Lectionary Readings
Semicontinuous
Genesis 18:1–15 (21:1–7)
Three visitors promise Abraham and Sarah they will have a son.
Psalm 116:1–2, 12–19
What shall I return to the Lord? I will lift the cup of salvation.
Complementary
Exodus 19:2–8a
The Lord says: Keep my covenant and you will be my holy people.
Psalm 100
Make a joyful noise to the Lord; we are the sheep of God’s pasture.
Romans 5:1–8
We are justified by faith; while we were sinners Christ died for us.
Matthew 9:35—10:8 (9–23)
The harvest is plentiful; Jesus instructs and sends the twelve apostles.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
Serve the Lord with gladness;
come into God’s presence with a song.
Prayer of the Day
God of Abraham and Sarah,
Rebekah and Isaac, Jacob and Rachel;
your faithfulness endures through generations.
You give us salvation and we offer you our soul;
you justify our lives and we put our faith in you.
Thank you for peace of mind, joy of heart,
and green pastures that praise you.
Continue to guide us, O God,
that we may grow for generations to come. 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 hears our voices and our supplications.
We can call on God in all our joys, doubts,
successes, and failures.
Knowing that God will listen,
let us confess.
God of our salvation,
incline your ear to us.
You have given us power:
power to heal, to bring hope,
to comfort, to restore.
But we ignore that power,
choosing to live our own lives.
At worst, we abuse that power,
storing up riches for ourselves
without an eye for the needs of others.
Forgive us. Remind us of our call
to proclaim your good news,
and to welcome each other
as we would welcome you.
Lifting water from the font:
The ancient words still bring truth today:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Praise be to God for this abounding love!
— 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 . . .
Through the power of your Holy Spirit,
fill us with the hope of the gospel—
the hope that will never disappoint us.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the Spirit, we pray for the earth . . .
Let all the earth make a joyful noise to you,
for your steadfast love endures forever
and your faithfulness is for all generations.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the Spirit, we pray for all nations . . .
Teach the leaders of this and every nation
to keep their promises and follow your way,
so that all may have fullness of life in you.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the Spirit, we pray for this community . . .
Let us be laborers in the field of your harvest,
proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ
and helping those who are suffering.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the Spirit, we pray for loved ones . . .
Incline your ear to those who cry for help.
Pour out your saving, life-giving power
for those who call upon your holy name.
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:
You shared a meal with Abraham and Sarah
and promised them that in due season
they would become the ancestors of a great people.
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 sends us out as laborers in the harvest
to heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out what is evil,
and to proclaim that his kingdom has come near.
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 the Spirit you have poured into our hearts,
fill us with your love, and give us the power to proclaim
the good news of Jesus Christ who died for all.
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
“Abraham Receiving the Three Angels”
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, 1667
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- Hope of the World (E) DONNE SECOURS GTG 734
- God Welcomes All (Os) THEMBA AMEN GTG 399
- All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly (Os) HOLY MANNA GTG 509
- In the Midst of New Dimensions (Oc) NEW DIMENSIONS GTG 315
- Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken (Oc) AUSTRIAN HYMN GTG 81
WORD
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Lord, Speak to Me That I May Speak (G) CANONBURY GTG 722
-
Lord, Speak for Me, for I Am Yours (OcG) PERRY GTG 723
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We All Are One in Mission (G) ES FLOG EIN KLEINS WALDVÖGELEIN GTG 733
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Today We All Are Called to Be Disciples (G) KINGSFOLD GTG 757
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I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me (G) I’M GONNA LIVE GTG 700
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You Who Dwell in the Shelter of the Lord (Oc) ON EAGLE’S WINGS GTG 43
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O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go (E) ST. MARGARET GTG 833
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O, How He Loves You and Me (E) PATRICIA AAHH 228, OLOF 316
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My Faith Has Found a Resting Place (E) LANDÅS OLOF 506
EUCHARIST
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O Jesus, I Have Promised (G) ANGEL’S STORY, NYLAND GTG 724, 725
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I Need Thee Every Hour (E) NEED GTG 735
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Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song (EG) LES PETITES SOEURS GTG 737
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Send Me, Jesus (G) THUMA MINA GTG 746
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Rise, O Church, like Christ Arisen (G) SURGE ECCLESIA GTG 536
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When the Poor Ones (OcG) EL CAMINO GTG 762
SENDING
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Come, Labor On (G) ORA LABORA GTG 719
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Will You Come and Follow Me (OcG) KELVINGROVE GTG 726
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To Abraham and Sarah (Os) LLANFYLLIN GTG 51
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Guide My Feet (G) GUIDE MY FEET GTG 741
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Now Go in Joy (G) JUNKANOO GTG 745
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The Lord Now Sends Us Forth (OsG) ENVIADO GTG 747
-
Go in Grace and Make Disciples (G) WONDROUS LIGHT GTG 296
-
Arise, Your Light Is Come! (G) FESTAL SONG GTG 744
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As You Go, Tell the World (G) AS YOU GO AAHH 633
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 116:1–2, 12–19
Metrical
- What Shall I Render unto the Lord [MARTYRDOM]; GTG 655
- Psalm 116: Our Blessing Cup [Tony Alonso]; FYC 800
Responsorial
- I Will Walk in the Presence of the Lord; PAS 116E
- I Love the Lord, Who Heard My Cry; PAS 116D
Psalm 100
Metrical
- Let Every Voice on Earth Resound [GENEVAN 100]; PAS 100C
- All People That on Earth Do Dwell [OLD HUNDREDTH]; GTG 385
Responsorial
- Rejoice, Rejoice; UMH 821
- Psalm 100, A Responsorial Setting; PAS 100F
Organ Music
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“Epilogue on We Gather Together,” Come, Ye Thankful People, John G. Barr, LOR (MA)
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“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, I. Prelude and II. Fanfare,” LOBE DEN HERREN, Gathered and Sent: Pairs of Preludes and Postludes for Organ, Brenda Portman, AF (MA)
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“Toccata in Seven,” Augsburg Organ Library: Summer, John Rutter, AF (M)
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“Tell Out, My Soul or Glory to God, We Give You Thanks,” WOODLANDS, Augsburg Organ Library: Summer, J. Wayne Kerr, AF (M)
Piano Music
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“Molly on the Shore,” Percy Grainger, IMSLP.org (MA)
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“Prelude,” Tombeau de Couperin, Maurice Ravel, DSE (A)
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“Allegro from Sonata in G Major, K. 283,” Sonatas and Three Fantasias, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, KAL (MA)
Anthems for Adult Choir
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“In Remembrance,” Buryl Red, HOPE, SATB, pno (E)
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“The Old Hundredth Psalm Tune,” Ralph Vaughan Williams, OUP, SATB, org, opt brass or orch (E)
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“Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive,” Robert Hobby, CON, SAB, org (ME)
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“The God of Abraham Praise,” David Giardiniere, AF, SATB, org (M)
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“Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown,” Franklin Ashdown, PAR, SATB, org (M)
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“Jubilate Deo,” Benjamin Britten, OUP, SATB, org (A)
Art
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Abraham and the Three Angels, Marc Chagall, 1960–66 (VCS)
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Abraham and the Angels, Roger Wagner, 2001 (VCS)
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The Hospitality of Abraham (Icon of The Holy Trinity; The Old Testament Trinity), Andrey Rubylov, ca. 1420 (VCS) (PD)
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Abraham and Sarah, Nicholas Markell, 2016 (EYE)
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Abraham Entertaining the Angels, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1656 (PD)
