Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
COLOR: Green
SCRIPTURE READINGS: 2 Samuel 11:26–12:13a; Psalm 51:1-12; Ephesians 4:1-16; John 6:24-35
THEME IDEAS
Leading a life worthy of God’s blessings and calling is not an easy task. Even King David, blessed with riches and wives, failed as he stole another man’s wife and then had the man murdered. Yet, God calls to us still, offering the grace to use our gifts for building the body of Christ, for strengthening and building God’s great love—the church. As we reflect upon the gifts we are given, we are reminded that God’s grace comes to us as the bread of life, as the water that quenches every thirst, as the nourishment of Christ Jesus in our lives—always giving, always strengthening, always feeding our greatest needs. When we receive this blessing of gracious nourishment from Christ, we are then able to truly lead lives worthy of the calling to which we have been called.
INVITATION AND GATHERING
Call to Worship (Ephesians 4)
With patience and love, we come as one family.
We are one body of Christ, united in God.
Come! Speak of truth, truth told in love.
We gather to listen, and to share our stories.
We are God’s children, parts of Christ’s purpose.
We rejoice in our gifts, and we thank God
for this grace.
Come! Now is the time to worship.
Opening Prayer (Ephesians 4)
God of unity and peace,
bind us together
as we come now to worship.
Strengthen the ties
that make us your family.
Grant us the grace to recognize our gifts
and our place in this body.
Guide us to hear your calling
as you speak to our lives.
Encourage us to bravely burst forth
as pastors and teachers, prophets and healers,
evangelists and leaders.
Dwell in our very hearts,
that we may serve in humility—
braided with strength and gentleness,
intertwined with passion.
Build us up in love,
that we may grow in our knowledge
and our love of you.
Speak your truth to our lives,
that we may lead lives
worthy of your calling. Amen.
Affirmation of Faith (Ephesians 4)
There is one hope, one calling, to which we are called.
The hope in our lives is Jesus.
There is one hope, one calling, to which we are called.
The call we must answer is God’s.
There is one faith, one hope, one Lord of us all.
The Lord of our lives is Jesus.
There is one baptism, one Father, one Mother of all.
The creator who calls us is God.
We are one body, one family, one church,
woven by the Spirit with bonds of peace.
With Christ’s children throughout all of this earth,
we are one body in unity and love.
PROCLAMATION AND RESPONSE
Prayer of Confession (Psalm 51)
Have mercy on us,
O God of love and grace.
Wash away the thoughts
that bind us to sin
and erase those actions
that lead us away from you.
Teach us your wisdom
and put a new spirit
of truth and love and righteousness
within us.
Fill us with the joy you offer
through the grace of Jesus Christ.
Grant us clean hearts and willing minds,
that we may walk in your ways
and rejoice in your truth.
Strengthen us
with loving plans and righteous deeds,
that we may offer your justice and mercy
to a world in need. Amen.
—Or—
Prayer of Confession (Ephesians 4)
God of unity and love,
place within each of us
a spirit of hope and community.
Have mercy upon us
when we speak without love
or act without humility.
Cleanse us with the living water of your grace.
Create in us willing hearts
to live in patience and gentleness.
Raise us up to be your children,
growing toward maturity
in faith and love.
Strengthen this church,
that we may be a model
of ministry and unity
for all the world to see.
In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.
Words of Assurance (Ephesians 4, John 6)
Know, dear friends, that we are knit together
by the very bonds of Christ’s love for us.
As the living water, Christ washes us clean
and makes us a new creation.
As our bread of life, Christ nurtures and sustains us.
Because we believe, we need never hunger
or thirst for mercy.
Forgiveness is ours, both now and forevermore. Amen.
Passing the Peace of Christ (Ephesians 4)
Lead lives worthy of the calling to which you have been called. Share together signs of humility and gentleness—signs of love and grace. Be for one another the very presence of God in this room. Be the very peace of Christ as we greet our neighbors.
Response to the Word (Ephesians 4)
Lead lives worthy of God’s call.
We will embrace one another in love and grace.
Act with patience, humility, and gentleness.
We will live together in unity and peace.
Speak the truth in love, building a church of love.
In Christ, we will follow God’s lead in all that we do.
Strengthen this body of Christ, working together as one.
We will build a world of love, joined together
with Christ.
THANKSGIVING AND COMMUNION
Invitation to the Offering (Ephesians 4)
Pastor or prophet, teacher or nurse, poor man or rich woman, each of us is called to build up the body of Christ. Our job is unfinished until each of us has come to maturity in the full stature of Christ Jesus. Bring now your gifts, given to us by the grace of God.
Offering Prayer (Ephesians 4, John 6)
God of miraculous grace,
transform our gifts
into the work of ministry.
Transform our lives
into your presence in the world.
Through these gifts,
may we grow in the knowledge of Christ
and be strengthened in the unity of faith.
Transform these gifts into the bread of life
so that in our giving
others may be fed.
Make these gifts the waters
that spring up into eternal life,
so that in our giving,
others may be nurtured and strengthened
as children of God.
In your loving and nurturing name,
we pray. Amen.
SENDING FORTH
Benediction (Ephesians 4)
Go forth to lead lives worthy of Christ’s call.
Joined together as one, we are strengthened
to share our gifts with the world.
Make every effort to maintain this unity.
Knit together by Christ, we are ready to serve!
CONTEMPORARY OPTIONS
Contemporary Gathering Words (Ephesians 4)
The Spirit weaves us together.
Even the broken threads of our lives
can be trimmed and melded.
Even the tattered seams
can be mended and joined.
Diverse colors, various patterns,
and unique fabrics . . .
all are welcome here!
Bring now your gifts,
amazing and broken.
Bring now yourselves,
awesome and torn.
Humility and gentleness,
patience and perseverance . . .
all are a part of this place.
Make now an effort to find this new unity.
Take now a step into this body,
bound by God’s peace.
May the Spirit weave us together
with one hope and one faith,
bound together in unity and love.
Praise Sentences (Ephesians 4)
There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one hope of our calling, one God of us all!
There is one Spirit, one body, one Savior in Christ,
one hope of our calling, one God of us all!
Adapted from The Abingdon Worship Annual 2009, © 2008 Abingdon Press
The Abingdon Worship Annual 2013 is available now.
