Lectionary Readings
Semicontinuous
Genesis 22:1–14
Obeying God, Abraham prepares to sacrifice his son Isaac.
Psalm 13
How long, O Lord? Still I trust in your steadfast love.
Complementary
Jeremiah 28:5–9
Jeremiah speaks to Hananiah about the promises of prophets.
Psalm 89:1–4, 15–18
I sing of God’s steadfast love, God’s covenant with David.
Romans 6:12–23
The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is life in Christ.
Matthew 10:40–42
Jesus sends disciples: whoever welcomes you welcomes me.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Your love, O Lord, forever we will sing.
From age to age,
we will proclaim your faithfulness.
Prayer of the Day
Holy God, you welcome us all.
Your loving-kindness is a gift to all who receive it.
Teach us your ways, reveal your promises,
and let your Holy Spirit rest upon us,
that we might welcome others as you welcome us,
in the name of Christ, now and forever. 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:
As we try to grow toward righteousness,
we present ourselves to God in a spirit of honesty,
naming where we still obey sin and death
instead of goodness and life.
you have given us countless gifts.
You have welcomed us for all of who we are.
You have showered us with steadfast love.
You have freely given us eternal life in Christ Jesus.
We do not deserve these gifts.
We take them and squander them.
We continue to trust ourselves
more than we trust you.
We fail to embrace others as you have embraced us.
Accept our confession.
Be our glory and our strength for the days to come,
our strength, shield, and deliverer.
Part of God’s provision for all of us
is a well of forgiveness that never runs dry.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
— 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 . . .
Help us to share the gift you have entrusted to us:
the good news of your free gift of life in Christ,
like a cold cup of water to a thirsty soul.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the Spirit, we pray for the earth . . .
Liberate the earth from the dominion of death
and restore it with the blessing of abundant life,
so that generations to come may sing your praise.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the Spirit, we pray for all nations . . .
Amid the daily news of war, famine, and disease,
announce the good news of your peace.
Come quickly to establish your holy realm.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the Spirit, we pray for this community . . .
Enable us to extend Christ’s welcome to all,
so that they may come to know and love you
and receive your gift of everlasting life.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the Spirit, we pray for loved ones . . .
Remember those who are too often forgotten—
the abused and neglected, the vulnerable and weak.
Let them rejoice in your steadfast love.
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 desire faithfulness and mercy, not sacrifice.
By your grace, you provide for us in life and death,
giving your only Son for the salvation of the world.
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 came to us with the voice of a prophet,
announcing your reign of justice and righteousness.
Through Christ, you welcome us into that holy realm.
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.
Receive us as members of Christ’s body,
as those who have been brought from death to life.
Send us forth to share your free gift of life in Christ.
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
“Sacrifice of Isaac”
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- Jesus, Lover of My Soul (E) ABERYSTWYTH GTG 440
- God of Our Life (Os) SANDON GTG 686
- Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Os) FAITHFULNESS GTG 39
- At the Name of Jesus (G) KING’S WESTON GTG 264
WORD
- Holy God, You Raise Up Prophets (Oc) MARTIN’S SONG TFF 299
- Here on Jesus Christ I Will Stand (E) KWAKE YESU NASIMAMA GTG 832
- My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less (E) SOLID ROCK GTG 353
- O God, Show Mercy to Us (G) THAXTED GTG 341
- Judge Eternal, Throned in Splendor (Oc) RHUDDLAN GTG 342
- Where Armies Scourge the Countryside (Oc) PACE MIO DIO GTG 344
- Take Up Your Cross, the Savior Said (EG) BOURBON GTG 718
- Fill My Cup (G) FILL MY CUP GTG 699
EUCHARIST
- We Wait the Peaceful Kingdom (Oc) MERLE’S TUNE GTG 378
- Savior, like a Shepherd Lead Us (E) BRADBURY GTG 187
SENDING
- O Day of Peace (Oc) JERUSALEM GTG 373
- Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love (G) CHEREPONI GTG 203
- Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life (G) GERMANY GTG 343
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 13
Metrical
- God of Our Life [SANDON]; GTG 686
Responsorial
- Lord, I Put My Trust in Your Mercy; PSA 7
Psalm 89:1–4, 15–18
Metrical
- My Song Forever Shall Record [WINCHESTER NEW]; PAS 89E
Responsorial
- Praise the Lord!; PP 161
Organ Music
- “Built on a Rock,” Augsburg Organ Library: November, Wilbur Held, AF (M)
- “Invocation in E-flat Major, Op. 50, No. 1,” The Practical Organist: 50 Short Works for Church Services, Alexandre Guilmant, DP (M)
- “Now Thank We All Our God, Come, Ye Thankful People,” Easy Organ Music for Thanksgiving, Lloyd Larson, LOR (ME)
- “On Eagle’s Wings,” Augsburg Organ Library: Healing and Funeral, Marilyn Biery, AF (M)
Piano Music
- “Prelude No. VII in A Major,” Preludes, Kara Karayev, available on ScorSer.com (ME)
- “Nocturne, Op. 20, No. 1,” Complete Nocturnes, Lowell Liebermann, TPR (M)
- “Song Without Words, Op. 8, No. 1,” Lieder for Piano, Op. 8, Fanny Mendelssohn, IMSLP.org (MA)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus,” Paul Manz, MSM, uni, org (E)
- “Whoever Welcomes You Welcomes Me,” Larry Schultz, CGA, uni, pno, opt fl (E)
- “The God of Abraham Praise,” Mark Hayes, HIN, SATB, pno (ME)
- “Lord, Here I Am,” John Ness Beck, BP, SATB, pno (ME)
- “Welcome to God’s Love,” Mark Miller, CGA, SATB, pno (ME)
- “You Are Welcome Here,” Marty Parks, LOR, SATB, pno (M)
- “Hide Not Thou Thy Face,” Richard Farrant, OUP, SATB, acap (A)
Art
- Welcome the Stranger, Nicholas Markell, 2016 (EYE)
- Abraham Going to Sacrifice Isaac, Lucas van Leyden, 1517–19 (PD)
- Abraham and Isaac, John August Swanson, 2016 (EYE)
- Abraham’s Sacrifice, Peter Koenig, 1970 (VDL)
- Wages of Sin, Steve Prince, 2016 (EYE)
