Bulletin – Sunday, August 6, 2023 – Tenth Sunday after Pentecost / Communion

Sunday, August 6, 2023
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost / Communion

Approach

Lighting the Christ Candle

Gracious and all loving God, as we light this candle today we hear you call to us across deep waters and dark places. Yours is the light which guides us and the voice which we follow. We pray that you would reveal yourself to us as we worship you. May those without hope be encouraged, those who are sad, cheered; those who are seeking, find you; and may all things be according to your will. As we light this candle we come together in the name of your beloved son, the bringer of light to the world, to worship you.

(Rev. Patrick Woodbeck)

Call to Worship

One:   To those who are hungry, Jesus says:
All:      “Come and eat! There’s more than enough for all.”

One:   To those who are thirsty, Jesus say:
All:      “Come and drink! It’s free for the taking!

One:   Stop wasting your money on food that doesn’t satisfy.
All:      Come to Me, and you will find everything you need!”

Hymn – “God of Creation”

God of Creation
Gentle life-giver
Present at birth, and
all through our days
Author of sunrise
Song in the night sky
Here in this place, we
offer our praise.

Jesus, Companion
teacher and healer
friend of the grieving,
suffering, the poor
Stand with your people
whisper among us
promise of mercy
goodness for all.

Spirit of Comfort
blow through Creation
stir up new life, breathe
peace through our world
Healer of hearts, and
hope for tomorrow
weave all our sorrows
into new dawn.

Here we give thanks for
life in its fullness
blessings received
your gifts to us all
Make us a people
filled with compassion
selflessly giving
serving your world.

Prayer of Approach and Confession

We fill our lives with the fear of lacking, assuming there is not enough money, time, patience, or love. We turn away when a stranger asks for food, claiming there isn’t enough even for ourselves. Forgive us when we doubt your abundance and ignore the possibilities in what we have been given.

We often sit with arms crossed and fists clenched, crying out that you have turned away and left us empty handed. Forgive us when we reject your abundance and neglect the possibilities in what we have been given.

We easily give thanks for the good things in life, turning away from those which lead us to deeper community or second-guessing blessings as too good to be true. Open our eyes to the wonders that surround us. Help us surrender to the loving embrace that enfolds us.

Words of Assurance

The Word

Scripture Reading:           Genesis 32:22-31

²² That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. ²³ After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. ²⁴ So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. ²⁵ When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. ²⁶ Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” ²⁷ The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. ²⁸ Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” ²⁹ Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. ³⁰ So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” ³¹ The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip.

Scripture Reading:           Matthew 14:13-21

¹³ When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. ¹⁴ When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. ¹⁵ As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” ¹⁶ Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” ¹⁷ “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. ¹⁸ “Bring them here to me,” he said. ¹⁹ And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. ²⁰ They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. ²¹ The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Thanks be to God!

Hymn – “For the Crowd of Thousands”

For the crowd of thousands sitting on the ground,
Seven is sufficient, seven will go round.

Seven is sufficient, fish and loaves of bread;
Jesus, for our hunger, gives us life instead.

Jesus makes his offer: fish and bread as food.
Make us truly thankful, make our living good.

If we give to Jesus bread to bless and break,
Five and two will feed us seven days a week.

What we give to Jesus, and with others share,
Will at last be gathered: over and to spare!

Meditation

Hymn – “Jesus, United by Your Grace”

Jesus, united by your grace, and each to each endeared,
With confidence we seek your face, and know our prayer is heard.

Help us to see in each a friend, each other’s cross to bear;
Let all their friendly aid extend, and feel the other’s care.

Up unto you, our living head, let us in all things grow,
Til you have made us free indeed and faithful here below.

Drawn by the lodestone of your love, let all our hearts unite;
Let us toward each other move, and move toward your light.

Offering Prayer

Merciful God, the gifts we bring are so small in comparison to the vast needs in our world—nowhere near enough to save the thousands dying of starvation around the world, or even to meet the needs of the hungry and homeless in our city. Yet we have brought what we can. As You once multiplied the five small loaves and two fish, multiply these gifts as well, so that once again, the hungry may receive all they need, and more. Amen.

Offering / Response

Grant us, God, the grace of giving,
With a spirit large and free,
That ourselves and all our living
We may offer faithfully.

The Response

Communion

One:   When the time was right, God sent Jesus to be among us.

One:   Born into this life, seeing Your grace revealed in all things, he laughed with those who laughed and mourned with those who mourned.

One:   Through Your love, he healed the sick, he welcomed the outcast, he challenged those in power, and the structures that kept them there.

One:   And he called us back to Your love.

One:   In the power of the Holy Spirit, the Christ laughs and cries, heals and welcomes, challenges and loves, again and again and again.

One:   We have been told that, on the night before he was taken to be tortured to death on a cross, Jesus sat with his disciples, and ate with them, in a meal of remembrance.

One:   Jesus took a loaf of bread, asked Your blessing upon it, broke it, and gave it to his disciples saying:

One:   “Take this – all of you – and eat it. This is me. My Body. Given for you. Each time you eat it remember.”

One:   Close to the meal’s end, he took a cup filled with wine, asked Your blessing upon it, and gave it to his disciples saying:

One:   Take this – all of you – and drink it. This is me. This is my promise in my life’s blood – poured out for you and for the world.”

One:   Each time you drink it, remember me. So we, his disciples, eat bread and drink wine – and remember.

(Rev. Richard Bott, Liturgy Alive)

Prayer after Communion

Gracious God, may your gifts of love transform and enliven us that we may live lives of thanksgiving. May your presence among us provoke such longing for your realm, that we will never be satisfied until the whole earth knows your justice, your peace, and your love. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.

Hymn – “Where is Bread”

“Where is bread?” the great crowd murmured —
Thousands strong, yet all in need.
“Where is bread?” your people wondered,
Faced with such a crowd to feed.
Who, Lord Jesus, could have guessed it?
One small boy brought food to share.
Taking what he gave, you blessed it;
All were fed, with much to spare.

Where is bread? We know their yearning;
Every day, we wish for more.
God, in time, we’re slowly learning:
All we own can make us poor.
Our possessions can possess us,
Leaving hunger deep inside.
Christ our Bread, come now and bless us;
At your feast, we’re satisfied.

“Where is bread?” the call is rising;
Millions cry who must be fed.
God, your answer seems surprising:
“You, my Church, you give them bread.”
Bread to fill each hungry spirit,
Bread for hungry stomachs, too!
Give us bread and help us share it.
Richly blest, may we serve you.

Benediction

God now into the world, strengthened by the gifts with which Christ has fed you. Be generous to others, for Christ has given extravagantly. Love by God’s word, avoiding lies and violence. Walk in God’s paths and never stray. And may God’s wonderful love be with you everywhere. May Christ Jesus feed you with his body and word; and may the Holy Spirit confirm the truth in you and fill you with God’s presence always. We go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

Response

Bread for the journey, food for the way.
Cup of God’s blessing, tomorrow, today.