Alternate texts liturgy w/communion for August 30, 2026 (Pentecost 14/Trinity 13/Proper 17/Ordinary 22 - A)

  Texts:  Jeremiah 15:15-21; Psalm 26:1-8; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28

Call to Worship

Even when we encounter folks who

are mean, dishonest, hateful,

we are called to respond with
that love which is true and sincere.

God calls us to love all people as if

they were our siblings,

for God seeks to weave us into one family,
tearing down all the barriers between us.

No matter how weary we become

from our loneliness, our struggles, our service,

God challenges us to be patient,
to rejoice, and to never stop praying.

Why should we do all things?

Because we are God's people,
called to lives which are different,
and which make a difference!

Prayer of the Day

God our Creator,

you are alive:

     in the singing of geese flying south,

     in the leaves gently stirring in the breeze,

     in the stars that dance at night.

Jesus, Brother to the poor,

you are in our midst:

     in the lap of a grandmother,

     in the cries of a newborn,

     in the stillness of dawn.

Spirit of God,

you make all our places holy:

     the classrooms where we fidget,

     the sidewalks where we meet neighbors,

     the grass in our backyards.

God in Community, Holy in One,

make us aware of your presence in every moment,

even as we pray as we are taught, saying,

(The Lord's Prayer)

Call to Reconciliation

If God is in every person we meet, what does that say about the harmful words we speak, the hurt we cause to others in our lives?  We are invited to bring our faults and foolishness, our brokenness and bitterness to our God, confessing such lives, so we might be made new.  Join me, as we pray together saying,

Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
     You know us, Watching God. You know who we are, people who find it easier to hold on to all we do that is wrong, rather that clinging to goodness. You know what we do, when we ignore the poor, or refuse to live at peace with others. You know why we do all these things, for we continue to set our minds on all those temptations which insinuate themselves into our lives.
   You do indeed know us all too well, Steadfast Love. Yet, you continue to be patient with us and forgiving towards us. Yet, you would embrace as we turn towards you in repentance, rather than washing your hands of us. Yet, you would continue to call us to follow Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, so we might find our life with you. Amen.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Grace

This is the good news for us, my friends.  God remembers us and forgives us, so we might live as people of love and hope.

We will sing our praises to the One who has made us whole.  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

Prayer of Dedication/Offering

May the gifts we offer, Loving God, feed those who are hungry, as you have fed us with your Word.  May these gifts give those who thirst for hope a cup which is overflowing.  May our gifts be used to welcome all those who are your children, our siblings in this life.  Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

May our God of goodness be with you.

And also with you.

Offer your hearts to God and rejoice in hope.

We bring them to the One who blesses us with love.

Join in singing thanksgivings to the One who calls us to this feast.

We praise our God who feeds us with peace.

Reaching into your imagination, God of wonder,

you wove that community we call creation:

     your steadfast love swimming in the waters,

     your joy teaching songs to the birds,

     your peace placing stars in the skies.

You made ready your guest room

for those shaped in your likeness,

     but we set our minds on sin's things,

     wanting to walk down the road to death.

You sent prophets to offer us your words

so that they might delight our hearts,

     but we would not even try a taste,

     preferring to party with hypocritical temptation.

You would not wash your sins of us,

but sent your Child into our world,

to be with us, to save us.

With all those who cling to goodness,

with those who long to live in harmony,

we sing aloud our thanksgivings:

Holy, holy, holy are you, God who knows us.
All creation rejoices in your hope.
Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who walks in integrity.
Hosanna in the highest!

In Jesus, you walked faithfully

toward us, God of holiness,

     so we might see your love

     wherever and whenever we looked.

In Jesus, you sat down with those

considered worthless in the world's eyes,

     so we might feast on your words

     of mercy and hope.

In Jesus, your reached out

     to pry us out of Wicked's hands,

     to break Ruthless's grip on us.

In Jesus, you showed us the cost

of delivering us, as he lost his life

so we might be saved by grace.

Because we want to follow Jesus,

because we want to be your people,

we would proclaim our faith:

Taking up his cross, Christ died for us;

overcoming death with life, you raised Christ from the grave;
Christ will come with the angels, to reveal your glory.

Pour out your Spirit upon

the gifts of the Table,

and on the people being woven

into your community in this place.

As we eat of the bread,

may we find that life of serving

     the poor, the hungry,

     the lost, the hopeless.

As we drink from the cup,

may we find the strength

to lose our selves

     in sharing your peace,

     in giving water to the thirsty,

     in becoming friends with the oppressed.

When this journey through life has ended,

and we gather in your house around your table

with those of every place, and of every time,

we will sing your praises forever,

God in Community, Holy in One.  Amen.

Sending

Take the love of God into the world.

We will be genuine in sharing this 

with everyone we meet.

Take the grace of Jesus into your communities.

We will share the joy of those who rejoice, 

we will mingle our tears with those who weep.

Share the Spirit's community with all this week.

We will welcome everyone, 

especially those who feel alone and afraid.

(c) Thom M. Shuman

Liturgy w/communion for August 23, 2026 (Pentecost 13/Trinity 12/Proper 16/Ordinary 21 - A)

  Texts: Exodus 1:8 – 2:10; Psalm 124; Romans 12:1-8; Matthew 16:13-20

Call to Worship

In a time of bitterness and pain,

God raised up Moses,

and changed the lives of a people.

From the shadow of death,

God raised up Jesus,

and changed the lives of all people.

In every time, and in every place,

God raises up witnesses,

people whose lives are changed forever.

Prayer of the Day

Like Miriam with Moses,

you watch over us,

Ever-seeing God.

You do not leave us

to drift on the currents

of the world.

you will not give us over

to the power of evil.

you have not left us alone,

but gifted us with your Body,

the church.

Christ of Compassion:

you could have used the wise,

but you work through the foolish.

you could have chosen

the most gifted talkers,

but you speak through children.

you could command us

to do anything you wish,

but you beg us

to open our lives

to God's Wisdom.

Helper Spirit:

when we are reluctant

to part with our treasures,

you fill us with generosity.

when we are hesitant

to help others,

you make us passionate to serve.

when we are lonely and afraid,

you surround us with loving

sisters and brothers.

God in Community, Holy in One,

hear us as we pray as we have been taught,

(The Lord’s Prayer)

Call to Reconciliation

We are so much like Peter.  Jesus tells us what it will take to follow him, and we want to argue.  Jesus shows us the way to the Kingdom, and we seek a smoother path.  Let us put down all that keeps us from following Jesus, as we confess our sins to God.

Unison Prayer for Forgiveness

   We confess our struggle to be transformed into disciples, God of mystery.  The desires of the world would shape us into people you would not recognize.  The demands of our society pull us away from your heart.  Our culture values the rich, the powerful, the successful, but you are on the side of the weak, the poor, the outcast, the oppressed.

   Forgive us, Merciful God, for looking for you in the wrong places.  Reawaken us with your voice that calls us to service; revive our weary hearts with your vision of creation; refresh our fatigued spirits that we might boldly proclaim Jesus as our Lord and as our Savior, and go forth to serve your people in Christ's name.  Amen.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Grace

It's too easy to think like the world, that money will give us happiness, that power will earn us grace.  But Paul reminds us that if we think like Christ, and live like servants, we will find true freedom.

Not only our minds, but our hearts and spirits will be transformed into the likeness of Christ, enabling us to be faithful disciples.  Thanks be to God.  Amen.

Prayer of Dedication

We will not proclaim our faith with our words only, but with our lives and these gifts we offer to you, O God, we pray that others might be transformed by your grace, your hope, and your peace.  Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

God watches over everyone, including you.

May God watch over you.

Let us open our hearts to the God of Miriam and Moses.

We lift our hearts to the God who changes all lives.

People of God, let us sing to the God of Jesus and Peter.

In this time and this place, we sing glad songs

to the One who is with us in every place, in every moment.

Chaos thought it more powerful

than you, God of the forgotten,

but you were on the side of all

that is beautiful, true, and gracious,

and so, through the water of your creation,

rivers thundered beneath mountains,

drenching soil with all which would bring forth

life in abundance, and hope overflowing.

Scooping up dust from earth’s floor,

you shaped us in your image and soul,

so we might live with you.

Death and temptation yearned for us

to follow them down foolish paths,

and we raced behind them.

Prophets came, to be midwives

of hope, of grace, of wonder to us,

but we turned our backs in anger

as they tried to bring us home to you.

We ignored Miriam and Moses,

forgot the songs of Hannah and Isaiah,

and so, you sent Jesus to us,

to throw open the gates

to the kingdom of your heart.

So, with those who long to remain faithful,

with those who proclaim who Jesus is,

our voices are joined as one in praise to you:

Holy, holy, holy are you, ever-watchful God.

Creation sings praises to you in every moment.

Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who never gives up on us.

Hosanna in the highest!

Your imagination mirrors your holiness, O God,

and your Word is made human in Jesus, our Brother.

He came to be on our side,

to show us paths of grace and hope.

You could have been judgmental,

but he came to share your compassion.

You could have been stingy with mercy,

but opened up your heart.

You could have left us in the grip of death,

but he walked into the grave,

sweeping it’s power away from us,

as he was raised to new life

by your love and hope.

So, come to be at his side

around this table of life and joy,

we sing of that mystery called faith:

Jesus died, taking our side against sin.

Jesus was raised, God taking his side against death.

Jesus will come, taking us home at his side.

If the Spirit were not with us,

this bread and the cup would mean nothing,

but you pour the Spirit out on our side,

so that we might be transformed by these gifts.

Filled with the bread broken for us,

the Spirit sends us out

so we might empty ourselves

for those forced into hunger and despair.

Handing us the cup of grace,

the Spirit nourishes us

so we might be at the side of the forgotten,

challenging all who would feed

your children on injustice and hopelessness.

And when the final moments come and

and all oppression, all evil, all cruelty

has gone the way of chaos at the beginning,

we will join our voices with our siblings

in forever singing your praises,

God in Community, Holy in One.  Amen.

Sending

We are called to do God’s work in our communities,

and so, we go out on God’s side to love others.

We are called to serve every person, in every place,

and so, we go to work at the side of Jesus in the world.

We are called to proclaim peace, and live it in our lives,

and so, we go to be on the Spirit’s side.

© Thom M. Shuman

Alternate texts liturgy w/communion for August 23, 2026 (Pentecost 13/Trinity 12/Proper 16/Ordinary 21 - A)

 Texts:  Isaiah 51:1-6; Psalm 138; Romans 12:1-8; Matthew 16:23-30

Call to Worship
Give thanks to God with all your hearts.
We will hold nothing back from our God.
Sing full-throated praises to our God.
We will join in the chorus of thanksgiving for God's abiding love.
Glorify God and that Word we know as Jesus Christ.
We will worship our God with wonder and joy. 

Prayer of the Day
There are days
when we proclaim you
   a pest,
constantly prodding us
to reach out to others.

There are days
when we say you are
   a fool,
to imagine we
might take up crosses
to follow you.

There are days
when we lament you
   as BrokenHeart,
as your world
grows more violent,
more hurtful,
more hateful.

So, this day,
let us start over
and simply say you are
   our Hope,
   our Peace,
   our Comfort,
   our Guide,
   our Joy,
our God in Community, Holy in One,
to whom we pray as we have been taught
(The Lord's Prayer)

Call to Reconciliation
We are so much like Peter.  Jesus tells us what it will take to follow him, and we want to argue.  Jesus shows us the way to the Kingdom and we look for another path.  Let us put down all that keeps us from following Jesus, as we confess our lives to God, praying,

Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
   We confess our struggle to be transformed into disciples, God of mystery.  The desires of the world would shape us into people you would not recognize.  The demands of our society pull us away from your heart.  Our culture values the rich, the powerful, the successful, but you are on the side of the weak, the poor, the outcast, and the oppressed.
   Forgive us, Merciful God, for looking for you in all the wrong places. Reawaken us with your voice that calls us to service; revive our weary hearts with your vision of creation; refresh our fatigued spirits that we might boldly proclaim Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and go forth to serve your people, in Christ's name.  Amen.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Grace
It is so easy to think like the world, that money will give us happiness, that power will earn us grace.  But Paul reminds us that if we think like Christ, and live for others, we will find true freedom.
Not only our minds, but may God transform our hearts and spirits into the likeness of Christ, so we may be faithful disciples.  Thanks be to God, we are forgiven!  Amen. 

Prayer of Dedication/Offering
We will not proclaim our faith with our words only, but with our lives and these gifts we offer to you, O God, we pray that others might be transformed by your grace, your hope, and your peace.  Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the Rock of our lives be with you.
And also with you.
I appeal to you to offer your hearts to God.
We lift them to the One who heals their brokenness.
Sing your songs of praise to our God.
We join in choruses of joy and wonder.

You came into the district of chaos,
Innovative God, calling forth
to creation and in the listening
     rivers flowed from the mouths of cisterns,
     coastlands watched for sunrises,
     wild animals looked up into night skies
       as stardust drifted down upon them.
You invited those made in your image
to participate in all this goodness and beauty,
     but we listened to the lies filling sin's mouth
     and chose to conform to those desires.
You sent prophets to teach your ways
     but we chose death's gifts:
     greed, cruelty, fear, and gossip.
You sent Jesus to us
to walk through our troubles
in order to bring us back to you.

With our hearts as well as our voices,
with our hopes as well as our worries,
we will sing our praises to you:

Holy, holy, holy are you, God of endless love.
All creation joins in praising you.
Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who comes to comfort us.
Hosanna in the highest! 

You are holy, Mighty God,
yet because you worry about the lowly,
your beloved Child came into our midst.
Into those places where lives are wasted,
     he came, to bring hope;
into those barren place that bleach our souls,
   he came, pouring the waters of life
   over us;
into the cold emptiness of death,
     he went, coming forth bearing
     the warmth and life of your
     resurrection promises.

As we would seek to know your will,
as we would consider his life as the model for ours,
we would tell everyone of that mystery called faith:

Christ died, a living sacrifice for all;
 Christ was raised, as you fulfilled your purpose for him;
 Christ will come, even as we wait. 

You reach out your hands to us,
Steadfast Love, offering us the
bread and the cup blessed with
your Spirit of life.
As we eat of the bread,
may we seek to bring healing
to all the broken places of our world:
     Kyiv,
     The Middle East,
     South Sudan
     and (local places may be named).
As we drink from the cup,
may we go to all the barren places,
     bringing water to the thirsty,
              food to the hungry,
              community for the lonely.

Then, when all that is finally wears out
and all our fears vanish like smoke,
your redemption will be as fresh
as it was on that first morning,
and we will gather around your Table,
God in Community, Holy in One,
praising you forever and ever.  Amen.

Sending
Go out as God's people,
willing to do God's work in the world.
Go out as Christ's disciples,
ready to serve wherever we have the chance.
Go out as the Spirit's hopes,
eager to proclaim peace to all. 

(c)  Thom M. Shuman

Liturgy w/communion for August 16, 2026 (Pentecost 12/Trinity 11/Proper 15/Ordinary 20 - A)

 Texts: Genesis 45:1-15; Psalm 133; Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32; Matthew 15:(10-20), 21-28

Call to Worship

Here we can come together,

people searching for healing and hope:

here we are met by the One

who would bless us with abundant life.

Here we are called to gather

as the family of God:

we may find those who are strangers,

yet are beloved siblings 0f ours.

Here we discover the truth that God

makes no distinctions among us:

here we are welcomed and embraced

by the One whose arms are open to all.

Prayer of the Day

When we are alone,

you make us known 

     to our siblings everywhere.

When we are lonely,

you whisper, 'come closer,'

     inviting us into your heart.

Great is your love for us, 

Welcoming God.

When we wander lost and afraid,

you take us by the hand,

     so we may settle in your kingdom.

When we hunger 

for the crumbs of hope

which the world offers to us,

you feed us with 

     the fullness of your joy.

Great is your grace for us,

Accepting Christ.

When those around us

make clear they want nothing

to do with us, ever, 

     you persist in being our friend.

When we stand on

despair's welfare line,

     you invite us to come

     to a sumptuous feast.

Great is your hope for us,

Embracing Spirit.

God in Community, Holy in One,

you weep openly as you welcome us

into your heart and your hopes,

even as we pray as Jesus teaches us,

(The Lord's Prayer)

Call to Reconciliation

Our words, our deeds, our lives build barriers between us and others, between us and God. But God would shatter every distinction, God would reshape us as new people. Let us come to the One who loves us, and longs to forgive us. Join me as we confess our sins together, saying,

Unison for Forgiveness

     We admit, Providing God, that we have difficulties living as your children. We could live in unity, but our words fracture relationships with family and friends. We have been shown the way to your kingdom, but turn into blind guides when asked for the directions by others. When we could offer others the precious oil of peace, we hand them the vinegar of despair and rejection.

     Have mercy on us, Healing Heart, have mercy on us. When you call to us, may we listen with open ears, understand with embracing hearts, and share your grace with others, even as we have been graced by Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Grace

Hear the good news for you: God has provided hope for you, filling you with joy, with mercy, with peace.

As mercy leads to mercy, we will take these gifts to share with the world. Thanks be to God.  Amen.

Prayer of Dedication/Offering

Just as we would not offer crumbs to the hungry, may we not offer just our pocket change, Holy One. May our gifts become grace, hope, justice, and love to all around us. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

The welcoming God be with you!

And also with you!

It is not crumbs, but the fullness of grace given to you at this table.

We open our hearts to receive God's goodness.

Like precious oil to anoint us, God pours hope and love into our lives.

How good it is to lift our praises to our God!

When chaos threatened to control,

you spoke out of your own mouth,

crying, 'let there be light!'

and creation burst forth,

     rivers flowing like precious oil

          through the valleys of love,

     peace singing to all creatures,

          whispering of the gift of unity.

Shaping us in the divine image,

you whispered to us, 'come closer,'

inviting us to live with you

in Eden's joy-dewed garden.

     Sin and death, however,

     dazzled us with their lies,

          so we followed these blind guides

          into a world scarce on hope.

You did not reject us,

but continued to call us

through the mouths of prophets;

you continued to gift us

with your faithful presence.

Your dreams would 

not be dismayed, 

as you sent Jesus,

your mercy to beget mercy

for all your children.

With those overlooked by the world,

with those who have sought you in every time,

we lift our songs of joy and praise:

Holy, holy, holy are you, God of this day of wonder.

All creation would live in unity with you.

Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who is sent to all people.

Hosanna in the highest!

Holy are you, Joy of Creation,

and blessed is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

When he could have turned

a blind eye toward us,

     he came that we might 

     be able to see our hope;

when he could have sent

us away from his side,

     he drew us closer 

     to your mercy and love;

when he could have been

dismayed by our foolishness,

     he went into death's embrace,

     providing salvation for us.

As we remember his words of teaching,

as we remember his hopes for us,

we speak of that mystery we call faith:

Christ died, sent before us to preserve our life;

Christ was raised, death's claim on him rejected;

Christ will come, ordaining life forevermore for all.

Here in this moment and place,

we pray you would pour out

your Spirit of peace and joy

upon the gifts of the bread and the cup

and upon your children 

who have gathered around the Table.

You do not give us crumbs,

but nourish us with compassion,

     so we might go to serve 

     a world hungering for healing.

You do not touch our lips

with only a few drops,

but offer us great gulps of grace,

     so we might offer peace

     to a fractured and frightened world.

And when the famine of our despair is ended

and you gather all your children around you,

to be fed at the feast of the Lamb,

we will sing our thanksgiving songs to you,

as the precious tears of joy run down our cheeks,

praising you through all eternity,

God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.

Sending

We came together to worship.

Now may we go to serve others

with God's grace and love.

We were called to this place

as members of God's family.

Now we head out to discover strangers

are but siblings of Jesus, like us.

We have been reminded that

there are no differences between any of us.

Now we journey with the Spirit

to welcome each person into

the embrace of hope and justice.

(c) Thom M. Shuman