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
We bow with the rolling rocks.
God is our strength and our salvation.
We sing with the roaring rivers.
God is our justice and our joy.
We will never stop telling God’s story.
God is the hope of our ancestors.
With all that we have and all that we are, we say:
God is so good!
Prayer of the Day
Spirit of mercy,
we come to your fountain of forgiveness
to begin again.
You offer a fresh drink, a new life.
Though we are often critical of others
and of ourselves,
help us to accept that we are accepted.
Meet us here in ways that we can understand,
that we may be filled with the life
only you can offer. 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:
We are not here to pass judgment on each other:
all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
Therefore, let us go before God
as we offer our confession.
God our Judge,
we admit we have double standards.
We seek forgiveness for ourselves,
but fail to forgive others.
We seek relief for ourselves,
but fail to seek relief for others.
We seek leniency for ourselves,
but fail to show that mercy to others.
Forgive us, mighty God,
and help us to forgive,
showing others the same grace and mercy
that you have generously shown to us.
Lifting water from the font:
People of God, hear and believe:
God does not deal with us according to our sins,
but according to God’s own steadfast love for us.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far God removes our sins from us.
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:
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 us live as new and holy people,
delivered from sin and death by the grace of Christ
through the waters of our baptism.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the name of Jesus, we pray for the earth . . .
Stretch out your hand to stop the rising waters;
lead us away from death and destruction
into the land of promise you provide.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the name of Jesus, we pray for all nations . . .
Lead all peoples, by the light of your presence,
to walk in freedom, to work for justice,
to seek your purpose, and to live in peace.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the name of Jesus, we pray for this community . . .
Allow us to learn from our sisters and brothers,
respecting different patterns and practices of life,
doing everything to your honor and glory.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the name of Jesus, we pray for loved ones . . .
Bless those for whom we pray: heal their diseases,
deliver them from trouble, renew their strength,
and satisfy them with goodness as long as they live.
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:
Through the waters of the sea you saved your people,
delivering them from slavery in the land of Egypt.
Still you are our strength, our salvation, our song of joy.
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:
You sent Jesus to release us from our slavery to sin.
As you forgive our debts, you call us to forgive one another,
remembering that we owe our very lives to your 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.
Strengthen our faith and help us in our weakness,
so that we may honor you in everything we do
and welcome those whom you have called.
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
“First Passover: Crossing through the Divided Sea”
South Africa, 2019
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
-
God of Compassion, in Mercy Befriend Us (OcG) O QUANTA QUALIA GTG 436
-
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah (Os) CWM RHONDDA GTG 65
-
Forgive Us, Lord (E) CONFESIÓN GTG 431
-
Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken (Os) AUSTRIAN HYMN GTG 81
WORD
-
Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive (OcG) DETROIT GTG 444
-
Help Us Accept Each Other (EG) BARONITA GTG 754
-
Give to the Winds Thy Fears (Os) FESTAL SONG GTG 815
-
Out of Deep, Unordered Water (Os) RUSTINGTON GTG 484
-
Tremble, O Tremble (OsG) TROMBLEY GTG 57
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When We Are Living (E) SOMOS DEL SEÑOR GTG 822
-
God Weeps with Us Who Weep and Mourn (OcE) MOSHIER GTG 787
-
When Israel Was Going Forth (Os) PISGAH GTG 58
EUCHARIST
-
You Belong to Christ (E) YOU BELONG TO CHRIST GTG 492
-
Your Only Son (EG) LAMB OF GOD GTG 518
-
We Are Forgiven (G) WE ARE FORGIVEN GTG 447
SENDING
-
There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy (OsG) IN BABILONE GTG 435
-
Crashing Waters at Creation (Os) CRASHING WATERS GTG 476
-
Restore in Us, O God (E) BAYLOR GTG 434
-
My Faith Looks Up to Thee (EG) OLIVET GTG 829
-
O God, in a Mysterious Way (Os) DUNDEE GTG 30
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 114 or Exodus 15:1b–11, 20–21
Metrical
- When Israel Fled from Egypt Land [O HEILAND, REISS DIE HIMMEL]; PAS 114B
- Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah [CWM RHONDDA]; GTG 65
Responsorial
- God Led Israel On the Way; PP 215
- When Israel Came Forth from Egypt; PRCL 75
- Tremble, O Earth; UMH 835
Organ Music
-
“Absolution, Op. 49, No. 1,” The Practical Organist: 50 Short Works for Church Services, Alexandre Guilmant, DP (M)
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“Crashing Waters at Creation,” STUTTGART, Augsburg Organ Library: Baptism and Holy Communion, David McCarthy, AF (M)
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“Christe, aller Welt Trost, BWV 673,” Organ Works of J. S. Bach, J. S. Bach, various publishers; IMSLP.org (ME)
-
“We Praise You, O God,” Organ Works of Healey Willan, Healey Willan, CON (E)
Piano Music
-
“Romance in E-flat Minor, Op. 11, No. 1,” Selected Piano Works, Clara Schumann, HEN (MA)
-
“Allemande,” French Suite in D Minor BWV 812, Johann Sebastian Bach, HEN (M)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
-
“Miriam’s Song,” Michael Barker, CGA, uni, pno, opt tamb (E)
-
“When We Are Living,” Hal Hopson, AF, SATB, pno (ME)
-
“Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive,” CON, SAB, org (ME)
-
“Then I Shall Live,” Tom Fettke, LOR, SATB, pno, opt inst (M)
-
“Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah,” Criag Courtney, BP, SATB, pno (M)
-
“Song of Miriam,” Elaine Hagenberg, Elaine Hagenberg Music, SSA, pno (MA)
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“Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah,” Mack Wilberg, OUP, SATB, org, opt orch (MA)
Vocal Solos
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“None Other Lamb,” Duets for the Master, arr. Craig Courtney, BP, duet (ME)
-
“Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho,” Margaret Bonds, TPR, high/medium/low (M)
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“How Beautiful Upon the Mountains,” F. Flaxington Harker, GSH, high (MA)
Art
-
Moses, John August Swanson, 1983 (VDL)
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Prophet Miriam, Pippa Blackall, 2008 (VDL)
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Crossing the Red Sea, Marc Chagall, 1957 (VCS)
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The Egyptians Crossing the Red Sea, from Das Buch Granatapfel, Hans Baldung, 1511 (MET)
