Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost Sunday, August 8, 2021

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 1747 W. Milham Avenue ‚ Portage, MI 49024

Pastor Rachel Laughlin

Church phone: 269/343-3453 ‚ fax: 269/343-2025 Website: popportage.org

Find us on Facebook: Prince of Peace, Portage, MI-ELCA

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday, August 8, 2021

“Touched by the Gospel, we seek to be instruments of God’s Peace, for the sake of the World.”

Welcome in the name of Christ! We are glad to have you as part of our community this morning. Your presence makes our celebration even more joyful!

Following Jesus’ command to love our neighbors, we strive to be an open, welcoming place for all people. If you have any questions or if we can serve you and those you love in some way, please let us know. You can fill out one of the cards in the pew racks and place it in the offering plate.

If you are worshiping with children today, know that we love having people of all ages together in worship.

Don’t worry if they wiggle or make noise. They are part of the community, too, wiggles and all. We love having everyone in worship. Ask an usher if you would like to use coloring materials in the sanctuary.

As Lutheran Christians, we believe Christ is fully present in the bread and wine of the communion meal and that it is Christ who invites us to the table. All who hunger and thirst for Christ’s presence are welcome at the communion table, regardless of your age or faith tradition. Wheat bread, gluten free wafers, and grape juice are available. Full details are included in the communion portion of this bulletin. Please ask an usher if you have any questions.

Let us know if you want to learn more about Prince of Peace, have questions about Lutherans or the Christian faith, have a prayer request, or would like to speak with the pastor. Please make sure to leave your contact information for us so we can get back to you as soon as possible. Pastor Rachel also enjoys meeting people after worship on Sundays, so please feel free to introduce yourself to her if you wish!

Thank you for joining us for worship today. May God bless you and give you peace this week.

a a a a a a a a a a WE GATHER TO WORSHIP

Worshipers responses in bold. Stand, as directed, if able.

Sit

Music for the Beginning of Worship

When the music begins please quiet your voices as a way to prepare for worship.

“Come Down, O Love Divine” arr. Myron Casner

Welcome Stand

Confession and Forgiveness

All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.

Pastor: Blessed be the holy Trinity, a the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

All: Amen.

Pastor: Drawn to Christ and seeking God’s abundance, let us confess our sin.

Silence is kept for reflection.

Pastor: God, our provider,

All: help us. It is hard to believe there is enough to share. We question your ways when they differ from the ways of the world in which we live. We turn to our own understanding rather than trusting in you.

We take offense at your teachings and your ways. Turn us again to you. Where else can we turn? Share with us the words of eternal life and feed us for life in the world. Amen.

Pastor: Beloved people of God: in Jesus, the manna from heaven, you are fed and nourished. By Jesus, the worker of miracles, there is always more than enough. Through Jesus, the bread of life, you are shown God’s mercy: a you are forgiven and loved into abundant life.

All: Amen.

Turn toward the front as the leaders process

Gathering Song “O Holy Spirit, Enter In” No. 786

Greeting and Prayer of the Day

Pastor: The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

All: And also with you.

Prayer of the Day

All: Gracious God, your blessed Son came down from heaven to be the true bread that gives life to the world. Give us this bread always, that he may live in us and we in him, and that, strengthened by this food, we may live as his body in the world, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Sit

The Children’s Sermon

WE HEAR THE WORD OF GOD

First Reading 1 Kings 19:4-8

[Elijah] went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.”Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.” He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.” He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.

Word of God. Word of Life.

Thanks be to God.

Psalm Psalm 34:1-8

Reader: So God commanded the clouds above and opened the doors of heaven, I will bless the Lord at all times; the praise of God shall ever be in my mouth. I will glory in the Lord; let the lowly hear and rejoice.

All: Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord; let us exalt God’s name together.

Reader: I sought the Lord, who answered me and delivered me from all my terrors.

All: Look upon the Lord and be radiant, and let not your faces be ashamed.

Reader: I called in my affliction, and the Lord heard me and saved me from all my troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear the Lord and delivers them.

All: Taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are they who take refuge in God!

Second Reading Ephesians 4:25--5:2

So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another.

Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil. Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Word of God. Word of Life.

Thanks be to God.

Stand

Gospel Acclamation

Gospel Reading John 6:35, 41-51

The Holy Gospel according to John the 6

chapter.

Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus said to [the crowd,] “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” Jesus answered them, “Do not complain among yourselves. No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God;

he has seen the Father. Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Sit

Sermon Pastor Rachel Laughlin

Stand

Hymn of the Day “Come Down, O Love Divine” No. 804

Apostles’ Creed

Asst: Joining the saints of every time and place, we confess our faith:

All: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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 to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayers of the Church

After “Generous God,” worshipers respond “pour out your love.”

Repeat “God of Love, Hear Our Prayer” after the completion of the intercessory prayers.

WE SHARE IN HIS MEAL Sharing of the Peace

Pastor: The peace of the Lord be with you always.

All: And also with you.

Worshipers share a sign of God’s peace with one another, greeting each other with words like

“Peace be with you. . . And also with you.”

Sit Offering

When we give our offerings, we are offering to God a portion of what God has first given us: ourselves, our time, and our possessions. Take a moment to consider the ways God has blessed you this week. Where have you seen God’s gift of resurrection and new life at work? What can you offer in return for these blessings?

If you’d like to give a gift in support of God’s work at Prince of Peace, you can give online at www.popportage.org, contact church accountant, Marilyn Storch([email protected]) to set up recurring online giving, use the QR code on the last page of the bulletin to give electronically or mail a check to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church 1747 W. Milham Ave. Portage, MI 49024. We appreciate your support.

Liturgical Hand Washing

I wash my hands in innocence, and go around your altar, O Lord, singing aloud a song of thanksgiving, and telling all your wondrous deeds. – Psalm 26:6-7

Since the early days of the Church, washing with water has been a custom that symbolizes separation from sin.

We are returning to this ancient practice to ensure leaders have clean hands before they handle the elements. Fun fact: the bowl for holding the water is called a lavabo.

Offering Song “The Trumpets Sound, the Angels Sing” No. 531

Offering Prayer

Asst: Jesus, Bread of Life,

All: you have set this table with your very self, and called us to the feast of plenty. Gather what has been

sown among us, and strengthen us in this meal. Make us to be what we receive here, your body for the

life of the world. Amen.

Stand

Great Thanksgiving - Grace Before the Meal Pastor: The Lord be with you.

All: And also with you.

Pastor: Lift up your hearts.

All: We lift them to the Lord.

Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

All: It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Eucharistic Prayer

Pastor: … Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:

All: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Pastor: … We give you praise, feeding God, now and forever.

All: Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Pastor: Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.

All: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

Invitation to the Meal

Pastor: No matter the church of your membership, the form of your baptism, or where you are on your journey with God, a place has been prepared for you at this table; at God’s table. So come and eat for all is ready and all are welcome.

Sit

Holy Communion - the Lord’s Supper

All who hunger and thirst for Christ’s presence in their life are invited to share the Lord’s Supper with us, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. You should have received pre-packaged elements when you arrived for worship. If you did not, please indicate to an Usher that you would like the elements and they will bring them to you. Please wait for the presiding minster to instruct the congregation when to open and receive each element. When the pastor says, “The body of Christ, given for you” and, “The blood of Christ, shed for you,” you may respond by saying, “Amen.”

Signal an usher or communion assistant if you need assistance opening the packaging to get the wafer or grape juice.

Outdoor services – Please take your empty cup and place it in the basket on a nearby music stand.

Indoor services – Please place your empty cup in the basket when the communion assistant brings it to you.

Table Blessing

Pastor: The body and blood of our Lord strengthen you and keep you in His grace.

All: Amen.

Asst.: Jesus, Bread of life, we have received from your table more than we could ever ask. As you have nourished us in this meal, now strengthen us to love the world with your own life. In your name we pray.

All: Amen.

WE ARE SENT OUT TO SERVE Announcements

Stay up to date with all the latest community information on our website: www.popportage.org!

We’d love to hear from you in the comments on the worship video posts on Facebook or YouTube or via e-mail to any of our individual staff members. Share the link with family and friends!

Stand

Final Blessing

Pastor: The blessing of God, who provides for us, feeds us, and journeys with us, a be upon you now and forever.

All: Amen.

Sending Hymn “Sent Forth by God’s Blessing” No. 547

Dismissal

Asst: Go in peace. You are the body of Christ.

All: Thanks be to God.

Music for the Close of Worship “O Holy Spirit, Enter In” arr. Johann Christoph Bach

O Holy Spirit, Enter In, Text & Music: Public Domain. Arr. Augsburg Fortress Permission under OneLicense Annual License A-710485

Gospel Acclamation, Setting 7, Permission under Augsburg Fortress Annual License 262200 Come Down, O Love Divine, Text & Music: Public Domain.

God of Love, Hear Our Prayer, Text and music © 2007 Augsburg Fortress. Permission under Augsburg Fortress Annual License 262200 The Trumpets Sound, the Angels Sing, Text and music © 1989 Make Way Music, admin. by Music Services in the Western Hemisphere.

Permission under CCLI Annual License 11064917

Sent Forth by God’s Blessing, Text © 1964 World Library Publications. Music: Public Domain. Permission under OneLicense Annual License A-710485 All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Use this QR code to donate online to Prince of Peace Lutheran Church

and it’s ministries.

See the Peace Proclamations for more details.

This Week’s Servers

Worship Asst.: Megan Floyd Reader: Idy Stemaly Ushers: Dianne Hellman Sound System: Bill Floyd Sacristy Asst.: Laila Poisson Communion Asst.: Sandy Foster Song Leader: Megan Floyd Fellowship Host: Laila Poisson

11:00am

Worship Asst.: Laila Poisson Reader: Laurie Brown

Ushers: Jim Timm Dave Naugle, Jim Banner Sound System: Mark Clyne, Mike Whately Sacristy Asst.: Laila Poisson

Communion Asst.: Beth Whately, Linda Timm Cantors:

Church Lockup: Laurie Brown

Next Week’s Servers

11:00am

Worship Asst.: Steve Pendziszewski Reader: Sabrina Floyd

Ushers:

Sound System:

Sacristy Asst.: Laila Poisson Communion Asst.:

Cantors: Megan Floyd

Church Lockup: Derek Stepanski

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church Staff and Sunday School Teachers

Church phone: 269/343-3453

Staff

Pastor: Rachel Laughlin-ext. 13 Youth Minister: Megan Floyd-ext. 12

Administrative Asst: Tamara Preston-ext. 10 Church Accountant: Marilyn Storch- ext. 17 Volunteer Coor: Mike Whately-ext. 15 Music Director: Janet Hill

Custodian: Steve Haddix

Worship Team Director: Scott Walker Technology Manager: Mike Whately-ext. 15 Nursery: Amanda Bischof,

Mariana Bringas Acevedo