Sunday August 4, 2024 - Bulletin
August 4, 2024
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
CHIMING THE HOUR
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRAYER OF APPROACH
PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP ( from Psalm 51 )
One: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love;
All: according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
One: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
All: Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.
One: Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.
All: Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.
*HYMN # Insert “Create in Me a Clean Heart”
CALL TO CONFESSION
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (UNISON)
Merciful God, we confess that too often we come to you like the crowds who demanded signs so that they might believe. Help us to recognize that not only are your signs all around us, but that you can reach our hearts even without signs. Forgive us when we come seeking satisfaction for our physical needs at the expense of seeking your Holy Spirit within us. Open our hearts so that we will truly understand the words of your Son when he tells us that those who come to him will never be hungry and whoever believes in him will never be thirsty. Teach us not to focus on the food that perishes but rather to work for the food that endures for eternal life. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.
One: Now that we have confessed as a body, let us take the truths that have troubled our hearts to God silently. Let us not be worried about the awkwardness of silence, as we take some time to focus on speaking with our God.
SILENT REFLECTION
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
GLORIA PATRI # 579
PASSING OF THE PEACE
One: Since God has forgiven us in Christ,
let us forgive one another.
The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
All: And also with you.
One: Let us share signs of peace with one another.
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON 2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a
EPISTLE LESSON Ephesians 4:1-16 Rev Kirsty H. Dickson-Maret
MUSICAL OFFERING
GOSPEL LESSON John 6:24-35 Rev Kirsty H. Dickson-Maret
SERMON “Bread from Heaven” Rev Kirsty H. Dickson-Maret
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
*HYMN # 500 “Become to Us the Living Bread”
CELEBRATION OF EUCHARIST
INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE
This is the joyful feast of the people of God! People will come from north and south and from east and west to sit at table in the kingdom of God.
According to Luke, when our risen Lord was at table with his disciples, he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. This is the Lord’s Table. Our Savior invites those who trust him to share the feast that he has prepared.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
L: The Lord be with you.
A: And also with you.
L: Lift up your hearts.
A: We lift them to the Lord.
L: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
A: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
L: We glorify your name and lift our voices in joyful praise.
Praise to you, O God, for all your works. You created the world and called it good
and made us in your image to live together in love. You made a covenant with us,
and even when we turned from you, you remained ever faithful. Therefore with all creation we sing your praise:
A: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
L: Thank you, O God, for sending us your Son. He lived among us and told your story. He healed the sick and welcomed sinners.
He shared our pain and died our death, then rose to new life that we might live, and all creation be restored.
Gracious God, pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon these your gifts of bread and wine that they may be for us the body
and blood of Christ and that we may be his body for the world. By your Spirit unite us with Christ and one another until we feast with him
and with all your saints in your eternal realm of justice and peace. Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor are yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen.
THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION
COMMUNION OF THE PEOPLE
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
L: Loving God, we thank you that you have fed us in this sacrament,
A: united us with Christ, and given us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet in your eternal realm.
L: Send us out in the power of your Spirit
A: to live and work to your praise and glory, For the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
JOYS AND CONCERNS
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and THE LORD’S PRAYER
CALL FOR THE OFFERING
DOXOLOGY
PRAYER OF DEDICATION (UNISON)
Loving God, we offer you these gifts today, knowing that all that we have comes from you. May they be used to spread the message that your Son is the bread of life, and whoever goes to him will never be hungry, and whoever believes in him, will never be thirsty. Amen.
*HYMN # 536 “Lord, Make Us More Holy”
CHARGE
BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE