10th Sunday after Pentecost

COLOR: Green
SCRIPTURE READINGS: 2 Samuel 11:26–12:13a; Psalm 51:1-12; Ephesians 4:1-16; John 6:24-35

THEME IDEAS

In the reading from 2 Samuel, the prophet confronts David with a parable that leads him to repent of his sin in taking another man’s wife. The psalm echoes that repentant mood, begging God to replace guilt with forgiveness, to give the sinner a fresh start and a clean heart. In the letter to the Ephesians, Paul exhorts his readers to see themselves as members of one body, each with differing gifts as they live together in Christ. The Gospel reading contrasts the people’s desire for physical miracles with Jesus’ reminder that he is the bread of life, God’s own gift to the people of God.

INVITATION AND GATHERING

Call to Worship (John 6:35)

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.”
We are hungry for the bread of heaven.
Jesus said, “The bread of God gives life to the world.”
We are hungry for eternal life.
Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me will never be hungry,
and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
We are here to become what we already are:
the body of Christ, food for a hungry world.

Opening Prayer (Ephesians 4, John 6)

God of forgiveness and new beginnings,
you feed our hearts with compassion,
and nourish our souls with the bread of heaven.
As Jesus fed the hungry crowds,
knowing that they needed both physical bread
and the bread of heaven,
fill us with your generous spirit
and make us one with Christ. Amen.

PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE

Prayer of Confession (2 Samuel 11–12, Psalm 51, John 6)

Tender, loving God, have mercy on us.
Like David, we have been greedy,
grasping for what is not ours
even though we have enough.
We have forgotten your promise:
that you will fill us with the bread of life.
Like the crowd that followed Jesus
to Capernaum, yet did not understand
what he had given them,
we seek bread for our bodies
more than we seek the bread of heaven.
Forget our sins, take away our guilt.
Purge us with hyssop, and we shall be clean.
Tender, loving God, have mercy on us.

Words of Assurance (Psalm 51)

When we repent, God creates in us a new heart,
and puts a new and right spirit within us.
In the name of Christ, you are forgiven.
In the name of Christ, you are forgiven.
Glory to God. Amen.

Passing the Peace of Christ

Filled with the Spirit of Love and anticipating the heavenly feast, let us exchange signs of peace:
May the peace of Christ be with you always.
May the peace of Christ be with you always.

Response to the Word (2 Samuel 11–12, John 6)

Gracious God,
thank you for opening our hearts and minds
to the gift of your word, the bread of heaven.
Help us hunger for your peace and righteousness
over the things of this world. Amen.

THANKSGIVING AND COMMUNION

Offering Prayer (John 6)

Generous, merciful God,
you invite us to the heavenly feast,
promising to fill us with every good thing.
Bless these ordinary gifts of bread
and fruit of the vine,
that we may be kneaded and pressed
into one holy, living body,
in the name of Christ, who lived and died
and rose again. Amen.

Great Thanksgiving (2 Samuel 11–12, John 6)

Christ be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to God.
Let us give our thanks to the Holy One.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is a right, good, and joyful thing
always and everywhere to give our thanks to you,
Author of justice and mercy.
Long ago, your prophet Nathan
brought your word to David, the king,
bringing him to repentance
and renewed love of you.
In your loving kindness,
you did not cast him away from your presence,
but restored to him the joy of your salvation.
And so, with your creatures on earth
and all the heavenly chorus,
we praise your name
and join their unending hymn, saying:
Holy, holy, holy One,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one
who comes in your holy name.
Hosanna in the highest.
Holy are you, and holy is your child, Jesus Christ.

When the crowds were hungry for miracles,
he promised that we who come to him
will never be hungry,
and we who believe in him
will never be thirsty.
(Words of Institution and Memorial Acclamation)

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here,
and on these gifts of bread and wine.
Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ,
the bread of heaven, broken to feed a hungry world,
so that we may become one with Christ,
one with each other, and one in ministry
to all the world.

Merciful Creator, Bread of Heaven, Spirit of Love,
we praise your holy, eternal, nameless Name.
Amen.

SENDING FORTH

Benediction (Ephesians 4)

Go into the world with all humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another in love, in the unity of the Spirit, the bond of peace, and the name of Jesus, who is the Bread of Life.
Amen.

CONTEMPORARY OPTIONS

Contemporary Gathering Words (John 6)

What must we do to perform the works of God?
This is the work of God,
that you believe in the one whom God has sent.

—OR—

Contemporary Gathering Words (John 6)

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.”
We are hungry for the bread of heaven.
Jesus said, “The bread of God gives life to the world.”
We are hungry for eternal life.

Praise Sentences (Ephesians 4)

There is one body and one Spirit.
There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God of all.

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