Worship Guide - 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Worship with One Click

You can choose to watch all of this Sunday's worship service in a series of linked videos, one after the other by clicking this link. Just press the button that says "PLAY ALL" and sit back and relax. Otherwise, proceed as normal through the sections.

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“Logos” by Mary Oliver
Why worry about the loaves and fishes?
If you say the right words, the wine expands.
If you say them with love
and the felt ferocity of that love
and the felt necessity of that love,
the fish explode into many.
Imagine him, speaking,
and don’t worry about what is reality,
or what is plain, or what is mysterious.
​If you were there, it was all those things.
If you can imagine it, it is all those things.
Eat, drink, be happy.
Accept the miracle.
Accept, too, each spoken word
spoken with love.

Mosaic, Tagbah Israel

    ~Oliver, Mary. Devotions (p. 179). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

Why worry? Well, we have many reasons we could cite. But the invitation here, echoed in Isaiah 55’s brilliant song and the direct example of Jesus in Matthew reminds us that others have been where we are and found a way. 
 
What might we discover as we look to their wisdom? How might we be fed as we feed according to the example of Jesus?
 
Enter into worship.

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Connections with ​Scott

Ed. note: While Andrea is away on vacation, Pastor Scott will try his hand at this segment. Here we go...

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Prelude

If you have prayers you would like to share, please do so here. These will be shared by email to our St Andrew prayer list so that we pray for what you hold by name. This information is not shared online in a searchable form.

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Gathering Song

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As you have always been with those who have drawn apart;
for solitude, for grieving, for prayer, out of fear or out of hope:
Be with us now.

As you have always been with the ones who search or flee;
the ones who struggle or hunger:
Be with us now.

As you have always been in the place of worship; and in every place
where those who sought you have encountered you:
Be with us now. Amen.

Hymn of Praise

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Reflection, Confession, Forgiveness

Send a text to a couple of people. Make a call. Who comes to mind for you? Wish them well. More than that, wish them the peace that comes with justice. Then click below.

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Give Yourself to the Word

Guide us, O God,
by your Word and Spirit,
that in your light we may see light,
in your truth find freedom,
and in your will discover your peace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
 
Isiah 55:1-5 † Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21 † Romans 9:1-5 † Matthew 14:13-21*
*In the season after Pentecost (also known as Ordinary Time, or "Proper" Sundays, the first reading can follow one of two tracks—either a semi-continuous track that stays with a story over a number of Sundays or a paired track that companions more closely the gospel reading. This summer we are mostly using the paired readings.

Psalm Response

Gospel Reading and Reflection

You can link to a printed version of the meditation here.

Song of Response

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Response in Thanksgiving and Action

If you haven’t already, set the elements—some bread, some juice or wine—in the room where you worship in these days with our faith community. Bring them with joy. Parade them as the holy offerings and mysteriously extravagant gifts of life they are. Give thanks for God’s provision!

​If a joy or a concern has come to mind, please share it with the assembly here so you do not carry it alone. These will be shared by email to our St Andrew prayer list so that we pray for what you hold by name. This information is emailed to a curated group, not shared or posted online in a searchable form.

As we respond to God's grace and new life, consider those ways you can express gratitude, thanksgiving and blessing. And remember that we continue to keep our financial commitments to our mission partners and staff. Thank you for remembering to send in your financial pledges and offerings.

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Sending Song

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Blessing and Charge