Lectionary Readings
Semicontinuous
Ruth 1:1–18
Ruth decides to go with Naomi to Judah: Where you go, I will go.
Psalm 146
Happy are those who put their trust in the Lord, the God of Jacob.
Complementary
Deuteronomy 6:1–9
Hear, O Israel: The Lord alone is our God; you shall love the Lord.
Psalm 119:1–8
Happy are those who seek God and walk in the ways of the Lord.
Hebrews 9:11–14
By the blood of Christ, our high priest, we will be made clean.
Mark 12:28–34
Jesus summarizes the commandments: to love God and neighbor.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
A wandering people
wondered what their new life would be like,
and Moses said:
You shall love the Lord with all your heart.
Generations later,
leaders argued over which rules were most important,
and Jesus reminded them:
You shall love the Lord with all your soul.
And in this world that so often feels broken,
we recognize God’s call:
You shall love the Lord with all your might.
With heart, soul, and might, let us worship God.
Prayer of the Day
God who guides us,
you ask us to give our whole selves to you,
but we live in a world
that claims we should hold different priorities.
As we seek faithfulness
amidst all that demands our attention and affection,
teach us what it means
to be centered in your love. 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 God, you call us to love you with all our heart,
and with all our soul, and with all our mind.
Forgive us when selfishness takes up too much of our heart,
when worry seems to crowd wonder out of our soul,
when fear causes us to close our minds to anything new.
Holy God, you call us to bear with one another in love.
Forgive us when we cannot love our neighbors.
Forgive us when we cannot love ourselves.
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 . . .
Help us to embody your great commandment—
loving and serving you with all that we are,
loving and serving our neighbors as ourselves.
Let your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
We pray for the world . . .
Protect the people of this and every nation;
deliver us from warfare, famine, and flood;
establish your peace and justice in every place.
Let your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
We pray for this community . . .
Watch over those who are weak or vulnerable,
especially immigrants, orphans, and widows;
show your faithfulness and mercy to all.
Let your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
We pray for loved ones . . .
Help parents to teach their children your way;
help children to grow in faith and love;
and keep us all safe from sickness and harm.
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 delivered us, and our ancestors, from captivity,
and promised us a land flowing with milk and honey.
You are our God, O Lord—you alone.
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 showed us what it means to love you
with heart and soul and mind and strength,
and how to love our neighbors as ourselves.
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.
Lead us to that holy place—not made with human hands—
where Christ our Savior has offered himself for our redemption,
and where we may live to worship you forever.
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

Naomi and Ruth
Jacob Symonsz Pynas, before 1650
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- Alleluia! Sing to Jesus (E) HYFRYDOL GTG 260
- For the Beauty of the Earth (O) DIX GTG 14
- Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (OG) HYFRYDOL GTG 366
- The Lord Is God (OG) AZMON GTG 63
WORD
- For All the Faithful Women (O) NYLAND GTG 324
- Great God of Every Blessing (OG) AURELIA GTG 694
- Lord of All Good (O) TOULON GTG 711
- Love the Lord Your God (OE) GREAT COMMANDMENT GTG 62
EUCHARIST
- For the Life That You Have Given (G) PLEADING SAVIOR GTG 717
- Jesus, Priceless Treasure (EG) JESU, MEINE FREUDE GTG 830
- When at This Table (E) FEASTDAY GTG 537
- When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (EG) HAMBURG GTG 223, ROCKINGHAM GTG 224
SENDING
- God Be with You Till We Meet Again (O) RANDOLPH GTG 541, GOD BE WITH YOU GTG 542
- Hope of the World (E) DONNE SECOURS GTG 734
- Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love (E) CHEREPONI GTG 203
- Take Thou Our Minds, Dear Lord (OG) HALL GTG 707
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 146
Metrical
- I’ll Praise My Maker While I’ve Breath [OLD 113TH]; GTG 806, PH 253, PAS 146A
- Praise the Lord! Sing Hallelujah! [RIPLEY, FOR YOUR GIFT]; LUYH 518, PAS 146D, 146C
- I Will Sing Your Praise, O God [SHOUT THE PRAISE]; SP 61
Responsorial
- Praise the Lord, My Soul (Gelineau); PSA 150
- Puji Tuhan/Heleluyan/Alleluia; PAS 146B
- Praise the Lord, O My Soul [OLD 124TH]; HTP2 105
Psalm 119:1–8
Metrical
- How Blest Are They Whose Path Is Pure [CM]; PCW 119a
- Blest Are the Uncorrupt in Heart [RICHMOND, CM]; PH 233, SGP 178
- I Long for Your Commandments [WOHL DENEN, DIE DA WANDELN]; GTG 64
- All Your Commandments, Father Almighty [KANCIONAL NEW]; PAS 119 O
Responsorial
- O Lord, My Delight Is in Your Law; PAS 119H, PSA 121
- O Lord, You Have the Words [LEONI/YIGDAL]; PP 228
- Let Me Sing of Your Law; PAS 119A
Organ Music
- “The Gift of Love,” Today’s Hymns and Songs for Organ, John Carter, HOPE (E)
- “The Church’s One Foundation,” The Organist’s Library, vol. 68, LOR (ME)
- “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” The Sacred Organ Library, vol. 10, LOR (ME)
- “If My People’s Hearts Are Humbled,” When Morning Gilds the Skies, Anna Laura Page, LOR (ME)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “Beati Quorum Via,” Charles Villiers Stanford, BH, SATB, acap (A)
- “Marching to Zion,” arr. Robert Shaw and Alice Parker, Lawson-Gould, SATB, acap (E)
- “Entreat Me Not to Leave Thee,” Dan Forrest, HIN, SATB div, acap (A)
- “Ubi Caritas,” Ola Gjeilo, WAL, SATB, acap (M)
- “If Ye Love Me,” Philip Wilby, CPDL, SATB, acap (A)
- “A New Commandment,” Thomas Tallis, CPDL, SATB, acap (A)
- “I Give You a New Commandment,” The New Oxford Easy Anthem Book, Peter Aston, OUP, 2 pt mx, keybd (E)
- “Teach Me, O Lord,” David Hurd, GIA, SATB, org (E)
Handbell Music
- “Festival Fanfare on HYFRYDOL,” Kevin McChesney, 3‑5 oct, JHS, 9453, Level 3
- “Reflections on AURELIA,” Donald Allured, 3‑4 oct, HIN, HB30 (MA)
- “Jesus, Priceless Treasure,” Jason Krug, 3‑6 oct, BP, HB516, Level 3
Art
- Naomi and Ruth, Jacob Symonsz Pynas (VDL)
- The Poor Invited to the Feast, JESUS MAFA (VDL)
- Immigrantes 2, Yuliana Cha (VDL)
- The Two Commandments, Jan Richardson (JR)
- Holding Hands, Liz Valente (VDL)