Worship Service August 22- Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost

Welcoming: comments from Rev. Susan
Prelude: "A Mighty Fortress is Our God,” arr. Eric Carlson
Offered by First United Methodist Quartet

Opening Prayer: offered by Rev. Greta
God of our hopes and dreams, we are empty, and long to be filled;
we are hungry, and long to be fed;
we are lost, and long to be found.
Gather us into your love, and pick up the pieces of our lives.
Call us anew to find our true nourishment in Jesus, the bread of heaven. Amen.
Opening Hymn: "Shout to the North,” #3042
Words and Music by Martin Smith
First United Methodist Instrumental Quartet.
Mike and Melanie Jipson, vocals.

Men of faith rise up and sing
of the great and glorious King.
You are strong when you feel weak
in your brokenness complete.

We will shout to the north and the south,
sing to the east and the west.
Jesus is savior to all,
Lord of heaven and earth.

Rise up, women of the truth,
stand and sing to broken hearts
who can know the healing power
of our awesome King of love.

We will shout to the north and the south,
sing to the east and the west.
Jesus is savior to all,
Lord of heaven and earth.

We've been through fire, we've been through rain,
we've been refined by the power of His name.
We've fallen deeper in love with you.
You've burned the truth on our lips.

We will shout to the north and the south,
sing to the east and the west.
Jesus is savior to all,
Lord of heaven and earth.

Rise up, church with broken wings,
fill this place with songs again
of our God who reigns on high.
By His grace again we'll fly.

We will shout to the north and the south,
sing to the East and the West.
Jesus is savior to all,
Lord of heaven and earth.

We will shout to the north and the south
sing to the east and the west.
Jesus is savior to all,
Lord of heaven and earth.

Lord of heaven and earth.
He is Lord of heaven and earth.
He is Lord of heaven and earth.

Pastoral Prayer (with Lord’s Prayer): offered by Rev. Greta
Instrumental - “Thy Word”
Scripture reading; The Gospel of Jesus Christ, according to John 6:56-69 (The Message), offered by Tom Taft.

But Jesus didn’t give an inch. “Only insofar as you eat and drink flesh and blood, the flesh and blood of the Son of Man, do you have life within you. The one who brings a hearty appetite to this eating and drinking has eternal life and will be fit and ready for the Final Day. My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. By eating my flesh and drinking my blood you enter into me and I into you. In the same way that the fully alive Father sent me here and I live because of him, so the one who makes a meal of me lives because of me. This is the Bread from heaven. Your ancestors ate bread and later died. Whoever eats this Bread will live always.”
He said these things while teaching in the meeting place in Capernaum.
Many among his disciples heard this and said, “This is tough teaching, too tough to swallow.”
Jesus sensed that his disciples were having a hard time with this and said, “Does this rattle you completely? What would happen if you saw the Son of Man ascending to where he came from? The Spirit can make life. Sheer muscle and willpower don’t make anything happen. Every word I’ve spoken to you is a Spirit-word, and so it is life-making. But some of you are resisting, refusing to have any part in this.” (Jesus knew from the start that some weren’t going to risk themselves with him. He knew also who would betray him.) He went on to say, “This is why I told you earlier that no one is capable of coming to me on his own. You get to me only as a gift from the Father.”
After this, many of his disciples left. They no longer wanted to be associated with him. Then Jesus gave the Twelve their chance: “Do you also want to leave?”
Peter replied, “Master, to whom would we go? You have the words of real life, eternal life. We’ve already committed ourselves, confident that you are the Holy One of God.”
Message: “This is Tough Teaching” offered by Rev. Susan.
A cappella- “Sanctuary” TFWS (for the closing credits only)
Words: John Scruggs and Randy Scruggs
Music: John Thompson and Randy Scruggs, arr. By Nylea l. Butler-Moore
Contemplative Music: A Time to Reflect and Commit.
Ministry Moment: offered by Rev. Greta.
Prayer of Dedication: Offered by Rev. Susan.
Loving God, accept our offerings of praise in thanksgiving for your presence in our lives and the many blessings you bestow upon us. May our offerings become bread to fill the emptiness and heal the brokenness of the lives in this community and beyond. Amen.
Sending Music - “Across the Lands,” #3032
Words and Music by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend

You're the Word of God the Father
from before the world began;
every star and every planet
has been fashioned by your hand.
All creation holds together
by the power of your voice.
Let the skies declare your glory;
let the land and seas rejoice.

You're the author of creation,
you're the Lord of everyone,
and your cry of love rings out across the lands.

Yet you left the gaze of angels,
came to seek and save the lost
and exchanged the joy of heaven
for the anguish of a cross.
With a prayer you fed the hungry
with a word you calmed the sea;
yet how silently you suffered,
that the guilty may go free.

You're the author of creation,
you're the Lord of everyone,
and your cry of love rings out across the lands.

With a shout you rose victorious,
wresting victory from the grave
and ascended into heaven,
leading captives in your way.
Now you stand before the Father,
interceding for your own;
from each tribe and tongue and nation
you are leading sinners home!
You're the author of creation,
you're the Lord of everyone,
and your cry of love rings out across the lands.
Benediction: offered by Rev. Susan

Postlude: "O Day of Peace.”
by Charles Callahan John Sheaffer, organ.
Prepare for worship next Sunday: by reading Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Flowers Donated by:
Bonnie Marcks.