Lectionary Readings
Semicontinuous
Exodus 16:2–15
The people complain of hunger; God gives food in the wilderness.
Psalm 105:1–6, 37–45
Give thanks to the Lord, who gave food and drink in the desert.
Complementary
Jonah 3:10—4:11
God’s mercy angers Jonah; God teaches a lesson through a bush.
Psalm 145:1–8
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and full of love.
Philippians 1:21–30
Living is Christ, dying is gain; live in a way worthy of the gospel.
Matthew 20:1–16
The parable of laborers in the vineyard; the last will be first.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
The wilderness is still.
The hungry are left empty.
The cracked earth crumbles.
The thirsty cry out.
The Promise Keeper pulls them close.
God, hear us now.
Water flows.
The Holy One listens.
A feast from heaven.
The Holy One provides.
Prayer of the Day
God of every blessing,
we remember the works of your hands:
the days you save us,
the people who embrace us,
the moments we feel free,
and the dreams you give us.
All of it is from you, Faithful One.
Sustain us with your strength,
that we may be surprised
by the miraculous gift of life itself. 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 try to live our lives in a manner worthy of Christ.
We try to stand firm in God’s spirit,
but our human self-interest gets the better of us.
In humility and faith,
let us confess.
God of generosity,
we find ourselves bitter
when faced with your abundant grace.
We believe ourselves more deserving than others.
We nurse our anger and resentment at those you forgive,
instead of rejoicing in the abundant love you show.
Forgive us when we wish your grace was scarce.
Forgive the double standards we hold.
Help us to know that we are all in need of your grace,
and help us rejoice as we all gratefully receive your mercy.
Lifting water from the font:
The grace of God is boundless,
poured out freely for all of us.
We will receive this gift of forgiveness,
and trust God to transform our lives!
— 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 . . .
Give us joy in our faith and life together,
sharing in the hope of the gospel,
and living as a sign of your saving love.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the name of Jesus, we pray for the earth . . .
Show us it is not too late to receive your mercy.
Shelter your creatures from scorching heat;
shower upon us your healing grace.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the name of Jesus, we pray for all nations . . .
Let the last be first, and the first be last.
Let the high and mighty learn humility;
let the lowly and despised find dignity.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the name of Jesus, we pray for this community . . .
Inspire us, by your great generosity,
to help those who are hungry and homeless,
or work long hours for little reward.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
In the name of Jesus, we pray for loved ones . . .
Give hope and healing to all who suffer—
especially those who are consumed by anger
and those who wish to end their own lives.
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:
When your people were wandering in the wilderness,
you fed them each day with manna from heaven.
Still, by your grace, you provide our daily bread.
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 demonstrated your astounding generosity:
not giving to us according to what we deserve,
but offering the abundance of your grace to all.
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.
Give us strength to stand firm in your Spirit,
living in faith and working side by side
to share the good news of salvation.
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
Arta“Israelites Gathering Manna”
Ercole de’ Roberti, ca. 1490–1499
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
-
Brethren, We Have Met to Worship (Os) HOLY MANNA GTG 396
-
Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken (Os) AUSTRIAN HYMN GTG 81
-
You Are the Lord, Giver of Mercy! (Oc) WAYFARING STRANGER GTG 437
-
Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee (E) ST. AGNES GTG 629
WORD
-
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (E) HAMBURG GTG 223 or ROCKINGHAM GTG 224
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Lord, Speak to Me That I May Speak (Oc) CANONBURY GTG 722
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For the Troubles and the Sufferings (Oc) PELAS DORES DESTE MUNDO GTG 764
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Take Up Your Cross, the Savior Said (E) BOURBON GTG 718
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All Who Love and Serve Your City (G) CHARLESTOWN GTG 351
-
Heaven Shall Not Wait (G) HEAVEN SHALL NOT WAIT GTG 773
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Jesus Is All the World to Me (E) ALL THE WORLD AAHH 382, OLOF 485
EUCHARIST
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Bread of Life from Heaven (Os) ARGENTINE SANTO | BREAK NOW THE BREAD GTG 497
-
All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly (Os) HOLY MANNA GTG 509
-
Have Mercy, God, upon My Life (Oc) IRISH GTG 421
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There Is a Redeemer (E) GREEN GTG 443
-
The Bread and the Wine Are Here (OsG) LOVE FEAST GTG 512
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Bread of the World in Mercy Broken (E) RENDEZ À DIEU GTG 499
SENDING
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Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah (Os) CWM RHONDDA GTG 65
-
God Be with You Till We Meet Again (Os) RANDOLPH GTG 541 or GOD BE WITH YOU GTG 542
-
There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy (OcG) IN BABILONE GTG 435
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Fight the Good Fight (E) DUKE STREET GTG 846
-
Come, Labor On (G) ORA LABORA GTG 719
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 105:1–6, 37–45
Metrical
- Praise the Lord, the Day Is Won [GAUDEAMUS PARITER/AVE VIRGO VIRGINEM]; PAS 105C, LUYH 200
Responsorial
- O Lord, Still Guide Us on Our Way [GO DOWN MOSES]; PP 198
- The Lord Remembers His Covenant Forever; LPGA 783
Psalm 145:1–8
Metrical
- We Will Extol You, God and King [SCARECROW]; PAS 145G, LUYH 562
- O Lord, You Are My God and King [JERUSALEM]; GTG 270
Responsorial
- Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!; PP 284
- I Will Praise Your Name Forever; PRCL 114
Organ Music
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“Adagio,” An Organ Miscellany: 85 Attractive Pieces, Francois Verhelset, KM (ME)
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“If You But Trust in God to Guide You,” Augsburg Organ Library: Reformation, David Lasky, AF (M)
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“Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee,” Draw Us In: Organ Settings, David Lasky, AF (M)
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“Kyrie, Gott heiliger Geist, BWV 674,” Organ Works of J. S. Bach, J. S. Bach, various publishers; IMSLP.org (ME)
Piano Music
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“Romance, S. 169,” Franz Liszt, IMSLP.org (MA)
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“Prelude in D Major, Op. 23, No. 4,” 24 Preludes, Sergei Rachmaninoff, HEN (A)
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“Minuet in G Minor,” Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach, Johann Sebastian Bach, HEN (ME)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
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“Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah,” Mark Hayes, BP, SATB, org, opt tpt (E)
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“Thou Art the Vine,” Andrew Carter, MSM, SATB, org (ME)
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“Bread of Heaven,” Karen Marrolli, MSM, SATB, pno (ME)
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“There’s A Wideness in God’s Mercy,” Bradley Ellingboe, AF, SATB, pno (ME)
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“I Will Extol You,” Emma Lou Diemer, AF, SATB, org (MA)
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“Christ the Appletree,” Stanford E. Scriven, ES, SATB, acap (A)
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“A Prayer of Compassion,” Gwyneth Walker, ECS, SATB div, acap (A)
Vocal Solos
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“Panis Angelicus,” Sacred Solos for All Ages, Cesar Franck, HAL, high/medium/low (E)
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“Workin’ On My Building,” 44 Art Songs and Spirituals, Florence Price, Classical Vocal Reprints, high/medium/low (E)
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“Mi Shebeirach,” Debbie Friedman, Transcontinental Music, medium (E)
Art
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The Israelites Gathering Manna, Ercole de’ Roberti, 1940 (VCS)
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Gathering Manna, from “Dalziels’ Bible Gallery,” after Arthur Boyd Houghton, 1865-81 (MET)
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The Reluctant Servant, Wayne Forte (EYE)
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Parables, Laura James, 2016 (EYE)
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The Late-arriving Workers, JESUS MAFA, 1973 (VDL)
