For July 31, 2011 Proper 13A 7th After Pentecost

CALL TO WORSHIP/OPENING PRAYER
In the midst of our summer we hear a call:
everyone who thirsts, come to the waters... Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price... Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live
God, we have come together seeking food and water for our souls,
in this time together refresh and nurture us. Remind us of our calling to feed the hungers that surround us, to be good stewards of the gifts you have given us. And then prepare us to go out to live and serve as best we can with the resources we have.
We pray in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, who taught his friends to pray saying...

PRAYER FOR AND ASSURANCE OF GRACE

The needs of the world press in around us.

And like the disciples we are moved to send people off to fend for themselves

Jesus says: “Give them something to eat”

And we are surprised, wondering how we could ever do that for so many.

Jesus asks: “What do you have?”

And we look at our lists, sure that it isn't going to be enough.

God, when we are struggling to know how to respond to the hungers of the our world,

open our eyes to what is possible, help us know that what we have will be enough.

And when we are frozen or overwhelmed by the enormity of the task,

warm our hearts, thaw our souls, melt away our fears.

...time of silent prayer...

God, who calls us to respond to others needs, gives us tools and resources to use in that task. Through God's grace we are able to respond to the best of our ability.

Thanks be to God! Amen.

COMMISSIONING:
As worship closes we return to the mission field,
a field where many hunger for many things.
As we go out into the world the words of Jesus go with us:
“Give them something to eat. What do you have?”
And so we go, committed to do what we can.
Being good stewards of the gifts God has given us, being agents of love and justice in a world that sorely needs both.
As you go to live and serve, remember that you do not go alone.
We are not alone. We live in God's World. Thanks be to God. Amen.