Virtual Worship for August 22, 2021
August 22, 2021
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
PRELUDE
Where Love is Found - “O Waly, Waly" (The Water is Wide)
GATHERING
ANNOUNCEMENTS
INTRODUCTION
In today’s gospel many people take offense at Jesus’ invitation to eat his flesh and drink his blood; even many of Jesus’ disciples peel off. This is the backdrop in John’s gospel for Peter’s confession of faith. “To whom can we go?” asks Peter, in words we sometimes sing just before the gospel is read. “You have the words of eternal life.” In order to take such a stand, as Peter and Joshua did, Paul tells us to arm ourselves with the word of God. We pray in the Spirit that we might be bold ambassadors of the gospel.
The congregation stands.
A PRAYER FOR GOOD SHEPHERD DURING OUR VISIONING PROCESS
Dear Father, please send your spirit to show the way. Grant wisdom and discernment to the Visioning Team, the future Call Committee, and Church Council as they plan for Good Shepherd's future. Help us to remember that you are always with us and always at work. We trust you with our whole hearts, Lord, and we know you will direct our path forward. Guide us in supporting our leaders and rekindle in all of us the passion to be your hands and do your work. Amen.
GATHERING HYMN
You Are the Way, (LBW 464)
1. You are the way; through you alone
can we the Father find;
in you, O Christ, has God revealed
his heart, his will, his mind!
2. You are the truth; your word alone
true wisdom can impart;
you only can inform the mind
and purify the heart.
3. You are the life; the rending tomb
proclaims your conqu’ring arm;
and those who put their trust in you
not death nor hell shall harm.
4. You are the way, the truth, the life;
grant us that way to know,
that truth to keep, that life to win,
whose joys eternal flow.
Text: George W. Doane, 1799-1859, alt.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Blessed be the holy Trinity,☩ one God,
the God of manna,
the God of miracles,
the God of mercy.
Amen.
Drawn to Christ and seeking God’s abundance,
let us confess our sin.
Silence is kept for reflection.
God, our provider,
help us.
It is hard to believe there is enough to share.
We question your ways when they differ from the ways
of the world in which we live.
We turn to our own understanding
rather than trusting in you.
We take offense at your teachings and your ways.
Turn us again to you.
Where else can we turn?
Share with us the words of eternal life
and feed us for life in the world.
Amen.
Beloved people of God:
in Jesus, the manna from heaven,
you are fed and nourished.
By Jesus, the worker of miracles,
there is always more than enough.
Through Jesus, ☩ the bread of life,
you are shown God’s mercy:
you are forgiven and loved into abundant life.
Amen.
GREETING
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
The love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Holy God, your word feeds your people with life that is eternal. Direct our choices and preserve us in your truth, that, renouncing what is false and evil, we may live in you, through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
The congregation is seated.
WORD
FIRST READING
Joshua 24:1-2a,14-18
A reading from Joshua.
In the Near East, covenant means “agreement” or “alliance.” It describes relationships and is the primary word used to characterize the relationship between God and Israel. By delivering Israel, God has already begun the relationship. Joshua calls upon the people to respond.
1Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. 2aAnd Joshua said to all the people, 14“Now therefore revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15Now if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served in the region beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
16Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to serve other gods; 17for it is the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight. He protected us along all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed; 18and the Lord drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God.”
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALMODY
Psalm 34:15-22
(Read responsively.)
The eyes of the Lord are up- on the righteous,
and God’s ears are open to their cry.
The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to erase the remembrance of them from the earth.
The righteous cry, and the Lord hears them
and delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves those whose spirits are crushed.
Many are the troubles of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers them from every one.
God will keep safe all their bones;
not one of them shall be broken.
Evil will bring death to the wicked
and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
O Lord, you redeem the life of your servants,
and those who put their trust in you will not be punished.
SECOND READING
Ephesians 6:10-20
A reading from Ephesians.
Like a general giving a rousing speech to troops before battle, this letter closes by calling on Christians to be equipped for spiritual warfare against evil. The full armor of God includes truth, righteousness, peace, faith, the gift of salvation, and the word of God inspired by the Spirit.\
10Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. 15As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. 19Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The congregation stands.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
GOSPEL
John 6:56-69
The holy gospel according to John.
Glory to you, O Lord.
[Jesus said,] 56“Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” 59He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.
60When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” 61But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? 62Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64But among you there are some who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. 65And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.”
66Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. 67So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” 68Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
The congregation is seated.
SERMON
Jesus, John, and Maslow’s Pyramid!
Pastor Harkness
The congregation stands.
HYMN OF THE DAY
Blessed Assurance, (WOV 699)
1. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
Refrain
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior, all the day long:
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
2. Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love. Refrain
3. Perfect submission, all is at rest;
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love. Refrain
Text: Fanny J. Crosby, 1820-1915
APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.*
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
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.
*Or, “he descended into hell,” another translation of this text in widespread use.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Made children and heirs of God’s promise, we pray for the church, the world, and all in need.
A brief silence.
The response to “Lord, in your mercy,” is “hear our prayer.”
The prayers conclude:
Receive these prayers, O God, and those in our hearts known only to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The congregation is seated.
OFFERING
OFFERTORY
Angus Dei, Michael W. Smith
Robert Prester
The congregation stands.
OFFERING PRAYER
Let us pray. Jesus, Bread of life,
you have set this table with your very self,
and called us to the feast of plenty.
Gather what has been sown among us,
and strengthen us in this meal.
Make us to be what we receive here,
your body for the life of the world. Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
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.
SENDING
BLESSING
The blessing of God,
who provides for us, feeds us, and journeys with us,
☩ be upon you now and forever. Amen.
SENDING HYMN
How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds (LBW 345)
1. How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
in a believer's ear!
It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds,
and drives away all fear.
2. It makes the wounded spirit whole
and calms the heart's unrest;
'tis manna to the hungry soul
and to the weary, rest.
3. Dear name! The rock on which I build,
my shield and hiding place;
my never-failing treasury, filled
with boundless stores of grace.
4. By thee my prayers acceptance gain
although with sin defiled.
The devil charges me in vain,
and I am owned a child.
5. O Jesus, shepherd, guardian, friend,
my prophet, priest, and king,
my Lord, my life, my way, my end,
accept the praise I bring.
6. How weak the effort of my heart,
how cold my warmest thought;
but when I see thee as thou art,
I'll praise thee as I ought.
7. Till then I would thy love proclaim
with every fleeting breath;
and may the music of thy name
refresh my soul in death!
Text: John Newton, 1725-1807, alt.
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. You are the body of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
I Want to Walk as A Child of the Light, Kathleen Armstrong Thomerson
From sundaysandseasons.com. Copyright © 2021 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SB125183.
Permission to reprint, podcast, and / or stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE with license #A-738200. All rights reserved.
Permission to reprint, podcast, and / or stream the music in this service obtained from CCLI with licenses #2332347and #20946066 . All rights reserved.”