Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost Worship Bulletin | 8-11-24
St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
PENTECOST 12
08-11-2024 10:00AM “Hybrid” Worship
+ We Rejoice in God’s Glory +
THE OPENING RITE:
L Jesus says, “I am the Bread of Life.”
C “Whoever comes to Me will never hunger,
whoever believes in Me will never thirst.” [John 6:35]
L We come here this morning knowing that sometimes we feel crushed by life. Shadows overwhelm us, enemies pursue us outside and within, our spirits grow faint, and we sink into agony and despair.
C We need a SAVIOR to rescue and deliver us,
we need a LORD to lead us guide us,
we need that BREAD OF LIFE to strengthen and sustain us in our life’s journey.
L If we really want to live our lives in the best way possible, and if we truly want to have hope that stretches into eternity…
C then let us turn to Jesus, because there is no better life than LIFE IN CHRIST! ALLELUIA!
OPENING SONG: “SO GLAD I’M HERE” Tan #304
THE APOSTOLIC GREETING by the Pastor.
A SONG OF PRAISE: “GOD IS SO GOOD” Tan #156
- God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, God’s so good to me.
(2) He saved my soul…
(3) I’ll praise God’s name…
PRAYER OF THE DAY (together):
Awesome God, whether we know it or not, our greatest need and our deepest hunger is for your Son, Jesus Christ. Let him be our true BREAD OF LIFE. Give us strength for our life’s journey and open our eyes, mind, heart, hands, and feet to the new possibilities and stunning promises that Jesus offers us. Amen to that!
+ We Rejoice in God’s Saving Word +
FIRST READING: 1 KINGS 19:4-8
[Elijah under the broom tree – asking to die, longing to live.]
19:4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.”
19:5 Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.”
19:6 He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. He ate and drank and lay down again.
19:7 The angel of the LORD came a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.”
19:8 He got up and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.
SECOND READING: EPHESIANS 4:25 – 5:2
[Don’t just “play” Christian – be a Christian by imitating God’s love.]
4:25 So then, putting away falsehood, let each of you speak the truth with your neighbor, for we are members of one another.
4:26 Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
4:27 and do not make room for the devil.
4:28 Those who steal must give up stealing; rather, let them labor, doing good work with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy.
4:29 Let no evil talk come out of your mouths but only what is good for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.
4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption.
4:31 Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice.
4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.
5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children,
5:2 and walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
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 6:35, 41-51
[A deadly diet – eliminating the BREAD OF LIFE.]
6:35 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.
6:41 Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
6:42 They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”
6:43 Jesus answered them, “Do not complain among yourselves.
6:44 No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me, and I will raise that person up on the last day.
6:45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.
6:46 Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father.
6:47 Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life.
6:48 I am the bread of life.
6:49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.
6:50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.
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.”
THE SERMON: Pastor Neil or Pastor Gwen
SONG RESPONSE: “WE’VE COME THIS FAR BY FAITH” Tan #412
+ We Rejoice in Our Baptized Faith +
THE RITE OF CONFIRMATION page 198, front of Green Hymnal
[This morning Iyanna Janae Washington publicly confirms that Jesus Christ is her Lord and Savior. And she is confirmed by the Holy Spirit as a follower of Christ. This Rite includes rejection of the devil and of all evil, affirmation of faith, the acceptance of the responsibility of discipleship, the laying on of hands, and a prayer of blessing. In the eyes of the Church, this is a “rite of passage” into Christian adulthood. MAY THE LORD LEAD AND GUIDE HER THROUGH AN ENTIRE LIFE’S JOURNEY OF MATURING FAITH AND FAITHFUL SERVANTHOOD!]
L Let us pray. Merciful God, we thank you for our sister in Christ, this young adult, whom you have made your own by water and the Word in holy baptism. You have called Iyanna to yourself, enlightened her with the gifts of your Spirit, and nourished her in the community of faith. Iyanna has been raised in this community of faith and she has faithfully served in and through this community of faith. We ask you to uphold Iyanna in the gifts and promises of baptism, and to unite the hearts of all that you have brought to new birth. We pray this in the name of Christ.
C Amen.
L Iyanna, I ask you to profess your faith in Christ Jesus, reject sin, and confess the faith of the church.
Do you renounce the devil and all the forces of evil that defy God?
- I renounce them.
L Do you renounce the powers of this world that rebel against God?
- I renounce them.
L Do you renounce the ways of sin that draw you from God?
- I renounce them.
L Iyanna and all the community of faith, Do you believe in God the Father?
- (Iyanna and ALL) I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
L Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
- (Iyanna and ALL) I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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 descended 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 to judge the living and the dead.
L Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
- (Iyanna and ALL) 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.
L Iyanna, you have made public profession of your faith. Do you intend to continue in the covenant God made with you in holy Baptism: to live among God’s faithful people; to hear the Word of God and share in the Lord’s supper; to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed; to serve all people, following the example of Jesus; and to strive for justice and peace in all the earth?
- I do, and I ask God to help and guide me.
L People of God, do you promise to support Iyanna in her faith and to pray for her life in Christ?
C We do, and we ask God to help and guide us.
L (laying hands on and praying) O God, stir up in Iyanna the gift of your Holy Spirit:
the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the
fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence, both now and forever. Amen.
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 [Paul urges us to make the most of our time, our words, our deeds, and our possessions, using Christ as our guide and our strength as we practice and share love inside the faith community and extend it to the world.
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:
Lord God, thank you for making a way out of no way in my life! During this summer may I dedicate my leisure and my work, my rest and my travel, my service and my spending, my health and my wealth, my worship and my witness to glorify You and to extend your Kingdom to others. Someone somewhere is in need of your Good News. 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: Tan #431 Tan #569
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: “GLORY, GLORY, HALLELUJAH” Tan #500