Bulletin – Sunday, August 11, 2024 – Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday, August 11, 2024
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

We Gather as People of Faith

Welcome

Announcements

Lighting the Christ Candle

Call to Worship

All:      We come now to your table, Lord.
One:   Let every soul be fed.

Hymn – “As the Deer”

As the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after you;
You alone are my heart’s desire and I long to worship you.
You alone are my strength, my shield,
To you alone may my spirit yield;
You alone are my heart’s desire, and I long to worship you!

You’re my friend and you are my brother even though you are a King
I love you more than any other so much more than anything
You alone are my strength, my shield,
To you alone may my spirit yield;
You alone are my heart’s desire, and I long to worship you!

I want you more than gold or silver only you can satisfy
You alone are the real joy-giver and the apple of my eye
You alone are my strength, my shield,
To you alone may my spirit yield;
You alone are my heart’s desire, and I long to worship you!

Prayer of Approach and Confession (Psalm 130:1-6)

One:   Dearest God, we come to this place today praying that your Holy Spirit, your Ruah Breath will blow in us today.
All:      We open ourselves to the freshness and fullness of your living love.

One:   We pray for your loving renewal so we can leave from here filled to overflowing. Overflowing from you to those we meet. And yet, from the depths of our despair
All:      we call to you O God for help! Hear our cry, Great Protector

One:   If you kept a record of our sins, who could escape being condemned? But you forgive us, so that we continue to stand in awe of you.
All:      We wait eagerly for your help, Forgiving God and in your word we trust. Amen.

Words of Assurance (Psalm 130:7-8)

One:   God said, “Israel, trust in Me because my love is constant and I am always willing to save.” Know that God’s constant love continues to live for us, the remnant of Israel.
All:      Thanks be to God!

Sung Response – “Alleluia” (MV #50)

Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alleluia, Alleluia.

We Hear God’s Word

Scripture Reading: John 6:35, 41-51

³⁵ Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

⁴¹ At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” ⁴² They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

⁴³ “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. ⁴⁴ “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. ⁴⁵ It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. ⁴⁶ No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. ⁴⁷ Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. ⁴⁸ I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹ Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. ⁵⁰ But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church
Thanks be to God!

Hymn – “Call on Me”

Call on me and I will answer you;
Lean on me and I will carry you through.
When life’s lessons seem too hard to learn,
I’m here for you when there’s nowhere to turn.

For I’ll be with you even when you’re alone
And I’ll wait for you, for you’re one of my own.
All of your days when you follow my ways,
You’ll be building my kingdom on earth.

Search for me and I will come to you;
Let me guide you when your choices seem few.
You’ll fulfill all you were meant to be
Whenever you come and journey with me.

For I’ll be with you even when you’re alone
And I’ll wait for you, for you’re one of my own.
All of your days when you follow my ways,
You’ll be building my kingdom on earth.

Tend my earth and you will see it bloom;
Plunder it and you will make it a tomb.
See how rainbows mark my covenant:
This promise of mine to all life is sent.

For I’ll be with you even when you’re alone
And I’ll wait for you, for you’re one of my own.
All of your days when you follow my ways,
You’ll be building my kingdom on earth.

Live in me and I will live in you;
I give meaning to whatever you do.
Share my love, it will come back to you;
Let faith reconcile and wholly renew.

For I’ll be with you even when you’re alone
And I’ll wait for you, for you’re one of my own.
All of your days when you follow my ways,
You’ll be building my kingdom on earth.

Meditation – “Our Relationship with Jesus”

Anthem – “Shout to the Lord”

My Jesus, my Savior, Lord, there is none like You;
All of my days I want to praise the wonders of Your mighty love.
My Comfort, my Shelter, Tower of refuge and strength,
Let every breath, all that I am, never cease to worship You.

Shout to the Lord, all the earth, let us sing
Power and majesty, praise to the King!
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of Your name.
I sing for joy at the work of Your hands,
Forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand;
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You!…

We Respond to God’s Word

Invitation to Share

Offering Response – “What Can I Do?” (MV #191)

What can I do? What can I bring?
What can I say? What can I sing?
I’ll sing with joy. I’ll say a prayer.
I’ll bring my love. I’ll do my share.

Offering Prayer

Prayers of the People

One:   Alleluia!
All:      Love is a gift from God.

We Go Into God’s World

Hymn – “God Will Make a Way”

God will make a way when there seems to be no way,
He works in ways we cannot see, He will make a way for me.
He will be my guide, hold me closely to His side,
With love and strength for each new day,
He will make a way.  He will make a way.

By a roadway in the wilderness He’ll lead me.
Rivers in the desert will I see.
Heaven and earth will fade,
But His word will still remain.
And He will do something new today…”

Benediction

Go from here, remembering who you are and to whom you belong. God in Christ, through the Holy Spirit, lives in you, breathes through you and inspires you. You are the hands, feet, head, eyes, ears, and mouths of Jesus, the body of Love in the world. Be a blessing…and know God’s blessing for you. May it be so.

Response – “I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me” (VU #575)

I’m gonna live so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.
I’m gonna live so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.

I’m gonna work so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.
I’m gonna work so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.

I’m gonna pray so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.
I’m gonna pray so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.

I’m gonna sing so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.
I’m gonna sing so God can use me anywhere, Lord, any time.