Lectionary Readings
Semicontinuous
Jeremiah 31:27–34
I will make a new covenant; I will write my law on their hearts.
Psalm 119:97–104
I love your law; it is always with me, sweeter than honey to me.
Complementary
Genesis 32:22–31
Wrestling with a stranger at night, Jacob seeks God’s blessing.
Psalm 121
My help comes from the Lord, who guards me day and night.
2 Timothy 3:14—4:5
Continue in your faith; be persistent in proclaiming the gospel.
Luke 18:1–8
The widow and the unjust judge: pray always and do not lose heart.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when,
just as I have watched over them
to pluck up and break down,
to overthrow and destroy,
so I will watch over them
to build and to plant, says the Lord.
I will put my law within the people,
and I will write it on their hearts;
I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Your commandment makes me wiser
than my enemies, for it is always with me.
We will continue in what we have learned
and firmly believe:
Our help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth,
and God will grant justice
to his chosen ones
who cry to him day and night.
Prayer of the Day
God of mercy and justice,
you administer to each according to your grace
and not according to what we deserve.
Keep from us all evil,
the evil we commit
and the evil committed by others.
Preserve us by your providence,
all for the sake of your holy name. 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:
The Word of God, Jesus Christ
leads the way to salvation through faith.
In turning to the Lord with humility,
and trusting in his love,
we confess our sin and the sins of the world.
Grace-filled God,
we confess that we pursue our own needs,
neglecting the needs of others.
We pursue our own desires,
while slowly destroying
the gifts of your creation.
We deflect the call to ministry,
ignoring the cries of those in need.
We are drawn to proclaim the gospel,
yet live it out only at our convenience.
Have mercy on us, O God.
Open our eyes to the truth of the gospel
that, whatever the time or wherever we are,
we may fully embody
your love and justice for all the world.
Lifting water from the font:
Whoever we are,
wherever we are,
however we are,
we belong to God.
Through Jesus Christ,
God cleanses us from all unrighteousness
and leads us from sin.
People of God, we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God.
— Word —
Prayer for Illumination
At the lectern or pulpit:
Faithful God, how blessed are those
who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Sanctify us by your Word and Spirit
so that we may glorify you
in the company of the faithful;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture
Before the readings:
Sacred writings, our instruction in salvation
through faith in Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 3:15
After the readings:
The words of Scripture, inspired by God.
Thanks be to God.
2 Timothy 3:16
Sermon
Ascription of Praise
After the sermon:
Blessed be the Lord our God. Amen.
Luke 1:68
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
Trusting in the power of God to deliver us,
let us make our prayers of intercession for all,
saying: God our Savior, hear our prayer.
We pray for the church . . .
Keep us faithful in proclaiming your Word,
sharing the good news of salvation
and carrying out the ministry of Christ.
God our Savior, hear our prayer.
We pray for the world . . .
Grant justice to those who cry to you,
do not delay in helping them.
Establish your realm of peace on earth.
God our Savior, hear our prayer.
We pray for this community . . .
Pluck up the seeds of violence
and break down dividing walls.
Plant and build good things among us.
God our Savior, hear our prayer.
We pray for loved ones . . .
Let your watchful, loving eye
preserve their lives from evil
all through the day and night.
God our Savior, hear our prayer.
Merciful and mighty God, as you are one,
make us one with you through Jesus Christ,
whom you have sent to redeem us,
and in whose holy name we pray. 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:
We give you thanks and praise, O God,
for you have chosen the poverty of the world
to make your people rich in faith.
Help us to put our faith into practice
through the offering of our lives—
giving food to the hungry,
clothes to the naked,
and shelter to the poor;
all for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord,
your Word made flesh. Amen.
James 2:5, 14–17
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 remain steadfast in your covenant.
You bless us, even in our struggles,
and promise never to let us go.
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 teaches us to pray and not lose heart,
trusting that you will hear our prayers
and grant the justice and mercy we need.
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 bold in proclaiming your word,
persistent in good times and bad,
and faithful in our common calling.
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:
God of glory, in this holy feast
you have made us one with Christ
and with that great multitude of the faithful—those who hunger and thirst no more
and worship night and day in your temple.
Lead us in the paths of righteousness
and guide us to the springs of the water of life,
until we join the choir of the redeemed,
singing: Salvation belongs to our God
who is seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb:
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
The Lord bless and keep
your going out
and your coming in
from this time on
and forevermore. Alleluia!
Psalm 121:8
Proclaim the message,
be persistent in prayer,
do the work of the gospel,
and carry out the ministry
of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
2 Timothy 4:2, 5; Luke 18:1
Symbol of the Gospel of Luke
Stained Glass, Corning, Ohio
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- O God, Who Gives Us Life (G) NOEL GTG 53
- Wash, O God, Your Sons and Daughter (O) BEACH SPRING GTG 490
- Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above (P) MIT FREUDEN ZART GTG 645
WORD
- I Long for Your Commandments (P) WOHL DENEN, DIE DA WANDELN GTG 64
- Break Thou the Bread of Life (E) BREAD OF LIFE GTG 460
- O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go (O) ST. MARGARET 833
EUCHARIST
- Here, O Our Lord, We See You (O) MORECAMBE GTG 517
- What a Friend We Have in Jesus (G) CONVERSE GTG 465
- Taste and See (P) TASTE AND SEE GTG 520
SENDING
- Listen, God Is Calling (E) NENO LAKE MUNGU GTG 456
- Seek Ye First (G) LAFFERTY GTG 175
- I to the Hills Will Lift My Eyes (P) DUNDEE GTG 45
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 119:97–104
Metrical
- O Lord, How I Adore Your Law [LM]; PCW 119d
- 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 123
- Let Me Sing of Your Law; PAS 119A
- O Lord, You Have the Words of Life [LEONI/YIGDAL]; PP 234
Psalm 121
Metrical
- I to the Hills Will Lift My Eyes [DUNDEE, UNION]; GTG 45, PH 234, PAS 121E
- To the Hills I Lift My Eyes (Naega sanŭl hyanghayŏ) [NA-UI DO-UM]; GTG 845, PAS 121F
- To the Hills I Lift My Eyes [GUIDE]; PAS 121A, LUYH 331
- Alzo a los montes / Lift Your Eyes Up; 121C
Responsorial
- My Help Comes Only from the Lord; PAS 121D
- Our Help Is from the Lord; PAS 121 I
- Help Comes Only from the Lord; PSA 125
Organ Music
- “Chant de Paix (Song of Peace),” Augsburg Organ Library: November, Jean Langlais, AF (ME)
- “CONVERSE,” Augsburg Organ Library: Summer, Robert A. Hobby, AF (E)
- “HANKEY,” Augsburg Organ Library: Epiphany, Emma Lou Diemer, AF (M)
Piano Music
- “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” CONVERSE, In Christ Alone, Rachel Chopin, CON (M)
- “O Love That Will Not Let Me Go,” ST. MARGARET, Glorious Morning, Marty Parks, LOR (M)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown,” David L. Mennicke, MSM, SATB, keybd, opt solo, opt fl, opt cong (E)
- “Psalm 147,” Hallelu Yah: Three Psalms of Praise, Dan Forrest, BP, SATB, keybd, opt perc (M)
- “A Place at the Table,” Mary McDonald, HOPE, SATB, keybd, opt perc (ME)
- “When the Storms of Life Are Raging (Stand by Me),” Victor C. Johnson, SHAW, SATB, keybd (ME)
- “My Help Comes from the Lord,” Wes Cameron, HOPE, SATB, keybd (E)
- “Oh, How I Love Your Law, O Lord!” J. William Greene, PAR, SATB, acap (MA)
Vocal Solos
- “Mein gläubiges Herze [My Heart Ever Faithful],” Cantata BWV 68: Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt, J. S. Bach, soprano, BV (A)
- “Cry No More,” Sacred Solos of Dan Forrest, Dan Forrest, BP, low/medium/high (MA)
- “Reckless Love,” Cory Asbury, musicnotes.com (M)
Art
- Psalm 121:1–3, Timothy Botts, 2016 (EYE)
- Jacob Wrestles the Angel, Maurice Denis, 1893 (VDL)
- Jacob and Angel with Text, Wayne Forte, 2016 (EYE)
- Vision of the Sermon (Jacob Wrestling with the Angel), Paul Gauguin, 1888 (VCS)
- The Unjust Judge and the Importunate Widow, Dalziel Brothers after John Everett Millais, 1864 (PD)
