The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday, August 2, 2020
9:00 AM
Prelude: “Softly and Tenderly” Traditional
Welcome and Announcements
Joyous Declaration
Leader: In the name of the Creator God and of the Redeeming Son,
and of the ever-present Spirit.
People: Amen.
Call to Worship
Leader: Come into the presence of God to be fed.
Come to call on God, who is eager to answer.
People: We gather to seek God’s face.
Let our eyes see all that is right and true.
Leader: Let us join in worship and praise.
People: Thanks be to God!
Opening Hymn: “I Love to the Story”
I love to tell the story of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love;
I love to tell the story because I know ‘tis true.
It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.
I love to tell the story! ‘Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story ‘tis pleasant to repeat.
What seems each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet;
I love to tell the story, for some have never heard
The message of salvation from God’s own holy Word.
I love to tell the story! ‘Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story, for those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest;
And when in scenes of glory I sing the new, new song
‘Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.
I love to tell the story! ‘Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.
Prayer of Confession
Leader: Let us confess our sins to God, who is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and
abounding in steadfast love.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Leader: God our strength,
People: we confess that we are captive to the power of sin that dwells within us. We put
ourselves first and others last. What we think will make us happy leaves us longing for more. Even when we want to do what is good, we find ourselves doing the opposite. Rescue us from death's grip on our lives, and raise us up day by day, that we may be alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Leader: Beloved of God, by the radical abundance of divine mercy we have peace with God
through ☩ Christ Jesus, through whom we have obtained grace upon grace.
Our sins are forgiven. Let us live now in hope. For hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Prayer of the Day
Leader: Glorious God, your generosity waters the world with goodness, and you cover creation
with abundance. Awaken in us a hunger for the food that satisfies both body and spirit, and with this food fill all the starving world, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
People: Amen.
Scripture Lessons
The Psalter: Psalm 145: 8-9, 14-21
Leader: The LORD is gracious and full of compassion,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
People: LORD, you are good to all, and your compassion is over all your works.
Leader: The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up those who are bowed down.
People: The eyes of all wait upon you, O LORD,
and you give them their food in due season.
Leader: You open wide your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
People: You are righteous in all your ways and loving in all your works.
Leader: You are near to all who call upon you, to all who call upon you faithfully.
People: You fulfill the desire of those who fear you;
you hear their cry and save them.
Leader: You watch over all those who love you, but all the wicked you shall destroy.
People: My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD;
let all flesh bless God's holy name forever and ever.
Leader: The Holy Gospel according to Matthew, chapter 14, verses 13-21
People: Glory to you, O Lord.
13Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves." 16Jesus said to them, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat."
17They replied, "We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish." 18And he said, "Bring them here to me." 19Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. 21And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Leader: The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, O Christ.
Meditation Mr. Joshua A. Fink
Prayers of the People
Leader: Confident of your care and helped by the Holy Spirit, we pray for the church, the world, and
all who are in need.
A brief silence.
Leader: You take resources that appear to be meager, bless them, and there is enough. May your
church trust that what you bless and ask us to share with the world is abundantly sufficient. Lord, in your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: Your bountiful creation offers sustenance and life for all creatures. Protect this abundance
for the well-being of all. Reverse the damage we have caused your creation. Replenish ground water supplies, provide needed rains in places of drought, and protect forests from wildfires. Lord, in your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: You offer yourself to all the nations and peoples of the earth, inviting everyone to abundant
life. Bring the prophetic vision to fullness, that all nations will run to you and that nations who do not know you will find their joy in you. Lord, in your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. Hear the anguish of tender
hearts who cry to you in suffering and satisfy their deepest needs. Bring wholeness and healing to those who suffer in body, heart, soul, and mind. Lord, in your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: You offer freely the fullness of salvation. Give our congregation such a welcoming heart,
that our words and actions may extend your free and abundant hospitality to all whom we encounter. Lord, in your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: You gather your saints as one, united in the body of Jesus. Bring us with all your saints to
the heavenly banquet. We remember with love and thanksgiving the saints we have known. Lord, in your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Leader: In the certain hope that nothing can separate us from your love, we offer these prayers to
you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
People: Amen.
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.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
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.
Closing Hymn: “Break Thou the Bread of Life”
Break thou the bread of life, Dear Lord to me,
As thou didst break the loaves beside the sea;
Beyond the sacred page I see thee, Lord,
My Spirit pants for Thee, O living Word.
Bless thou the truth, dear Lord, To me to me,
As thou didst bless the bread by Galilee;
Then shall all bondage cease, All fetters fall;
And I shall find my peace, my all in all.
O send thy Spirit, Lord, Now unto me,
That He may touch my eyes And make me see:
Show me the truth concealed within thy Word,
And in thy Book revealed I see the Lord.
Moment of Meditation
Blessing
Leader: Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come,
nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
God, the creator, ☩ Jesus, the Christ, and the Holy Spirit, the comforter,
bless you and keep you in eternal love.
People: Amen.
Dismissal
Leader: Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
Postlude: “March of the Priests” Felix Mendelssohn
Copyright: One License #A-71406 08/16/2019 to 08/15/2020
From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2019 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #43866
