Eleventh Sunday a. Pentecost 8/4/24
Pentecost 11 8.4.24. PDF Alt Set
ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
AUGUST 4, 2024
IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WELCOME TO ST. PAUL’S!
✠ ✠ ✠
THE ENTRANCE RITE
PRELUDE Hyfrydol Settings: 1. Paul Manz; 2-3. Charles Callahan
WELCOME
ENTRANCE HYMN Now the Silence LSB 910
1 Now the silence
Now the peace
Now the empty hands uplifted
Now the kneeling
Now the plea
Now the Father’s arms in welcome
Now the hearing
Now the pow’r
Now the vessel brimmed for pouring
Now the body
Now the blood
Now the joyful celebration
Now the wedding
Now the songs
Now the heart forgiven leaping
Now the Spirit’s visitation
Now the Son’s epiphany
Now the Father’s blessing
Now
Now
Now
INVOCATION
In the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
God of all mercy and consolation, come to the aid of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that, attentive to your Word, we may confess our sins, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Kneel. Silence is observed for reflection and self-examination.
Gracious God,
have mercy upon us. In your compassion, forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things done and left undone. Uphold us by your Spirit so that we may live and serve you in newness of life, to the honor and glory of your holy name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen you in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep you in eternal life.
Amen.
KYRIE (Stand) LSB 944
For the peace from above and for our salvation; and for the peace of the whole world and the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord:
Kyrie Eleison; Christe Eleison; Kyrie Eleison.
For the well-being of the Church of God; and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord:
Kyrie Eleison; Christe Eleison; Kyrie Eleison.
Help, save, comfort and defend us, gracious Lord.
Kyrie Eleison; Christe Eleison; Kyrie Eleison.
GLORIA IN EXCELSIS Splendor and Honor LSB 950
1 Splendor and honor, majesty and power
Are Yours, O Lord God, fount of ev’ry blessing,
For by Your bidding was the whole creation
Called into being.
2 Praised be the true Lamb, slain for our redemption,
By whose self-off’ring we are made God’s people:
A priestly kingdom, from all tongues and nations,
Called to God’s service.
3 To the Almighty, throned in heav’nly splendor,
And to the Savior, Christ our Lamb and Shepherd,
Be adoration, praise, and glory given,
Now and forever.
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray. Merciful Father,
You gave Your Son Jesus as the heavenly bread of life. Grant us faith to feast on Him in Your Word and Sacraments that we may be nourished unto life everlasting; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
✠ ✠ ✠
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
FIRST LESSON (Be seated) Exodus 16:2-15
The whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, “At evening you shall know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against the Lord. For what are we, that you grumble against us?” And Moses said, “When the Lord gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the Lord has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him—what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord.”
Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, ‘Come near before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’” And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. And the Lord said to Moses, “I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’”
In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM 145:10-21 (Spoken responsively)
All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your saints shall bless you!
They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
and tell of your power,
to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
The Lord is faithful in all his words
and kind in all his works.
The Lord upholds all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
You open your hand;
you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways
and kind in all his works.
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
he also hears their cry and saves them.
The Lord preserves all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
SECOND LESSON Ephesians 4:1-16
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says,
“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”
(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
CHILDREN’S SERMON
ALLELUIA VERSE (Stand) LSB 952
Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia!
GOSPEL John 6:22-35
The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the 6th chapter.
Glory to You, O Lord.
On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, O Christ.
SERMON (Be seated)
Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus. Amen. Dear friends in Christ:
The text just reads culminates with Jesus’ words: “I am the bread of life.” These are likely familiar words to you because the church has lifted them up in so many of its songs, prayers and works of art. At St. Paul’s, we have a stained-glass window designed to recall them. The window, right here (point to it), is one in a series of seven depicting the “I am” sayings of Jesus in the book of John. As you can see, the “bread of life” saying is symbolized by stalks of wheat.
As important as the bread of life saying is, these are not the only words we should recall from today’s text. Jesus has a lot to say before he gets to that phrase and we don’t want to miss important messages by rushing too quickly to the words which catch our eyes and ears most easily.
Also, today’s text can only be properly understood by considering what came before it in the first parts of the chapter. So, let’s review.
John chapter six begins with the telling of Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand. We heard this story two weeks ago in our reading from Mark. The feeding, you recall, was done by a great miracle – Jesus multiplying a small meal of five loaves and two fish so that there was plenty for all, and leftovers too.
Following this, the chapter then tells of Jesus travelling across the Sea of Galilee. And this is no ordinary travel tale – for Jesus covers the distance by miraculously walking on the water.
Today’s text begins with the people trying to figure all this out. They are all abuzz because of the great feeding. And now they’re trying to assess Jesus’ travel, for they didn’t see him get in a boat – and yet there he was on the other shore.
When the people find Jesus, they ask him: “When did you get here?” In his reply, Jesus could have shared about his miraculous trip across the water. But he has already shown the people plenty of miracles. Now he feels it best to challenge their thinking in other ways. So, he says to them: “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.”
This sounds like a rather harsh accusation by Jesus. But it’s based on what he has observed. Earlier, John told us that after the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus withdrew from them because he perceived that “they were about to come and take him by force to make him king” (v.15). As we clearly see, the people had sized up Jesus’ powers and now wanted to make him their permanent meal ticket.
Jesus, however, had not come to be a bread king. He therefore begins to clarify for them his true identity and purpose. And he does this by first confronting the people about their desires, telling them: “do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life.”
With these words Jesus was challenging his hearers. And this is a place where we should stop and consider this as a challenge for us also, asking ourselves: Are we also ones who work only for food that perishes? Or do we work for food that endures to eternal life?
To help us think about this, let’s ask the question in a few other ways…
Do we only work so that we can put food on the table, or do we see our work as a vocation where we can also serve God?
Do we only work to improve our status and opportunity in life, or do we also work to improve and refine our character?
Do we only work to acquire more things, or do we also work to help advance God’s work in the world?
Jesus calls us to work toward the things of God’s Kingdom and not just our own survival. We are to cultivate our relationship with God, not just our friends; tend to the feeding of our souls, not just our faces; and be mindful of the life to come, after the resurrection, not just our time in this life.
Jesus’ teaching here is perhaps best summarized by an Old Testament text—one that Jesus had recalled during a time of temptation. That text is: “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD” (Deut. 8:3).
And these words, besides being a great summary, also remind us that Jesus’ teaching here is nothing new. God had always prompted his people to seek more from life than just their own survival. And he had always pointed to what he would give to those who listened to him.
But Jesus then adds something else. When he speaks of “the food that endures to eternal life,” he also says: “which the Son of Man will give to you.” Now Jesus is speaking about what he, specifically, will give. His challenge to the people that day was not just to pay attention to the things of God as they had already known them, but to pay attention to the new things that God was giving through him.
And the people understood this. For in response, they asked: “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”
Jesus answered them by saying: “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
Here the people know that Jesus is speaking about himself. And to their credit they don’t immediately protest. Unlike many of Jesus’ other hearers, the people here are open to the possibility that Jesus is sent from God.
But they do ask for a sign. “What sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
Upon first consideration, this seems like a pretty surprising thing for them to say. After all, hadn’t Jesus already given them plenty of miraculous signs, including one in which he actually made bread for them—bread as if from heaven itself? He took five loaves and fed five thousand people, remember?
But upon further reflection, it’s really not so surprising that they would respond like this. Because it’s never surprising when people fail to be satisfied. And that’s what’s going on here. The people may have gotten one good meal out there in that desolate place where Jesus had fed them. But Moses had fed the people in the wilderness every day for forty years. That’s the kind of sign the people wanted.
Likewise, just as it’s never surprising when people always want more, so also, it’s never surprising when people focus only on the material—meaning things which they can see, feel and taste. People want tangible things like bread for their stomachs and miracles they can see, and a leader who will provide these for them.
What about us? Do we only believe in God’s power when something tangible or material happens… like when we feel better or when we receive some kind of visible assurance of his care? Do we only have faith when God has first done something for us? What kind of actions and signs do we demand?
In the midst of demands, Jesus continues to teach. To the crowd that day, Jesus replied: “It was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.”
And here we should note that Jesus is making two points… which he does by highlighting two contrasts. The first point regards the giver of signs and gifts. Jesus reminds the people that God, and not the prophet who was there at the time, is the true giver of these things. Jesus makes this point because he knows that people tend to focus on the prophet and that the people were comparing him with the prophet Moses – trying to decide if he was in the same league.
Jesus’ words here make clear that he was not to be considered in the same league as Moses. Instead, he was to be seen as greater than him – and greater than any other prophet as well. Jesus conveys this by calling God “my Father,” which indicates his special status as God’s exalted Son. As the exalted Son, he is one with the Father – a point that he will elaborate upon further as the conversation progresses, and which we will note next Sunday.
The second contrast Jesus makes is between the bread the Israelites received in the desert and the bread God was giving them at present. His point is that while the manna in the wilderness may have been called “bread from heaven” – a fitting designation because it was given by God and miraculously appeared – still, in the end, it was just bread—something for the stomach.
The “true bread” on the other hand, that which Jesus gives, is much more. The true bread doesn’t just give life to a band of Israelites wandering in the desert. And it doesn’t just feed a crowd of five thousand. The true bread gives much more. The true bread, as Jesus said, gives “life to the world.”
I grew up in farm country. And for many years I took road trips back there – first with my wife and then also with my kids. On those trips to the Midwest we covered many miles. And we saw many farms.
The farms of this land produce food in abundance. And when their great yield is multiplied by the great number of farms out there, one can easily see how this country provides enough food not only for its own use but also enough to feed many other people as well.
And knowing this, one might be moved to say that these farms “give life to the world” just like Jesus does. But that’s not true. For farms only sustain life. Jesus, on the other hand, gives it.
And this distinction should remind us that however much people add life to this world – making it more interesting, easier, more enjoyable, and even extending it for a greater amount of time – the life they give still pales in comparison to what Jesus gives. No one gives life like he does.
Jesus is one with the Father. And that means he gives life through the ongoing creation of the world. Jesus has created all that exists – including you and me – and he will continue to create all that is to come.
Furthermore, Jesus gives life in that he gives us those things which make life truly worth living. Here we think of things such as meaning and purpose; faith, hope and love. These are the blessings which make life more than just an existence.
Above all, Jesus gives life in that he brings the renewal we all need. And this is not just a renewal of our bodies but also a renewal of our souls – our whole being. Jesus brings this through the forgiveness of sins which he earned for us by dying on the cross. His is a complete renewal – one that is actually a rebirth.
Because of this renewal, our life will not end when we die. Rather, our lives will extend beyond the grave and into the life to come. We will go to heaven, first. And then, following the resurrection, we will enter the new creation.
Travelling across this country, one not only sees lots of farms but also lots of churches. These come in all different shapes and sizes… old buildings, new buildings, large ones, small ones, classic structures, storefronts… all kinds. In these places, the true life of Jesus is given. It is given as God’s word is explained and experienced. It is given as vows of commitment are made and acts of forgiveness are extended. It is given as sins are washed away by the waters of Baptism. It is given as people feast at the Lord’s Supper. It is given as people are united in prayer, comforted by hope, and as joy is expressed in praise.
When the true bread from heaven is on the menu, life becomes more than what we can see, feel and taste. And when this bread is consumed, our greatest hungers and deepest thirsts are eliminated. “I am the bread of life,” said Jesus, “whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
In these words, Jesus both promises and beckons. He promises life, and he beckons us to trust him.
So, let us come to him… with our pains, our worries and even our doubts. Let us come and be filled with his goodness. Let us put our trust in him – the true bread from heaven – that he may give us true life; even as he gives life to the world.
In his holy name. Amen.
HYMN OF THE DAY (Stand) Alleluia! Sing to Jesus LSB 821
1 Alleluia! Sing to Jesus;
His the scepter, His the throne;
Alleluia! His the triumph,
His the victory alone.
Hark! The songs of peaceful Zion
Thunder like a mighty flood:
“Jesus out of ev’ry nation
Has redeemed us by His blood.”
2 Alleluia! Not as orphans
Are we left in sorrow now;
Alleluia! He is near us;
Faith believes, nor questions how.
Though the cloud from sight received Him
When the forty days were o’er,
Shall our hearts forget His promise:
“I am with you evermore”?
3 Alleluia! Bread of heaven,
Here on earth our food, our stay;
Alleluia! Here the sinful
Flee to You from day to day.
Intercessor, Friend of sinners,
Earth’s Redeemer, hear our plea
Where the songs of all the sinless
Sweep across the crystal sea.
4 Alleluia! King eternal,
Lord omnipotent we own;
Alleluia! Born of Mary,
Earth Your footstool, heav’n Your throne.
As within the veil You entered,
Robed in flesh, our great High Priest,
Here on earth both priest and victim
In the eucharistic feast.
5 Alleluia! Sing to Jesus;
His the scepter, His the throne;
Alleluia! His the triumph,
His the victory alone.
Hark! The songs of peaceful Zion
Thunder like a mighty flood:
“Jesus out of ev’ry nationHas redeemed us by His blood.”
APOSTLES’ CREED LSB, Back cover
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His 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 into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life ✠ everlasting. Amen.
OFFERING
Offerings support the church’s mission work – both here and through our many partners. Offerings may be placed in the box at the sanctuary entrance or sent to the church through our website or the mail. Fellowship Cards help us welcome new people and track participation. Please fill one out and place it in the offering box following the service.
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Gracious heavenly Father, You provided for the Israelites during their journey through the wilderness and brought them into the promised land. Lead us to trust in Your promise of provision for us as well, that we may make our journey through this life with confidence and joy. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Holy God, Your Son has given us the Office of the Ministry so that Your people might be equipped to serve and be built up into His one Body. Remember in Your compassion all who speak Your Word through this office. Give them faithfulness and honesty in their teaching so that Your children would be freed from all deceit and learn to speak Your truth to one another in love, growing up in every way into Christ. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, grant our church true unity in the faith. Preserve us in pure doctrine; grant harmony in our congregation, district and Synod; and bestow on us charitable hearts that put the best construction on what we see and hear. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
God and Father of all, enable us to walk in humility, gentleness and patience, that we would bear with one another in love and be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Mighty One, You establish civil government to be a blessing. To Your mercy we commend our president, our Congress, our justices and magistrates, and all who serve the public in any way. Keep them honest, fill them with wisdom, and uphold them in every good deed. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Show Your mercy, O Lord, to the sick, the struggling, and to all those in need, including Geraine, Sophia, Dolly, Norma, Brooks, Trudy, Mary Ann, June, Peter, Wendy, James, Russell, Tawni, Marvin, Yi, Eunice, and all whom we name in our hearts at this time... Provide for their care and for their healing in both body and soul. And above all keep them in the faith that leads to life everlasting. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Loving Father, by Your grace You continue to provide us the living bread from heaven: Jesus Christ, your beloved Son. As he comes to us today in His Holy Supper, help us to approach His table with thankful and contrite hearts, that we might receive him in faith for the cleansing of our spirits and the forgiveness of our sins. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord, we come as a people tossed to and fro by the manifold changes of this mortal life. Help us to know, in You, that which is eternal. Give us confidence in the suffering and death of Christ, that we may rejoice in what has been done for us and eagerly await his return; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
OFFERTORY Create in Me (LSB 956)
1 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Thy presence;
and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation;
and uphold me with Thy free spirit. Amen.
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SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT
PREFACE (Stand)
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give him thanks and praise.
It is truly good, right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to you, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ our Lord…
Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify your glorious name, evermore praising you and saying:
SANCTUS (LSB 961)
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth;
heav’n and earth are full of Your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessèd, blessèd, blessèd is He
who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Blessed are you, Lord of heaven and earth. In mercy for our fallen world you gave your only Son, that all those who believe in him should not perish but have eternal life. We give thanks to you for the salvation you have prepared for us through Jesus Christ. Send now your Holy Spirit into our hearts, that we may receive our Lord with a living faith as he comes to us in his holy supper.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
THE WORDS OF OUR LORD
THE 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;
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.
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Amen.
AGNUS DEI (LSB 962)
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 Your peace,
grant us Your peace,
grant us Your peace.
THE COMMUNION (Be seated)
Those wishing to commune at the foot of the steps should come forward first. Those wishing to commune at the altar rail should come forward after these, front rows first, from both sides of the aisle. After receiving, all should return to their seats. A common dismissal will be given at the end.
DISTRIBUTION HYMN Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness Sts. 1, 5-8 LSB 636
1 Soul, adorn yourself with gladness,
Leave the gloomy haunts of sadness,
Come into the daylight’s splendor,
There with joy your praises render.
Bless the One whose grace unbounded
This amazing banquet founded;
He, though heav’nly, high, and holy,
Deigns to dwell with you most lowly.
5 Jesus, source of lasting pleasure,
Truest friend, and dearest treasure,
Peace beyond all understanding,
Joy into all life expanding:
Humbly now, I bow before You;
Love incarnate, I adore You;
Worthily let me receive You
And, so favored, never leave You.
6 Jesus, sun of life, my splendor,
Jesus, friend of friends, most tender,
Jesus, joy of my desiring,
Fount of life, my soul inspiring:
At Your feet I cry, my maker,
Let me be a fit partaker
Of this blessèd food from heaven,
For our good, Your glory, given.
7 Lord, by love and mercy driven,
You once left Your throne in heaven
On the cross for me to languish
And to die in bitter anguish,
To forego all joy and gladness
And to shed Your blood in sadness.
By this blood redeemed and living,
Lord, I praise You with thanksgiving.
8 Jesus, bread of life, I pray You,
Let me gladly here obey You.
By Your love I am invited,
Be Your love with love requited;
By this Supper let me measure,
Lord, how vast and deep love’s treasure.
Through the gift of grace You give me
As Your guest in heav’n receive me.
NUNC DIMITTIS (LSB 937)
1 Lord, bid Your servant go in peace,
Your word is now fulfilled.
These eyes have seen salvation’s dawn,
This child so long foretold.
2 This is the Savior of the world,
The Gentiles’ promised light,
God’s glory dwelling in our midst,
The joy of Israel.
3 With saints of old, with saints to come,
To You we lift our voice;
To Father, Son, and Spirit blest
Be honor, love, and praise.
PRAYER (Stand)
BENEDICTION
SENDING HYMN Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer LSB 918
1 Guide me, O Thou great Redeemer,
Pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but Thou art mighty;
Hold me with Thy pow’rful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.
2 Open now the crystal fountain
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fiery, cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong deliv’rer, strong deliv’rer,
Be Thou still my strength and shield;
Be Thou still my strength and shield.
3 When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death and hell’s destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever give to Thee;
I will ever give to Thee.
ANNOUNCEMENTS (Be seated)
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE CWM Rhonda Paul Manz
FELLOWSHIP CONTRIBUTORS: Preschool Committee
Those serving:
Organist: Lois Lehrer
Saturday, 5:00 p.m.:
Greeter: Bob Juenger
Reader: Anne Kauzlarich
Sunday, 10:00 a.m.:
Greeter: Lynn Jacquez
Comm. assist: Dan Buuck
Reader: Lynn Jacquez
Acolyte: Andreas Buuck
AV Assistants: Hannes Buuck, Andreas Buuck
Acknowledgments
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2024 Concordia Publishing House. LSB Hymn License no. 110005326
910 Now the Silence Text: Jaroslav J. Vajda, 1919–2008 Tune: Carl F. Schalk, 1929
Text and tune: © 1969 Hope Publishing Co. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326
821 Alleluia! Sing to Jesus Text: William C. Dix, 1837–98, alt. Tune: Rowland H. Prichard, 1811–87 Text and tune: Public domain
636 Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness Text: Johann Franck, 1618–77; (sts. 1, 5): tr. Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978; (sts. 6–8): tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827–78, alt. Tune: Johann Crüger, 1598–1662 Text (sts. 1, 5): © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326 Text (sts. 6–8) and tune: Public domain
918 Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer Text: William Williams, 1717–91, abr.; (st. 1): tr. Peter Williams, 1722–96, alt.; (sts. 2–3): tr. William Williams, 1717–91 Tune: John Hughes, 1873–1932 Text and tune: Public domain
