145B (sts. 3–5)
- O My God and King and Savior [HOLY MANNA]; PAS 145F
- We Will Extol You, Lord, Our God [10.10.10.10]; SGP 212 (setting 2)
- I Will Ever Sing Your Praises [8.7.8.7 D]; PCW 145
Organ Music
- “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” NETTLETON, Praise and Thanksgiving, Michael Burkhardt, MSM (ME)
- “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” HYFRYDOL, Augsburg Organ Library: Epiphany, Ralph Vaughan Williams, AF (E)
- “Grand Jeu,” First Organ Book, Pierre Du Mage, KAL (M)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “The Road Home,” Stephen Paulus, Paulus Publications, SATB, solo (M)
- “Rise Up, My Love,” James McCray, National Music Publishers, SATB, pno (ME)
- “Arise, My Love,” Joan Szymko, SBMP, SA, pno (M)
- “O Love,” Elaine Hagenberg, BP, SATB, pno, opt. vc (MA)
- “Come Unto Me,” Larry Nickel, Pavanne Publishing, SATB, vln or ob, pno (ME)
- “Alleluia, Song of Gladness,” Michael Costello, MSM, SATB, brass, timp (E)
- “God of Grace and God of Glory,” Paul Langston, JM, SSAATTBB, org (MA)
- “In the Light of Hope,” Mark Patterson, MSM, SATB, perc (M)
Handbell Music
- “Come, Christians, Join to Sing,” Jason W. Krug, 3–5 oct, HOPE, 2581, Level 2+
- “Softly and Tenderly,” Joel Raney and Arnold Sherman, 3–5 oct, HOPE, 2443, Level 3
- “Jesus, Lover of My Soul,” Linda R. Lamb, 3–5 oct, opt 3–5 oct hc, opt fl or C inst, BP, HB557, Level 3
Art
- Rebekah at the Well, David Young, sculpture, Lincoln, NE (VDL)
- Song of Solomon—“Arise my love . . . and come away . . . ,” Cláudio Pastro, Brazil (VDL)
- Rebecca at the Well, Nicolas Poussin, the Louvre, Paris (VDL)
