BULLETIN – SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2024

BULLETIN – SUNDAY, AUGUST 4, 2024

WELCOME to MESSIAH & ST. PETER LUTHERAN CHURCHES

The Reverend Eric Anderson, Supply Pastor

Greta Wright, Organist

Sunday, August 4, 2024

Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE

BRIEF ORDER OF CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS     Page 56

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

Most merciful God, we confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen. 

Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and, for his sake, forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

ENTRANCE HYMN

Father, We Praise You     #267

APOSTOLIC GREETING     Page 57

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.

KYRIE     Pages 57-59

🎶In peace let us pray to the Lord.

🎶Lord have mercy.

🎶For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

🎶Lord have mercy.

🎶For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

🎶Lord have mercy.

🎶For this holy house, and for all who offer here and online their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.

🎶Lord have mercy.

🎶Help, save, comfort, and defend us gracious Lord.

🎶Amen.

HYMN OF PRAISE     Pages 58-59

🎶This is the feast of victory for our God. Aleluia, aleluia, aleluia. Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God.

🎶This is the feast of victory for our God. Aleluia, aleluia, aleluia. Power, riches, wisdom, and strength, and honor, blessings and glory are his.

🎶This is the feast of victory for our God. Aleluia, aleluia, aleluia. Sing with all the people of God, join in the hymn of creation: Blessing, honor, glory, and might be to God and the Lamb forever, Amen.

🎶This is the feast of victory for our God. Aleluia, aleluia, aleluia. For the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign, Aleluia.

🎶This is the feast of victory for our God. Aleluia, aleluia, aleluia. 

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray:

PRAYER OF THE DAY

O God, eternal goodness, immeasurable love, you place your gifts before us; we eat and are satisfied. Fill us and this world in all its need with the life that comes only from you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

FIRST READING     EXODUS 16:2-4, 9-15

The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Then the Lord said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not.” Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, ‘Draw near to the Lord, for he has heard your complaining.’ ” And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked toward the wilderness, and the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. The Lord spoke to Moses and said, “I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning,  you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’ ” In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.”

PSALM     78:23-29

So God commanded the clouds above and opened the doors of heaven, 

raining down manna upon them to eat and giving them grain from heaven.  

So mortals ate the bread of angels; God provided for them food enough. 

The Lord caused the east wind to blow in the heavens and powerfully led out the south wind, 

raining down flesh upon them like dust and flying birds like the sand of the seas, 

letting them fall in the midst of the camp and round about the dwellings. 

So the people ate and were well filled, for God gave them what they craved.

SECOND READING     EPHESIANS  4:1-16

I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort 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 of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it is said, “When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive; he gave gifts to his people.” (When it says, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.) The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION     Page 62

🎶Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Holy Gospel according to Saint John, the 6th chapter.

🎶Glory to you, O Lord.

GOSPEL    JOHN 6:24-35

When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were [beside the sea,] they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for 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, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform 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, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which 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 will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

🎶Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON

HYMN of the DAY

Guide Me Ever, Great Redeemer    #343

PROFESSION of FAITH     Apostles’ Creed     Page 64

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He decended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again 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 INTERCESSION

Calling on the spirit of Wisdom to guide our hearts and our minds, let us pray for the church, the world, and all in need.

A brief silence.

Wise One, your wisdom has been present in this world since its beginning. Pour out your wisdom into the hearts of the whole church, especially the newly baptized, lay leaders, deacons, pastors, and bishops. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Holy God of all creation, you are the source of all life. Where the sun blazes hard and strong, bring a gentle breeze. In the places experiencing the cold of winter, bring your warmth. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Compassionate God, help government leaders of this world unite for peace and justice. Humble all who hold authority, that power is directed toward a more just society. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Bread of life from heaven, you feed us. Fill all who hunger with needed nutrition and open our hearts to eliminate hunger in this world. May we see a day when all are fed. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Wisdom of truth, help us to understand your will for the church. Be with congregations experiencing transition, redevelopment, and the exciting yet frightening path of newness. May your wisdom be found at every step. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Redeeming God, we give you thanks for the lives and witness of your saints now departed (especially those on our prayer list). Bring your beloved into eternal glory, opening wide the gates to the heavenly banquet. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

We lift up these prayers to you, gracious God. Receive them into your holy keeping. Amen.

EXCHANGE of PEACE

OFFERING

OFFERTORY     Page 75

🎶Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with your free Spirit.

OFFERING PRAYER     Page 68

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts. With them we offer ourselves to your service and dedicate our lives to the care and redemption of all that you have made, for the sake of him who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

LITURGY OF HOLY COMMUNION     Pages 68-72

🎶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 indeed right and salutary….we praise your name and join their unending hymn.

🎶Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might; heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosana, Hosana, Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

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 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.

POST-COMMUNION CANTICLE

🎶Thank the Lord and sing his praise; tell everyone what he has done. Let all who seek the Lord rejoice and proudly bear his name. He recalls his promises and leads his people forth in joy with shouts of thanksgiving. Aleluia, Aleluia.

POST-COMMUNION PRAYER

BENEDICTION     Page 74

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.

Amen.

CLOSING HYMN

For the Bread Which You Have Broken     #200

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. Serve the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE

Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. Used by permission. Prayers adapted from Sundays and Seasons, copyright © 2019, Augsburg Fortress. Used with permission. Psalm readings from Lutheran Book of Worship, copyright © 1978. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual Subscription #SB160715 Other quotations from Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, National Council of Churches in Christ in the United States of America. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

 

Altar flowers at St Peter are presented by 

Jean Zimmerman in memory of loved ones.

 

Altar flowers at Messiah are presented by

Ron & Carol Stoneroad in memory of DJ.