Lectionary Readings
Semicontinuous
Ruth 3:1–5; 4:13–17
Ruth and Boaz have a son, who will become an ancestor to David.
Psalm 127
Unless the Lord builds the house, the workers labor in vain.
Complementary
1 Kings 17:8–16
With meager resources, a widow miraculously feeds Elijah.
Psalm 146
Do not put your trust in princes; God gives food to the hungry.
Hebrews 9:24–28
Christ entered the sanctuary of heaven; he will come again to save.
Mark 12:38–44
Jesus criticizes the scribes and praises the gift of a poor widow.
— Gathering —
Call to Worship
Sometimes we feel like we have nothing to give.
Jesus calls us: Follow me.
We follow one who offers everything.
Jesus calls us: Follow me.
We eagerly wait for the appearance of Christ.
Jesus calls us: Follow me.
Prayer of the Day
Giving God,
as we share what we have,
seeking to further your work in this world,
remind us that abundance
does not always mean extravagance
and that humble offerings are holy.
Whether we offer a grand gesture,
a simple meal,
or two small coins,
lead us in the way of generosity. 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.
O Christ, you praised the gift of the widow,
who had so little and gave it all.
Forgive us, O Christ, for turning our eyes away
from people who are trapped in poverty.
Forgive us, O Christ, for turning our resources
into reasons for pride or greed.
Forgive us, O Christ, and by your forgiveness,
teach us to follow in your way of generosity.
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 Intercession
God our help and hope,
hear our prayer.
We pray for widows and orphans . . .
Bless them with grace and favor.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who are hungry . . .
Fill them with good things.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for all who are suffering . . .
Bring comfort and peace to them.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for all who are near to death . . .
Raise them up to new life in you.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for people who are vulnerable . . .
Give them shelter and a place of honor.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for people who are poor . . .
Turn their poverty into abundance.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God our help and hope,
teach us to trust in you alone,
that we may praise your name all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. 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 are faithful forever, the God of every generation—
watching over immigrants, upholding widows and orphans,
giving food to those who hunger.
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 shunned long robes and long prayers,
preferring sincerity and simple gifts—
two small coins from a widow’s pocket.
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.
Make us eager and ready for Christ’s return—
to see at last the end of suffering and sin,
and to be received into your eternal embrace.
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
Generous Vegetable Seller
Vendant Gulati, 2012
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- When God Restored Our Common Life (RESIGNATION) GTG 74 (O)
- Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending (HELMSLEY) GTG 348 (E)
- Alleluia! Sing to Jesus (HYFRYDOL) GTG 260 (E)
- We Lift Our Voices (OFFERING) GTG 710 (G)
WORD
- Wild and Lone the Prophet’s Voice (ABERYSTWYTH) GTG 163 (O)
- We Give Thee but Thine Own (SCHUMANN) GTG 708 (G)
- When the Poor Ones (EL CAMINO) GTG 762 (O)
- We Wait the Peaceful Kingdom (MERLE’S TUNE) GTG 378 (E)
EUCHARIST
- Where Charity and Love Prevail (TWENTY-FOURTH) GTG 316 (G)
- Take, O Take Me as I Am (TAKE ME AS I AM) GTG 698 (G)
- God, We Honor You (ABUNDANT BLESSINGS) GTG 709 (O)
SENDING
- I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light (HOUSTON) GTG 377 (E)
- Sing a New World Into Being (NETTLETON) SFHO (E)
- Take My Life (HENDON) GTG 697 (G)
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 127
Metrical
- Si el Señor el no edifice [IRREGULAR] SSS 278
- Let Us Build a House [TWO OAKS] GTG 301
Responsorial
- The Lord Protects and Blesses PSA 132
- Lord, You Are My Help and Stay PP 258
Psalm 146
Metrical
- Praise, Praise, Praise the Lord! [LOUEZ LE SEIGNEUR] GTG 390
- Sing Praise to God [IRREGULAR] GWA 22
Responsorial
- I Will Praise My God All the Days of My Life PH 254
- Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia PAS 146 B
Organ Music
- AR HYD Y NOS, Step It Up! Volume 3: Hymns from the Isles, arr. Meirion Wynn Jones, World Library Publications (E)
- “Jesus, Lover of My Soul,”ABERYSTWYTH, Grace and Majesty, arr. Marianne Kim, BP (E)
- “I’ll Sing My Father’s Praises,” Ten Chorale Improvisations, Set 5, Paul Manz, MSM (M)
- “Fanfare on Darwall’s 148th,” King of Kings, vol. 4, arr. Evelyn Simpson-Curenton, GIA (A)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “When the Poor Ones,” David Cherwien, MSM, SATB, gtr (E)
- “We Shall Walk Through the Valley,” arr. Marques L. A. Garrett, MF, SSAATTBB, acap (A)
- “My Hope Is Built,” Tom Trenney, MSM, SSAATTBB, pno (A)
- “Laudate Dominum from Vesperae Solennes de Confessore,” W. A. Mozart, CPDL, SATB/sop, keybd (M)
- “Offertory,” John Ness Beck, BP, SATB, keybd (E)
- “A Lord-Built House,” Small but Mighty, vol. 2, Roger Lentz, BP, SAB, pno (E)
Art
- The Widow’s Mite, JESUS MAFA, 1973 (VDL)
- Christ the Teacher, Peter Koenig, 20th century (VDL)
- New Harmony, Paul Klee, 1936 (VDL)
