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
We will sing to God
and bless God’s name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised!
We will declare God’s mighty acts
and celebrate God’s abundant goodness.
Let us worship, singing of God’s righteousness.
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
- There’s a Sweet, Sweet Spirit in This Place (OE) SWEET, SWEET SPIRIT GTG 408, PH 398
- All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly (OG) HOLY MANNA GTG 509
- Praise, My Soul, the God (King) of Heaven (O) LAUDA ANIMA GTG 619, 620, PH 478, 479
- Let No Ambition Rule Our Hearts (OG) TALLIS’ CANON Sing No Empty Alleluias, Chris Shelton, GIA
WORD
- Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness (O) SPIRIT GTG 291
- Brethren, We Have Met to Worship (OE) HOLY MANNA GTG 396
- When We Are Living / Pues si vivimos (E) SOMOS DEL SEÑOR GTG 822, PH 400
- I’ll Live for Him (E) MY LIFE MY LOVE SON 553
EUCHARIST
- Like the Murmur of the Dove’s Song (EG) BRIDEGROOM GTG 285, PH 314
- The Bread and the Wine Are Here (G) LOVE FEAST GTG 512
- Rise, O Church, like Christ Arisen (OE) SURGE ECCLESIA GTG 536
- Living Spirit, Holy Fire (OE) ALL THINGS NEW WAS 3109
SENDING
- For the Fruit of All Creation (G) AR HYD Y NOS, EAST ACKLAM GTG 36, PH 553
- Light Dawns on a Weary World (OG) TEMPLE OF PEACE GTG 79
- Lead On, O King Eternal! (OE) LANCASHIRE, LLANGLOFFAN GTG 269, PH 447, 448
- This Is My One, My Lifelong Wish / Nae pyŏngsaeng sowŏn (E) SO-WŎN STB 48
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 105:1–6, 37–45
Metrical
- We Give You Thanks, O Lord Our God [CMD]; SGP (sts. 1, 6-8)
- Praise the Lord, the Day Is Won [GAUDEAMUS PARITER/AVE VIRGO VIRGINUM]; PAS 105C
Responsorial
- Alleluia, Alleluia; PAS 105B
- O Lord, Still Guide Us; PP 198
- Remember the Marvels God Has Done [HANOVER]; HTP2 45
Psalm 145:1–8
Metrical
- Te exaltaré, mi Dios / I Will Exalt My God [TE EXALTARÉ, MI DIOS; ECUADOR]; GTG 622, PAS 145C, LUYH 37, SSS 435
- O Lord, You Are My God and King (I Will Exalt My God and King) [JERUSALEM]; GTG 270, PH 252, PAS 145B (sts. 1–3)
- I Will Extol You, O My God [NOEL/GERARD]; PAS 145E, LUYH 561
Responsorial
- I Will Praise Your Name Forever; PAS 145D (pointed vv.), PFTS2 59 (through-composed vv.)
- We Praise You, O God; PSA 147
Organ Music
- “In dir ist Freude,” BWV 608, Orgelbüchlein, J. S. Bach, multiple editions (M)
- “Light Dawns on a Weary World,” TEMPLE OF PEACE, Michael Burkhardt, AF (ME)
- “March in D,” Trumpet Tunes for Organ, David N. Johnson, AF (ME)
- “Dialogue sur les Grands Jeux,” Old French Organ Music, Louis-Nicolas Clerambault, OUP (ME)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ,” arr. Robert Hobby, AF, 2 pt mx, org, perc (E)
- “How Great Thou Art,” arr. Dan Forrest, BP, SATB, pno, opt orch (MA)
- “The Smallest Things,” James E. Clemens, CGA, SATB, pno (M)
- “All Things Bright and Beautiful,” John Rutter, OUP, 2 pt or SATB, pno (M)
- “The First Song of Isaiah,” Jack Noble White, Belwin, SATB, keybd (ME)
- “Christus Paradox,” Alfred Fedak, GIA, SATB, keybd, opt orch (MA)
- “Blessed Are They,” Marty Haugen, GIA, SAB, keybd (E)
- “A Vineyard Grows,” K. Lee Scott, MSM, SATB, org (M)
Handbell Music
- “Sweet, Sweet Spirit,” Linda R. Lamb, 3–5 oct, opt 3 oct hc, HOPE, 2296, Level 2+
- “When We Are Living,” Kevin McChesney, 3–5 oct, opt 2 oct hc, RW, 8256, Level 2
- “Lead on, O King Eternal,” Barbara B. Kinyon, 3–6 oct, HOPE, 2165, Level 3+
Art
- Prophet Jonah Before the Walls of Nineveh, Rembrandt van Rijn, c. 1655 (VDL)
- Israelites Gathering Manna, Ercole de’ Roberti, c. 1490 (VDL)
- Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, Christian Wilhelm Ernst Dietrich, Poland, c. 1752 (VDL)
- The Late-Arriving Workers, JESUS MAFA, Cameroon, 1973 (VDL)
