Lectionary Readings
Semicontinuous
Exodus 32:1–14
Aaron makes a golden calf; Moses intercedes with the Lord.
Psalm 106:1–6, 19–23
We have sinned, exchanging the glory of God for graven images.
Complementary
Isaiah 25:1–9
God will make a feast for all peoples, destroying death forever.
Psalm 23
The Lord prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies.
Philippians 4:1–9
Rejoice in the Lord; do not worry; God’s peace will be with you.
Matthew 22:1–14
The kingdom is like a banquet; many are called, few are chosen..
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
Rejoice in the Lord always!
All thanks and praise to God!
Do not worry about anything.
We trust in God who provides for us.
Let the peace of God settle among you.
We will share God’s peace with all.
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:
From ancient times to now,
God’s people have turned away.
We are no different:
we let fear take hold of us
and try to go our own way.
Let us be honest about how we have failed
to follow God.
True God from True God,
we have not built a golden calf,
but we have worshiped idols.
We have put our trust in what we build with our own hands.
We find security in what we can hoard
instead of trusting your provision.
We listen to lies that spread hatred and division
instead of the radical truth of your word.
Forgive us.
Melt down our idols until we see only you
and fix our sight on your way alone.
Lifting water from the font:
God shows us a different way—
a way of truth, honor, justice, purity, and excellence.
This path is open to all of us if we reach out and accept God’s forgiveness.
Thanks be to God! We will live as God’s people,
forgiven and freed.
— 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
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
Our shepherd satisfies our needs;
in faith, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our God, we pray for the church . . .
Fix our minds on what is honorable and true,
pure and just, pleasing and commendable—
whatever is excellent and worthy of praise.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our God, we pray for the earth . . .
We wait for you, our only hope of salvation:
prepare a feast of plenty for all creatures;
destroy the shroud of death cast over us.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our God, we pray for all nations . . .
Show your favor to those who love your way,
who observe justice and do what is right;
bless them with prosperity and peace.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our God, we pray for this community . . .
Let your church be a refuge for the poor
and a sanctuary for those in distress,
to shelter them from every storm.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our God, we pray for loved ones . . .
Remember those who mourn:
wipe away the tears of their eyes
and give them the hope of new life in you.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Loving shepherd, lead and guide us—
in green pastures and by still waters,
in right paths and through dark valleys,
until we feast with you in glory
and dwell in your house forever;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Psalm 23
— 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 the harvest,
you are continually planting the seeds of your love
in our world and in our lives.
As we bring our gifts to you,
may they be seeds of your grace, peace, and hope,
planted deeply in our community. 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:
When we have worshiped idols of our own design,
forgetting the one who made us and saves us,
even then, you forgive us and do not forsake us.
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 invites us to a glorious banquet,
the wedding feast of heaven and earth,
and clothes us in righteousness and grace.
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.
Keep us always rejoicing in the Lord, who is near;
cast out our worry by your all-surpassing peace;
and make us more faithful, day by day, to you.
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 you 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
“Psalm 23”
John August Swanson, 2010
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- Sing Glory to the Name of God (OE) LASST UNS ERFREUEN GTG 10
- Let Us Build a House (OG) TWO OAKS GTG 301
- Rejoice, the Lord Is King! (E) DARWALL’S 148TH GTG 363, PH 155
- The Kingdom of God (G) LAUDATE DOMINUM G3 736
WORD
- The Mighty God with Power Speaks (O) KINGSFOLD GTG 13
- Tremble, O Tremble (O) TROMBLEY GTG 57
- Peace of God Be with You / As-salaamu lakum (E) AS-SALAAMU LAKUM GTG 448
- Your Heralds Brought Glad Tidings (OG) THORNBURY CH4 511
EUCHARIST
- Many and Great, O God, Are Thy Works (Things) (OE) LACQUIPARLE GTG 21, PH 271
- Lord, We Have Come at Your Own Invitation (G) O QUANTA QUALIA GTG 503, PH 516
- Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness (G) SCHMÜCKE DICH GTG 514
- Peace Came to Earth (OG) HUFSTETLER Rejoice in God, K. Lee Scott, MSM
SENDING
- Farewell, Good Friends! (E) SHALOM, CHAVERIM GTG 540, PH 537
- Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart! (E) MARION, VINEYARD HAVEN GTG 804, PH 145, 146
- I’m Gonna Eat at the Welcome Table (OG) WELCOME TABLE GTG 770
- I Would Be True (E) PEEK NCH 492
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 106:1–6, 19–23
Metrical
- Your Endless Love, Your Mighty Acts [ST. MAGNUS]; GTG 60
- It Is Good to Give Thanks to You [NEW 106TH]; PAS 106A, LUYH 48
- Alleluia, Lord, We Praise You [8.7.8.7 D]; SGP 159
Responsorial
- Cast Every Idol from Its Throne [MIT FREUDEN ZART]; PAS 106B
- The Mighty God Is the God of Israel; PSA 108
- O Lord, Still Guide Us [GO DOWN, MOSES]; PP 200
Psalm 23
Metrical
- My Shepherd Will Supply My Need [RESIGNATION]; GTG 803, PH 172, PAS 23A, LUYH 369, SSS 44
- The King of Love My Shepherd Is [ST. COLUMBA, DOMINUS REGIT ME]; GTG 802, PH 171, LUYH 824, LUYH 23D, E (altered text), SSS 359
- The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want [CRIMOND, BROTHER JAMES’ AIR]; GTG 801, PH 170, PAS 23C, SSS 375
- The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want [Townend]; PAS 23F
- The God of Love My Shepherd Is [RIDGEWOOD]; PAS 23J
- The Lord, My Shepherd, Rules My Life [CRIMOND]; PAS 23B
- El Señor es mi pastor / You, O Lord, You Are My Shepherd; SSS 532
Responsorial
- Shepherd Me, O God; GTG 473, LUYH 456, PAS 23G (pointed vv.), 23H (through-composed vv.), SSS 365 (refrain only)
- El Señor es mi pastor / My Shepherd Is the Lord; PAS 23 I, LUYH 368, SSS 338
- El Señor es mi pastor / The Lord Is My Shepherd; OC 33, SSS 294–295
- My Shepherd Is the Lord [Gelineau]; PH 173, PSA 18
- The Lord Is My Shepherd; PFTS2 54
- The Lord Is My Shepherd / El Señor es mi pastor; SSS 613 (refrain only)
- The Lord’s My Shepherd [THE PARTING GLASS]; CP2 1
- I Shall Live in the House of the Lord; PND 14
Organ Music
- “O Day of Rest and Gladness,” Prayerful Preludes Set 10, Robert J. Powell, MSM (E)
- “Wo soll ich fliehen hin,” BWV 646, J. S. Bach, public domain (M)
- “Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart,” HERZLICH LIEB, Lord, Thee I Love, David Cherwien, AF (E)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “Christ Is the World’s True Light,” The Oxford Book of Flexible Anthems, Walter Kendall Stanton, OUP, uni, keybd (E)
- “Come, Ye Sinners Poor and Needy,” Raymond Haan, CON, SATB, org (E)
- “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need,” Mack Wilberg, HIN, SATB, org (M)
- “No More a Stranger or a Guest,” David Ashley White, SEL, SA, C inst, hb (E)
- “Psalm 23,” Eugene Oldham, BP, SATB, pno (M)
- “Rejoice in the Lord Always,” Henry Purcell, ECS, SATB, org (A)
- “The Kingdom,” André Thomas, HIN, SATB, pno (M)
- “Think on These Things,” Mark Patterson, MSM, SAB, pno (M)
Handbell Music
- “Again I Say, Rejoice!,” Lloyd Larson, 3–5 oct, LOR, 20/1453L, Level 2
- “Many and Great,” Cathy Moklebust, 2–3 oct or 3–5 oct, opt perc, CGA, CGB971 or CGB972, Level 1
- “Shalom Chaverim,” Sondra Tucker, 3–5 oct, CGA, CGB312, Level 3
Art
- Psalm 23, John August Swanson (VDL)
- Psalm 23, Timothy Botts (EYE)
- Good Shepherd, Lucinda Naylor (EYE)
- Dancing around the Golden Calf, Fri Heil, sculpture, Netherlands (VDL)
