Opening Ourselves to Worship

 
Welcome
 
Call to Worship (People’s response in bold.)
Leader: Anyone who thirsts, come and drink!
People: If you have no money but you’re hungry, come and receive wine and milk without a price tag.
Leader: Why do you spend money on what does not nourish you?
People: Why do you work for what does not nurture you?
Leader: Listen, come and eat healthy food that will delight you.
People: Come and partake in the Spirit that will give you life.
Leader: Become a witness of God’s free gift of grace to all people.
People: They will come running to you because our Covenant God will raise you up, transform you, and make you shine!
 
Opening Hymn: “Amazing Grace” 
 
Invitation to Confession
Let us confess our sins in the presence of the One who blesses us and meets our need.
 
Prayer of Confession
God of compassion, we are in need of your love and forgiveness. We have wrestled all night with worry instead of resting in you. We have asserted our own goodness instead of awakening to yours. We have turned away those hungry for your help instead of trusting you and feeding them from your limitless supply of blessings. Forgive us, heal us, and help us to hold on to you. We call upon you, for you will answer us, O God,through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
Assurance of Forgiveness
The God of steadfast love is our refuge and Savior. In Christ, we who are broken are healed, forgiven, filled, and transformed. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!
People: In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!  Glory to God!  Amen
  

Hearing God’s Word

                                                                                                                                            
Prayer for Illumination
Providing God, by your Holy Spirit feed us with your Word, that we might be filled with the bread of life. Amen.
 
Epistle Lesson: Romans 9:1-5
 
The Children’s Time to Lead Us                   
 
Gospel Lesson: Matthew 14:13-21                                                    
Leader:  This is the Word of God for the People of God.  People: Thanks be to God.
 
Sermon: Rev. Lorrin Radzik
 
Affirmation of Faith: The Apostles’ Creed 
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth;
And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried; the third day he rose from the dead;
he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence he shall come to judge the quick 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.
                                                          

    
Transforming Our Lives & the World

Prayers of the People
Let us pray for the needs of the world, saying, O Lord, attend to our cry, give ear to our prayer. God who hears us, holds us, and helps us, you are our eternal source of blessing. You are our endless source of provision. In your compassion, you see our need; you heal our sickness and satisfy our hunger.
Hear us now as we pray for the church, the world,
and all in need: O Lord, attend to our cry, give ear to our prayer.
For people who are called by your name throughout the world,
O Lord, attend to our cry, give ear to our prayer.
Bless your church and help us move forward in mission with you.
O Lord, attend to our cry, give ear to our prayer.  
For the healing and preservation of your creation in heaven and on earth,
O Lord, attend to our cry, give ear to our prayer.  
For the need of the nations— wisdom for leaders, vindication and relief for the oppressed—
O Lord, attend to our cry, give ear to our prayer.
For those who are hungry, ill, vulnerable, or seeking refuge from adversaries and injustice,
O Lord, attend to our cry, give ear to our prayer.  
For all who need you, near and far, especially those we name now, aloud and in our hearts . . . [silence]
O Lord, attend to our cry, give ear to our prayer.  
For the faithful who have preceded us and in whose steps we follow,
O Lord, attend to our cry, give ear to our prayer.  
Wondrously show us your steadfast love, that we may behold your face in righteousness
and be satisfied, when we awake, beholding your likeness; through Christ our Lord we pray. 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.  Amen.
 
Invitation to Generosity                        
 
Offertory
 
Prayer of Dedication
We thank you, Holy God, that you have empowered us to participate in the miraculous multiplying ministry of your Son. Receive now these gifts you have provided us out of your abundance that your miracle ministry may multiply  to satisfy the hungry of this world today; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.                                                 
 
Closing Hymn: “Lead On, O King Eternal”  
 
Benediction
 

Thank you for joining us in worship today.
 
Today’s worship is compiled and adapted from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Year A, Volume 2, Proper 13.
 
Worship Participants:
Rev. Lorrin Radzik, Senior Pastor, Rockport UMC
Father David Radzik, Rector, St. Thomas Church, Berea
Music recorded by Susan Shick, Director of Music and Organist at Rockport UMC
 
 
Permission to print and podcast/stream the music (not in public domain) is obtained from CCLI with license #20417540