Gathering
Prelude
“The Perfect Wisdom of Our God”
Keith Getty, Stuart Townend
Confession and Forgiveness
P: In the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
P: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen.
P: Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Silence is kept for reflection.
P: Most merciful God,
C: we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
P: In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
Opening Hymn #251 (green hymnal)
“O Day of Rest and Gladness”
Tune: Ellacombe
1 O day of rest and gladness,
O day of joy and light,
O balm for care and sadness,
most beautiful, most bright:
on you the high and lowly,
through ages joined in tune,
sing, “Holy, holy, holy,”
to the great God triune.
2 On you, at earth’s creation,
the light first had its birth;
on you, for our salvation,
Christ rose from depths of earth;
on you, our Lord victorious
the Spirit sent from heav’n;
and thus on you, most glorious,
a threefold light was giv’n.
3 Today on weary nations
the heav’nly manna falls;
to holy convocations
the silver trumpet calls,
where gospel light is glowing
with pure and radiant beams
and living water flowing
with soul-refreshing streams.
4 New graces ever gaining
from this our day of rest,
we reach the rest remaining
to spirits of the blest.
To Holy Ghost be praises,
to Father, and to Son;
the church its voice upraises
to you, blest Three in One.
Greeting and Prayer of the Day
P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And also with you.
P: Let us pray. Ever-loving God, your Son gives himself as living bread for the life of the world. Fill us with such a knowledge of his presence that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life to serve you continually, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C: Amen.
The Word
Blessing of the Lector
P: Let us pray. God Almighty, we ask your blessing upon Donald as he reads to us the scriptures. May the words of his mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer.
C: Amen.
First Reading: Proverbs 9:1-6
1 Wisdom has built her house,
she has hewn her seven pillars.
2 She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine,
she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls
from the highest places in the town,
4 “You that are simple, turn in here!”
To those without sense she says,
5 “Come, eat of my bread
and drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Lay aside immaturity, and live,
and walk in the way of insight.”
The word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Special Music
“We Eat the Bread of Teaching”
Second Reading: Ephesians 5:15-20
15 Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, 20 giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Gospel: John 6:51-58
P: The holy gospel according to St. John, the 6th chapter.
C: Glory to you, O Lord.
Jesus said, 51 “I 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.”
52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; 55 for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.”
P: The gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to you, O Christ.
Children’s Sermon
Sermon
Silence for meditation
Hymn of the Day
“By Your Hand You Feed Your People”
Tune: Camrose
1 By your hand you feed your people,
food of angels, heaven’s bread.
For these gifts we did not labor,
by your grace have we been fed:
Refrain
Christ’s own body, blessed and broken,
cup o’er flowing, life outpoured,
given as a living token
of your world redeemed, restored.
2 In this meal we taste your sweetness,
bread for hunger, wine of peace.
Holy word and holy wisdom
satisfy our deepest needs. Refrain
3 Send us now with faith and courage
to the hungry, lost, bereaved.
In our living and our dying,
we become what we receive: Refrain
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
A: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.
After each petition:
A: Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
After the last petition:
A: Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen.
Peace
P: The peace of Christ be with you always.
C: And also with you.
The Meal
Invitation to Offering
Offering Prayer
P: Let us pray.
C: God of all creation, all you have made is good, and your love endures forever. You bring forth bread from the earth and fruit from the vine. Nourish us with these gifts, that we might be for the world signs of your gracious presence in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Great Thanksgiving
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them to the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
P: In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.
Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray:
The Lord’s Prayer
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,
and the power, and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
Invitation to Communion
P: This is the Living Bread of Heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever.
The Body of Christ, broken for you.
The Blood of Christ, shed for you.
All eat bread and drink wine or juice at their seat.
Communion Hymn #214 (green hymnal)
“Come, Let Us Eat”
Tune: A va de
1 Come, let us eat, for now the feast is spread,
Come, let us eat, for now the feast is spread.
Our Lord’s body let us take together,
Our Lord’s body let us take together.
2 Come, let us drink, for now the wine is poured,
Come, let us drink, for now the wine is poured.
Jesus’ blood poured let us drink together,
Jesus’ blood poured let us drink together.
3 In his presence now we meet and rest,
In his presence now we meet and rest.
In the presence of our Lord we gather,
In the presence of our Lord we gather.
4 Rise, then, to spread abroad God’s mighty Word,
Rise, then, to spread abroad God’s mighty Word.
Jesus risen will bring in the Kingdom,
Jesus risen will bring in the Kingdom.
Table Blessing
P: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
C: Amen.
Prayer after Communion
A: Let us pray. God of abundance, with this bread of life and cup of salvation you have united us with Christ, making us one with all your people. Now send us forth in the power of your Spirit, that we may proclaim your redeeming love to the world and continue forever in the risen life of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C: Amen.
Sending
Announcements for God’s Mission in the World
Blessing
P: Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
C: Amen.
Closing Hymn #723 (blue hymnal)
“The Spirit Sends Us Forth to Serve”
Tune: Chesterfield
1 The Spirit sends us forth to serve;
we go in Jesus’ name
to bring glad tidings to the poor,
God’s favor to proclaim.
2 We go to comfort those who mourn
and set the burdened free;
where hope is dim, to share a dream
and help the blind to see.
3 We go to be the hands of Christ,
to scatter joy like seed
and, all our days, to cherish life,
to do the loving deed.
4 Then let us go to serve in peace,
the gospel to proclaim.
God’s Spirit has empowered us;
we go in Jesus’ name.
Dismissal
A: Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Postlude
“On Our Way Rejoicing”
Frances R. Havergal (1836–1879)
Worship Leaders
The Rev. Emily Beckering, Pastor
Kris Keith, Music Director
Kate Wollenburg, Organist
John Cathcart, Assisting Minister
Donald Harris, Reader
Upcoming Events
Sunday, August 15: 12 Pentecost
10:30 am Worship Service (in-person/livestreamed)
Wednesday, August 18
6:30 pm Bible Study (in-person/Zoom)
Thursday, August 19
10 am Reading Church Council meets with Reading We Thrive! Team
11:30 am Bible Study (in-person/Zoom)
Sunday, August 22: 13 Pentecost
10:30 am Worship Service (in-person/livestreamed)
Wednesday, August 18
6:30 pm Bible Study (in-person/Zoom)
Thursday, August 19
10:30 am Bible Study (in-person/Zoom)
Copyright Notices
“The Perfect Wisdom Of Our God”: Text and music by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend © 2011 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing), Getty Music Publishing (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.)
“We Eat the Bread of Teaching”: Text and music © 1998 World Library Publications. 3708 River Road, Suite 400. Franklin Park, IL 60131-2158. www.wlpmusic.com.
“By Your Hand You Feed Your People”: Text and music © 2002 GIA Publications Inc.
“Come, Let Us Eat”: Text © Lutheran World Federation, sts. 1-3. © 1972 Contemporary Worship 4, st. 4. Tune © 1972 Lutheran World Federation. Setting © 1972 Contemporary Worship 4.
“The Spirit Sends Us Forth to Serve”: Text © 1993 Delores Dufner. Published by OCP Publications, 5536 NE Hassalo, Portland OR 97213.
Hymns/anthems: Music reprinted and streamed by permission under ONE LICENSE #A-726103 and CCLI Licenses #21045423 and #21045416. All rights reserved.
Liturgical texts and service music: From SundaysandSeasons.com. Copyright © 2021 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS010308.