Today’s Readings and Hymns: (Click on each blue arrow to expand/collapse each section.)
1
Ho, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and you that have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
2
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
3
Incline your ear, and come to me;
listen, so that you may live.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.
4
See, I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander for the peoples.
5
See, you shall call nations that you do not know,
and nations that do not know you shall run to you,
because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel,
for he has glorified you.
8
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9
Lord, you are good to all,
and your compassion is over all your works.
14
The Lord upholds all those who fall
and lifts up those who are bowed down.
15
The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord,
and you give them their food in due season.
16
You open wide your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17
You are righteous in all your ways
and loving in all your works.
18
You are near to all who call upon you,
to all who call upon you faithfully.
19
You fulfill the desire of those who fear you;
you hear their cry and save them.
20
You watch over all those who love you,
but all the wicked you shall destroy.
21
My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord;
let all flesh bless God’s holy name forever and ever.
1I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit—2I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own people, my kindred according to the flesh. 4They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; 5to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Messiah, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
13Now when Jesus heard [about the beheading of John the Baptist], he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” 18And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. 21And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
All who hunger, gather gladly; holy manna is our bread. Come from wilderness and wand’ring. Here in truth we will be fed. You that yearn for days of fullness, all around us is our food. Taste and see the grace eternal. Taste and see that God is good.
All who hunger, never strangers; seeker, be a welcome guest. Come from restlessness and roaming. Here in joy we keep the feast. We that once were lost and scattered in communion’s love have stood. Taste and see the grace eternal. Taste and see that God is good.
All who hunger, sing together, Jesus Christ is living bread. Come from loneliness and longing. Here in peace we have been fed. Blest are those who from this table live their days in gratitude. Taste and see the grace eternal. Taste and see that God is good.
When the poor ones, who have nothing, still are giving; when the thirsty pass the cup, water to share; when the wounded offer others strength and healing:
Refrain We see God, here by our side, walking our way; we see God, here by our side, walking our way.
When compassion gives the suff’ring consolation; when expecting brings to birth hope that was lost; when we choose love, not the hatred all around us: Refrain
When our spirits, like a chalice, brim with gladness; when our voices, full and clear, sing out the truth; when our longings, free from envy, seek the humble: Refrain
When the goodness poured from heaven fills our dwellings; when the nations work to change war into peace; when the stranger is accepted as our neighbor: Refrain
O living Bread from heaven, how well you feed your guest! The gifts that you have given have filled my heart with rest. O wondrous food of blessing! O cup that heals our woes! My heart, this gift possessing, in thankful song o’erflows!
My Savior, you have led me within your holiest place, and here yourself have fed me with treasures of your grace; for you have freely given what earth could never buy, the bread of life from heaven, that now I shall not die.
You gave me all I wanted; this food can death destroy. And you have freely granted the cup of endless joy. My Lord, I do not merit the favor you have shown, and all my soul and spirit bow down before your throne.
Oh, grant me then, well-strengthened with heav’nly food, while here my course on earth is lengthened, to serve you, free from fear; and bring me home to praise you where none can peace destroy, where I will ever raise you glad songs in endless joy.
Worship Leaders: Pastor Colleen Cox, Cindy Shaffer
Music: Deb Jenks (organ and piano), Women’s Ensemble, Linda Sepeda (soprano), Nancy Kennedy (piano), Rob and Patrick Skoniczin (trumpets)
Additional Resources:
View and print the pre-reader’s version of this Sunday’s children’s bulletin: Pre-reader’s Version View and print the reader’s version of this Sunday’s children’s bulletin: Reader’s Version
The radio program Sing for Joy follows the weekly Sunday lectionary through music and reflection. To listen, click here: Sing for Joy. Program host Pastor Bruce Benson ties the biblical readings of the day with musical selections from a number of sources brought together by Dr. John Ferguson, retired professor of organ and church music. The program is produced by St. Olaf College.
Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE #A-730287 and CCLI licenses #21502973 and #21502966. All rights reserved.
