stand
Sacred Journey
Welcome
P: God eternal and righteous Father, Who created the heavens and the earth, we give you thanks:
C: For breath that ,ills us with your life, for love that softens us, & beauty revealed at every turn.
P: Christ redeeming and forgiving Son, who is always faithful and merciful. We give you thanks:
C: For redeeming our souls, transforming our lives, & giving us peace that calms our hearts.
P: Compassionate Spirit who sustains us, calling us into the family of God, We give you thanks:
C: For drawing us ever nearer to you, for caring when our hearts are aching, & all your generosity, lavish and over,lowing.
P: God who created the earth and the heavens, eternal, redeeming and sustaining One, We gather to give you thanks.
C: We come with hearts full of gratitude.
P: Through your will we are made whole, through your love we are renewed. Through your abiding presence we become community.
C: Thanks and praise to God, Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer through all eternity. Amen. We sing as we light candles:
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Please be seated after you have lighted a candle(s)
Lectio continua—Reader:
from Psalm 19
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; More to be desired are they than gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
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AM: Gracious and generous God we give you thanks:
C: For making each of us in your image.
AM: For caring and providing for us, we give you thanks:
C: For our clothes and homes that shelter and protect us, for our food that nourishes and strengthens us, for our friends and family who love and comfort us in times of need.
AM: We thank you for all the spiritual gifts you have given us.
C: You have provided your Word to guide us, your sacraments to nourish us, and most especially your own Son to redeem us and lead us back home.
AM: Thanks be to God.
C: Amen. adapted from Christine Sine, Godspace, 11/24/2020. stand Hymn of the Evening: minus ;inal verse
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Reflection
Centering Prayer: humility from Exodus 16
The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. "If only we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the Sleshpots and ate our Sill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger." Then the LORD said to Moses, "I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day…” And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked toward the wilderness, and the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud. The LORD spoke to Moses and said, "I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, 'At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall have your Sill of bread; then you shall know that I am the LORD your God.'" In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a Sine Slaky substance, as Sine as frost on the ground. When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.
1. The lives of the Israelites had been completely disrupted as God led them out of bondage in Egypt toward the Promised Land. They immediately missed their former diet/menu, and complained.
• What are some of the “costs” of following Jesus in our lives?
• What is God leading us toward in this life?
2. God met the Israelite's needs (not necessarily their “wants”) in a dramatic and miraculous way.
• What are some ways that God has met our needs as Christians who are following Jesus?
• In what ways are our lives different from the lives of those still in bondage around us?
3. What lessons was God teaching the Israelites, and us, through this faith journey?
Final verse of “######”
Prayer in the Spirit:
AM: I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
C: My soul makes its boast in the LORD;
AM: I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
C: Those who look to him are radiant, their faces are never ashamed.
AM: The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, & delivers them.
C: Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!
AM: The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.
C: The LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
AM: The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves them.
a moment of Silence
AM: Come, Holy Spirit, Come
C: Ignite within me true gratitude for all your blessings to me.
P: Thank you, King of the Universe…
AM: Thank you, Father of all Creation…
C: Thank you, Holy friend…
We invite God to help us count our Blessings:
AM: Open my eyes that I may see...
C: Open my eyes, Lord.
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Pause
AM: May I see the provision you give me in this world—far more than the simple food, clothing, and shelter I require,
C: Open my eyes, Lord.
Pause
AM: May I see the provision you give my mind and heart—love, and friendship; and far more information than I could ever drink in,
C: Open my eyes, Lord.
Pause
AM: May I see provision you have made for my soul—in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and the outpouring of your Divine Spirit on me,
C: Open my eyes, Lord.
Pause
AM: Holy God we come before you humbled by your lavish generosity.
C: Thank you, Lord.
stand
Silence
Prayer of Thanksgiving
AM: Heavenly Father, giver of all that is good, it is in your abundant provision we gather tonight.
C: You call forth Life, and the earth grows plants that yield fruit and nourishment for our bodies and souls, and you have called it good.
AM: In your love, you provided both manna and quail to your people Israel as they Sled bondage in Egypt.
C: Tonight you set a heavenly banquet table for us to gather around, as we ,lee bondages of our own. We give you thanks.
AM: Jesus, Bread of Heaven, & Living Water, your grace sustains us.
C: Like a mother nursing her child, you feed us with your very body. You teach us to share your compassion, mercy, and reconciliation.
AM: The generosity of your love Sills the empty places in our lives and souls, so we may bring your love to the empty places in others.
C: Your provision knows no end. For this, we give you thanks.
AM: Holy Spirit, Wisdom of God, you call us, gather us, and enlighten our hearts and minds. You birth us into Christ.
C: With thankful hearts, we gather at your Table, Glory to you!
P: We gather here and ask you to feed us once again with the fruit of both Sield and vine; may they become for us the Body and the Blood of Jesus our Savior.
C: Bind us with Jesus, and bind us to one another.
P: We join our hearts, & lift our voices in prayer, as Jesus taught us:
C: 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. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
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Communion
P: The Sirst thing Jesus did with both the bread and the wine on that sacred night was to give thanks for them. We hear these words every time we celebrate this meal; may we reSlect on the depth of this thanksgiving.
C: Make us truly grateful, Father.
Communion Song: repeated Please form a close circle around the Altar
P: The invitation to this Table is open to all. Jesus ate with tax collectors and sinners, Pharisees and master scribes. Regardless of how you come here tonight, you are welcome. Jesus desires to eat this meal with you.
C: Come, Lord Jesus, join us here and feed our faith.
P: We offer you our praise, blessed Father, and lift our hearts before you. For the earth we give you thanks and ask your blessing.
C: We ask you to bless this bread and wine, that it may be for us the Bread of Life and the Cup of Blessing.
Verse
P: Jesus, on the night before he suffered, took bread, and holding it before his followers, he gave thanks to you, he blessed it, broke it and gave it to them, saying: “Take and eat, this is my body which is given for you.”
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Verse
P: Then he took the cup, blessed the wine, and gave it to them saying: “Take and drink, this is my blood, shed for the forgiveness of all.”
C: Thanks be to God!
P: May all who share in this bread and wine be blessed in your love.
C: Amen.
Verse distribution
P: Dear Jesus, every time we celebrate this meal together, we do it in memory of you. May your spirit of thanksgiving remind us of your love and provision. We leave this Table nourished, we ask your blessing on the many tables we will eat at this week. May they be tables of blessing for those who break bread together.
C: Amen.
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P: Lord, you have welcomed us here tonight, and heard our praises and our prayers,
C: Now send us out to live and work to your glory. Amen.
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First Lutheran Church
1663 Main St W Barnstable, MA 02668 ofSice@Sirstcapecod.org
Pastor: Rev Dr Derek J Cheek Music Minister: Eric Williams Sexton: Chuck Fillian One License # A728-108
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