Welcome
Below you will find prayers, songs, readings, and a message to help you experience worship. You can light a candle to remind yourself of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Whether you are alone or with others, we hope that you can feel each other’s presence, and the presence of God, as we find creative ways to worship together, even though we are not in the same building. One good thing about virtual worship is that if you really like a song, you can listen to it again! Do what you need to do to worship God wherever you are.
Announcements & Call to Worship
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Our call to worship is from Micah 6:8.
God has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Let’s pray: It is good to be together, God, on these screens, with these people, together listening for your voice, united by your Spirit. In this time of worship
tell us about your kingdom of kindness so that we can seek it. Show us your justice.
We want to walk with you, humbly, closely, daily.
Opening Song
We Come to the Hungry Feast
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We come to the hungry feast hungry for a word of peace. To hungry hearts unsatisfied the love of God is not denied. We come, we come to the hungry feast.
We come to the hungry feast hungry for a world released from hungry folk of ev’ry kind, the poor in body, poor in mind. We come, we come to the hungry feast.
We come to the hungry feast hungry that the hunger cease, and knowing, though we eat our fill, the hunger will stay with us; still we come, we come to the hungry feast.
Prayer of the Day
Glorious God, your generosity waters the world with goodness, and you cover creation with abundance. Awaken in us a hunger for the food that satisfies both body and spirit, and with this food fill all the starving world; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Reading
Romans 9:1-5
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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.
Children’s Moment
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Gospel and Message
Matthew 14:13-21
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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.
Hymn of the Day
Bread of Life from Heaven
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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.
Apostles’ Creed
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With the whole church, let us confess our faith.
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.
Prayers
Called into unity with one another and the whole creation, we pray for the church, our nation, and for all who are in need.
Confident of your care and helped by the Holy Spirit, we pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need.
You take resources that appear to be meager, bless them, and there is enough. May your church trust that what you bless and ask us to share with the world is abundantly sufficient. Lord, hear our prayer.
You give love to all the nations and peoples of the earth, inviting everyone to abundant life. Bring peace and justice to all people. Give leaders wisdom to make decisions that care for those who cannot care for themselves. Lord, hear our prayer.
You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. Hear the prayers of those who suffer and satisfy their deepest needs. Bring wholeness and healing to those who suffer in body, heart, soul, and mind. Bless the sick, those who care for them, and all who struggle this day. Lord, hear our prayer.
You gather your saints as one, united in the body of Jesus. Bring us with all your saints to the heavenly banquet. We remember with love and thanksgiving the saints we have known. Lord, hear our prayer.
In the certain hope that nothing can separate us from your love, we offer these prayers to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
Franciscan Sending
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Read this out loud. If you are with other people, take turns reading the parts out loud.
May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain into joy.
May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.
And the Blessing of God, who Creates, Redeems, and Sanctifies, be upon you and all you love and pray for this day, and forevermore. Amen.
Sending Song
Glory and Praise to our God
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Glory and praise to our God, who alone gives light to our days. Many are the blessings he bears to those who trust in his ways.
We, the daughters and sons of him who built the valleys and plains, praise the wonders our God has done in ev’ry heart that sings.
Glory and praise to our God, who alone gives light to our days. Many are the blessings he bears to those who trust in his ways.
In his wisdom he strengthens us, like gold that’s tested in fire. Though the power of sin prevails, our God is there to save.
Glory and praise to our God, who alone gives light to our days. Many are the blessings he bears to those who trust in his ways.
Ev’ry moment of ev’ry day our God is waiting to save, always ready to seek the lost, to answer those who pray.
Glory and praise to our God, who alone gives light to our days. Many are the blessings he bears to those who trust in his ways.
God has watered our barren land and spent his merciful rain. Now the rivers of life run full for anyone to drink.
Glory and praise to our God, who alone gives light to our days. Many are the blessings he bears to those who trust in his ways.
Blessing
Go forth into the world to serve God with gladness; be of good courage; hold fast to that which is good; render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honor all people; love and serve God, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God.
Dismissal
Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God.
Worship Assistants
Music: Lori, Ian
Message: Pastor Kristin
Readers: Ian, Dawn, Renee, Pat & Jeremy
Children’s Moment: Pastor Kristin
From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2005 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #22432. New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.
All rights reserved. Hymns reprinted with permission. CCLI#116214