June 5, 2016

Third Sunday after Pentecost / Proper 5

Color: Green

Lectionary Readings

Semicontinuous

1 Kings 17:8–16 (17–24) A widow at Zarephath feeds Elijah; the grain and oil do not run out.

Psalm 146Happy are those who put their trust in the Lord, the God of Jacob.

Complementary

1 Kings 17:17–24In Zarephath, the prophet Elijah raises a widow’s son from the dead.

Psalm 30O Lord, you brought me up from the grave; my soul praises you.

Galatians 1:11–24 Paul tells of his earlier life, and his call to preach to the Gentiles.

Luke 7:11–17 Jesus raises a widow’s son from the dead; a great prophet has come.

— Gathering —

Call to Worship

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

Happy are those whose help

is in the God of Jacob.

The Lord sets prisoners free

and opens the eyes of the blind.

God lifts those who are bowed down,

and loves the righteous.

God watches over strangers

and upholds widows and orphans.

Praise the Lord, God of all generations.

Let us worship God.

Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song

Prayer of the Day

Holy One, as Jesus heard a widow’s cry

and raised her son from the dead,

hear the cry of your people in this place

and raise us from death to life

so that all will glorify your name;

through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Amen.

Call to Confession

At the baptismal font:

Who are we that God is mindful of us?

Yet God loves us, cares for us, and forgives us.

Psalm 8:4

Trusting in God’s grace,

let us confess our sin.

Prayer of Confession

God of the prophets, we confess

that we have failed to heed your word.

You have the power to help and heal,

yet we cling to our own provisions.

You are able to raise us up to new life,

yet we fail to trust what you can do.

Forgive us, God of grace.

Change our hearts and lives

and challenge us to expect great things

from your mighty acts of mercy;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Declaration of Forgiveness

Lifting water from the baptismal font:

God loves us, cares for us, forgives us,

and even crowns us with honor and glory.

Psalm 8:4–5

In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!

Thanks be to God.

— Word —

Prayer for Illumination

At the lectern or pulpit:

Spirit of truth, Breath of life,

as the Word is read and proclaimed,

teach us what we need to know.

Inspire us; breathe in and through us.

Lead us with your fiery presence,

so that we may follow you without fear.

Amen.

Scripture

Before the readings:

At the crossroads wisdom calls.

Proverbs 8:1–2

After the readings:

The wisdom of God for all people;

the call of God for all who live.

Thanks be to God.

Proverbs 8:4

Sermon

Ascription of Praise

After the sermon:

How majestic is the name

of the Lord our God! Amen.

Psalm 8:1

Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song

Affirmation of Faith

General Use / Time after Pentecost

We believe that God is the one

who wishes to bring about justice

and true peace among people.

We believe that God,

in a world full of injustice and enmity,

is in a special way

the God of the destitute,

the poor, and the wronged.

Adapted from the Confession of Belhar

Prayers of the People

Holy God, One-in-Three and Three-in-One,

hear us as we pray for your blessing,

saying: Holy, triune God, have mercy on us.

We pray for the church . . .

Build us up as the body of Christ,

so that we may arise from this place

and speak good news to the world.

Holy, triune God, have mercy on us.

We pray for the world . . .

Pour out your compassion upon the poor,

the hungry, the oppressed, and those in prison.

Give us the compassion to do good.

Holy, triune God, have mercy on us.

We pray for this community . . .

Draw all people together, regardless of faith,

to seek justice, welcome strangers,

and serve one another for the common good.

Holy, triune God, have mercy on us.

We pray for loved ones . . .

Be with those who feel forgotten or left out,

those who are suffering or mourning,

and those who face tough choices today.

Holy, triune God, have mercy on us.

All this we ask of you, Lord God,

through Jesus Christ our Savior,

and in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever. Amen.

— Eucharist —

Invitation to Offering

At the communion table:

As the grace of Jesus Christ

has been poured out for us,

let us pour out our lives for others,

offering our gifts and ourselves to God.

Luke 7:44–48; Romans 5:5

Prayer of Dedication

At the communion table:

Creating God,

how manifold are your works!

You open your hand with generosity and love

and our lives are filled with good things.

You send your Spirit, giving life to all.

We praise you!

In giving you these gifts

we long to be generous, as you are.

By the power of your Spirit

let the gifts we give today

become a source of life

and blessing to others. Amen.

Eucharistic Prayer

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your 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.

Blessed are you, O Lord our God:

You are the creator of heaven, the earth, and the sea.

You hear the cries of the widowed, the poor, and the hungry

and provide them with compassion, sustenance, and grace.

Therefore we praise you, joining the song

of the universal church and the heavenly choir:

A Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”) is sung.

Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior:

Jesus was ready to step forward and reach out,

embracing the world with his healing touch.

In this way he showed your abiding presence and favor.

The words of institution are included here.

Remembering your goodness and grace,

we offer ourselves to you with gratitude

as we share this joyful feast.

A Memorial Acclamation (e.g., “Christ has died”) is sung.

Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us

and upon this bread and cup;
make us one in the body and blood

of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Set us apart, by your grace, as those called to be disciples.

Let your Spirit shine in us, so that others will know your glory.

Look with blessing upon your people, and give us your peace.

Through the Lord Jesus Christ,

in the unity of the Spirit,

we bless you, God of glory,

now and forever.

An Amen is sung.

Lord’s Prayer

Breaking the Bread

Communion of the People

Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song

Prayer after Communion

At the communion table:

Holy and eternal God,

you are as far away as the distant stars

and as close as our breath.

You meet us at this table

and we discover our hearts burning within us.

Go with us as we leave this place,

so that your light and your life

may burn brightly within us

for all to see. Amen.

— Sending —

Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song

Blessing and Charge

At the doors of the church:

May the God of glory,

the Lord of life,

and the Spirit of truth

be with you all. Alleluia!

John 16:12–15

Live by the Spirit,

the giver of life. Amen.

Galatians 5:16