Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost Worship Bulletin | 8-18-24
08-18-2024 10:00AM “Hybrid” Worship
+ We Rejoice in God’s Glory +
THE OPENING RITE AND PRAYER OF THE DAY:
L Jesus asks us this morning, “Are you looking for Me because you ate the loaves and had your fill…because you hunger for what brings temporary satisfaction?
C Jesus promises us this morning, “I am the Bread of Life. Those who come to Me will never be hungry…those who believe in Me will never be thirsty.”
L Jesus challenges us this morning, “Unless you gnaw the flesh of the Son of Man and gulp his blood, you have no life in you.”
C Jesus assures us this morning, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise you up on the last day.”
L Sisters and brothers, each of us has sometimes become disoriented in our life’s journey, hoping for little and accepting less than what Jesus offers us. May God lift our desires above our mere bodily needs and beyond the glitter and the glamour of this world – toward the Kingdom of God. Is that what you want in life?
C We gather together to receive new life, new direction, and new hope! ALLELUIA!
OPENING SONG: “HE CAME DOWN” Brown #37
THE APOSTOLIC GREETING by the Pastor.
A SONG OF PRAISE: “TO GOD BE THE GLORY” Brown #272
To God be the glory, to God be the glory,
To God be the glory for the things he has done.
With his blood he has saved me; with his power he has raised me –
To God be the glory for the things he has done! [repeat]
PRAYER OF THE DAY (together):
Dear God, your Son Jesus offers himself as living bread for the life of the world.
We pray, Lord, give us this bread always!
Be our life-source, be our love-source now and forever.
And make us wise with our time and willing with our gifts to speak love and to share love and to be love.
Amen to that!
+ We Rejoice in God’s Saving Word +
FIRST READING: PROVERBS 9:1-6
[Here is your invitation to a banquet of insight and understanding. Become wise!]
9:1 Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars.
9:2 She has slaughtered her animals; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table.
9:3 She has sent out her female servants; she calls from the highest places in the town,
9:4 “You who are simple, turn in here!” To those without sense she says,
9:5 “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.
9:6 Lay aside immaturity and live, and walk in the way of insight.”
SECOND READING: EPHESIANS 5:15-20
[Don’t live “stupid” – have a thirst for, get drunk with God’s Spirit!]
5:15 Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise,
5:16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil.
5:17 So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
5:18 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
5:19 as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to one another, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts.
5:20 giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
SONG SELECTION
GOSPEL VERSE:
“Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me
Break me… melt me… mold me… fill me. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.”
THE HOLY GOSPEL: JOHN 6:51-58
[Feeding on Christ is a healthy diet of the BREAD OF LIFE.]
6:51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
6:52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
6:53 So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
6:54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day,
6:55 for my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
6:56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me and I in them.
6:57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me.
6:58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which the ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.”
THE SERMON: Pastor Neil or Pastor Gwen
SONG RESPONSE: “COME, LET US EAT” Brown #119
THE PRAYERS…We pray for NEW LIFE in the Spirit and for the MISSION of the Church to the world!
+ We Rejoice in God’s Nourishing Meal +
OFFERING… [The Christian missionary Paul encourages us to be wise about our lives and to make the most of every opportunity to give of our self and substance to love, encourage, help, serve, and save each other and this needy world. What will you do and give today to increase the flow of the good news of God’s love through Christ Jesus?]
Those in the Sanctuary can put their offering in the offering plate to share their gratitude and their generosity in response to Christ’s love. Those who are farther away might: mail a check or money order to St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2169 74th Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19138… contribute online through bit.ly/stpetersgiving and set up a one-time donation or a recurring weekly gift to selected categories… or text Give+ at 833-914-0896 and follow the instructions to register and record your contribution. God has blessed us to be a blessing!
Giving in 2024
A brief note. Our 2024 Budget envisions receiving and spending $179,787. Weekly offerings, including online and mailed offerings, should average about $3,400. Most weekly offerings since April, have been below that amount and behind our envisioned Budget. We know who we are called to be and become as bearers of Christ’s name, spirit, and mission. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ARE SEEKING TO OFFER GRATITUDE TO GOD AND GENEROSITY TO OTHERS!
SONG SELECTION
OFFERING SONG:
“Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
THIS IS MY STORY, THIS IS MY SONG,
PRAISING MY SAVIOR ALL THE DAY LONG! [sing the chorus 2 times]
We are God’s people, we are Christ’s Church, called by God’s Spirit into the world.
We have God’s power from heaven above, we’ll share God’s justice, mercy and love!”
OFFERING PRAYER led by the Communion Assistant:
God our Creator, the fruit of your Holy Spirit is love and joy… peace and patience… kindness and goodness… faithfulness and gentleness… and self-control. Because your Son Jesus has set us free from self-concern and self-service, help us to live by the Spirit, to invest ourselves in service to others. We offer you our gifts and our lives for the sake of the world. Amen.
THE PREFACE:
L The Lord be with you. C And also with you.
L Lift up your hearts! C We lift them up in love for God!
L Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C It is right to give God our thanks and praise.
L Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful… C … and set us on fire with your love! Alleluia!
THE EUCHARISTIC WORDS by the Celebrant, who recalls and re-enacts Jesus’ Holy Meal.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
COMMUNION AND BLESSINGS… All believers in Jesus Christ are welcome at the Lord’s Table! The wine may be received from the pouring chalice; we also have grape juice on the tray. . Praise the Lord for this community meal that unites us together, renews our spirits, powers our faith, and reminds us of the future heavenly banquet that awaits us!
COMMUNION SONGS: Brown #123 Brown #220
THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER by the Communion Assistant.
+ We Rejoice in Our Mission +
THE BENEDICTION by the Pastor…We are sent forth to be and become the BODY OF CHRIST for the world!
CLOSING SONG: “WHAT CAN WASH AWAY MY SIN?” Brown #69