Blessings, siblings in Christ!
Where/How/Who are you serving in the name of Christ these days? I give God thanks for you!
Peace,Pastor Chris Lee
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
The altar flowers are in memory of Nancy Johnson.
Next Sunday’s special music will be provided by Nena Myers & Siobhan Dunn.
Order of Worship for August 8, 2021:
Prelude: ELW 475- “Lord, Enthroned in Heavenly Splendor.”
Meditation
Jesus says that the bread he gives for the life of the world is his flesh, and whoever eats this bread has eternal life now and will be raised on the last day. In Ephesians Paul tells us what this life Jesus gives us looks like, this life we live as those marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit in baptism. We live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us. The whole purpose of life is giving yourself for the other.
Confession and Forgiveness
Blessed be the holy Trinity,☩ one God, the God of manna, the God of miracles, the God of mercy.
Amen.
Drawn to Christ and seeking God’s abundance, let us confess our sin.
God, our provider,
help us.
It is hard to believe there is enough to share. We question your ways when they differ from the ways of the world in which we live. We turn to our own understanding rather than trusting in you. We take offense at your teachings and your ways. Turn us again to you. Where else can we turn? Share with us the words of eternal life and feed us for life in the world.
Amen.
Beloved people of God: in Jesus, the manna from heaven, you are fed and nourished. By Jesus, the worker of miracles, there is always more than enough. Through Jesus, ☩ the bread of life, you are shown God’s mercy: you are forgiven and loved into abundant life.
Amen.
Opening Hymn: ELW 658- “O Jesus, Joy of Loving Hearts,” verses 1, 2, & 3.
Prayer of the Day
Gracious God, your blessed Son came down from heaven to be the true bread that gives life to the world. Give us this bread always, that he may live in us and we in him, and that, strengthened by this food, we may live as his body in the world, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
First Reading: 1 Kings 19:4-8
First Kings chapter 18 describes the contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. The contest proves that the Lord is God, and afterward Elijah orders the killing of the Baal prophets. Angered by the deaths of her prophets, Queen Jezebel threatens to kill Elijah. This reading finds Elijah fleeing, fatigued, and in utter despair.
4Elijah went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.”5Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.” 6He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. 7The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.” 8He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.
Second Reading: Ephesians 4:25–5:2
Christians are called to be imitators of God. This does not mean Christians are perfect. Rather, the Spirit is at work in our lives so that our actions and attitudes genuinely reflect the love and forgiveness we have received through Christ and his death.
25So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. 26Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27and do not make room for the devil. 28Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. 29Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. 31Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, 32and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. 5:1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Gospel: John 6:35, 41-51
After feeding more than five thousand people in the wilderness, Jesus teaches them regarding the true significance of this remarkable sign.
35Jesus said to the crowd, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 41Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43Jesus answered them, “Do not complain among yourselves. 44No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. 45It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. 46Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
Sermon: Pastor Chris Lee
Hymn of the Day: ELW 488, “Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness,” verses 1 & 4.
Prayers of Intercession
Rooted in Christ and sustained by the Spirit, we offer our prayers for the church, the world, and all of creation.
For the church of Christ in all its diverse forms. For mission developers, new mission starts, and all communities of faith exploring new models of ministry for the sake of the gospel. For congregations facing difficult decisions about their future. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
For the health and well-being of creation. For shade trees that provide refuge from the hot summer sun. For lakes, rivers, and oceans contaminated by pollution and all who lack clean water. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
For those called to positions of authority in our legal system, we pray. For judges, lawyers, law clerks, and court employees who ensure the fair administration of justice. For corrections officers and prison chaplains, that they would deal mercifully with those who are incarcerated. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
For all who cry out to you in their affliction. For exiles, refugees, and others who face long and difficult journeys, uncertain about the future. For all who mourn the death of a loved one, especially the family and friends of Nancy Johnson. For all who are sick especially Bill and Virginia Thorpe; Lyndon Esping; Wayne Esping; Richard Hotchkiss; John Westensee; Trenton Arnold; Marijane Cook; Nancy and Bob Bosco; Charysse and Adean Heritage; Bonnie Neu; Becky and Bill Hall; Randy McIntyre; Karen Bemowski; Marilyn Hubbard; Helen Schubert, and all those we name before you aloud or in our hearts. Give them tangible signs of your steadfast love. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
For this assembly gathered around your table, we pray. For those among us who prepare the table for our communion celebration. For all those in every place who bring the food from the Lord’s table to those who are homebound or hospitalized, lonely or marginalized. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
For those who have been raised to eternal life, we give thanks. With Dominic and all the saints we praise you for the bread of life that keeps us in your love forever. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We lift these and all our prayers to you, O God, confident in the promise of your saving love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Peace
Great Thanksgiving
The Lord’s Prayer
Communion Hymn: – ELW 487- “What Feast of Love.”
Communion Hymn: – ELW 474- “Bread of Life from Heaven.”
*PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Jesus, Bread of life, we receive from your table more than we could ever ask. As you nourish us in this meal we have received, strengthen us to love the world with your own life. In your name we pray.
Amen.
*BLESSING
The blessing of God, who provides for us, feeds us, and journeys with us, ☩ be upon you now and forever.
Amen.
Sending Hymn: – ELW 793- “Be Thou My Vision,” all verses.
*DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Christ is with you.
Thanks be to God.
Postlude: ELW 535- “Hallelujah We Sing Your Praises.” (Haleluya! Pelo tsa rona.)
Facebook link to Sunday worship service, August 8, 2021:
https://www.facebook.com/190629367619921/videos/369025114784280
Image credits: Jesus Bread of Life, redeemerway.org; Elijah-wilderness, northwindprints.com; and I Am the Bread of Life, blogspot.com
Music credits:
Miriam Anderson, Vocalist. Pam Edwards, Music Director/ organ.
“Lord, Enthroned in Heavenly Splendor.” Text: George H. Bourne, 1840 – 1925. Music: William Owen, 1814 – 1893. Public domain.
“O Jesus, Joy of Loving Hearts.” Text: attr. Bernard of Clairvaux, 1091 – 1153; tr. Ray Palmer, 1808 – 1887, alt.. Music: W. Gardiner, Sacred Melodies, 1815. Public domain.
“Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness.” Text: Johann Franck, 1618 – 1677; tr. Lutheran Book of Worship. Music: Johann Cruger, 1598 – 1662. Text copyright 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
“What Feast of Love.” Text: Delores Dufner, OSB. b. 1939. Music: English ballad, 16th cent.. Text copyright 1993 Delores Dufner, admin. OCP Publications. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
“Bread of Life from Heaven.” Text: Susan R. Briehl, b. 1952. Music: Argentine traditional, refrain; Marty Haugen, b. 1950, stanzas. Text and music copyright 2001 GIA Publications, Inc.. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
“Be Thou My Vision.” Text: Irish, 8th cent.; vers. Eleanor H. Hull, 1860 – 1935, alt; tr. Mary E. Byrne, 1880 -1931. Music: Irish traditional. Public domain.
“Hallelujah We Sing Your Praises.” (Haleluya! Pelo tsa rona.) Text: South African; tr. Freedom Is Coming, 1984. Music: South African; arr. Freedom Is Coming. Tr. and arr. copyright 1984 Utryck, admin. Walton Music Corp.. All rights reserved. Permission to podcast/stream and print the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-704843.
Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2021 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Reprinted/ streamed with permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS006904. Duplication in any form is prohibited without permission or valid license from the copyright administrator.