Prelude
Bells, Welcome, Announcements and Sharing
á Hymn Just as I Am (ELW# 592)
Charlotte Elliott
á Confession and Forgiveness
P Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who spoke light into creation,
who calls us to listen and follow, who sends us to shine like stars.
C Amen.
P Let us come before God, confessing our sin.
Silence is kept for reflection.
P Holy and Merciful God,
C we confess that we have sinned against our sisters and brothers and against you. We cherish the values of this world. We cause others to stumble. The earth is wounded by our excess. Have mercy, O God. Forgive us, renew us, and raise us up on eagles’ wings, that we may do your will with courage and delight. Amen.
P In the advent of Christ, the dawn from on high breaks upon us with light and healing. Through Jesus Christ, God looks with favor upon you, and forgives you all your sins.
C Amen.
Hymn Great is He Who’s the King of Kings
Prayer of the Day
P The grace of Jesus Christ,
the mercy of the Holy One,
and the Spirit of the living God
be with you all.
C And also with you.
P Let us pray…
C Holy and loving God,
Your son proclaimed living water to all who are thirsty. We are thirsty, Lord.
Quench our thirst with your living water and heal our souls. Amen.
Kids in the Kingdom
Acclamation Spirit of the Living God
Spirit of the Living God
Fall fresh on me
Spirit of the Living God
Fall fresh on me
Melt me mold me
Fill me use me
Spirit of the Living God
Fall fresh on me
Responsive Reading Psalm 147
1 Praise the Lord!
How good it is to sing praises to our God;
for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted,
and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars;
he gives to all of them their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
his understanding is beyond measure.
6 The Lord lifts up the downtrodden;
he casts the wicked to the ground.
7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
make melody to our God on the lyre.
8 He covers the heavens with clouds,
prepares rain for the earth,
makes grass grow on the hills.
9 He gives to the animals their food,
and to the young ravens when they cry.
10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;
11 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.
Gospel John 7:37–52
L The Holy Gospel from John in the 7th Chapter
C Glory to you, O Lord
37 On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, 38 and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’ ” 39 Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
40 When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, “This is really the prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But some asked, “Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he? 42 Has not the scripture said that the Messiah is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” 43 So there was a division in the crowd because of him. 44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.
45 Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not arrest him?” 46 The police answered, “Never has anyone spoken like this!” 47 Then the Pharisees replied, “Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? 48 Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49 But this crowd, which does not know the law—they are accursed.” 50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, 51 “Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?” 52 They replied, “Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.”
L This is the Gospel of our Lord
C Praise to You O Christ
Sermon Brendan Johnston
á Hymn I Am the Bread of Life (# 485)
Suzanne Toolan
1 “I am the Bread of life.
You who come to me shall not hunger,
and who believe in me shall not thirst.
No one can come to me unless the Father beckons.”
Refrain
“And I will raise you up,
and I will raise you up,
and I will raise you up on the last day.”
2 “The bread that I will give
is my flesh for the life of the world,
and if you eat of this bread,
you shall live forever, you shall live forever.” Refrain
3 “Unless you eat
of the flesh of the Son of Man
and drink of his blood,
and drink of his blood,
you shall not have life within you.” Refrain
4 “I am the resurrection,
I am the life.
If you believe in me,
even though you die, you shall live forever.” Refrain
WE RESPOND TO THE WORD OF GOD
á Apostles Creed (Back of hymnal)
Offering Prayer
P Merciful God,
C we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us—our selves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Prayers of Bethlehem
During the prayers, there will be an opportunity for you to lift up a thanksgiving, a prayer concern, the name of someone on your mind today. All are encouraged to join in this time of public prayer.
L … Lord in your mercy …
C … Hear our prayer.
Meal
God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ
Words of Institution
á Lord’s Prayer
C 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 us 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.
L These are the gifts of God for the people of God
C Thanks be to God
Distribution of Holy Communion
We believe that Jesus is truly present in the elements of communion – and all are welcome to receive Jesus in this food and drink.
Communion in the Pews
Prepackaged communion will be available in pews and as you enter worship. Please open and receive this sacrament after the Words of Institution.
Communion at the Table
Those who wish to receive Holy Communion at the tables in front of the sanctuary will be invited to come forward using the pulpit side aisle, and return to their seat using the piano side aisle.
As you come forward, one at a time, there will be two tables prepared for you. Wafers will be placed on plates on the first table for you to pick up and receive the Body of Christ. Cups of wine or grape juice will be placed on the second table for you to receive the Blood of Christ. Cups can then be placed in a bin.
Children not communing may come forward for a blessing.
Communion Music
LEAVE TO LIVE THE WORD
á Post Communion Prayer
P O God, the host at every meal,
C at this table you spread out a feast for all peoples,
the bread of life and the cup of salvation.
Send us from this banquet
to invite others into these good things,
to let justice roll down like waters,
and to care for the least of our sisters and brothers;
through Jesus Christ, our Sovereign and our Savior.
Amen
á Blessing
P God the Father, light-creator;
God the Son, Light from Light;
and God the Holy Spirit, light-revealer,
bless you and ☩ give you peace.
á Sending Hymn Now Thank We All Our God (#840)
Rinkhart, Winkworth
á Dismissal
P Go in peace. Christ is with you.
C Thanks be to God!