Preparation

Opening response

Favor us, Lord, and deliver us.
Lord, come quickly and help us.

Come, my heart says, seek God’s face.
Lord, I do seek your face!

Psalm 36:5

Praise

We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as the Lord;
all creation worships you,
the Father everlasting.
To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,
the cherubim and seraphim, sing in endless praise:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.

from Te Deum Laudamus

The Word of God

Psalm 115:1-13

Refrain:
The Lord remembers us and will bless us.

Not to us, Lord, not to us—
no, but to your own name give glory
because of your loyal love and faithfulness!

Why do the nations say,
“Where’s their God now?”
Our God is in heaven—
he can do whatever he wants!
Their idols are just silver and gold—
things made by human hands.
They have mouths, but they can’t speak.
They have eyes, but they can’t see.
They have ears, but they can’t hear.
They have noses, but they can’t smell.
They have hands, but they can’t feel.
They have feet, but they can’t walk.
They can’t even make a noise in their throats!
Let the people who made these idols
and all who trust in them
become just like them!

But you, Israel, trust in the Lord!
God is their help and shield.
Trust in the Lord, house of Aaron!
God is their help and shield.
You who honor the Lord, trust in the Lord!
God is their help and shield.
The Lord remembers us and will bless us:
God will bless the house of Israel;
God will bless the house of Aaron;
God will bless those who honor the Lord—
from the smallest to the greatest.

Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and will be forever. Amen.

Refrain:
The Lord remembers us and will bless us.

Psalm prayer

Living God,
defend us from the idols which our hearts enthrone,
that we may not go down into silence
but be raised to our heaven of heavens
in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Scripture reading
John 5:15-18

The man went and proclaimed to the Jewish leaders that Jesus was the man who had made him well.

As a result, the Jewish leaders were harassing Jesus, since he had done these things on the Sabbath. Jesus replied, “My Father is still working, and I am working too.” For this reason the Jewish leaders wanted even more to kill him—not only because he was doing away with the Sabbath but also because he called God his own Father, thereby making himself equal with God.

Silence may be kept.

Response

Jesus said, I am the living bread that came down from heaven.
Whoever eats this bread will live forever.

John 6:51a

Prayers

Intercession and thanksgiving

Prayers may include these concerns:

The universal church
Bishops, superintendents and all who lead the church
The leaders of the nations
The natural world and the resources of the earth
All who are in any kind of need

Prayer

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.
Amen.

from St Patrick’s Breastplate

The Lord’s Prayer

As our Savior taught us, so we pray

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.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and forever.
Amen.

Conclusion

May God who made both heaven and earth bless us.
Amen.