NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Food for the Soul August 2, 5-6, 2017 AS WE GATHER We face so many arguments about food these days. Go organic. Go gluten free. Go low carb. Go vegan. Go GMO free. Our culture is deeply concerned about what sort of food we put in our bodies, because the old saying you are what you eat is fairly accurate. While what sort of food we put into our bodies is an important concern, Jesus compels us to make another kind of food an even higher priority than the food we chew and digest. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Jesus feeds five thousand people, thereby revealing that He is the Word of God Incarnate, the food that feeds more than our stomachs. Jesus feeds our souls. This was foreseen by the prophet Isaiah who wrote, Come, everyone who thirsts... incline your ear, and come to Me; hear, that your soul may live. The food we put into our bodies is important. Even more important is to gather in church for food that feeds the soul! WELCOME Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:7-8) HANDSHAKES & HUGS OPENING HYMN #906 1 PREPARATION O Day of Rest and Gladness O day of rest and gladness, O day of joy and light, O balm of care and sadness, Most beautiful, most bright; This day the high and lowly, Through ages joined to bless, Sing, Holy, holy, holy, The triune God confess. This day at earth s creation The light first had its birth; This day for our salvation Christ rose from depths of earth; This day our Lord victorious The Spirit sent from heav n, And thus this day most glorious A threefold light was giv n. This day, God s people meeting, His Holy Scripture hear; His living presence greeting, Through bread and wine made near. We journey on, believing, Renewed with heav nly might, From grace more grace receiving, On this blest day of light. That light our hope sustaining, We walk the pilgrim way, At length our rest attaining, Our endless Sabbath day. We sing to Thee our praises, O Father, Spirit, Son; The Church her voice upraises To Thee, blest Three in One. INVOCATION & OPENING SENTENCES Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Pastor: Through Christ we are heirs of the gifts given long ago to the Israelites. For the gift of our adoption into the household of God, People: we thank you, O Lord! Pastor: For the gift of God s glorious presence with us in Jesus, People: we adore you, O Lord! Pastor: For the covenants God made with us, especially the covenant of forgiveness in Christ, People: we praise you, O Lord! Pastor: For the Law of God, which guides us and points us to Christ, People: we worship you, O Lord! Pastor: For freedom to praise and adore our giving God in worship, People: we praise you, O Lord! Pastor: For the gracious promises of God, fulfilled in Jesus, People: we adore you, O Lord! Pastor: For the patriarchs, whose struggles with faith teach us the way of following God, People: we thank you, O Lord! CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION Pastor: Mighty and merciful Lord, with heavy hearts we confess our sin to you. Together we confess: People: We have sinned against you, mighty God, in thought, word, and deed. 2
Pastor: When we have been more concerned with the food that feeds our stomachs than we are with the food that nurtures our souls, People: we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed. Pastor: When we live as if the gifts God provides are less important than some of the trivial things which fill our days. People: we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed. Pastor: When we fill our ears with all sorts of things that cannot give us the life you give, People: we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed. Bring us to repentance, Lord. Forgive our sins, those of which we are aware and those we do unwittingly. Have mercy on us. Seek us, for you alone can find us and restore us. Pastor: Listen diligently to Me, and eat what is good, says the Lord, and delight yourselves in rich food. Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. HYMN OF PRAISE #806 Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart Give thanks with a grateful heart, Give thanks to the Holy one, Give thanks because He s given Jesus Christ His Son. Give thanks with a grateful heart, Give thanks to the Holy one, Give thanks because He s given Jesus Christ His Son. And now let the weak say I am strong. Let the poor say I am rich, Because of what the Lord has done for us. And now let the weak say I am strong, Let the poor say I am rich, Because of what the Lord has done for us. Give thanks, give thanks. SALUTATION & PRAYER OF THE DAY Pastor: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. Pastor: Let us pray. Lord of creation, you open wide your hand and satisfy the needs of every living creature. 3 People: You feed our souls with the true bread from heaven, Jesus, our Savior. Pastor: Help us to receive the Bread of Life with joy, People: so that we may participate in your providing bread for the world, both body and soul; Pastor: through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. HYMN #593 (5:00) See This Wonder in the Making See this wonder in the making: God Himself this child is taking As a lamb safe in His keeping, His to be, awake or sleeping. Miracle each time it happens As the door to heaven opens And the Father beams, Beloved, Heir of gifts a king would covet! Far more tender than a mother, Far more caring than a father, God, into Your arms we place them, With Your love and peace embrace them. Here we bring a child of nature; Home we take a newborn creature, Now God s precious son or daughter, Born again by Word and water. BAPTISM of Brady Kristian Romano (5:00) Page 268 WORD OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 55:1 5 (Come, eat and drink without cost.) Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of the peoples. Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not know you will hasten to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor. EPISTLE Romans 9:1 13 (Paul anguishes over the people of Israel.) I speak the truth in Christ-I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit- I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself 4
were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen. It is not as though God s word failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham s children. On the contrary, It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. In other words, it is not the natural children who are God s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham s offspring. For this was how the promise was stated: At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son. Not only that, but Rebekah s children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad- in order that God s purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls-she was told, The older will serve the younger. Just as it is written: Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 14:13 21 (The Bread of Life feeds five thousand.) Praise we Him, whose love divine Gives His sacred blood for wine, Gives His body for the feast-christ the victim, Christ the priest. Alleluia! Where the paschal blood is poured, Death s dread angel sheathes the sword: Israel s hosts triumphant go Through the wave that drowns the foe. Alleluia! Praise we Christ, whose blood was shed, Pas chal victim, paschal bread; with sincerity and love Eat we manna from above. Alleluia! Easter triumph, Easter joy! This alone can sin destroy; From sin s pow r, Lord, set us free, Newborn souls in You to be. Alleluia! Father, who the crown shall give, Savior, by whose death we live, Spirit, guide through all our days; Three in One, Your name we praise. Alleluia! SERMON CONFESSION OF FAITH #941 We Praise You and Acknowledge You, O God We praise You and acknowledge You, O God, to be the Lord, The Father everlasting, by all the earth adored. To You all angel powers cry aloud, the heavens sing, The cherubim and seraphim their praises to You bring: O holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth; Your majesty and glory fill the heavens and the earth! When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, This is a remote place and it s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food. Jesus replied, They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat. We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish, they answered. Bring them here to me, he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. The band of the apostles in glory sing Your praise; The fellowship of prophets their deathless voices raise. The martyrs of Your kingdom, a great and noble throng, Sing with the holy Church throughout all the world this song: O all majestic Father, Your true and only Son, And Holy Spirit, Comforter forever Three in One! You, Christ, are King of glory, the everlasting Son, Yet You, with boundless love, sought to rescue ev ry one: You laid aside Your glory, were born of virgin s womb, Were crucified for us and were placed into a tomb; Then by Your resurrection You won for us reprieve You opened heaven s kingdom to all who would believe. CHILDREN S MESSAGE (5:00 & 9:00) SERMON HYMN #633 Stanzas 1-4, 7-8 At the Lamb s High Feast We Sing At the Lamb s high feast we sing Praise to our victorious King. Who has washed us in the tide Flowing from His pierced side. Alleluia! 5 continued The Food That Truly Satisfies 6 continued
You sit in splendid glory, enthroned at God s right hand, Upholding earth and heaven by forces You command. We know that you will come as our Judge that final day, So help Your servants You have redeemed by blood, we pray; May we with saints be numbered where praises never end, In glory everlasting. Amen, O Lord, amen! OFFERING As your offering is collected, please sign our attendance book located at the end of the pew. If you are a visitor, please leave your address and phone. After you are finished, please pass the book along to others in your pew, and return the book to the center aisle. You may check the register to see the names of those to greet after the service. PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH Pastor: Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs. Almighty God, heavenly Father, you are gracious beyond measure. In the wilderness, your Son healed the sick, miraculously fed over 5,000 and satisfied them. People: We give you thanks for all that you provide to support our bodies and lives. Lead us always to look to you as a loving Father who knows what we need and supplies it. Make us content with what you give, that we may not be envious or jealous of others. Pastor: Gracious Lord, you have made us children of the promise on account of your Son. Let your promises continue to go to the ends of the earth. People: Incline the ears of all to listen to your truth, that their souls may live. Make all pastors faithful witnesses of the Holy One of Israel, whom you glorified by raising Him from the dead. Pastor: Father in heaven, we delight in your grace and rejoice in the blessings of baptism, especially as Brady Kristian Romano is baptized into Christ this weekend. People: Bless his parents as they diligently raise him in the faith and help us all to grow with him in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Pastor: Lord God, we pray for this land and all nations, that all peoples enjoy 7 devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, faithful neighbors and the like. People: Along with Keith and Bev, grant us thankful hearts for your abundant blessings. Pastor: God of comfort, as your Son healed the sick, so also heal those who are sick in our midst and deliver all from life s difficulties, especially Kathy, Jeannie, Shirley, Richard, Gladys, Pat, Herb, Cliff, Doris, Carol, Ervin, Matthew, Arlene, Mae, Dorothy, John, Arlene, LuEva, Kathleen, Jean, Russ, Helen, Leonard, Linda, Jack, Shirley and Sarah. People: If it be your will, restore them to health. As they suffer, give them strength to accept their affliction, as well as a hope for the day when our lowly bodies will be raised and glorified. Pastor: Merciful Lord, provide for the hungry and homeless. Help the agencies of our church that care for them in the love of Christ. People: Bless all who receive support and encouragement to find their greatest help in the salvation found only in Jesus Christ, that all may come to recognize that every good gift comes from you. Pastor: Lord of the living, we give you thanks for all who have finished the race life with faith in Jesus Christ. Bless Amy as she remembers her dad; bless her heart with hope and peace. People: Bless all your children to look forward to the life of the world to come. Pastor: Heavenly Father, as your Son fed the crowd with bread and meat, so also today He feeds us His body and blood. We rejoice in this covenant of grace, mercy, and forgiveness. People: Let us receive the Lord s Supper worthily, trusting in your promise of forgiveness, that we may be strengthened in faith toward you and in love toward others. Pastor: Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy, through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. THE LORD S PRAYER (6:00 & 9:00) 8
THE WORDS OF OUR LORD SACRAMENT THE PEACE OF THE LORD Pastor: The peace of the Lord be with you always. AGNUS DEI #550 Lamb of God Stanzas 1 & 3 Your only Son, no sin to hide, But You have sent Him from Your side To walk upon this guilty sod, And to become the Lamb of God. Refrain: O Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God, I love the holy Lamb of God! O wash me in His precious blood, My Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. I was so lost, I should have died, But You have brought me to Your side To be led by Your staff and rod, And to be called a lamb of God. Refrain DISTRIBUTION Those guests who desire to commune who are members of another LCMS congregation may do so; if you are coming from another church background, please see the pastor or an elder first. HYMN #537 Beautiful Savior Beautiful Savior, King of creation, Son of God and Son of Man! Truly I d love Thee, Truly I d serve Thee, Light of my soul, my joy, my crown. Fair are the meadows, Fair are the woodlands, Robed in flow rs of blooming spring; Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer, He makes our sorr wing spirit sing. Fair is the sunshine, Fair is the moonlight, Bright the sparkling stars on high; Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shine purer Than all the angels in the sky. Beautiful Savior, Lord of the nations, Son of God and Son of Man! Glory and honor, Praise, adoration Now and forever-more be Thine! HYMN #554 O Jesus, King Most Wonderful O Jesus, King most wonderful! O Conqueror renowned! O Source of peace ineffable, In whom all joys are found: When once You visit darkened hearts, Then truth begins to shine, Then earthly vanity departs, Then kindles love divine. O Jesus, light of all below, The fount of life and fire, Surpassing all the joys we know, All that we can desire: May ev ry heart confess Your name, Forever You adore, And, seeking You, itself inflame To seek You more and more! Oh, may our tongues forever bless, May we love You alone And ever in our lives express The image of Your own! HYMN #733 O God, Our Help in Ages Past O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our shelter form the stormy blast, And our eternal home: Under the shadow of Thy throne Thy saints have dwelt secure; Sufficient is Thine arm alone, and our defense is sure. Before the hills in order stood Or earth received her frame, From everlasting Thou art God, To endless years the same. A thousand ages in Thy sight Are like an evening gone, Short as the watch that ends the night Before the rising sun. Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Soon bears us all away; We fly forgotten as a dream Dies at the op ning day. O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Be Thou our guard while troubles last And our eternal home! COMMON DISMISSAL 9 10
POST-COMMUNION THANKSGIVING Pastor: Gracious God, to this world so hungry for what is truly good and what can truly satisfy our hungry hearts, you send Jesus, the Bread of Life. For joining us together in the Body of Christ and for forgiving our sins in this Holy Communion, we give thanks. Give our restless and tired hearts rest in you; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. BENEDICTION Pastor: Nourished by the Word of Christ and fed by Christ s body and blood, you are sent out into the world in the name of Jesus to fill the hungry with good things. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Preacher & Liturgist Lectors Acolytes Organist Pastor Harold Bender Cassy Barry, Jim Adams, Joseph Bender Sophia Novotny, Caden Gibbs Michelle Prince Creative Worship for the Lutheran Parish, Series A, Part 3. Copyright 2017 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission CCLI License #1443048. CLOSING HYMN #918 Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer 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. 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. 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. 11