Lectionary Readings
Semicontinuous
Job 1:1; 2:1–10
Satan begins a contest with the Lord, testing Job’s faithfulness.
Psalm 26
Vindicate me, O Lord; I have trusted you and walked in integrity.
Complementary
Genesis 2:18–24
God sees that the man is alone, and creates a partner for him.
Psalm 8
Majestic Lord, what are human beings that you are mindful of them?
Hebrews 1:1–4; 2:5–12
Now God speaks to us by a Son, made lower than the angels.
Mark 10:2–16
Jesus responds to a question on divorce and blesses little children.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
How majestic is God’s name in all the earth!
Our creator promised from the beginning
that we would not be alone.
How majestic is God’s name in all the earth!
Our redeemer proclaimed
that everyone is welcome.
How majestic is God’s name in all the earth!
Our sustainer speaks to us still.
Prayer of the Day
Creator God,
from the beginning, you made us for connection.
Help us to nurture kinship wherever we find it,
whether the bonds in our lives
are romantic or platonic, familial or friendly.
When we feel alone,
assure us of your sustaining presence.
Help us to recognize your Spirit among us
in the support we share for one another,
and deepen our understanding of your love
as we seek to more deeply understand each other. 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.
United in your love, O God,
we are one body across the globe.
We are branches of one family
whose roots run in the waters of grace.
Still, O Lord, we do not act like one body.
We find ways to distance ourselves with more than miles.
We find ways to divide ourselves
into endless groups of “us” and “them.”
Again and again, you call us back to the waters;
again and again, we turn away.
Forgive us, uniting God,
and by your forgiveness,
challenge us to tend to each other’s wounds.
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 . . .
Speak to us through your Son, Jesus Christ,
so that we may understand your ways
and proclaim your word to the world.
Let your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
We pray for the world . . .
Help us to care for the earth and its creatures,
so that the glory and majesty of your good creation
will be praised for generations to come.
Let your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
We pray for this community . . .
Bless all the families you have joined together;
help them to live in faithfulness and love,
taking special care of the very old and very young.
Let your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
We pray for loved ones . . .
Remember those who are afflicted with suffering;
strengthen them to withstand their times of trial
and deliver them from all evil.
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 created us to love one another
and to care for the world you had made.
How majestic is your name in all the earth!
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 came to fulfill your law and teach your faithful love.
He welcomed little children, and blessed them, saying:
The kingdom of God belongs to 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.
As you have spoken to us through Jesus Christ, your Son,
let our lips proclaim your name to our sisters and brothers,
so that all may know your saving grace.
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
Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler
Unknown artist, 1879
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- All Creatures of Our God and King (O) LASST UNS ERFREUEN GTG 15
- Crown Him with Many Crowns (E) DIADEMATA GTG 268
- Fairest Lord Jesus (EG) CRUSADERS’ HYMN GTG 630
- O Lord, Our Lord (How Majestic Is Your Name) (E) HOW MAJESTIC GTG 613
WORD
- All Things Bright and Beautiful (O) ROYAL OAK GTG 20
- By Gracious Powers (O) INTERCESSOR GTG 818
- Jesus, Lover of My Soul (G) ABERYSTWYTH GTG 440
- These Treasured Children (G) PUER NOBIS NASCITUR GTG 487
EUCHARIST
- Bread of the World in Mercy Broken (World Communion) RENDEZ À DIEU GTG 499
- Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether (G) UNION SEMINARY GTG 529
- I Come with Joy (World Communion) DOVE OF PEACE GTG 515
- Of the Father’s Love Begotten (E) DIVINUM MYSTERIUM GTG 108
SENDING
- Amen, We Praise Your Name (Amen siakudumisa) (O) AMEN SIAKUDUMISA GTG 598
- God, You Spin the Whirling Planets (O) PLEADING SAVIOR GTG 23
- How Firm a Foundation (O) FOUNDATION GTG 463
- When the Lord Redeems the Very Least (EG) I’LL FLY AWAY GTG 852
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 26
Metrical
- Lord, Speak for Me, for I Am Yours [PERRY]; GTG 723
- Be Now My Judge, O Lord [PROSPECT]; PP 48 (with refrain), PCW 26 (LM)
- You Alone, O God, Can Judge Me [ST. THOMAS (Wade)]; PLP1 26
- Let This Be My Supreme Desire [WINCHESTER OLD]; PAS 26B, LUYH 729
- Vindicate Me Now, O Lord [7.6.7.6D]; SGP 41
Responsorial
- Redeem Me and Show Me Your Mercy (Gelineau); PSA 24
- Your Love Is Before My Eyes [REPTON]; HTP2 113
- Your Love Is Before My Eyes; PAS 26A
Psalm 8
Metrical
- O Lord, Our God, How Excellent [WINCHESTER OLD]; GTG 25, PH 162
- Lord, Our Lord, Your Glorious Name [GOTT SEI DANK, EVENING PRAISE]; PAS 8A, B, LUYH 500, 501, PH 163
- O Lord, Our Lord, throughout the Earth [TRAMPS AND HAWKERS, ALLACOMBE]; PAS 8D, KU 122
- O Lord, Our Lord, Your Majesty [8.6.8.8.6]; PCW 8
Responsorial
- O Lord, Our Lord, How Majestic Is Your Name; PAS 8E
- O Lord, Our Lord, Your Name Is Glorious; PSA 5
Organ Music
- “Beautiful Savior,” SCHÖNSTER HERR JESU/CRUSADER’S HYMN, A New Liturgical Year, vol. 2, Charles W. Ore, AF (M)
- “Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds,” LASST UNS ERFREUEN, Augsburg Organ Library: Easter, Mark Sedio, AF (M)
- “Crown Him with Many Crowns,” The Complete Organist, Chris Neal, LOR (E)
- “Prelude on All Things Bright and Beautiful,” ROYAL OAK, God Reigns Above, Neal Harmon, MSM (ME)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “I Will Arise,” arr. Alice Parker and Robert Shaw, ALF, SATB, acap (E)
- “City Called Heaven,” arr. Josephine Poelintz, CV, SATB, solo, pno (E)
- “Lord My God, a Wonder Fills My Heart and Soul,” W. A. Mozart; arr. Hal Hopson, HOPE, SAB, keybd (M)
- “Children of the Heavenly Father,” Dan Forrest, BP, 2 pt mx, keybd, fl (E)
- “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence,” The Oxford Book of Flexible Anthems, arr. Stephen Cleobury, OUP, uni, keybd (E)
- “At the Name of Jesus,” Ralph Vaughan Williams, OUP, SATB, brass quin or org (E)
- “Fairest Lord Jesus,” Small but Mighty, vol. 2, Derek Hakes, BP, SAB, pno (E)
- “O Lord in Thee Have I Trusted,” G. F. Handel, ed. Malin, HAL, SATB, keybd (A)
Handbell Music
- “Celtic Dance on Pleading Savior,” Sondra Tucker, 3‑5 oct, opt hc, fl and drum, ALF, 45749, Level 3
- “Contemplation on Pleading Savior,” Kurt Meyer, 3‑6 oct, opt hc, FTM, FM20650, Level 3
- “Impressions on Aberystwyth,” Matthew Compton, 3‑7 oct, opt hc, HOPE, 2915, Level 4
Art
- Satan Before the Throne of God, William Blake (VDL)
- Children’s Worship, Manila, Philippines (VDL)
- Jesus Welcomes the Children, JESUS MAFA (VDL)
- Who Gave You Your Eyes? Jan Richardson (JR)
