Lectionary Readings
Semicontinuous
1 Samuel 8:4–11 (12–15), 16–20 (11:14–15)
The people demand a king; reluctantly, Samuel anoints Saul.
Psalm 138
I give you thanks, O Lord; all the rulers of the earth will praise you.
Complementary
Genesis 3:8–15
God confronts the man and woman about the forbidden fruit.
Psalm 130
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; there is forgiveness with you.
2 Corinthians 4:13—5:1
If our earthly dwelling is destroyed, we have a home in the heavens.
Mark 3:20–35
Jesus is accused of having an unclean spirit; he warns of blasphemy.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
We wait for you, O God,
more than those who watch for the morning.
We wait for your steadfast love,
more than those who watch for the morning.
We wait for you to lift the lowly,
more than those who watch for the morning.
We wait for your unexpected grace,
more than those who watch for the morning.
Let us sing of God’s holy ways,
the glory of the one for whom we wait.
Prayer of the Day
Steadfast God,
you constantly surprise us
with unprecedented grace
and unexpected redemption,
forgiving us when we least deserve it,
showing love to those we most despise.
Enliven us to keep watch
for your love at work in those we demonize,
for your power in those we look down upon,
and for your deliverance from all the ways
that we try to make you conform
to the structures and systems we have built.
All this we pray through Jesus Christ,
who called us to a new way of being. 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 have called us blessed, O God,
and washed us in the waters of grace.
You have called us a family, O God,
and bound us by the presence of your Spirit.
Forgive us, O Holy One,
when we try to forget that we belong to you:
when we bind ourselves to the illusion of independence,
the myth of supremacy,
or the fear of what might happen
if we placed our trust in something beyond ourselves.
Forgive us, O Holy One, and by your forgiveness,
free us from all that keeps us bound.
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 . . .
Help us not to lose heart, O Lord,
even as temporary things are passing away;
renew us, day by day, as your holy temple.
By your Spirit, O God, transform our lives.
We pray for the world . . .
Deliver us from corrupt and selfish leaders;
anoint leaders with your wisdom and love,
and strengthen them to seek your will.
By your Spirit, O God, transform our lives.
We pray for this community . . .
Teach us to receive our neighbors
as brothers and sisters, made in your image,
and to love them as you have loved us.
By your Spirit, O God, transform our lives.
We pray for loved ones . . .
Be near to those who cry out from the depths
of sickness and suffering, grief and despair;
give them hope in the promise of your word.
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 hear the voices of those who cry out to you.
In your mercy you save your people from all iniquities.
In you we have hope, for your steadfast love endures forever.
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 into the world to show your will for our lives.
Even when he was disparaged and demonized,
he continued to call for unity in the family of faith.
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, renew us day by day.
Send us out to speak your grace to all people,
inviting them to feast at your table of eternal 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 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
King Saul
Anonymous, Dutch, after a design by Abraham Bloemaert, after an engraving by Willem van Swanenburg, 1611
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (E) HYFRYDOL GTG 82, STUTTGART GTG 83
- God Is Calling through the Whisper (G) W ˙ZLOBIE LE˙ZY GTG 410
- God of Grace and God of Glory (G) CWM RHONDDA GTG 307
- We Praise You, O God (E) KREMSER GTG 612
WORD
- How Sweet Was the Garden, Fertile and Fair (O) LONG ISLAND SOUND LUYH 29
- I Want to Be as Close to You (G) DAVIDSON GTG 736
- This Is My Father’s World (OE) TERRA BEATA GTG 370
- Where Armies Scourge the Countryside (O) PACE MIO DIO GTG 344
EUCHARIST
- Come to the Table of Grace (E) TABLE OF GRACE GTG 507
- Here, O Our Lord, We See You (E) MORECAMBE GTG 517
- I Come with Joy (G) DOVE OF PEACE GTG 515
- Who Is My Mother? Who Is My Brother? (G) KINDDRED STF 2225
SENDING
- Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love (G) CHEREPONI GTG 203
- What Is the World Like (G) NEW WORLD GTG 771
- When All Is Ended (E) YOGANANDA GTG 376
- When We Are Living (Pues si vivimos) (E) SOMOS DEL SEÑOR GTG 822
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 138
Metrical
- With Grateful Heart My Thanks I Bring [ST. PETERSBURG, SOLID ROCK]; GTG 334, PAS 138A, LUYH 585
- With All My Heart I Thank You, Lord [GENEVAN 138]; PAS 138C, LUYH 323
- O Lord, My Heart Will Sing [ENVIADO SOY DE DIOS]; PP 276 (with refrain), PCW 138 (as 6.6.6.6.8.8)
- I Will Give Thanks with My Whole Heart [HERR JESU CHRIST]; PH 247
Responsorial
- Thank You, Lord; PAS 138B, SSS 496/7 (with Spanish translation)
- The Rulers of All the Earth Will Praise You; PSA 141
- In the Sight of the Angels; OLOF 692
- Lord, I Thank You; LP 118
Psalm 130
Metrical
- In Deep Despair I Cry to You [MORNING SONG/CONSOLATION]; PAS 130E
- From the Depths of Sin and Sadness [RUSSIAN]; PAS 130F
- Out of the Depths I Cry to You (Out of the Depths to Thee I Raise) [AUS TIEFER NOT]; GTG 424, PAS 130A, PH 240, SSS 513 (with Spanish translation)
- Out of the Direst Depths [SOUTHWELL]; KU 126
- Out of the Depths I Cry to You [Digerness]; PAS 130D
Responsorial
- In You, O Lord, There Is Mercy; PSA 134
- Out of the Depths I Cry to You, O Lord; PAS 130B
- With the Lord There Is Mercy; PFTS2 10
- From the Depths I Call to You; PND 42
Organ Music
- “Blessed Assurance,” Hymns of Faith, Marianne Kim, LOR (E)
- “Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten,” BWV 642, Orgelbüchlein, Johann Sebastian Bach, public domain (M)
- “My Faith Looks Up to Thee,” Hymns of the Faith, Robert Lau, LOR (ME)
- “Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart!” Music for Rejoicing, Douglas Wagner, LOR (E)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “Hold Us, Jesus,” Chris de Silva, GIA, SATB, solo, cong, keybd (E)
- “Lamb of God,” The Oxford Book of Flexible Anthems, Samuel Webbe, OUP, FLEX, kybd (E)
- “He Watching Over Israel,” Elijah, Mendelssohn, ECS, SATB, org (E)
- “Joys Seven,” Stephen Cleobury, OUP, SATB div, org (M)
- “O How Amiable,” Ralph Vaughan Williams, OUP, SATB, org (M)
- “The Truth from Above,” Ralph Vaughan Williams, ECS, SATB, acap (A)
- “There in God’s Garden,” arr. Jeremy Bankson, MSM, SATB, brass quin, org, opt timp & perc (M)
- “In Bright Mansions Above,” arr. Roland Carter, WAL, SATB, acap (M)
Handbell Music
- “De Profundis,” Jason Krug, 4–7 oct, opt hc, BP, HB523, Level 4
- “Grateful Hymns of Praise,” Lloyd Larson, 3–5 oct, HOPE, 2967, Level 2
- “Medley of Praise,” D. Linda McKechnie, 3–5 oct, opt hc, opt C inst, AGEHR, AG35272, Level 3+
Art
- King Saul, Lidia Kozenitzky (VDL)
- Apple, Scott Laumann (EYE)
- A House Built on a Rock, Peter Koenig (VDL)
- Weapons of Destruction: Choice, Steve Prince (EYE)
- The Serpent in the Text, Jan Richardson (JR)
