Lectionary Readings
Semicontinuous
1 Samuel 3:1–10 (11–20)
The Lord calls to the boy Samuel; Samuel responds, “Here I am.”
Psalm 139:1–6, 13–18
Lord, you have searched me and known me; you are always with me.
Complementary
Deuteronomy 5:12–15
Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, says the Lord.
Psalm 81:1–10
Sing aloud to God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.
2 Corinthians 4:5–12
We have this treasure in clay jars; the life of Jesus is revealed in you.
Mark 2:23—3:6
The sabbath was made for humankind; Jesus is Lord of the sabbath
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
The God who has searched us and knows us,
who is acquainted with all our ways,
that God calls us each by name.
Speak, Holy One, your servants are listening!
The God who liberated slaves from Egypt,
the Lord of the Sabbath who bids us rest,
that God empowers us
to make Jesus’ life visible in our very bodies.
Speak, Holy One, your servants are listening!
Let us sing aloud to God, our strength,
and shout for joy to the God of Jacob.
Prayer of the Day
O God of Creation and Sabbath,
You know us better than we know ourselves.
You formed our inward parts
and wrote the book of all our days;
you made the Sabbath for us
and revealed to us your glory and our identity
in the face of Jesus Christ,
who healed and fed his people.
May we accept your invitation to Sabbath rest,
not a rest that comes
after all that we can accomplish,
but the rest of those who have been set free,
even as you bring about a world
in which all creation can cease from striving,
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.
Holy, triune God, we confess
that we have not lived for your glory.
You call us to love and serve you,
but we do not heed your voice.
You offer us restoration in Christ,
but we turn away from your good gifts.
Forgive us, God of grace.
Reveal the treasure of heavenly life
hidden in our fragile human hearts,
so that your love may shine in us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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 life of Christ be visible in our lives
so all will know the light of your glory
and praise Jesus Christ our Lord.
By your Spirit, O God, transform our lives.
We pray for the world . . .
Liberate those who are oppressed
so they may enjoy the freedom
and fullness of life that is found in you.
By your Spirit, O God, transform our lives.
We pray for this community . . .
Strengthen us to feed those who are hungry,
offer help and healing to those who suffer,
and seek the common good in all things.
By your Spirit, O God, transform our lives.
We pray for loved ones . . .
Comfort those who are afflicted,
deliver those who are persecuted,
lift up those who are struck down.
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:
You seek us out and call to us;
you give us vision and purpose;
you strengthen us to respond: Here I am.
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 is the Lord of the sabbath—
he has the power to feed and heal us,
and to raise us up from death to 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.
Help us to proclaim the life of Christ
and to share the treasure of your grace,
that all may know your goodness and glory.
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

Gleaners
Jean François Millet, 1857
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- God Is Here! (E) ABBOT’S LEIGH GTG 409
- O Day of Rest and Gladness (OG) ES FLOG EIN KLEINS WALDVÖGELEIN GTG 393
- O Splendor of God’s Glory Bright (E) PUER NOBIS NASCITUR GTG 666
- Open the Eyes of My Heart (E) OPEN THE EYES GTG 452
WORD
- I Danced in the Morning (G) LORD OF THE DANCE GTG 157
- Lord, the Light of Your Love Is Shining (Shine, Jesus, Shine) (E) SHINE, JESUS, SHINE GTG 192
- Listen, God Is Calling (OGE) NENO LAKE MUNGU GTG 456
- Within Our Darkest Night (Dans nos obscurités) (E) DANS NOS OBSCURITÉS GTG 294
EUCHARIST
- In Remembrance of Me (EG) RED GTG 521
- O Christ, the Healer (G) ERHALT UNS, HERR GTG 793
- One Bread, One Body (G) ONE BREAD, ONE BODY GTG 530
- Speak to Me Now (Háblame hoy) (O) SSS 554
SENDING
- I, the Lord of Sea and Sky (O) HERE I AM GTG 69
- I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light (E) HOUSTON GTG 377
- Lord, Speak to Me that I May Speak (O) CANONBURY GTG 722
- Send Me, Jesus (Thuma mina) (O) THUMA MINA GTG 746
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 139:1–6, 13–18
Metrical
- My Lord, You Have Examined Me [RESIGNATION] PAS 139A
- O God, You Search Me [O GOD, YOU SEARCH ME] GTG 29
- You Are Before Me, Lord [SURSUM CORDA (Smith)] GTG 28
Responsorial
- Lord, You Have Searched Me PAS 139C
Psalm 81:1–10
Metrical
- Sing Out with Joy to God Our Strength [SHEPHERDS’ PIPES] GTG 56
- Sing a Psalm of Joy [GENEVAN 81] PAS 81C
Responsorial
- O Be Joyful in Your Hearts [NDIMITIMA] PAS 81A
Organ Music
- “Fanfare and Chorale on ABBOT’S LEIGH,” 2 English Hymn Tune Settings, Robert A. Hobby, MSM (MA)
- “Holy Spirit, Light Divine,” MERCY, All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name, Alice Jordan, Broadman Press (E)
- “Here I Am, Lord,” Today’s Hymns and Songs for Organ, John Carter, HOPE (ME)
- “Declare His Glory,” Declare His Glory, Mary McDonald, LOR (E)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “Good Morning, Brother Pilgrim,” arr. Alice Parker, Lawson-Gould, SATB, acap (M)
- “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light,” arr. Tom Trenney, Pavane Publishing, SATB, pno (M)
- “Rest,” Remel Derrick, WAL, TTBB, acap (A)
- “Lord, You Have Searched Me,” David Hurd, GIA, SATB, kybd, fl (M)
- “Here I Am, Lord,” arr. Craig Courtney, BP, SATB, pno, fl (E)
- “Come Sunday,” Duke Ellington, GSH, SATB, pno (M)
- “Let the People Praise Thee, O God,” William Mathias, SATB, org (A)
Handbell Music
- “Here I Am, Lord,” Sandra Eithun, 3–5 (6) oct, opt hc, BP, HB766, Level 3
- “If I Take the Wings of the Morning,” Valerie Stephenson, RW, 2–3 oct (RW 8171), 3–5 oct (RW 8172) opt hc, Level 3
- “Search Me, O God,” Anna Laura Page, 3–5 oct, opt hc, SFP, 202122SF, Level 3-
Art
- The Call to Samuel, Frank Wesley (VDL)
- Samuel Relating to Eli the Judgments of God upon Eli’s House, John Singleton Copley (VDL)
- Psalm 139, Anneke Kaai (AK)
- Man with the Withered Hand, James Tissot (VDL)
- Gleaners, Jean Francois Millet (VDL)