Welcome to ICYMI Worship! ICYMI stands for In Case You Missed It; our ICYMI series gives a brief snapshot of worship each week so that you can worship in your home, on the road, or wherever life takes you.
At Cross of Christ, our basic worship order is based on worship patterns from Hebrew traditions and biblical accounts of the earliest Christians:
We GATHER with songs and prayer,
We HEAR God’s word,
We SHARE a meal of bread and wine,
We are SENT into the world to love and serve.
Let us know how this format works for you.
TODAY IS THE TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
GATHERING LITANY FOR HEALING
God the Father, your will for all people is health and salvation;
We praise you and thank you, O Lord.
God the Son, you came that we might have life, and might have it more abundantly;
We praise you and thank you, O Lord.
God the Holy Spirit, you make our bodies the temple of your presence;
We praise you and thank you, O Lord.
Holy Trinity, one God, in you we live and move and have our being;
We praise you and thank you, O Lord.
Lord, grant your healing grace to all who are sick, injured, or disabled, that they may be
made whole;
Hear us, O Lord.
Grant to all who seek your guidance, and to all who are lonely, anxious, or despondent, a
knowledge of your will and an awareness of your presence;
Hear us, O Lord.
Mend broken relationships, and restore those in emotional distress to soundness of mind
and serenity of spirit;
Hear us, O Lord.
Bless physicians, nurses, medical technicians, first responders, hospice workers, mental
health professionals, counselors, chaplains, pastors, caregivers, and all who minister to the
suffering, granting them wisdom and skill, sympathy and patience;
Hear us, O Lord.
Restore to wholeness whatever is broken by human sin – in our lives, in our nation, in the church, and in the world;
Hear us, O Lord.
Good Shepherd, Great Physician, as you healed in villages, cities, farms, marketplaces, places of worship, and wherever you walked upon this earth, bring healing to us and our loved ones, our neighbors near and far, our friends and those who are strangers to us, our cities, nation, and world.
We praise you and thank you, O Lord. Amen
GATHERING SONG
“Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness”
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray: Loving Father, giver of life and health, send your blessing on all who are sick, and upon those who minister to them, that all weakness may be vanquished by the triumph of the risen Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
THIS WEEK’S READINGS
2 Kings 4:42-44 Today’s reading is part of a larger section of 2 Kings that describes the miracles of Elisha, the successor to Elijah. Here the prophet gives food to a hungry crowd. Though there is not enough food to go around, Elisha trusts God, who provides enough and even more to satisfy the need.
Psalm 145:10-18 You open wide your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. (Ps. 145:16)
Ephesians 3:14-21 We have been rooted and grounded in the love of Christ, which surpasses all human knowledge. Because Christ dwells in our hearts, our lives are continuously strengthened and empowered by the ongoing presence of the Spirit.
THIS WEEK’S GOSPEL
John 6:1-21 In John’s gospel, the miracles of Jesus are called “signs,” because they reveal the true character of God. As such, they remain within the mystery of God and cannot be brought under human control.
PASTOR JUDY’S SERMON SNAPSHOT
Today is the first of five Sundays with gospel readings from John 6, the first four of which focus on Jesus as bread of life. Today Jesus feeds thousands of people with five loaves and two fish. What we have, what we bring to Jesus’ table, seems like it is not nearly enough to meet all the needs we see around us. But it is not the adequacy of our supplies or our skills that finally makes the difference: it is the power of Jesus working in the littlest and least to transform this world into the world God desires, a world where all the hungry are satisfied.
SONG OF THE DAY
“Healer of Our Every Ill”
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Coming soon!
COMMUNION SONG
“Abide With Me”
On 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. 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.
All are welcome to receive Christ’s Body and Blood in the Bread and Wine of the Eucharist.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Coming soon!
SENDING SONG
“Sent Forth By God’s Blessing”
This common Welsh tune is also often sung as “Let All Things Now Living.” Cross of Christ’s Carillon handbell ringers have played this several times; perhaps they’ll reprise it soon!
By God’s grace, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, we are called to
Worship God
Grow in Faith
Share the Gospel
Serve others, and
Welcome all.
Thanks be to God!
