Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

Created, saved and gifted by God, we seek, serve and share Jesus Christ.

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
August 8, 2021 – 10:30 am

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
901 East Stroop Road
Kettering, OH 45429-4688
(937) 298-0136

Introduction

Jesus says that the bread he gives for the life of the world is his flesh, and whoever eats this bread has eternal life now and will be raised on the last day. In Ephesians Paul tells us what this life Jesus gives us looks like, this life we live as those marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit in baptism. We live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us. The whole purpose of life is giving yourself for the other.
A New Identity
In an increasingly polarized world, demographics are everything. Many of us rely on information about a per-son’s hometown, family, alma mater, or workplace to make assumptions about their politics, social concerns, or lifestyle. Internet algorithms make inferences based on our age, gender, and relationship status to market products, services, or ideas to us. At times it feels like our lives are reduced to a statistic or a political party affiliation.
The crowds following Jesus knew who they were, and they thought they knew exactly who Jesus was too. They knew who his ancestors were, and they knew the stories of faith they all shared.
After all, Jesus was the neighbor boy—the carpenter’s son. They had known him since he was just a kid. He was a simple Galilean peasant. He walked the same streets, fished in the same waters, and ate the same food as the rest of them.
And yet, he dared to claim a different identity: he was the bread of life, the living bread come down from heaven. His roots were not just in this rocky terrain of the Middle Eastern soil, but in the God of the cosmos.
This is not what God was supposed to look like. This is not the powerful king they were waiting for. This was just Mary and Joseph’s son. He was supposed to be one of them!
But this is the great mystery of our faith: God cannot be reduced to an algorithm or a stereotype. God dwells in the people we least expect, in the most ordinary places, in people scandalously like us and outrageously different than us. God abides with us, defying our expectations, challenging our self-proclaimed identities by offering us the bread of life in Jesus Christ. In this holy bread, we are given a new identity more powerful and enduring than any other in this world: child of God, beloved and whole; in God, of God, and with God for all of eternity. Thanks be to God.

GATHERING

The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God.

PRELUDE

WELCOME

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

All may make the sign of the cross, the sign that is marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.

Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, whose steadfast love is everlasting, whose faithfulness endures from generation to generation.
Amen.

Trusting in the mercy of God, let us confess our sin.

Silence is kept for reflection.

Reconciling God,
we confess that we do not trust your abundance, and we deny your presence in our lives. We place our hope in ourselves and rely on our own efforts. We fail to believe that you provide enough for all. We abuse your good creation for our own benefit. We fear difference and do not welcome others as you have welcomed us. We sin in thought, word, and deed. By your grace, forgive us; through your love, renew us; and in your Spirit, lead us; so that we may live and serve you in newness of life. Amen.

Beloved of God, by the radical abundance of divine mercy we have peace with God through Christ Jesus, through whom we have obtained grace upon grace. Our sins are forgiven. Let us live now in hope. For hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

GATHERING HYMN – “Shout to the Lord”

My Jesus, my Savior,
Lord, there is none like you.
All of my days I want to praise
the wonders of your mighty love.
My comfort, my shelter,
tower of refuge and strength;
let ev’ry breath, all that I am
never cease to worship you.

Shout to the Lord, all the earth, let us sing
power and majesty, praise to the King.
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
at the sound of your name.
I sing for joy at the work of your hands;
forever I’ll love you, forever I’ll stand.
Nothing compares to the promise I have in you.

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.

KYRIE

Gathered in peace, gathered in peace, let us pray to the Lord. Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.

For peace from above, and for the saving power of God, let us pray. Christ have mercy.
Christ have mercy.

For peace in the world, for the Church, for the unity of all, let us pray. Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.

For this holy place, and for all who gather here for praise, let us pray. Christ have mercy.
Christ have mercy.

SONG OF PRAISE

This is the feast! Come and celebrate the victory of our God!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! This is the feast!

Worthy is Christ, the Lamb once slain,
whose blood was shed to give freedom for all.
Power and riches, wisdom and strength,
honor and blessing; come give glory to Christ!

Yes, This is the feast! Come and celebrate the victory of our God!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! This is the feast!

Sing out with joy, all the people of God!
Join in the song of creation!
Blessing and honor, glory and might
to God and the Lamb for evermore!

Yes, This is the feast! Come and celebrate the victory of our God!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! This is the feast!

This is the feast of praise and rejoicing,
for the Lamb, the one who was slain,
will come forth now and begin God’s reign!
Sing all you people, sing Alleluia!

Yes, This is the feast! Come and celebrate the victory of our God!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! This is the feast!

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Gracious God,
your blessed Son came down from heaven to be the true bread that gives life to the world. Give us this bread always, that he may live in us and we in him, and that, strengthened by this food, we may live as his body in the world, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

WORD

God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song.

FIRST READING 1 Kings 19:4-8

First Kings chapter 18 describes the contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. The con- test proves that the Lord is God; and afterwards Elijah orders the killing of the Baal prophets. Angered by the deaths of her prophets, Queen Jezebel threatens to kill Elijah. This reading finds Elijah fleeing, fatigued, and in utter despair.

A reading from the book of 1 Kings.
[Elijah] went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.” He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. The angel of the LORD came a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.” He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.

Word of God, word of life.
Thanks be to God.

SECOND READING Ephesians 4:25–5:2

Christians are called to be imitators of God. This does not mean Christians are perfect. Rather, the Spirit is at work in our lives so that our actions and attitudes genuinely reflect the love and forgiveness we have received through Christ and his death.

A reading from the book of Ephesians.
So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil. Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Word of God, word of life.
Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Alleluia.
Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life!
Alleluia. Alleluia!

GOSPEL John 6:35, 41-51

After feeding more than five thousand people in the wilderness, Jesus teaches them re- garding the true significance of this remarkable sign.

The holy gospel according to John.
Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus said to [the crowd,] “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” Jesus answered them, “Do not complain among yourselves. No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

MESSAGE

HYMN OF THE DAY – “Be thou My Vision”

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art:
thou my best thought both by day and by night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord.
Thou my soul’s shelter, and thou my high tow’r,
raise thou me heav’nward, O Pow’r of my pow’r.

Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise,
thou mine inheritance, now and always:
thou and thou only, the first in my heart,
great God of heaven, my treasure thou art.

Light of my soul, after victory won,
may I reach heaven’s joys, O heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

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 power of the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended into hell.
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.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Rooted in Christ and sustained by the Spirit, we offer our prayers for the church, the world, and all of creation.

A brief silence.
Each intercession concludes:

Hear us, O God,
your mercy is great.

We lift these and all our prayers to you, O God, confident in the promise of your saving love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

MEAL

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right and good that we should everywhere and always offer thanks and praise to you, holy God, mighty and immortal, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who on this day broke the bonds of death, opening to us the way of everlasting life and giving us a foretaste of the feast to come.

And so with the Church on earth and hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna, hosanna in the highest!

Blessed are you, Holy God, from the rising of the sun to its setting, we bless your holy name. You set creation’s table with the bounty of your goodness and satisfy the needs of every living thing. You gather the peoples of the earth to feast on your promise and your presence made known to us in your Son, Jesus.

In the night in which he was bretrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgviness of sin. Do this in remembrance of me.

As often as we share this meal, we proclaim his death unitl he comes:

Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come,
Christ will come again.

Pour out your Holy Spirit upon these gifts and this company, making us one in Christ Jesus. Through him all glory and honor is yours, gracious Father, with your Spirit, both now and forever.

Amen, amen, Alleluia!
Amen, amen!

LORD’S PRAYER

Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.
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.

INVITATION TO COMMUNION

Christ has set the table with more than enough for all. Come!

HOLY COMMUNION – Receiving the Lord’s tangible presence.

The body of Christ, given for you.
The blood of Christ, shed for you.
Each person may respond: Amen.

Communion Statement ~ If you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is your Savior and Redeemer and would like to receive Holy Communion, then come forward to receive the elements. If you would just like to come forward and receive a blessing, then you may do that also.

NOTE: We invite everyone to come forward for Holy Communion. If you have a gluten allergy, gluten-free wafers are available upon request when receiving Communion. Also, if you prefer not to receive wine at Communion, apple juice is available upon request.

LAMB OF GOD

Lamb of god, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of god, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us.
Lamb of god, you take away the sin of the world: grant us your peace, grant us your peace.

COMMUNION HYMN – “Bread of Life From Heaven”

Bread of life from heaven,
your blood and body given,
we eat this bread and drink this cup
until you come again.

Break now the bread of Christ’s sacrifice;
giving thanks, hungry ones, gather round.
Eat, all of you, and be satisfied;
in Christ’s presence the loaves will abound.

Bread of life from heaven,
your blood and body given,
we eat this bread and drink this cup
until you come again.

Seek not the food that will pass away;
set your hearts on the food that endures.
Come, learn the true and the living way,
that the fullness of life may be yours.

Bread of life from heaven,
your blood and body given,
we eat this bread and drink this cup
until you come again.

Love as the one who, in love for you,
gave himself for the life of the world.
Come to the one who is food for you,
that your hunger and thirst be no more.

Bread of life from heaven,
your blood and body given,
we eat this bread and drink this cup
until you come again.

Dwell in the one who now dwells in you;
make your home in the lifegiving Word.
Know only Christ, Holy One of God,
and believe in the truth you have heard.

Bread of life from heaven,
your blood and body given,
we eat this bread and drink this cup
until you come again.

Drink of this cup and declare his death;
eat this bread and believe Easter morn;
trust his return and, with ev’ry breath,
praise the one in whom you are reborn.

Bread of life from heaven,
your blood and body given,
we eat this bread and drink this cup
until you come again.

REFLECTION DURING COMMUNION

As we prepare to receive the sacrament today, may we quietly take this time to center our- selves on Christ, and the amazing gifts of grace and forgiveness that we have been given. As we receive the body and the blood of our Lord, let us reflect upon His sacrifice. Finally, may we take this time to ask the Holy Spirit to enter our hearts, and then to work in us and through us in the coming days.

TABLE BLESSING

The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bless you and always keep you in God’s grace.
Amen.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

Jesus, Bread of life,
we have received from your table more than we could ever ask. As you have nourished us in this meal, now strengthen us to love the world with your own life. In your name we pray. Amen.

SENDING

God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world.

BLESSING

The blessing of God, who provides for us, feeds us, and journeys with us, be upon you now and forever.
Amen.

SENDING HYMN – “The River of God”

Down the mountain the river flows
And it brings refreshing wherever it goes.
Through the valleys and over the fields,
The river is rushing and the river is here.

The river of God sets our feet a-dancing,
The river of God fills our hearts with cheer.
The river of God fills our mouths with laughter,
And we rejoice for the river is here.

The river of God is teeming with life,
And all who touch it can be revived.
And those who linger on this river’s shore
Will come back thirsting for more of the Lord.

The river of God sets our feet a-dancing,
The river of God fills our hearts with cheer.
The river of God fills our mouths with laughter,
And we rejoice for the river is here.

Up to the mountain we love to go
To find the presence of the Lord.
Along the banks of the river we run,
We dance with laughter giving praise to the Son.

The river of God sets our feet a-dancing,
The river of God fills our hearts with cheer.
The river of God fills our mouths with laughter,
And we rejoice for the river is here,
Yes, we rejoice for the river is here.

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. You are the body of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
Created, saved and gifted by God, we seek, serve and share Jesus Christ. Hallelujah, thanks be to God!

“W + 2” = Worship Plus Two
Make a commitment to not only worship each week
but also try to find a way to serve in the congregation
and seek out a way to serve our community.

YOU ARE NOW ENTERING THE MISSION FIELD

Upcoming Commemorations

Dominic, founder of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), died 1221
Sunday, August 8, 2021

Dominic was a Spanish priest who saw the wealth of the clergy as a stumbling block for the church, so he formed a movement, the Order of Preachers (commonly called Dominicans) devoted to itinerant preaching and living in poverty.

Lawrence, deacon, martyr, died 258
Tuesday, August 10, 2021

As one of the seven deacons of the church at Rome, Lawrence was responsible for the church’s financial matters and for the care of the poor. Asked by the emperor to gather the church’s treasure, he presented a collection of orphans, lepers, and the like. The enraged emperor had him put to death.

Clare, Abbess of San Damiano, died 1253
Wednesday, August 11, 2021

A contemporary of Francis of Assisi, Clare and a growing number of companions established a women’s Franciscan community, called the Order of Poor Ladies, or Poor Clares. She inspired other women to pursue spiritual goals.

Florence Nightingale, died 1910; Clara Maass, died 1901; renewers of society
Friday, August 13, 2021

Nightingale was born in England, and horrified her wealthy family by deciding to become a nurse. She led a group of nurses in ministering in the midst of the Crimean War, and worked for hospital reform. Maass, a native of New Jersey, was also a war nurse, and volunteered as a subject for research on yellow fever. She died of the disease.

Maximilian Kolbe, died 1941; Kaj Munk, died 1944; martyrs
Saturday, August 14, 2021

Father Kolbe was a Franciscan priest arrested by the Nazis and confined in Auschwitz. Kolbe gave generously of his meager resources, and finally volunteered to be starved to death in place of another man. A Danish Lutheran pastor and playwright, Munk strongly denounced the Nazis who occupied Denmark in the Second World War. His sermons and articles helped to show the anti-Christian nature of the movement.

From Sundays and Seasons.com.
Copyright 2014 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #22920.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989,
Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Curches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.