August 9 – Tenth after Pentecost

August 9 – Tenth after Pentecost

 

Lectionary

Lectionary readings from Vanderbilt Divinity Library online

(http://divinity.library.vanderbilt.edu/lectionary/BPentecost/bProper14.htm)

 

2 Samuel 18:5–9, 15, 31–33

David’s son Absalom dies.

Psalm 130 (VU pgs. 852–853)

Out of the depths I cry to God.

Ephesians 4:25–5:2

Do not let the sun go down on your anger.

John 6:35, 41–51

I am the bread of life.

Spark

As people gather for worship, have someone kneading dough at the front of the sanctuary. As worship begins, have another person ask, “What are you doing?” Response: “I’m baking bread. Did you know that Jesus is the bread of life?”

With Children

Do you know what an argument is? Have you ever had an argument with your sisters or brothers or friends? I remember an argument I got into… (share briefly). Why do you think we argue? What do you think God wants for us when we are arguing? God is happy when we find a way to sort things out and become friends again.

End with a prayer:
Help me, God, to treat my family and friends as you would like me to treat them. Amen.

Sermon Starter

How many times do we have disagreements with people we associate with on a daily basis? In the Ephesians reading, we are encouraged to make amends for any disagreements with family, friends, and neighbours before the end of the day. We are told not to let the sun go down on our anger, to seek and extend forgiveness.

Knowing that it takes a lot of courage to do this, how do we handle situations that require resolution and forgiveness? Then we read in John that Jesus is the Bread of Life. We are encouraged to consider how these two readings show us the way we should live on our life’s journey. These two passages give us much food for thought.

 


Hymns

Hebrew Scripture

VU 607            “O Jesus, think on me”

VU 614            “In suffering love”

MV 66             “Senzeni na?”

Psalm

VU 611            “Out of the depths”

MV 143           “We cannot own the sunlit sky”

Epistle

VU 505            “As a chalice cast of gold”

VU 506            “Take my life and let it be”

MV 31             “Pure love”

MV 154           “Deep in our hearts”

Gospel

VU 356            “Seek ye first”

VU 461            “Bread of the world”

MV 194           “Bread of life, feed my soul”

MV 197           “Bread of life, broken and shared”