Holy Communion
July 18, 2021


Photo Credit: Dave Herring on Unsplash



“Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.”

Lazy summer afternoons relaxing on the porch... Snoozing under a tree in a hammock... Putting work aside for just a little while... It sounds wonderful, doesn't it? And isn't it fascinating that Jesus needs to command us to rest?! It sounds a lot like the 3rd commandment God shared with Moses - Remember the sabbath and keep it holy. Rest is necessary for all of us, for our wellbeing. But it's also necessary for our faith life. When we rest, we refrain from work, from production, from providing what we and those around us need. And when we refrain from producing and providing, we take that time to depend on God to do the providing! So resting becomes an act of trust, relying on God's care, God's nurturing, God's love. So God's Word for all of us is to rest a while. God's taking care of things for us and for all of creation!



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Join us for Worship This Sunday at 9 am
as we gather both in person and online


This Sunday we return to celebrating the Eucharist together!

We will continue to wear masks to protect those who are not vaccinated and those who are vulnerable. We are doing everything we can to maintain a safe space for worship for everyone. However, if you feel ill or are running a fever of over 100 degrees, please stay home and keep yourself and others safe.

Services will continue to be livestreamed on YouTube Live each week. You may access the livestream by clicking the link below.



~ Gathering ~


Prelude


Temple Talk


Confession and Forgiveness

In the name of the Father, and of the Son,☩ and of the Holy Spirit
Amen.
Drawn to Christ and seeking God’s abundance, let us confess our sin.

Silence is kept for reflection.

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.



Greeting

       And also with you.


Prayer of the Day

The Lord be with you
And also with you.
Let us pray. O God, powerful and compassionate, you shepherd your people, faithfully feeding and protecting us. Heal each of us, and make us a whole people, that we may embody the justice and peace of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.





~ Word ~

First Reading Jeremiah 23:1-6
 
1Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. 2Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. 3Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord.
 5The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”


Word of God. Word of life.
Thanks be to God.




Psalm 23

1The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not be in want.
2The Lord makes me lie down in green pastures
and leads me beside still waters.
3You restore my soul, O Lord,
and guide me along right pathways for your name’s sake.
4Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil;
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 
5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil, and my cup is running over.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 




Gospel   Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

The Holy Gospel according to Mark.
       Glory to you, O Lord

30The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things…
53When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. 54When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, 55and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.


         Praise to you, O Christ.



Sermon


Prayers of the People

Each petition ends:
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.



Peace

The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.



Offertory Prayer

Jesus, Bread of life,
you have set this table with your very self, and called us to the feast of plenty. Gather what has been sown among us, and strengthen us in this meal. Make us to be what we receive here, your body for the life of the world. Amen.


Great Thanksgiving
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy... we praise your name and join in their unending hymn:


Words of Institution



Lord's Prayer

Lord, remember us in your love and teach us to pray:

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.



Communion



Post Communion Blessing and Prayer

The body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
Amen.

Jesus, Bread of life, we have received from your table more than we could ever ask. As you have nourished us in this meal, now strengthen us to love the world with your own life. In your name we pray.
Amen.

 


~ Sending ~


Blessing


Dismissal

Go in peace. You are the body of Christ!
       Thanks be to God!
 


Postlude


This Week at Immanuel...
Summer in the Garden
Book Conversation

This Tuesday at 7 pm we conclude our conversation about Barbara Brown Taylor's book, Learning to Walk in the Dark. Bring a lawn chair and meet in the garden. (We will move inside in case of rain!) This week we will be talking about chapters 8-9. Surrounded by the beauty of nature, we will talk about darkness and light, what we have learned when the lights seem to go out, and how God is that light in the darkness for us.



Bible Study –
Wednesdays at 9 on Zoom

Do you want to join with folks to learn and laugh? Do you want to dig more deeply into Scripture? Do you want to have a chance to be challenged and deepen your faith and understanding of who Jesus is? Then Wednesday morning is your time! Join in the conversation as we look at readings for the upcoming Sunday. Log into Zoom Wednesday mornings at 9. No previous knowledge or Bible study experience is necessary! Come and learn and laugh and be with friends both old and new!

Meeting ID: 837 9151 1254
Passcode: Bibles
Now the Silence, Text and Music © 1969 Hope Publishing Company.  Reprinted by permission under OneLicense #A-714459.
 
I Come with Joy, Text © 1971, rev. 1995 Hope Publishing Company. Reprinted by permission under OneLicense #A-714459.
 
Liturgy from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2021 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #23581.
 
 New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.


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