Lectionary Readings
Semicontinuous
Exodus 12:1–14
Before the Exodus, the Lord gives instructions for the Passover.
Psalm 149
Let the faithful praise the Lord with tambourine and dancing.
Complementary
Ezekiel 33:7–11
The Lord desires that the wicked turn away from evil, and live.
Psalm 119:33–40
Teach me your way, O Lord: to turn from vanity and disgrace.
Romans 13:8–14
Love is the fulfillment of the law; put on Christ; salvation is near.
Matthew 18:15–20
Jesus says: seek reconciliation; when you gather I am with you.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
Where two or three are gathered together,
God is in their midst.
We gather to proclaim the promises,
to retell the stories,
to remember who we are as people of God.
Let us worship!
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:
Let us lay aside the works of evil
and put on the armor of goodness.
Let us live honorably, putting on the Lord Jesus Christ,
to whom we confess now.
Beautiful Savior,
you have made your law clear:
Love. Love one another.
Owe one another nothing but love.
Do no wrong to a neighbor.
But we have not mastered what it is to love.
We have fallen short,
causing harm to others
through careless action
and thoughtless lack of action.
Forgive us.
Teach us how to love more fully,
more perfectly,
as generously as you love,
following your law and fulfilling your will.
Lifting water from the font:
Christ does not judge us harshly,
but forgives all our sin
and leads us into new life.
We will not take this forgiveness for granted,
but will let it transform how we live and love.
— 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:
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
With one mind in Christ, and one heart in the Spirit,
let us pray to the Lord of heaven and earth.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the name of Jesus, we pray for the church . . .
Let your church be a temple of forgiveness
and a sanctuary for all who are in trouble.
Be near to us when we gather in Christ’s name.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the name of Jesus, we pray for the earth . . .
Act with compassion to bring to an end
the bitter plagues that are destroying us:
wash away the stain of pollution in the land.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the name of Jesus, we pray for all nations . . .
Bring down oppressive powers and regimes;
strengthen leaders who work for justice and peace;
defend all exiles, refugees, and victims of war.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the name of Jesus, we pray for this community . . .
Show us how to love one another and live in peace.
Keep our neighborhoods and streets free of violence;
protect our families and homes from all harm.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the name of Jesus, we pray for loved ones . . .
By your saving, healing, liberating grace,
help those who are weak and suffering;
give life to those who turn to you in need.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Enable us, O God, by the power of your Spirit,
to live our lives in a way that is worthy of the gospel,
to the glory of the name that is above all names,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Philippians 1:27, 2:5, 9–11, 13
— 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:
Merciful and gracious God,
you abound in steadfast love and faithfulness.
With gratitude, we bring our gifts to you.
Bless these gifts and bless our lives
that together we may share your mercy and grace
for the world you dearly love. 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:
We remember your mercy and give thanks for your grace.
You take no pleasure in the death of the wicked,
but call everyone to turn to your way and live.
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 calls us to forgive one another and be reconciled;
he comes to us with peace, and listens to our prayers.
Whenever we gather in his name, Jesus is with us.
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.
Show us how to put on the Lord Jesus Christ—
to wear the grace of our baptism like a garment of light.
Fill our hearts with the love that fulfills your law.
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 blessing of the one God—
Spirit, Son, and Father—
be with you now and always. Alleluia!
Ephesians 4:4–6
Lead a life worthy of your calling,
giving glory to God in all things. Amen.
Ephesians 4:1

“Wisdom”
Olusola David Ayibiowu, 2008
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- I Bind unto Myself Today (OG) ST. PATRICK; DEIDRE GTG 6
- Sing a New Song unto the Lord (OE) SING A NEW SONG GTG 276
- Sing to God, with Joy and Gladness (OG) GLENDON GTG 657
- Joy Comes with the Dawn (O) DAWN STF 2210
WORD
- Your Law, O Lord, Is Perfect (O) CHRISTUS, DER IST MEIN LEBEN GTG 61
- Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed (OE) MARTYRDOM GTG 212, PH 78
- Where Charity and Love Prevail (G) TWENTY-FOURTH GTG 316
- Spirit of Jesus, If I Love My Neighbor (E) BENJAMIN NCH 590
EUCHARIST
- Look Who Gathers at Christ’s Table! (E) COPELAND GTG 506
- We Gather Here in Jesus’ Name (OG) COME SHARE THE LORD GTG 510
- Come, Let Us Eat (OG) A VA DE GTG 528
- Vamos todos al banquete / Let Us Go Now to the Banquet (G) Guillermo Cuéllar, SSS 412
SENDING
- We Gather Together (OEG) KREMSER GTG 336, PH 559
- Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (OE) PICARDY GTG 347, PH 5
- You Are Holy (EG) YOU ARE HOLY GTG 705
- There Is Power in the Blood (OE) POWER IN THE BLOOD AAHH 358
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 149
Metrical
- Give Praise to the Lord (Our God) [LAUDATE DOMINUM]; GTG 550, PH 257, PAS 149B, LUYH 566
- Praise the Lord, New Songs Employ [7.7.7.7 with Alleluias]; PCW 149
- O Praise the Lord; Sing unto God [CMD]; SGP 219
Responsorial
- Hallelujah, Sing to God [GROSSER GOTT]; PAS 149A
- Alleluia! Sing to the Lord; PSA 156
- Sing to the Lord a New Song [MIT FREUDEN ZART]; HTP2 38
Psalm 119:33–40
Metrical
- Teach Me, O Lord, Your Way of Truth [ST. CRISPIN]; PAS 119C, LUYH 721
- Teach Me, O Lord, Your Holy Law [LM]; PCW 119c
- Teach Me, O Lord, Your Statutes’ Ways [CM]; SGP 180
Responsorial
- O Lord, My Delight Is in Your Law; PSA 122
- Order My Steps in Your Word; PAS 119J
- O Lord, You Have the Words of Life [LEONI/YIGDAL]; PP 232
- Lord, to Whom Shall We Go? / ¿A quién iremos, Señor? SSS 563–564
Organ Music
- “Tiento,” Suite Medievale, Jean Langlais, multiple editions (MA)
- “The Rejoicing,” A Postlude Collection for Organ, Charles Callahan, MSM (E)
- “Prelude on Picardy,” Easy Modern Organ Music, John Joubert, OUP (E)
- “Earth and All Stars,” Two Hymns for Organ and Assembly, John Ferguson, GIA (M)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “Dance and Sing for the Lord Will Be with Us,” arr. Hal Hopson, CGA, uni / 2 pt, keybd, tamb (E)
- “Praise the Lord,” Handel, arr. Hal Hopson, SATB, pno (E)
- “Zing dem Herrn,” Michael Praetorius, arr. William DuPue, ALF, 2 pt (E)
- “How Can I Keep from Singing,” Taylor Davis, MSM, SATB, ob, vln (MA)
- “How Can I Keep from Singing,” arr. Mack Wilberg, OUP, SATB, pno (M)
- “How Lovely Are the Messengers,” Felix Mendelssohn, ECS, SATB, keybd (M)
- “I Have Longed for Thy Saving Health,” William Byrd, arr. Alfred Whitehead, JM, SATB (MA)
- “Beside a Stream of Living Waters,” Thomas Keesecker, CGA, SATB, keybd (M)
- “Beautiful City,” André Thomas, Heritage, SATB, pno (M)
Handbell Music
- “With Tambourine and Dancing,” Ron Mallory, 3–5 oct, opt tamb and fc, JHS, 9507, Level 3+
- “Timbrel and Dance,” Kevin McChesney, 3–5 oct, CGA, CGB290, Level 2+
- “Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed,” Peggy Bettcher, 3–5 oct, opt 2 oct hc, HOPE, 2677, Level 2+
Art
- Passover in the Holy Family: Gathering Bitter Herbs, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, 1856 (VDL)
- Wisdom, Ayibiowu Olusola David, Nigeria, 2008 (VDL)
- Lift Every Voice and Sing, Augusta Savage, sculpture, 1939 (VDL)
- All of Nature Sings, James Fissel (EYE)