Continuing to Be the Church
Deepening people’s connections to Christ, Bringing meaning to daily life, and Making a difference in our community.
If you’re a guest, we’re thankful you’re here today. We hope you’ll feel welcomed and spiritually nourished. If you’d like to speak to the pastor about the congregation, please let her know directly or call the church office at 314-962-6011.
Jesus is the bread of life, providing us with food for the journey.
We will celebrate communion together. Gather the bread and wine, and join us for worship on Zoom at 9:30am.
Sunday, August 8, 9:30am
Click to join Zoom Worship or
Call in from any phone 312-626-6799 Meeting ID: 278 217 453 Password: 971744
PRELUDE
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
SILENT MEDITATION Let us prepare for worship by quieting our hearts and minds.
Please stand in body or spirit.
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.
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Every week, we start out by remembering that we are God’s children. Sometimes, we take time to ask for God’s forgiveness and help using a Confession and Forgiveness, because we all make mistakes! Other Sundays, we remember our baptisms, and celebrate God’s love and the gift of life.
Blessed be the holy Trinity,☩ one God, the God of manna, the God of miracles, the God of mercy. Amen.
Drawn to Christ and seeking God’s abundance, let us confess our sin.
Silence for reflection and self-examination.
God, our provider, help us. It is hard to believe there is enough to share. We question your ways when they differ from the ways of the world in which we live. We turn to our own understanding rather than trusting in you. We take offense at your teachings and your ways. Turn us again to you. Where else can we turn? Share with us the words of eternal life and feed us for life in the world. Amen.
Beloved people of God: in Jesus, the manna from heaven, you are fed and nourished. By Jesus, the worker of miracles, there is always more than enough. Through Jesus, ☩ the bread of life, you are shown God’s mercy: you are forgiven and loved into abundant life. Amen.
GATHERING HYMN 461 All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly
We sing in Worship because it is a way to come together and pray to God as a family. And then, we offer one another peace, promising to love, forgive, and care for one another.
SIGN OF PEACE Sign Peace Be With You
HYMN OF PRAISE Glory Be to God in Heaven, Setting 10
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray, Abundant God, your son Jesus Christ is the true bread from heaven. Draw us to Christ that we may receive nourishing grace for our journey in this world and know the joy of life in Christ, who dwells with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Please be seated.
THE WORD
We Lutherans call the Bible the “Living Word.” It was written a long time ago by people who were inspired by God to share about their faith. It is “living” because even today, reading the Bible helps us learn about God, and how to bring God’s love and mercy to the world. So, every week, we read from the Bible together at Worship. We call this part of the service “The Word” because we read the word of God!
Reader: Kim Donermeyer
FIRST LESSON 1 Kings 19: 4-8
The First Lesson is from Kings, the ninteenth Chapter.
4Elijah 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.”5Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.” 6He 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. 7The 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.” 8He 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.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
PSALM 34: 1-8
1I will bless the Lord at all times; the praise of God shall ever be in my mouth.
2I will glory in the Lord; let the lowly hear and rejoice.
3Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord; let us exalt God’s name together.
4I sought the Lord, who answered me and delivered me from all my terrors.
5Look upon the Lord and be radiant, and let not your faces be ashamed.
6I called in my affliction, and the Lord heard me and saved me from all my troubles.
7The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear the Lord and delivers them.
8Taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are they who take refuge in God!
SECOND LESSON Ephesians 4:25–5:2
The Second Lesson is from Ephesians, the fourth Chapter.
25So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. 26Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27and do not make room for the devil. 28Thieves 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. 29Let 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. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. 31Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, 32and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. 5:1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Please stand in body or spirit.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Alleluia
Reader: Pastor Meagan
GOSPEL John 6: 35, 41-51
The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the sixth chapter, Glory to you, O Lord.
35Jesus 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. 41Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42They 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’?” 43Jesus answered them, “Do not complain among yourselves. 44No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. 45It 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. 46Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51I 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.
Please be seated.
CHILDREN’S SERMON
SERMON
Please stand in body or spirit.
HYMN OF THE DAY 624 Jesus, Still Lead On
APOSTLE’S CREED
Each week, we say a creed, a statement of what we believe as Christians. We say it every week, because we are all still learning about our faith, and it helps to practice it together. We use different words sometimes, but we always say that we believe that God created all things, that God came in Jesus to show us how much he loves us, and that the Holy Spirit brings life, courage, and hope.
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.
Please be seated.
PRAYER REQUESTS
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
The Prayers of Intercession are when we pray together as God’s family. “Intercession” means we are praying for each other, and for the world, not only for ourselves.
Prayer Leader: Kersten Horn
Rooted in Christ and sustained by the Spirit, we offer our prayers for the church, the world, and all of creation.
For the church of Christ here at Christ Lutheran and around the world, in all its diverse forms. Pour out your wisdom on congregations considering decisions about their future, and those seeking creative ways to bring your promise to all people. God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the health and well-being of creation. For shade trees that provide refuge from the hot summer sun. For lakes, rivers, and oceans contaminated by pollution and all who lack clean water. We pray especially today for those who have lost loved ones, or homes and businesses, in the California wildfires. God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For those called to positions of authority in our legal system who ensure the fair administration of justice. For those who are incarcerated and their families, and all who minister with them to ensure justice and dignity. God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of healing, we pray for those with Covid-19. Grant strength and patience to medical professionals responding to increased illnesses and deaths, and sustain the creative energy of all those working to ensure the vaccine is available to everyone. Help us to embody your love and care for all people, especially those who are most vulnerable. God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Presider
For all who cry out to you in their affliction. For exiles, refugees, and others who face long and difficult journeys, uncertain about the future. We pray especially for those named in Remembering One Another in Prayer, and those named by we who gather this morning . . . . God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For those who have been raised to eternal life, we give thanks. With all the saints we praise you for the bread of life that keeps us in your love forever. God, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
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.
OFFERING
We invite you to support the ministries of this community of faith, as we re-imagine how we can be church, for one another and for our community. It takes all of us, our time, our vision, our gifts. To support ministry financially, you can give electronically on our website, or send a check in to the office.
OFFERTORY
Please stand in body or spirit.
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Let us pray. Receive these gifts, O God. May our lives be an offering to you that your abundant grace and mercy can be shared with all of creation. Amen.
THE MEAL
When Jesus was here on earth, he had meals with all different people, everywhere he went. Sometimes he even got into trouble because people didn’t like who he ate with! At the Last Supper, Jesus told his disciples they should eat with one another, so they would remember that no matter what, Jesus is right here with us, not just in our imaginations, but in the bread and wine we share together. We have Communion every week so we remember Jesus is with us, and invites us to care for each other as he did.
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us lift up our 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 to give you our thanks and praise, O God, for you created the heavens and the earth, and all your creatures draw their life from you. Even when we have rebelled against you, you have never left us hanging in fear or crying from the depths. In love and mercy you hear our prayers and mark us out for the day of redemption. You sent to us your Son, Jesus Christ, the bread of life for our deepest hunger, and you drew us to him that we might learn from him. When the world turned against him, he gave himself up, in the fullness of love for the life of the whole world, so that we and all who trust him might feed on him and have life without limit.
And so, with the earth and all of its creatures, with all of your children of all corners of the earth, and with all of the angels and saints, we join your joyful hymn of praise.
SANCTUS 191 Holy, Holy, Holy
THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION
In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, gave thanks, broke the bread 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 for all to drink, saying, this cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sins. Do this for the remembrance of me.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
We say the Lord’s Prayer together every week, because when the disciples wanted to know how to pray, this is how Jesus taught them. We are reminded that God loves us like a parent. We ask God to provide what we need, help us to follow God, and to forgive us when we make mistakes. And we remember that everything belongs to God.
In faith and hope, let us join together in praying the words that Jesus taught us.
Our Creator, our Mother, 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 THE TABLE
Gathered together, separated by space, but not by time, let us, people of all ages and genders and histories, eat the bread, and drink the wine. God’s table has no boundaries or limits. This is Christ’s body and blood, given for us all, and we do this in his memory.
Please be seated.
For those in the sanctuary, we invite you to come forward, waiting at the front pew until it is your household’s turn to receive communion. Come forward, remove your masks to receive the sacrament, and replace your masks to return to your seats. There will be recycling bowls for you to deposit your cup as you return to your seat.
For those on Zoom, we invite you to take time right now to sit and break bread, and know that this whole community of faith joins in the meal with you. Peace be upon you this day!
AGNUS DEI 195 Lamb of God
COMMUNION HYMNS
472 Eat this Bread (to be sung three times)
483 Here is Bread
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER
Please stand in body or spirit.
Let us pray. We thank you, O God, that you have fed us at your banqueting table with bread and wine beyond compare, the very life of Christ for us. Send your Spirit with us now, that we may set the captive free, use your gifts to build one another up, and in everything reflect your glory revealed in Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.
BENEDICTION
We come to Worship every week so we can go out and bring God’s love to the world, so we always end Worship with a Benediction–a blessing–to help us do that.
People of Christ, we have received the bread of life. Go forth and share this gift with others. Amen.
May God, the source of life, energize you with the Spirit, the power of life, and fill you with Christ, the bread of life, that you may receive eternal life. Thanks be to God!
CLOSING HYMN 535 Hallelujah! We Sing Your Praises
POSTLUDE
WORSHIP LEADERS AND ASSISTANTS
We would like to thank those who helped with worship today:
Usher: Mike Hoyer
Key Person:
Altar Guild: Keith & Nancy Lissant
Lector: Kim Donermeyer
Assisting Minister: Kersten Horn
Zoom Host: Mike Wagner
Musicians: Chris Treloar, Diane Drollinger
REMEMBERING ONE ANOTHER IN PRAYER
Please include the following people in your prayer life during this week. To add a name to the Prayer List, inform Pastor Meagan (pastor@christwg.org or 612-388-5920) or the Church Office (office@christwg.org). Please assure that the individual agrees to have his or her name printed in the bulletin.
ONGOING HEALTH CONCERNS: Those who are suffering from chronic pain & diseases, Shelly Madden, Linda Armstrong, Gege Brightman, Christine Austin, Kate and Brian Bates (John Hoffmann’s sister and brother-in-law), Edith Cooper, Michael Cooper (Edith Cooper’s grandson), Evan Deck, Helga Hayes, John Hoffmann, Elsie Johnson, Gerri Mac (Sharon Hornbeck’s aunt), Bev & Al Marcus (friend of John Hoffmann), Genie Owens (Sarah Ringkor’s mother), Doris & Harry Rahlfs (Karen Wood’s parents), Edward Ruebeck (Roocks’ grand-nephew), Ken Ruppar (friend of Mark Roock), Flo Saeger, Sherri Swanson, Shirley Wolf, Mary Stough (Sharon Hornbeck’s aunt), and Wayne Wellman (Susanne Reimer-Fey’s brother).
IN BLESSED MEMORY: For all of those who have died, especially Mertha Bishop (Gale Nunn’s mom), Helen Hedderig, Gwen Hickman, Dolly Hoyer, Susan Hunt, Irene Kalnins, Ed Mansour, David Notley, Sr. (Roger Rose’s brother-in-law), Gloria Richardson, Vic Saeger, Alex Sakonyi (Dianne Deck’s uncle), Mary Lou Sakonyi (Dianne Deck’s mother), Debra Schroeder & Richard Yeast (Leslie Bennett’s sister and father), Cletus Romay, Judy Wessler, Sheila Rose and all of those who grieve at a distance in this time.
IN MILITARY SERVICE: Josh Duncan, Chris Hudson, Jesse Proctor, Scott Warr.
Called to Welcome and Serve 