WELCOME TO WORSHIP
It is our deepest hope that you feel welcome here. Restrooms and drinking fountains are available in the lobby area. We welcome all baptized Christians to Christ’s table for Holy Communion. Instructions for distribution are shown before the Dialogue. This worship guide is designed to provide you the information you need to join us in worship, but should you have any questions, please feel free to ask an usher, the pastor, or someone near you. Let us join in praising God as we are nourished by the Word and at the Table.
INTRODUCTION TO THE DAY
In today’s first reading God invites all who are hungry or thirsty to receive food and drink without cost. Jesus feeds the hungry multitude and reveals the abundance of God. At the eucharistic table we remember all who are hungry or poor in our world today. As we share the bread of life, we are sent forth to give ourselves away as bread for the hungry.
Prelude and bells
Announcements & PRAYER REQUESTS
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
(Stand as you are comfortable)
All may make the sign of the cross, the sign that is marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.
P Blessed be the holy Trinity,☩ one God,
whose compassion endures forever.
C Amen.
P Let us confess our sin to God.
Silence is kept for reflection.
P Compassionate God,
we confess to you all our sins.
Our burden is heavy, and we cannot free ourselves.
In your mercy, call us back to you.
Your yoke is easy and your burden is light.
Restore us to dwell in your peace.
In Christ’s name we pray,
C Amen.
P Jesus says, “Come to me,
all you who are weary
and are carrying heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest.”
In the name of God,
Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit,
your sins are forgiven.
Rest in God’s love.
C Amen.
Opening Hymn Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness ELW 843
(stand as you are able)
1 Praise the One who breaks the darkness
with a liberating light;
praise the One who frees the pris'ners,
turning blindness into sight.
Praise the One who preached the gospel,
healing ev'ry dread disease,
calming storms and feeding thousands
with the very bread of peace.
2 Praise the One who blessed the children
with a strong yet gentle word;
praise the One who drove out demons
with a piercing, two-edged sword.
Praise the One who brings cool water
to the desert's burning sand;
from this well comes living water
quenching thirst in ev'ry land.
3 Praise the one true love incarnate:
Christ, who suffered in our place;
Jesus died and rose for many
that we may know God by grace.
Let us sing for joy and gladness,
seeing what our God has done.
Praise the one redeeming glory;
praise the One who makes us one.
Text: Rusty Edwards, b. 1955
Text © 1987 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
HYMN OF PRAISE praise to the lord, the almighty ELW 858 st. 4
4 Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all that is in me adore him!
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him!
Let the amen sound from his people again.
Gladly forever adore him!
Text: Joachim Neander, 1650-1680; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827-1878, alt.
Prayer of the Day
P The Lord be with you. C And also with you.
P Let us pray together,
C Glorious God, your generosity waters the world with goodness, and you cover creation with abundance. Awaken in us a hunger for the food that satisfies both body and spirit, and with this food fill all the starving world; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
First Reading: Isaiah 55:1-5
God invites Israel to a great feast at which both food and drink are free. God also promises to make an everlasting covenant with all peoples, with promises that previously had been limited to Israel. As David was a witness to the nations, these nations shall now acknowledge the ways in which God has glorified Israel.
1 Hear, everyone who thirsts;
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread
and your earnings for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
3 Incline your ear, and come to me;
listen, so that you may live.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.
4 See, I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander for the peoples.
5 Now you shall call nations that you do not know,
and nations that do not know you shall run to you,
because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel,
for he has glorified you.
L: The Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God.
Psalm: Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21
8 The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 Lord, you are good to all,
and your compassion is over all your works.
14 The Lord upholds all those who fall
and lifts up those who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord,
and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open wide your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
17 You are righteous in all your ways
and loving in all your works.
18 You are near to all who call upon you,
to all who call upon you faithfully.
19 You fulfill the desire of those who fear you;
you hear their cry and save them.
20 You watch over all those who love you,
but all the wicked you shall destroy.
21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord;
let all flesh bless God’s holy name forever and ever.
Second Reading: Romans 9:1-5
This begins a new section in Paul’s letter in which he will deal with the place of Israel in God’s saving plan. He opens by highlighting how Israel’s heritage and legacy include being God’s children, having God’s covenants, being given God’s law, participating in worship of God, and receiving divine promises.
1 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit—2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own brothers and sisters, my own flesh and blood. 4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; 5 to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Christ, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
L: The Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION ELW 269
Tune: Once in Royal Daid’s City
Alleluia! Lord and Savior:
open now your saving word.
Let it bun like fire within us;
speak until our hearts are stirred.
Alleluia! Lord, we sing
for the good news that you bring.
P The Holy Gospel according to Matthew the 14th chapter
C Glory to you, O Lord
Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21
After John the Baptist is murdered, Jesus desires a time of solitude. Still, his compassion for others will not allow him to dismiss those who need him, and he is moved to perform one of his greatest miracles.
13 Now when Jesus heard [about the beheading of John the Baptist,] he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 15 When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And all ate and were filled, and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
P The gospel of the Lord. C Praise to you, O Christ.
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
SERMON
Hymn of the day For the Fruit of all creation ELW 679
1 For the fruit of all creation,
thanks be to God.
For these gifts to ev'ry nation,
thanks be to God.
For the plowing, sowing, reaping,
silent growth while we are sleeping,
future needs in earth's safekeeping,
thanks be to God.
2 In the just reward of labor,
God's will is done.
In the help we give our neighbor,
God's will is done.
In our worldwide task of caring
for the hungry and despairing,
in the harvests we are sharing,
God's will is done.
3 For the harvests of the Spirit,
thanks be to God.
For the good we all inherit,
thanks be to God.
For the wonders that astound us,
for the truths that still confound us,
most of all, that love has found us,
thanks be to God.
Text: Fred Pratt Green, 1903-2000
Text © 1970 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
APOSTLES’ CREED
C I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again 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
Prayers of Intercession
P Trusting in God’s steadfast love for all God has made, let us pray for the church, the world, and all of creation.
A brief silence.
After each petition, the congregation responds:
P Merciful God C receive our prayer.
The prayers conclude:
P Receive our prayers and answer, O God, as you have promised. All this we ask in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
C Amen
Peace
P The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C And also with you.
OFFERING
An offering is gathered for the mission of the church, including the care of those in need. You are welcome to mail your offering to the church or access our on-line giving option: https://tinyurl.com/bp6yzvs4
OFFERTORY HYMN Create in Me a Clean Heart ELW 188
OFFERING PRAYER
C Loving God,
we offer at your table the gifts of our hearts.
Help us take heart in you and share freely of your love,
so that all creation can taste your abundance.
We ask this in the name of Jesus,
through the Spirit abiding with us now and forever.
Amen.
INVITATION TO COMMUNION Come to the Table ELW 481
Come to the table of mercy,
prepared with the wine and the bread.
All who are hungry and thirsty,
come, and your souls will be fed.
Come at the Lord's invitation;
receive from his nail-scarred hand.
Eat of the bread of salvation;
drink of the blood of the Lamb.
Text: Claire Cloninger, b. 1942
Text © 1991 Integrity's Hosanna! Music (ASCAP) c/o Integrity Media, Inc., 1000 Cody Road, Mobile, AL 36695; Juniper Landing Music (admin. Word Music); and Word Music (ASCAP).
Communion
We welcome all whom God has claimed in baptism to the Lord’s Table. Those who desire receiving communion in their seat, please notify the usher.
DIALOGUE
P The Lord be with you. C And also with you.
P Lift up your hearts. C We lift them to the Lord.
P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C It is right to give our thanks and praise.
P It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,
that we should at all times and in all places
give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God.
You reveal your glory
as the glory of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit:
equal in majesty, undivided in splendor, one Lord, one God,
ever to be adored in your eternal glory.
And so, with all the choirs of angels,
with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
C HOLY, HOLY, HOLY ELW SM 193
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of pow’r and might.
Heav’n and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna in the highest.
P Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again.
C Amen, amen, amen (sung)
P In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.
As you take the wafer, hear these words. “The body of Christ given for you.” Partake of the bread.
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 sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.
As you take the cup of wine or juice, hear these words. “The blood of Christ shed for you.” Partake of the wine/juice.
The Lord's Prayer
C 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
RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION
P Heaven has come near. Come, share in the feast!
POST COMMUNION HYMN O Living Bread from Heaven ELW 542
St 1 & 2
1 O living Bread from heaven,
how well you feed your guest!
The gifts that you have given
have filled my heart with rest.
O wondrous food of blessing!
O cup that heals our woes!
My heart, this gift possessing,
in thankful song o'er flows.
2 My Savior, you have led me
within your holiest place,
and here yourself have fed me
with treasures of your grace;
for you have freely given
what earth could never buy,
the bread of life from heaven,
that now I shall not die.
Text: Johann Rist, 1607-1667; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827-1878, alt.
POST COMMUNION PRAYER
C Compassionate God,
through the gifts of bread and wine
our hearts are filled with the abundance of your love.
Strengthen us that we, through this holy meal,
may share your love freely, as you have shared with us.
We ask this in the name of Jesus,
through the Spirit nourishing us now and forever.
Amen.
BLESSING
P Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer,
☩ one God,
bless, heal, and hold you
today and always.
C Amen.
SENDING HYMN O Jesus, Joy of Loving Hearts ELW 658
st 1, 3, & 4
1 O Jesus, joy of loving hearts,
the fount of life, the light of all:
from ev'ry bliss that earth imparts
we turn, unfilled, to hear your call.
3 For you our restless spirits yearn,
where'er our changing lot is cast;
glad, when your smile on us you turn,
blest, when by faith we hold you fast.
4 O Jesus, ever with us stay!
Make all our moments fair and bright!
Oh, chase the night of sin away!
Shed o'er the world your holy light.
Text: attr. Bernard of Clairvaux, 1091-1153; tr. Ray Palmer, 1808-1887, alt.
P Heaven has come near. Go, share the good news!
C Thanks be to God.
The worship has ended: the service begins
From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2026 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #42052. Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-731018 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.
Readings for Sunday, August 9, 2026
The Lord speaks to Elijah on Mount Horeb
I will listen to what the Lord God is saying. (Ps. 85:8)
Hearing and confessing the word of faith
Jesus walking on the sea
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