Bulletin – Sunday, August 3, 2025 – Eighth Sunday after Pentecost / Communion
Sunday, August 3, 2025
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost / Communion
We Gather as People of Faith
Welcome
Announcements
Lighting the Christ Candle
Call to Worship
One: We are not alone. We live in God’s world.
All: We gather to celebrate God’s presence.
One: As we speak and as we listen,
All: May we be aware of God’s presence.
One: As we pray and as we sing,
All: May we be aware of God’s presence.
One: In the world around us, and in the Spirit that weaves among us
All: May we be aware of God’s presence.
One: In the beauty and in sorrow, in faith and in doubt, in joy and in hope,
All: Let us gather and celebrate God’s holy presence.
Hymn – “For the Beauty of the Earth” (VU #226)
For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth over and around us lies,
God of all, to you we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
For the Beauty of each hour of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower, sun and moon, and stars of light,
God of all, to you we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child
Friends on earth, and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild,
God of all, to you we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
For each perfect gift sublime to our race so freely given,
Grace human and divine, flowers of earth and buds of heaven,
God of all, to you we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
A Prayer to Begin
One: Inside and out, you know us, O God.
All: The joy in our song, the hurts and the fears, the hope in our hearts, the shame or the anger.
A Time of Silence…
One: Inside and out, you know us, O God. And so we come, this gathered people,
All: And so we come, each one,
One: To bless you
All: And to be blessed.
One: Inside and out, you know us, God.
All: And we are glad. Amen.
Words of Assurance
Sung Response – “Trust These Words”
Trust these words: you are forgiven!
Through Christ’s mercy, broken hearts can be restored;
Trust these words: you are forgiven!
Live in peace, beloved, know you are adored;
Trust these words, trust these words, trust these words.
Trust these words: we are forgiven!
Through God’s mercy broken lives can be restored;
Trust thee words: we are forgiven!
Live in grace and peace, oh, love and serve the Lord;
Trust these words, trust these words, trust these words.
Trust these words.
A Story for All – “Battle in the Tomato Patch”
We Hear God’s Word
Scripture Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14
2 Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.
12 I, the Teacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 I applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to humans to be busy with. 14 I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun, and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
Scripture Reading: Luke 12:13-21
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” 16 Then he told them a parable: “The land of a rich man produced abundantly. 17 And he thought to himself, ‘What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God.”
May God speak to us through these readings of scripture.
Thanks be to God!
Hymn: “Seek Ye First” (VU #356)
Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and God’s righteousness
And all these things shall be added unto you. Allelu, alleluia.
We do not live by bread alone, but by ev’ry word
That proceeds from the mouth of God. Allelu, alleluia.
Ask and it shall be given unto you; seek and you shall find;
Knock and the door shall be opened unto you. Allelu, alleluia.
Reflection: “As (in)Substantial as Breath”
We Respond to God’s Word
Invitation to Share
As a manifest of our worship, let us unite in solidarity to uplift one another and embrace the freedom to live abundantly in every aspect of our lives. God has blessed us with a community and entrusted us to care for one another. Giving is the expression of freedom to enable all to live life to the fullest. Let us now bring our offerings to God.
Offering Sung Response – “There’s Enough for All”
There’s enough for all if we would learn to share it,
There’s enough for all, oh, help us to believe.
There’s enough for all.
Let’s bring our loaves and fishes, and offer them to Jesus.
There’s more than enough for you and me.
Offering Prayer
The Sacrament of Holy Communion
Invitation to the Table
Hymn: “Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ” (VU #468)
Let us talents and tongues employ,
Reaching out with a shout of joy:
Bread is broken, the wine is poured,
Christ is spoken and seen and heard.
Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again,
Pass the Word around: loaves abound!
Christ is able to make us one,
At the table he sets the tone,
Teach people to live to bless,
Love in word and in deed express.
Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again,
Pass the Word around: loaves abound!
Jesus calls us in, sends us out,
Bearing fruit in a world of doubt,
Gives us love to tell, bread to share:
God (Immanuel) ev’rywhere!
Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again,
Pass the Word around: loaves abound!
Prayer
One: God be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
All: We lift them up to God.
One: Let us give thanks.
All: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Prayers of the People
Sung Response – “Sanctus and Benedictus”
Holy, holy, holy, God of power and might;
Heav’n and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who come in the name,
Comes in the name of our God.
Blessed is the One who come in the name,
Comes in the name of our God.
Hosanna in the highest;
Hosanna in the highest!
Sung Response – “Memorial Acclamation”
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Sung Response – “Great Amen”
Amen, amen, amen.
The Prayer Jesus Taught Us:
One: Please join me in praying as Jesus taught us.
All: Our loving God who is like our Mother and our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Sharing the Bread and Cup
Passing of the Peace
One: The peace of Christ be with you.
All: And also with you.
Prayer of Thanks after Communion
One: Eternal and gracious One, though we live in a world of need,
All: Here we have tasted your goodness and hungered for a world more just.
One: Though afflicted by brokenness and division,
All: Here we have heard your call to be a people of healing community.
One: Though daily we touch our limits,
All: Here we have received the fullness of your grace.
One: Send us forth, O God, in faith, in hope, and in love.
All: Amen.
(Written by Peter Wyatt, published in Celebrate God’s Presence © 2000, The United Church of Canada, Used with Permission.)
We Go Into God’s World
Hymn – “Sent Forth By God’s Blessing” (VU #481)
Sent forth by God’s blessing, our true faith confessing,
The people of God from this dwelling take leave.
The supper is ended, O, now be extended
The fruits of this service in all who believe…
The seed of Christ’s teaching, receptive souls reaching,
Shall blossom in action for God and for all.
God’s grace did invite us, God’s love shall unite us
To work for the kingdom and answer its call.
With praise and thanksgiving to God every-living,
The tasks of our ev’ryday life we will face,
Our faith ever sharing, in love ever caring,
Embracing God’s children of each tribe and race.
With your feast you feed us, with your light now lead us;
Unite us as one in this life that we share.
Then may all the living with praise and thanksgiving
Give honour to Christ and the name that we bear.
Commissioning / Benediction
Sung Response – “May the Peace of Christ”
May the peace of Christ be with you,
May the love of God dwell deep in your heart.
May the Spirit enlighten your way.
May you walk in the comfort of God’s care.
