Worship Guide
August 11, 2024
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
Creating Disciples of Jesus who Transform the World
ENTRANCE WITH PRAISE
Greetings:
Minister: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!
People: And also with you!
Special Music:
Centering Words:
Bring your whole heart before God–all your grief, anger, frustration, joy, hope, and praise. God loves and welcomes you just as you are!
*Call to Worship:
Leader: We have gathered from different places and different backgrounds.
People: May those who are grieving find comfort.
Leader: May those who have turned away from God find forgiveness.
People: May those who are waiting find hope.
Leader: May all find God’s steadfast love and grace.
People: Let us worship the one who gives us life!
Leader: Let us pray.
ALL: Jesus, bread of life, you give us life and nourish our spirits. As your beloved children, help us walk in your ways, each and every day. May we speak words of kindness to one another and open our hearts to share comfort and encouragement. May we offer and seek forgiveness. Most of all, may we remember that your steadfast love extends to all of your beloved children. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.
Hymn: “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”
Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand,
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
through the storm, through the night, lead me on to the light:
take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.
When my way grows drear, precious Lord, linger near,
when my life is almost gone, hear my cry, hear my call,
hold my hand lest I fall:
take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.
When the darkness appears and the night draws near,
and the day is past and gone, at the river I stand,
guide my feet, hold my hand:
take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.
PROCLAMATION OF THE WORD
Words of Assurance
Beloved children of God, the Lord offers wholeness and new life to those who seek it.
the name of Christ, you are one with God!
Thanks be to God! Amen
*Gospel Reading: John 6:35, 41-51
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
41 Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They 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’?” 43 Jesus answered them, “Do not complain among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. 45 It 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. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 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.”
Leader: This is the Word of God for the people of God
People: Thanks be to God.
WORD AND RESPONSE
Time with Young Friends: “Jesus Loves Me”
Children’s Message: “Hope”
Hymn: “Cares Chorus”
I cast all my cares upon you,
I lay all of my burdens down at your feet,
and anytime that I don't know what to do,
I will cast all my cares upon you.
I cast all my cares upon you,
I lay all of my burdens down at your feet,
and anytime that I don't know what to do,
I will cast all my cares upon you.
Sermon: “Prayers of the People” 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
5 The king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders concerning Absalom.
6 So the army went out into the field against Israel; and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim. 7 The men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the slaughter there was great on that day, twenty thousand men. 8 The battle spread over the face of all the country; and the forest claimed more victims that day than the sword.
9 Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. His head caught fast in the oak, and he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on.
15 And ten young men, Joab’s armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him, and killed him.
31 Then the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, “Good tidings for my lord the king! For the Lord has vindicated you this day, delivering you from the power of all who rose up against you.” 32 The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” The Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up to do you harm, be like that young man.”
33 The king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept; and as he went, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Hymn: “Take My Life, and Let It Be”
Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from thee.
Take my silver and my gold: not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as thou shalt choose.
Take my will, and make it thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is thine own; it shall be thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be, ever, only, all for thee.
Psalter: The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of
God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from
heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic* and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen. Amen.
Prayers of the People: Joys and concerns:
Silent Prayer, Pastoral Prayer
SENDING FORTH
Hymn: “Let There Be Peace on Earth”
Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me
Let There Be Peace on Earth the peace that was meant to be
With God our creator children all are we
Let us walk with each other in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me let this be the moment now.
With ev'ry step I take let this be my solemn vow
To take each moment and live each moment
in peace eternally
Let there be peace on earth And let it begin with me
Benediction
Hymn: “God Be with You till We Meet Again”
God be with you till we meet again;
by his counsels guide, uphold you,
with his sheep securely fold you;
God be with you till we meet again.
