12th Sunday after Pentecost

COLOR: Green
SCRIPTURE READINGS: 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33; Psalm 130; Ephesians 4:25–5:2; John 6:35, 41-51

THEME IDEAS

These texts lend themselves to a number of mid-summer themes, including the grief of war, the forgiveness of God, patience in listening for the direction of God, spiritual hunger that is fed only by bread from heaven, and the encouragement to live a life of integrity and authenticity as followers of Christ. Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq are all indications of an impatient world that is hungering for something beyond our reach. So, God reaches out to us in our humanness and gives us this example, this person,
this Christ.

INVITATION AND GATHERING

Call to Worship (Psalm 130)

Out of the depths I cry to you.
Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
If you kept a record of sins, Lord,
who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
that we might serve you with reverence.
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in God’s word I put my hope.
Israel, put your hope in the Lord
and in God’s unfailing love.
Out of the depths I cry to you.
Lord, hear my voice.

Opening Prayer (John 6, Psalm 130)

O Bread of heaven,
come down.
Come down and fill us with your Spirit—
for your Spirit satisfies like no other.
We hunger and thirst for you this morning
and long to be nurtured
in your love and forgiveness.
So we come to this sacred time and place,
where our hungers are finally and fully satisfied
as only your bread can do.
We will wait and listen
for your leading in this hour. Amen.

PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE

Prayer of Confession (2 Samuel, Psalm 130, Ephesians 4)

O God of compassion,
if you kept a record of our sins,
who could stand?
We come before you with our brokenness
and our wounds for all to see.
We bring our anger, our bitterness,
our unwholesome talk,
and our deceitfulness.
We try to do good,
but sometimes fail.
We choose to do evil,
and sometimes succeed.
Keep your promise to forgive us
when we confess to you completely.
Without you, we have no hope.

Words of Assurance (Psalm 130, John 6)

If we confess our sins, God is faithful and will forgive us.
God provides freely, in the bread of heaven,
all the mercy we need for life everlasting.
The good news is forgiveness in the name of Christ Jesus.

Passing the Peace of Christ (Ephesians 4)

We are not far from the kingdom of God. In fact, the kingdom of God is within you. Extend to those near you evidence of the kingdom in your greetings of peace and love.

Response to the Word (2 Samuel, John 6, Ephesians 4)

Glorious things of thee are spoken.
We marvel at the wisdom of your word,
O God of heaven.
May these words we have heard
become nourishment for our souls
and guidance for the living of our daily lives.
Write these words on our hearts, O Lord,
that we may be reflections of your truth and mercy.
Amen.

THANKSGIVING AND COMMUNION

Invitation to the Offering (Psalm 130, John 6)

Freely we have received. Thus, we freely give: grace upon grace. Let us express our love and appreciation to God, by extending the grace and mercy of God to a hungry world.

Offering Prayer (John 6, Ephesians 4)

O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
We bow before you and thank you for the privilege
to participate in your acts of kindness and love
here on earth.
May these gifts truly become instruments
of your purposes here in our church, our community,
and around the world. Amen.

SENDING FORTH

Benediction (2 Samuel, John 6, Ephesians 4)

Go forth and live as Christ in the world.
Speak and live with integrity
as you journey through this new week,
knowing that God will satisfy your every need
and lead you to a victorious life.

CONTEMPORARY OPTIONS

Contemporary Gathering Words (2 Samuel, Psalm 130)

You have been waiting long enough.
It’s time to listen for God’s voice.
We have been waiting many a long night.
Well, the day is here and the time is now
to find new hope in God alone!
It is God! It is Jesus Christ, God himself,
who is finally saving us!
Then come and join in the hope we share
of God’s never-ending love.
We will celebrate by singing and praising God!

Praise Sentences

Totally, completely, without reservation,
God is worthy of our praise!
Without holding anything back,
we sing and shout the praise of our God!

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From “The Abingdon Worship Annual 2009,” edited by Mary J. Scifres and B.J. Beu, Copyright © 2008 by Abingdon Press.