Lectionary Readings
Semicontinuous
1 Samuel 1:4–20
Hannah prays for a son; she conceives and gives birth to Samuel.
1 Samuel 2:1–10
Hannah’s song of thanksgiving: My heart rejoices in the Lord.
Complementary
Daniel 12:1–3
Daniel’s vision: Those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake.
Psalm 16
O Lord, you are always with me; you show me the path of life.
Hebrews 10:11–14 (15–18), 19–25
Let us hold fast to our faith, preparing for the day of the Lord.
Mark 13:1–8
Jesus speaks of the temple’s fall, and other signs of what is to come.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
Whether we are sure of God’s work in the world
or still waiting for a sign,
let us worship the Lord,
encouraging one another in hope.
Whether we are confident
in what the future will bring
or carry more questions than answers,
let us worship the Lord,
strengthening one another in faith.
Prayer of the Day
Caring God,
you are always with us,
but sometimes that can be hard to remember.
When it feels like we are praying alone,
grant us confidence that you are with us.
In times when our spirits feel more settled,
help us to share that peace
with neighbors who need it. 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 are the God of all people, O Lord,
the creator of all things good.
Forgive us when we fail to see the good.
Forgive us when we refuse to see the “all.”
We are searching for your presence
and grasping for your grace,
unable to believe
that we cannot be separated from your love.
Forgive us, God of mercy,
and through Christ our redeemer,
free us to try again.
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:
Sovereign God, let your Word rule in our hearts
and your Spirit govern our lives
until at last we see the fulfillment
of your realm of justice and peace;
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
Remembering the world that God so loves,
we pray to the Maker of heaven and earth, saying:
Let your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
We pray for the church . . .
Write your covenant in our hearts, O Lord,
so that we may live as your holy people
and share your reconciling love with the world.
Let your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
We pray for the world . . .
Even as earthly kingdoms crumble and fall,
show us a glimpse of your eternal realm,
a new creation of righteousness and justice.
Let your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
We pray for this community . . .
Lift up the needy from ashes and dust
and give them a place of honor,
so that all may rejoice in your grace.
Let your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
We pray for loved ones . . .
Help those who cry out from the depths;
show them your path of abundant life
and give them fullness of joy in your presence.
Let your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Sovereign God, keep us watching and working
for the promise of your heavenly realm,
until all the earth rejoices at your coming in glory;
through Jesus Christ, the Lord of life. 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:
To you, O God, we offer our lives—
our abundance, our poverty,
all that we have, all that we are—
a sign of our great thanksgiving
for the treasure of your grace.
Take and use us for good
in the world that you so love;
we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Mark 12:41–44
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 have promised to lift the poor from the dust
and raise the dead from the grave;
there is no one like you, O Lord!
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 taught us the signs of your coming realm—
though temples crumble and towers fall,
we will not fear, for our hope is in you.
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.
Put your law in our hearts and minds;
wash us, body and soul, by your grace;
and give us hope that cannot be shaken.
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:
Blessed are you, O Lord our God,
creator and ruler of the universe,
for your have satisfied our souls
with this feast of your grace.
Keep us faithful in your service
until your realm of glory comes;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
The blessing of the holy, triune God,
who was and is and is to come—
first and last,
beginning and end,
Alpha and Omega—
be with you now and always. Alleluia!
Revelation 1:8
Go in peace to love the Lord your God
with heart and soul and mind and strength,
and to love your neighbor as yourself. Amen.
Mark 12:29–31
Artist’s Mother Opening A Door
Edouard Vuillard, 1892
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- Great Is Thy Faithfulness (OE) FAITHFULNESS GTG 39
- My Lord! What a Morning (OEG) MY LORD, WHAT A MORNING GTG 352
- O Worship the King, All Glorious Above (O) LYONS GTG 41
- Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty (E) LOBE DEN HERREN GTG 35
WORD
- As the Wind Song (G) WAIRUA TAPU GTG 292
- My Soul Gives Glory to My God (O) MORNING SONG GTG 99
- Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee (O) ST. AGNES GTG 629
- When Peace like a River (EG) VILLE DU HAVRE GTG 840
EUCHARIST
- As We Gather at Your Table (E) IN BABILONE ELW 522, NETTLETON SSS 411
- Bless the Lord (O) BLESS THE LORD (Taizé) GTG 544
- O My Soul, Bless Your Redeemer (OE) STUTTGART GTG 439
- What Wondrous Love Is This (EG) WONDROUS LOVE GTG 215
SENDING
- Lord, the Light of Your Love Is Shining (Shine, Jesus, Shine) (E) SHINE, JESUS, SHINE GTG 192
- Standing on the Promises (E) PROMISES GTG 838
- The Days Are Surely Coming (OG) LLANGLOFFAN GTG 357
- When Will People Cease Their Fighting? (G) RUSTINGTON PH 401
Psalms and Canticles
1 Samuel 2:1–10
Metrical
- My Heart Is Overflowing [TOLLEFSON]; NCH 15
- My Soul Is Filled with Joy [VIOLA]; PSH 158
Responsorial
- My Heart Exults in the Lord; PSA 172
- There Is None to Be Compared [TRURO]; HTP2 126
Psalm 16
Metrical
- When in the Night I Meditate [ST. FLAVIAN, MAITLAND, MORNING SONG/CONSOLATION]; GTG 810, PH 165, PAS 16A, PP 28 (with refrain)
- Protect Me, God [MEPHIBOSHETH]; PAS 16C, LUYH 411
Responsorial
- My Heart Is Glad; PAS 16D (alt. refrain)
- Harbor of My Heart; PAS 16B, PND 9
- You Are My Inheritance; LP 38
Organ Music
- “O Worship the King,” O Worship the King, Ed Dunbar, SFP (ME)
- “Dance Prelude on UNSER HERRSCHER,” Come Christians, Join to Sing, Neil Harmon, MSM (M)
- “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,” Hymns of Faith, Marianne Kim, LOR (ME)
- “ST. ANNE,” Augsburg Organ Library: Healing and Funeral, Benjamin M. Culli, AF (M)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “I Wanna Be Ready,” arr. James Miller, GMC, SATB, solo, acap (M)
- “My Lord What a Morning,” arr. Harry T. Burleigh, Belwin-Mills, SATB, acap (M)
- “Freedom Is Coming,” Anders Nyberg; arr. Henry Leck, WAL, SAB, acap (E)
- “Behold the Lamb,” Messiah, G. F. Handel, GSH, SATB, keybd (M)
- “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms,” arr. Eric Nelson, MSM, SATB, pno, vc, fl (M)
- “Lord, Thou Hast Been Our Refuge,” Ralph Vaughan Williams, GSH, SATB, org (A)
- “Festival Te Deum,” Benjamin Britten, BH, SATB, org (A)
- “O Salutaris Hostia,” Eriks Esenvalds, Musica Baltica, SATB div, solo, acap (A)
Handbell Music
- “As the Wind Song,” Carol Lynn Mizell, 5‑6 oct, fl and perc, opt hc and SATB choir, CGA, CGB836 (HB), CGB835 (FS), CGA1362 (SATB), Level 3
- “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” Julie Stitt, 3‑5 oct, opt D8/E8, opt hc, JHS 9620, Level 3
- “Morning Song,” Matthew Prins, 2‑4 oct, FTM, FM20144, Level 2
Art
- Libby Prison, David Gilmour Blythe (VDL)
- Starry Night, Vincent Van Gogh (VDL)
- Complete Joy, Lauren Wright Pittman (VDL)
