Worship resources for:
8th Sunday after Pentecost — Ordinary Time 17 (July 25, 2021)
Lectionary Texts
In 2 Samuel 11. 1-15 David rapes Bathsheba and arranges her husband Uriah’s death.
Psalm 14 says that people do evil, thinking that there is no God who is aware of their deeds. But God defends the poor and powerless
In Ephesians 3.14-21 the author prays for us, that we may be rooted in love and that Christ will live powerfully in us.
In John 6. 1-21 Jesus feeds a crowd with a tiny bit of food, and then walks across the lake to the disciples in the boat. They are afraid but Jesus says, “I am. Do not be afraid.”
Call to Worship
1.
Leader: God of abundance, you provide Creation, overflowing with life and beauty.
All: In awe we praise you.
Christ, you accompany us in our deepest struggles with infinite love and grace.
In gratitude we thank you.
Holy Spirit, you fill us with all the gifts we need to serve you with compassion and power.
In trust, we open ourselves to your presence. Alleluia!
2.
Leader: In our need and hunger, God —
Congregation: you feed us abundantly!
In our fears and struggles
you bear us through the storms!
God of grace, you bring us to a place of peace.
We thank you. We worship you. We open our hearts to you. Alleluia!
Collect / Prayer of the Day
Steady God, life whirls around us. Life demands so much of us. So we turn to you, calm and generous. Your grace flows freely. We open ourselves in word and silence, in prayer and song, in meal and companionship, to the overflowing abundance of your presence and your grace. Hungry and trusting, we open ourselves toy you. Amen.
Response / Creed / Affirmation
God, Creator of all, we rejoice that you are a God of abundance. In faith we pledge to live lives of abundant generosity.
Christ, we rejoice that you are the bread of life, who accompanies us in our deepest struggles. In faith we entrust ourselves to you, even in times of struggle. You who have died and been raised rom the dead, bear us through the storms and bless us with your presence.
Holy Spirit, we rejoice that you grant to us the power of sharing, the courage of faith, and the peace of your grace. In faith we give ourselves to your care and guidance, that in all things we may do your will, trust your grace, and share you love, in the name of Christ, Amen.
Listening Prayer
(suitable as a Collect, preparation for hearing scriptures, or invitation to intercessions)
1.
God of love, the grace that nourishes us is more abundant than we know; the mercy that bears us through our struggles is deeper than we think. And you are more present than we suspect, here and now. We open our hearts to your grace. In the little loaves and fishes of this moment, multiply your grace. In the little boat of our prayer, carry us across.
2.
Hungry for God, we gather.
But where will we find what will nourish us?
We have but five little loaves, and two fish.
Jesus takes our lives, and multiplies them.
We struggle against the wind and waves of our lives.
Jesus calms us, and brings us to a place of peace.
Jesus, feed us. Bear us through the storm.
Grant us your peace. Amen.
Prayer after Communion
1.
Gracious God, we thank you for this mystery in which you have given yourself to us. You give with such infinite generosity; help us so to be grateful, trusting and generous with our love, with our time and goods, with our blessing, for the sake of the world, in the name and Spirit of Christ. Amen.
Suggested Songs
All that we Hold (John)
God Strengthen you Within (Ephesians)