Worship Resources for
the Center for Faith and Giving
Pentecost +11
Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
Psalm 105:1-6, 16-22, 45b
Romans 10:5-15
Matthew 14:22-33
Call to Worship (a response to Psalm 105)
L: Today we come to give thanks to the Lord.
We’ll lift our voices in songs of praise,
and seek the Lord’s presence as we worship.
P: We’ve come to remember all God has done,
and look ahead to what God will do.
L: This is a day to tell what the Lord did,
P: and look for signs of God’s presence in our midst.
L: This is the day to recall the judgments of the Lord,
P: and praise the One whose name is holy.
ALL: So let’s seek the Lord and give thanks. Praise God!
Opening Prayer
We do give thanks, Lord, as we worship you.
We offer our praise, tune in our attention,
and seek your presence in our daily lives.
Accept our desire to truly claim our identity
as your beloved daughters and sons.
Help us rejoice as we join with myriads to remember
the ways you have acted in love for your creation and your creatures.
AMEN
Moment for Stewardship
One of the stalwart hymns of Christian faith in America is “How Firm a Foundation.” Do you remember this verse?
Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
for I am thy God and will still give thee aid.
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.
It’s practically impossible to never be afraid, especially as we recognize challenges of health, of relationships, and change all around us, to say nothing of the realities of politics, war, and natural disasters.
Yet scripture renews in us a sense of confidence which comes both from the First Testament, and the Second: God is with us, Jesus lives in us, and the Spirit accompanies us even in our most difficult moments.
In that confidence, we recognize we can rejoice and respond with gifts as symbols of our lives.
Today, let’s let our faith lead us to joyfully share a portion of our time, our talents, and our treasure as we receive our morning offering.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
(Consider singing verse 3 of Chalice Hymnal #381 as a sung, or spoken, prayer of thanksgiving.)
Take whatever I can offer – gifts that I have yet to find,
skills that I am slow to sharpen, talents of the hand and mind.
Things made beautiful for other in the place where I must be:
take my gifts and let me love you, God who first of all loved me.
Invitation to Communion
Varied people over the centuries have picked up on particular teachings of Jesus, making them central to their community’s faith life.
People participating in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have recognized the actions of Jesus as pivotal to our identity as “disciples” (life-long learners).
In congregations across the United States and Canada, as well as throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Disciples’ weekly worship includes sharing in the Lord’s Supper (or “communion” or even “eucharist”).
That’s our practice here, as well.
In Matthew’s Gospel, the story of Jesus walking on the water immediately follows the description of Jesus telling his disciples to feed the hungry crowd despite only having 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish for a gathered group of “about 5000 men, besides women and children.” In that text, Jesus “takes, blesses, breaks and gives,” just as happens later in an upper room, when Jesus “takes, blesses, breaks and gives” bread from the Passover table.
Remembering Jesus, we, too, come to this table where someone will take, bless, break and give bread to ALL who yearn for a way beyond fear.
So come! You are invited and assured there is a place for you, and gifts of bread and cup for you.
Come on! There’s plenty for all who hunger and thirst. AMEN