July 22, 2018
TIME AFTER PENTECOST — LECTIONARY 16

INTRODUCTION
Mark's gospel makes clear how great was the press of the crowd, with its countless needs to be met, on Jesus and his disciples. Yet in today's gospel Jesus advises his disciples to get away and rest, to take care of themselves. Sometimes we think that when others are in great need we shouldn't think of ourselves at all; but Jesus also honors the caregivers' need. We are sent from Christ's table to care for others and for ourselves.

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.
Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God,
full of compassion and mercy,
abounding in steadfast love.
Amen.

Trusting God's promise of forgiveness,
let us confess our sin against God and one another.

Silence for reflection and self-examination.

Eternal God our creator,
in you we live and move and have our being.
Look upon us, your children,
the work of your hands.
Forgive us all our offenses,
and cleanse us from proud thoughts and empty desires.
By your grace draw us near to you,
our refuge and our strength;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Since we are justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
God's love has been poured into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit given to us.
In the mercy of almighty God,
Christ died for us while we still were sinners;
and for his sake, God + forgives you all your sins.
Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY
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.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Alleluia. My sheep | hear my voice.* I know them, and they | follow me. Alleluia. (John 10:27)

READINGS AND PSALM
Jeremiah 23:1-6
Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. (Ps. 23:1)
Ephesians 2:11-22
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

FIRST READING: Jeremiah 23:1-6
Jeremiah prophesied before the exile in 587 B.C. In this passage, he uses the metaphor of a shepherd to describe the bad kings who have scattered the "flock" of Israel. God promises to gather the flock and to raise up a new king from David's line to save Israel and Judah.

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."

PSALM: Psalm 23
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. (Ps. 23:1)

1The LORD | is my shepherd;
	I shall not | be in want.
2The LORD makes me lie down | in green pastures
	and leads me be- | side 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.  R
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.  R

SECOND READING: Ephesians 2:11-22
The author of this letter is reminding his audience that originally they were not part of God's chosen people. Through Jesus' death, however, they are included in God's household of faith, whose cornerstone is Jesus Christ.

11Remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called "the uncircumcision" by those who are called "the circumcision"—a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands—12remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. 15He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, 16and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. 17So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; 18for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father.

19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

GOSPEL: Mark 6:30-34, 53-56
When Jesus sent his disciples out to teach and heal, they ministered among large numbers of people. Their work was motivated by Christ's desire to be among those in need.

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.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
The prayers are prepared locally for each occasion. The following examples may be adapted or used as appropriate.
Growing in faith and discipleship, we give thanks for God's merciful compassion as we pray for the church, the world, and all in need.
A brief silence.
God, you are our cornerstone, giving your people a strong foundation of faith. Help us to seek meaningful change in the world, and lead us to places of rest where you renew us for mission. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
God, you are our shepherd, leading us to green pastures and still waters for our use and pleasure. Renew the face of the earth. Guard the land and seas, the mountains and valleys, cultivated farmland and untamed wilderness. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
God, you are our righteousness, proclaiming peace to those who are far off and to those who are near. Remove hostility that divides nations. Make us no longer strangers or aliens but fellow citizens with all your saints. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
God, you are our compassion, bringing rest to all who seek treatments and diagnoses and are left without answers or energy. Restore the aching souls and bodies of those who seek comfort (especially). Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
God, you are our creativity, creating joy and purpose through all artists in the church: composers, writers, visual artists, musicians, poets, and dancers. Open our hearts to experience your truth in new and beautiful ways through their work. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Here other intercessions may be offered.
God, you are our future, leading us through the valley of the shadow of death and preparing a table for us with all of your saints (especially Mary Magdalene). Let your goodness and mercy follow us until we dwell in your house forever. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Gracious God, we lift to you these prayers and the prayers of our hearts, trusting in your everlasting love and mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

OFFERING PRAYER
Merciful God,
you open wide your hand
and satisfy the need of every living thing.
You have set this feast before us.
Open our hands to receive it.
Open our hearts to embrace it.
Open our lives to live it.
We pray this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

INVITATION TO COMMUNION
Come, let us eat, for now the feast is spread.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Jesus Christ, host of this meal,
you have given us not only this bread and cup,
but your very self, that we may feast on your great love.
Filled again by these signs of your grace,
may we hunger for your reign of justice,
may we thirst for your way of peace,
for you are Lord forevermore.
Amen.

SENDING OF COMMUNION
O God of tender compassion,
as you healed the sick and welcomed the stranger,
bless those who leave this assembly
to share the gifts of this table
with our sisters and brothers
who are sick/homebound/imprisoned.
May they be sustained by the love and prayers
of this community,
and by the Bread of life that satisfies all hunger,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

BLESSING
May God, whose power working in us
can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine,
grant you the gifts of faith and hope.
Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit,
bless you now and forever.
Amen.

DISMISSAL
Go in peace. The Spirit sends us forth to serve.
Thanks be to God.

Reprinted from Words for Worship, copyright 2017 Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission. Scripture quotations (except psalms) from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. All rights reserved. Used by permission.