The Celebration of the Gospel
July 26, 2015 — 9th Sunday after Pentecost
“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish.
But what are they among so many people?”
— John 6.9
_We Gather as The Body of Christ_
GREETING
PRELUDE
[As we listen to the music we quiet our minds and bodies,
listen for our hearts’ deepest desires,
and become present to the Holy One who is lovingly present for us.]
* CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: This is a time…
All: When we can come, just as we are, to worship God.
Leader: This is a time…
All: When we can come to share the deepest things of our hearts and minds
Leader: This is a time…
All: When we can come to meet Christ and receive his outpouring of love and grace.
* SONG Come and Find the Quiet Center Black hymnal #2128
_____ We Attend to the Word______
THE WORD IN SONG
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Creator God of mountain, sea and all life on earth. Awaken us to your presence this day. Remind us of the vastness of your love and the wideness of your mercy and grace. Surprise us with the power and possibilities that exist through your Son and our Savior, Christ Jesus. Help us to be open to your Spirit who longs to live and move through us for the blessing of your world. This we pray. Amen.
NEW TESTAMENT Ephesians 3.16-21
[The author prays for us, that we may be rooted in love and that Christ will live in us.]
I pray that, according to the riches of God’s glory,
God may grant
that you may be strengthened in your inner being
with power through God’s Spirit,
and that Christ may dwell in your hearts
through faith,
as you are being rooted and grounded in love.
I pray that with all the saints you may know the love of Christ
and be able to comprehend
is the breadth and length and height and depth of that love,
that surpasses knowledge,
so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to God,
who by the power at work within us
is able to accomplish abundantly far more
than all we can ask or imagine,
to God be glory
in the church and in Christ Jesus
to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
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PSALTER Psalm 121
[When we look at danger around us, we remember that our strength and our security comes from God.]
I lift up my eyes to the hills—
from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
The Holy One will not let your foot be moved;
your Keeper will not slumber.
The Guardian of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
God will keep your life.
The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in
from this time on and forevermore.
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GOSPEL John 6.1-15
[Jesus feeds a crowd with a tiny bit of food.]
After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.”
One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” Jesus said, ”‘Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.”
When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
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SERMON When Is Enough Enough? Leslie Walseman
SONG There’s a Song Black hymnal #2141
MEMORY VERSE (in unison)
Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that we could ask or imagine
by Christ’s power at work within us. Ephesians 3:20 (CEB)
SONG Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying Black hymnal # 2193
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
[Anyone who wishes may share a prayer concern at the microphone.]
THE PRAYER OF JESUS
PASSING THE PEACE
__ We Are Sent
in Ministry to the World__
OFFERING OUR GIFTS
* OFFERING SONG Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart Black hymnal #2036
* PRAYER
Lord Jesus, we join with you in giving thanks for simple gifts and generous spirits trusting that, in Your hands, our offerings can result in miracles far beyond our human imaginings. Bless the work of our lives and this church that these may be multiplied by your grace so there is more than enough for all. Amen.
THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
* SONG Grace Alone Black hymnal #2162
* THE BLESSING AND SENDING FORTH
RESPONSE We stand and sing to our neighbors:
May the grace and peace of Christ be with you my friends.
Go and share the love of God, love that never ends.
POSTLUDE
[During the postlude there are people ready to pray with you at the candles in the corners.]