ST. LUKE'S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

AUGUST 2, 2026                                                                                                  

TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

SILENT MEDITATION: 

“Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

–Philippians 2:4

GATHERING MUSIC

GREETING

PRELUDE “Holy Manna”                                      

aka “God, Who Stretched the Spangled Heavens”    

Lyrics:  Catherine Cameron          Music:  Williams Moore

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN No. 73 “O Worship the King”                                                                      

LYONS

O worship the King, all glorious above, O gratefully sing God's power and God's love;

our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days, pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

O tell of God's might, O sing of God's grace, whose robe is the light, whose canopy space,

whose chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form, and dark is God's path on the wings of the storm.

The earth with its store of wonders untold, Almighty, thy power hath founded of old;

hath stablished it fast by a changeless decree, and round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea.

Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite? It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;

it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail, in thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail;

thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end, our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.

CALL TO WORSHIP 

One:  Let us bend our knees in worship before God, the Creator. 

All:     We seek to experience the presence of God with us. 

One:  Let us stand in awe of the wonder-working power of God. 

All:     We seek to experience the power of God which is at work among us. 

One:  Let us give thanks to the Lord who provides so abundantly! 

All:    We offer God adoration in our worship and in our compassion toward one another. 

CALL TO CONFESSION

PRAYER OF CONFESSION (Unison)

God of All Living, we can easily become the center of our own universe. We think about what we need rather than what others may need. We seek to hold onto the blessings that come our way rather than having a generous heart for sharing them. Forgive us and nurture within us a spirit of compassion that seeks to serve others and to share what we may have. Restore our sense of responsibility to those whose needs we would rather not notice. Bless and empower the community that is emerges out of our shared vulnerability. Amen

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

GLORIA PATRI       

Glory be to the Father and to the Son       
and to the Holy Ghost;                                 

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,                                 

world without end. Amen. Amen.

MOMENTS WITH MINNIE    

PASTORAL PRAYER and THE LORD’S PRAYER          

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins as we forgive those
who sin against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.  Amen.

SPECIAL MUSIC “Amazing Grace”                              

Traditional American Melody

                                                                                                                                                      
SCRIPTURE Matthew 14:13-21

SERMON “With the Smell of Fish on Your Hands”

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN “Where Is Bread?”

ABBOT’S LEIGH

"Where is bread?" the great crowd murmured —Thousands strong, yet all in need.
"Where is bread?" your people wondered, Faced with such a crowd to feed.
Who, Lord Jesus, could have guessed it? One small boy brought food to share.
Taking what he gave, you blessed it; All were fed, with much to spare.

Where is bread? We know their yearning; Every day, we wish for more.
God, in time, we're slowly learning: All we own can make us poor.
Our possessions can possess us, Leaving hunger deep inside.
Christ our Bread, come now and bless us; At your feast, we're satisfied.

"Where is bread?" the call is rising; Millions cry who must be fed.
God, your answer seems surprising: "You, my Church, you give them bread."
Bread to fill each hungry spirit, Bread for hungry stomachs, too!
Give us bread and help us share it. Richly blest, may we serve you.

STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION
CALL TO STEWARDSHIP  
THE BEAUTY OF SHARED GIFTS “In the Breaking of the Bread”                                       

Bob Hurd

CELEBRATING STEWARDSHIP — DOXOLOGY                                                                     

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;                                        

Praise God, all creatures here below;                                             

Praise God above, ye heavenly host:                                      

Creator, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION (In Unison)                                                           

God of Abundance, receive the offering we bring, small or great. Bless it by your Spirit that it may be multiplied beyond our wildest imaginations. We trust these gifts and our lives into your hands, for the greatest good and the fullest blessing of all your children. Amen  

SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

The Invitation

Affirmation and Renewal of Faith Statement of Faith of the United Church of Canada

We believe in God:

Who has created and is creating,

Who has come in Jesus,

The Word made flesh,

To reconcile and make new,

Who works in us and others by the Spirit.
 

We trust in God.
 

We are called to be the Church:

To celebrate God’s presence,

To love and serve others,

To seek justice and resist evil,

To proclaim Jesus,

Crucified and risen,

Our judge and our hope.
 

In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us.
 

We are not alone. Thanks be to God.

Words of Institution 

Sharing the Sacrament

Prayer of Thanksgiving (Unison)

Blessed God, we give you thanks and praise for you have nourished us with the broken bread and the poured cup. Your grace and mercy have restored us to fellowship with you and into community with one another. Across the space that divides us, unite us as your people, standing in the solidarity of our shared struggles and in the assurance of your abundance and grace. Amen

CONGREGATIONAL HYMN No. 664 “Sent Forth by God’s Blessing”                                   

THE ASH GROVE
 

Sent forth by God’s blessing, our true faith confessing, the people of God from this dwelling take leave.

The service is ended, O now be extended the fruits of our worship in all who believe.

The see of the teaching, receptive souls reaching, shall blossom in action for God and for all.

God’s grace did invite us, and love shall unite us to work for God’s kingdom and answer the call.

With praise and thanksgiving to God ever living, the tasks of our everyday life we will face.

Our faith ever sharing, in love ever caring, embracing God’s children of each tribe and race.

With your grace you feed us, with your light now lead us; unite us as one in this life that we share.

Then may all the living with praise and thanksgiving give honor to Christ and that name which we bear.

BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE “Glory Land”                                                         

Lani Smith

The Liturgist is Mel Sehrt.  
Thank you to Annie Bennett for accompanying the hymns today.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

CELEBRATION OF STEWARDSHIP
A Celebration of Stewardship is being planned for Sunday, August 23rd. We have a lot to celebrate in regard to Stewardship! We will celebrate the abundance of God’s goodness to our congregation, we will offer appreciation of our members and friends, whose generosity and loyally not only paid for the replacement of a new HVAV system for the sanctuary, but finished the fiscal year in the black and with a general fund surplus! The celebration will ignite a passion for and commitment to the demands of our future ministry.

 As Walt Disney said, “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible!” Be planning on taking part in what is sure to be a joyous celebration in the life of our congregation on August 23rd.
A lunch will be served after worship in the Fellowship Hall.

CHURCH UBER ACCOUNT
St. Luke's has a church Uber account that has been established for individuals who are unable to drive to and from church. If you would like more information on the program notify the church office.

SHARING TABLE
Take time on Sundays, or anytime during normal office hours, to SHOP at the sharing table. There are Bibles and some old hymnals available if you would like to take one or even more.