12.08..05 Ordinary 18B English

Prelude:  Barcarolle (Camille Saint-Saëns)

Hymn:  All you who are thirsty (Isaiah 55/Michael Connolly) GC * 
Call to Worship RAEH

Tom:  If you come because you have much to be thankful for, or because you have been torn by the world and need healing, you are in the right place.

Elyse:  If you come because your deeds and words have added to the world’s misery, or because you feel you have betrayed your true self, you are in the right place.

Tim:  If you come with a love in your hearts for the Most High, a love which yearns to grow and spill over into your dealings with others, then you are certainly in the right place.

One:  The joy of Christ Jesus be with you all!

All:  And also with you!

Most loving God,

          you are the holy Joy that first sent the stars spinning across space,

          the creative Joy that destined life on this earth,

          the loving Joy that created humanity to crave for your fellowship,

          the redeeming Joy that became human flesh in Jesus of Nazareth,

          and the deathless Joy that promises to complete all that you have so wonderfully    commenced.

Scatter our doubts and stir any dismal spirits, that we may worship you with a joy which reflects your delight in all that you have made. Through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Amen!

 
Song:  All who hunger, gather gladly (Sylvia Dunstan/BEACH SPRING, B. H. White)
Prayer of Confession LL

God longs for us to be faithful children, God begs us to live as role models for a world desperate for hope. But, we know how often we raise up trouble by our words, our actions, our failures. Let us speak truthfully in love about our lives, as we come to the One whose love is as constant as the air we breathe.

All:  We know the mistakes we have made, Just God, the harsh words we have spoken, the hurt we have inflicted on those around us. Like children who run from one distraction to another, we chase after the easy temptations of the world. Chewing on bread made out of the ashes of our brokenness, we act as if we were allergic to your Word. We continue to do all those things which break your hurt, not wanting to look in the mirror and see our true selves.
    
Forgive us, Cradler of Compassion. Grace us with the new life gifted in the Bread. Heal us with the joy and gladness of the Cup. Craft us new hearts, which beat with one another, and as one with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

—Silent reflection—

One:  Seeing our brokenness, God puts us back together; knowing our hunger for hope, God feeds us with Christ; hearing our prayers, God chooses to forgive us. Hear the Good News: we are forgiven.
All:  One hope, one faith, one baptism, one Body - these are the gifts God gives to us, in this moment and in all the moments to come. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Song of Praise:  Hallelujah to the Lamb (Uncle Willie and the Brandy Snifters) *

Prayer of the Day BDP

Most loving God, you have made us hungry for spiritual growth, and we remain malnourished until we receive the Bread of Life. Feed us now through your Son, that we may find boundless life possessing and strengthening us, enabling us to be your agents in this love-hungry world. Through Christ Jesus our true joy.  Amen!

Sh'ma Israel (Tsvika Pik)
Reading from Hebrew Scripture: Exodus 16:2-4, 11-15
Alleluia in 5 (Zehnder)
Gospel Reading:  John 6:24-35
Sermon:  The challenge in communion
Hymn:  Jesus the Christ says (from the Gospel of John/YISU NE KAHA, Urdu traditional) 
Affirmation of Faith

One:  I believe that bread comes from grain that grows in the wind and the rain with the farmer’s help far from the eyes of city folk.
All:  I believe that bread comes from love: the love of God, the love of the farmer, the love of the baker’s hands, the love of those who bring it to me.
One:  I believe that bread can be and should be broken and shared and given to all people until all have enough and then some.
All:  I believe that Jesus loved bread and took it and broke it and blessed it and fed his disciples and asked them to feed us forever.
One:  I believe enough in bread to want it from Jesus, to want it to nurture me, to want his life through it, to want to give life through it.
All:  I believe that his body as bread feeds me and as part of his body I want to be bread for others.  I believe the Spirit will help me as will the people of Jesus. Amen.

Prayer Song:  Drink living water (Colleen Fulmer and Rufino Zaragoza) F&C *
Prayers of the People
Announcements
Song:  Bread for the World (Marty Haugen) Bread for the World web resources

*seasonal for Ordinary Time/August



Forces:
Soprano
Tenor cantor/guitar/percussion
Tenor cantor/bass guitar/percussion
Organ/Piano