July 28, 2024
Tenth Sunday after Trinity
Holy Communion
Today Jesus feeds thousands of people with five loaves and two fish. What we have, what we bring to Jesus’ table, seems like it is not nearly enough to meet all the needs we see around us. But it is not the adequacy of our supplies or our skills that finally makes the difference: it is the power of Jesus working in the littlest and least to transform this world into the world God desires, a world where all the hungry are satisfied.
+ GATHERING +
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
The Wind Beneath My Wings
Henley/Silbar, arr. Raney/McDonald
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God,
the God of manna,
the God of miracles,
the God of mercy.
Amen.
Drawn to Christ and seeking God’s abundance,
let us confess our sin.
Silence is kept for reflection.
God, our provider,
help us.
It is hard to believe there is enough to share.
We question your ways when they differ from the ways
of the world in which we live.
We turn to our own understanding
rather than trusting in you.
We take offense at your teachings and your ways.
Turn us again to you.
Where else can we turn?
Share with us the words of eternal life
and feed us for life in the world.
Amen.
Beloved people of God:
in Jesus, the manna from heaven,
you are fed and nourished.
By Jesus, the worker of miracles,
there is always more than enough.
Through Jesus, the bread of life,
you are shown God’s mercy:
you are forgiven and loved into abundant life.
GATHERING HYMN
The Church of Christ in Every Age
ELW 729
The church of Christ, in ev'ry age
beset by change, but Spirit-led,
must claim and test its heritage
and keep on rising from the dead.
Across the world, across the street,
the victims of injustice cry
for shelter and for bread to eat,
and never live before they die.
Then let the servant church arise,
a caring church that longs to be
a partner in Christ's sacrifice,
and clothed in Christ's humanity.
For he alone, whose blood was shed,
can cure the fever in our blood,
and teach us how to share our bread
and feed the starving multitude.
We have no mission but to serve
in full obedience to our Lord;
to care for all, without reserve,
and spread his liberating word.
GREETING
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
CANTICLE OF PRAISE (page 139)
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to God’s people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you,
we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ,
only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray.
Gracious God, you have placed within the hearts of all your children a longing for your word and a hunger for your truth. Grant that we may know your Son to be the true bread of heaven and share this bread with all the world, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
+ READINGS +
FIRST READING: 2 Kings 4:42-44
Today’s reading is part of a larger section of 2 Kings that describes the miracles of Elisha, the successor to Elijah. Here the prophet gives food to a hungry crowd. Though there is not enough food to go around, Elisha trusts God, who provides enough and even more to satisfy the need.
42A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing food from the first fruits to the man of God: twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. Elisha said, "Give it to the people and let them eat." 43But his servant said, "How can I set this before a hundred people?" So he repeated, "Give it to the people and let them eat, for thus says the LORD, 'They shall eat and have some left.'" 44He set it before them, they ate, and had some left, according to the word of the LORD.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM 145:10-18
10 All your works shall praise you, O Lord,
and your faithful ones shall bless you.
11 They shall tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your power,
12 that all people may know of your power
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; your dominion endures throughout all ages.
You, Lord, are faithful in all your words, and loving in all your works.
14 The Lord upholds all those who fall
and lifts up those who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord,
and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open wide your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 You are righteous in all your ways
and loving in all your works.
18 You are near to all who call upon you,
to all who call upon you faithfully.
SECOND READING: Ephesians 3:14-21
We have been rooted and grounded in the love of Christ, which surpasses all human knowledge. Because Christ dwells in our hearts, our lives are continuously strengthened and empowered by the ongoing presence of the Spirit.
14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. 16I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, 17and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. 18I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION (page 142)
Alleluia, Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the word of eternal life, alleluia.
GOSPEL: John 6:1-21
In John’s gospel, the miracles of Jesus are called “signs,” because they reveal the true character of God. As such, they remain within the mystery of God and cannot be brought under human control.
The holy gospel according to John.
Glory to you, O Lord.
1Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. 2A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. 3Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. 4Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. 5When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, "Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?" 6He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. 7Philip answered him, "Six months' wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little." 8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, 9There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people? 10Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. 11Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, "Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost." 13So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. 14When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, "This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world."
15When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
16When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. 20But he said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." 21Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.
The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON Pastor Joyce Gulliford
HYMN OF THE DAY
Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ
ELW 674
Let us talents and tongues employ,
reaching out with a shout of joy:
bread is broken, the wine is poured,
Christ is spoken and seen and heard.
Refrain
Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again,
pass the Word around: loaves abound!
Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again,
pass the Word around: loaves abound!
Christ is able to make us one,
at the table he sets the tone,
teaching people to live to bless,
love in word and in deed express. Refrain
Jesus calls us in, sends us out
bearing fruit in a world of doubt,
gives us love to tell, bread to share:
God (Immanuel) ev'rywhere! Refrain
APOSTLES’ CREED (page 105)
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come 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 THE PEOPLE
One in the communion of saints and in the power of the Holy Spirit, we join our voices in prayer.
A brief silence.
God of generations, you work in us far more than we can ask or imagine. Bless the church you have called into being across time and space, and fill it with the power of the Spirit for loving service. In your mercy,
hear our prayer.
God of field and forest, streams and seas, you are the fullness of all things. As grains of wheat grow upon the earth and fish swim in the waters, sustain your creation. Protect harvests and give every person food in due season. In your mercy,
hear our prayer.
God beyond borders, you rule all in all. Bless the work of humanitarians and peacekeepers, shield those who live, work, or serve in harm’s way, and bring an end to war and conflict (nations and places may be named). In your mercy,
hear our prayer.
God of healing, you open wide your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. We remember any who are sick or sufferingespecially Mary, Mabel, Mike, Anna Mae, Doris, Jan, June, Ann, Julie, Carol, Anne, Tom, Lydia, Brian, Paul, Wil, Amy, Michael, Bob & Jane, Mary, Scott, Marie, Ron & Flo, Mac, Monica, Avery, Doris, John, Tim, Betty, Linda, Jeff, Henry, Gary, Mary, Greg, Helen & Ron, Blanche, Max, and families in our community who endure hunger, those who seek asylum or citizenship, and our beloved for whom death is near. In your mercy,
hear our prayer.
God of grace, you root us and ground us in love. As you inspired our ancestors in this place in their ministry, sustain us also in new endeavors, that your glory may be made known, and your lovingkindness shared anew. In your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Here other intercessions may be offered.
God of all, your love in Christ surpasses all knowledge. We give thanks for the departed who have come to know the fullness of your grace. Join our voices with theirs and with musicians Johann Sebastian Bach, Heinrich Schütz, and George Frederick Handel and all the saints in singing your praises. In your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Lord, we thank you for Judy, Tom, Sandra, Pat, and Sharon and their willingness to be a part of the call committee for Grace Lutheran Church in Lakeland. We ask you to bless them with your Holy Spirit that they may be faithful servants of Christ. Strengthen and empower them for the task of calling a new pastor. Pour out your Spirit upon them that they may have open minds and hearts allowing them to hear each other and the members of Grace Lutheran who have entrusted them with this important process. In your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Holy God, holy and merciful: into your outstretched arms we commend ourselvs and all for whom we pray, trusting in the one who is the way, the truth, and the life, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
SHARING OF THE PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you all.
And also with you.
We prepare now to receive our offerings as we return to God a portion of what God has entrusted to us.
+ MEAL +
OFFERING
You may place your offerings in the offering plate as it is passed during the service. Alternatively, some are using Tithe.ly for online giving or are using their bank’s online banking option. Whichever way you choose to give, we are grateful for your stewardship and generosity.
ANTHEM
Great Is thy Faithfulness
(In the setting of Liszt’s Liebestraum)
by Runyan, arr. Berry)
OFFERING SONG
Let the Vineyards Be Fruitful
ELW 184
Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord,
and fill to the brim our cup of blessing.
Gather a harvest from the seeds that were sown,
that we may be fed with the bread of life.
Gather the hopes and dreams of all;
unite them with the prayers we offer.
Grace our table with your presence,
and give us a foretaste of the feast to come.
OFFERING PRAYER
Jesus, Bread of life, you have set this table with your very self, and called us to the feast of plenty. Gather what has been sown among us, and strengthen us in this meal. Make us to be what we receive here, your body for the life of the world.
Amen.
HOLY COMMUNION
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
I Am the Bread of Life
ELW 485
"I am the Bread of life.
You who come to me shall not hunger,
and who believe in me shall not thirst.
No one can come to me unless the Father beckons."
Refrain
"And I will raise you up,
and I will raise you up,
and I will raise you up on the last day."
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
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.
"I am the resurrection,
I am the life.
If you believe in me,
even though you die, you shall live forever." Refrain
Yes, Lord, I believe
that you are the Christ,
the Son of God,
who have come into the world. Refrain
LORD'S PRAYER (page 145)
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
Come to the banquet, for all is now ready.
The baptized children of God are invited by the Lord to the Lord’s Table where we receive Jesus’ very body and blood in, with, and under the bread and wine. We commune at the communion rail where we receive the Body and Blood of Christ. Gluten free bread and grape juice are available. If you wish to commune, but cannot come forward, let an usher know and Pastor will come to you. If you do not wish to commune, you are welcome to come forward to receive a blessing. You may wish to remain at the rail for a time of personal prayer following which you may return to your pew down the side aisle.
AGNUS DEI (page 146)
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
grant us peace.
COMMUNION HYMN
Gift of Finest Wheat
(You Satisfy the Hungry Heart)
ELW 484
Refrain
You satisfy the hungry heart
with gift of finest wheat.
Come give to us, O saving Lord,
the bread of life to eat.
As when the shepherd calls his sheep,
they know and heed his voice;
so when you call your fam'ly, Lord,
we follow and rejoice. Refrain
With joyful lips we sing to you
our praise and gratitude
that you should count us worthy, Lord,
to share this heav'nly food. Refrain
Is not the cup we bless and share
the blood of Christ outpoured?
Do not one cup, one loaf, declare
our oneness in the Lord? Refrain
The myst'ry of your presence, Lord,
no mortal tongue can tell:
whom all the world cannot contain
comes in our hearts to dwell. Refrain
You give yourself to us, O Lord;
then selfless let us be,
to serve each other in your name
in truth and charity. Refrain
TABLE BLESSING
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
Amen.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Jesus, Bread of life, we have received from your table more than we could ever ask. As you have nourished us in this meal, now strengthen us to love the world with your own life.
In your name we pray.
Amen.
+ SENDING +
SENDING SONG
Now Thank We All Our God
ELW 840
Now thank we all our God
with hearts and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom this world rejoices;
who, from our mothers' arms,
has blest us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.
Oh, may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us,
and keep us all in grace,
and guide us when perplexed,
and free us from all harm
in this world and the next.
All praise and thanks to God
the Father now be given,
the Son, and Spirit blest,
who reign in highest heaven,
the one eternal God,
whom earth and heav'n adore;
for thus it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.
BENEDICTION
The blessing of God, who provides for us, feeds us, and journeys with us, be upon you now and forever.
Amen.
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. You are the body of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
All Glory, Laud, and Honor
Teschner, arr. Clay
Liturgical Text and Music from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, © 2006, 2020, 2022 Augsburg Fortress. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies License #SAS016761. All rights reserved.
The Church of Christ in Every Age, Text: Fred Pratt Green, 1903-2000. Text © 1971 Hope Publishing Company Text © 2000 GIA Publications, Inc., Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved. Music: William Knapp, 1698-1768. Public domain.
Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ, Text: Fred Kann. Music: Jamaican folk tune; adapt. Doreen Potter, 1925-1980. Text and music © 1974 Hope Publishing Company. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved.
Let the Vineyards Be Fruitful, Music: Ronald A. Nelson, b. 1927. Text and music © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress. Text reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved.
I Am the Bread of Life, Text and music: Suzanne Toolan, RSM, b. 1927. Text and music © 1966, 1970, 1993 GIA Publications, Inc. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved
Gift of Finest Wheat (You Satisfy the Hungry Heart), Text: Omer Westendorf, 1916-1997, Music: Robert E. Kreutz, 1922-1996. Text and music © 1977 Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. All rights reserved.
Now Thank We All Our God, Text Martin Rinkhart, 1586-1649; tr Catherine Winkworth, 1827-1878. Music: Johann Crüger, 1598-1878. Public domain.
