Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost                                                   August 8, 2021                                              

 

Today’s Theme for Worship: God provides for all needs, spiritual and physical. He gives us food to eat to fill our physical needs. When Jesus, the Bread of Life teaches us God’s Word, he feeds us with himself.

 

Opening Hymn 288  The Gospel Shows the Father’s Grace

 

1  The gospel shows the Father’s grace, Who sent his Son to save our race,

Proclaims how Jesus lived and died That we might thus be justified.

 

2  It sets the Lamb before our eyes, Who made the atoning sacrifice

And calls the souls with guilt oppressed To come and find eternal rest.

 

3  It brings the Savior’s righteousness To robe our souls in royal dress;

From all our guilt it brings release And gives the troubled conscience peace.

 

4  It is the pow’r of God to save From sin and Satan and the grave;

It works the faith which firmly clings To all the treasures which it brings.

 

5  It bears to all the tidings glad And bids their hearts no more be sad;

The weary, burdened souls it cheers And banishes their guilty fears.

 

6  May we in faith its message learn Nor thanklessly its blessings spurn;

May we in faith its truth confess And praise the Lord, our righteousness.

 

Text: Matthias Loy, 1828-1915, alt.

 

Gathering Rite on Baptism (Christian Worship Supplement)

©2008 Northwestern Publishing House, Reprinted under OneLicense.net A-703297

P:      In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit.

C:      (spoken) Amen.

             Introduction to the hymn.

 

P: In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit.

C: (spoken) Amen.

 

1. (sing) Baptized into your name most holy, O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I claim a place, though weak and lowly, Among your saints, your chosen host, Buried with Christ and dead to sin. Your Spirit now shall live within.

 

P: I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

C: (spoken) Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit.  (John 3:5,6)

 

P: Surely we were sinful at birth, sinful from the time our mothers conceived us. 

(Psalm 51:5)

C:(spoken) But we were washed, we were sanctified, we were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.  (1 Corinthians 6:11)

 

2. (sing) My loving Father, there you took me To be henceforth your child and heir. My faithful Savior, there you let me The fruit of all your sorrows share. O Holy Spirit, comfort me When threat’ning clouds around I see.

 

P: As baptized children of God, we confess our sins.

C: (spoken) Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity. But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.

 

3 (sing) My faithful God, you fail me never;  Your promise surely will endure. Oh, cast me not away forever  If words and deeds become impure. Have mercy when I come defiled; Forgive, lift up, restore your child.

 

P: Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless (Ephesians 5:25-27).

Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit.

C: (spoken) Amen.

 

Baptism of Amber Elise Cook

May she always remain a child of God.

 

P: Receive the sign of the cross on the head and heart to mark you as a redeemed child of Christ.

Amber Elise Cook— I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

 

The Almighty God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — has forgiven all your sins. By your baptism, you are born again and made a dear child of your Father in heaven. May God strengthen you to live in your baptismal grace all the days of your life. Peace be with you.  Amen.

 

EXHORTATION

Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

Our Lord commands that we teach his precious truths to all who are baptized. Christian love therefore urges all of us, especially parents and sponsors to assist in whatever manner possible

so that Amber may remain a child of God until death. If you are willing to carry out this responsibility, then answer, Yes, as God gives me strength.

C: Yes, as God gives me strength.

 

P: Let us pray:

Merciful Father in heaven, we thank you for the blessing of baptism by which you offer and grant the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. Help us to regard our baptism as the robe of righteousness we are to wear all the days of our life. Look with special favor on Amber and grant her a rich measure of your Spirit that she may grow in faith and godly living. Make us willing to carry out our responsibilities to those who have been baptized, so that all of us may finally come to the blessed joys of heaven, through Jesus our Lord.

C: Amen.

 

4 (sing) All that I am and love most dearly - Receive it all, O Lord, from me. Let me confess my faith sincerely,  And help me your own child to be! Let nothing that I am or own, serve any will but yours alone.

 

Prayer of the Day

P: Let us Pray.

O God, you reveal your mighty power chiefly in showing mercy and kindness. Grant us the full measure of your grace that we may obtain your promises and become partakers of your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen.

 

First Lesson: Exodus 16:2-15

The LORD provided the Israelites with manna and quail during their journey in the wilderness.

2The entire Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. 3The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat around pots of meat and ate as much food as we wanted, but now you have brought us out into this wilderness to have this whole community die of hunger.”

4Then the Lord said to Moses, “Watch what I will do. I will rain down bread from heaven for you, and the people will go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test whether they will follow my instructions or not. 5On the sixth day they will prepare what they bring in, and it will be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”

6So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “At evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 7and in the morning you will see the Glory of the Lord, because he has heard your constant grumbling against the Lord. Who are we that you should grumble against us?”

8Moses said, “Now the Lord will give you meat to eat in the evening and as much bread as you want in the morning, because the Lord has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord.”

9Then Moses said to Aaron, “Tell the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling.’” 10As Aaron spoke to the entire Israelite community, they turned toward the wilderness, and suddenly the Glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.

11The Lord spoke to Moses: 12“I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Say to them, ‘At evening you will eat meat, and in the morning you will eat bread until you are full. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’”

13So in the evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning a layer of dew surrounded the camp. 14When the layer of dew was gone, there were thin flakes on the surface of the wilderness, thin as frost on the ground. 15When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” because they did not know what it was.

Moses said to them, “This is the bread which the Lord has given to you as food to eat.”

 

Psalm of the Day 145

Refrain

Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

 

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;*

his greatness no one can fathom.

 

One generation will commend your works to another;*

they will tell of your mighty acts.

 

The LORD upholds all those who fall*

and lifts up all who are bowed down.

 

Refrain

Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

 

The eyes of all look to you,

and you give them their food at the proper time.*

You open your hand

and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

 

The LORD is near to all who call on him,*

to all who call on him in truth.

 

He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;*

he hears their cry and saves them.

 

Glory be 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

Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

 

Refrain Tune: Richard Proulx. © 1986 GIA Publications, Inc., Chicago, IL, www.giamusic.com. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

 

Second Lesson: Ephesians 4:17-24

Paul encourages Gentile Christians to live as children of light.”

17So I tell you this and testify to it in the Lord: Do not walk any longer as the Gentiles walk, in their futile way of thinking. 18They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, due to the hardness of their hearts. 19Because they have no sense of shame, they have given themselves over to sensuality, with an ever-increasing desire to practice every kind of impurity.

20But you did not learn Christ in that way, 21if indeed you have heard of him and were taught in him (since the truth is in Jesus). 22As far as your former way of life is concerned, you were taught to take off the old self, which is corrupted by its deceitful desires, 23and to be renewed continually in the spirit of your mind, 24and to put on the new self, which has been created to be like God in righteousness and true holiness.

Verse:
Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

These words are written that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!

 

Gospel: John 6:24-35

Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life.”
24When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. 25When they found him on the other side of the sea, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

26Jesus answered them, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: You are not looking for me because you saw the miraculous signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. 27Do not continue to work for the food that spoils, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

28So they said to him, “What should we do to carry out the works of God?”

29Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God: that you believe in the one he sent.”

30Then they asked him, “So what miraculous sign are you going to do, that we may see it and believe you? What miraculous sign are you going to perform? 31Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, just as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

32Jesus said to them, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the real bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34“Sir,” they said to him, “give us this bread all the time!”

35“I am the Bread of Life,” Jesus told them. “The one who comes to me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty.”

 

P: This the gospel of our Lord.

C:  Praise be to you, O Christ!

 

 

Hymn of the Day: 402 My Faith Looks Up to Thee

1  My faith looks up to thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary,

Savior divine.

Now hear me while I pray; Take all my guilt away;

Oh, let me from this day Be wholly thine!

 

2  May thy rich grace impart Strength to my fainting heart;

My zeal inspire!

As thou hast died for me, Oh, may my love to thee

Pure, warm, and changeless be, A living fire!

 

3  While life’s dark maze I tread And griefs around me spread,

Be thou my guide.

Bid darkness turn to day, Wipe sorrow’s tears away,

Nor let me ever stray From thee aside.

 

4  When ends life’s transient dream, When death’s cold, sullen stream

Shall o’er me roll,

Blest Savior, then, in love, Fear and distrust remove;

Oh, bear me safe above, A ransomed soul!

 

Text: Ray Palmer, 1808-87.

 

Sermon

 

Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

 

Offering

Electronic Giving! You can give your offerings from your smartphone with the GivePlusChurch app, which can be downloaded for free at Google Play or the App Store. You can also give at holytrinitylutheranwyoming.com by clicking the Offerings link at the top of the page or scan the QR code below. If you have any questions about any of these options, please contact Dave Vogel at davidvogel@gmail.com or 616-808-6320

 

 

 

 

 

 


Prayer of the Church

 

Hymn: 389 Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me

1  Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in thee;

Let the water and the blood From thy riven side which flowed

Be of sin the double cure: Cleanse me from its guilt and pow’r.

 

2  Not the labors of my hands Can fulfill thy law’s demands.

Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow,

All for sin could not atone; Thou must save and thou alone.

 

3  Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to thy cross I cling;

Naked, come to thee for dress, Helpless, look to thee for grace.

Foul, I to the fountain fly-Wash me, Savior, or I die!

 

4  While I draw this fleeting breath, When mine eyelids close in death,

When I soar to worlds unknown, See thee on thy judgment throne,

Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in thee!

 

Text: Augustus M. Toplady, 1740-78, alt.

 

Prayer and Blessing

 

P: Almighty God, we thank you for teaching us the things you want us to believe and do. Help us by your Holy Spirit to keep your Word in pure hearts that we may be strengthened in faith, guided in holiness, and comforted in life and in death, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C:  A-men.

 

P: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with gladness.

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look on you with favor and + give you peace.

C:  A-men, A-men, A-men

 

Closing Hymn: 325  How Blest Are They Who Hear

1  How blest are they who hear God’s Word

And keep and heed what they have heard!

They daily grow in wisdom.

Their light shines brighter day by day,

And while they tread life’s weary way,

They have the oil of gladness

To soothe their pain and sadness.

2  God’s Word a treasure is to me,

Through sorrow’s night my sun shall be,

The shield of faith in battle.

The Father’s hand has written there

My title as his child and heir,

“The kingdom’s yours forever.”

That promise fails me never.

 

3  Today I was my Savior’s guest;

My soul was here so richly blest,

The bread of life receiving.

Oh, may thereby my faith prevail

So that its fruits may never fail

Till my account is given

Before God’s throne in heaven!

 

Text: Johan N. Brun, 1745-1816; tr. Oluf H. Smeby, 1851-1929, alt.