The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

JESUS, LIVING BREAD, RENEWING OUR HUNGRY WORLD

Pentecost begins with a rush–the rushing, life-giving wind of God’s Spirit. We also remember that Sunday is  a day of rest. Rest is not meant to emphasize relaxation as much as it does renewal. The Church year season of Pentecost recognizes that God’s Spirit breathes into us life-giving re-creation. The readings for these months of Summer worship focus on who we are in Christ, what is the nature of faith, what is  the living out of this faith, what the life of following Jesus is all  about.  The Bread of Life, like the manna in the wilderness, and like the bread on the Lord’s table, declares how near and involved our God actually is in our daily lives.  Through Christ’s word and Spirit we have refreshment and renewal.

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

WE REMEMBER OUR BAPTISMS, CONFESS OUR FAITHLESSNESS, 

AND HEAR GOD’S FAITHFUL PROMISE OF FORGIVENESS

Pastor:  Blessed be the holy Trinity:

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

who forgives all our sin,

whose mercy endures forever.

People:  Amen. 

Pastor: God of all mercy and consolation,

come to the aid of your people,

turning us from sin

to live for you alone.

Give us the power of your Holy Spirit

that, attentive to your Word,

we may confess our sins,

receive your forgiveness,

bear with one another in love,

maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,

and grow into the fullness of your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord. 

People: Amen. 

Pastor: Let us confess our sin in the

presence of God and of one another.  Reconciling God,                                                                                    People: you seek peace and unity among us,                                                           but too often we choose walls of isolation.                                     You seek to be one with your creation,                                             but we turn away your loving Spirit.                                                  In your forgiving love,                                                                         break down the barriers we create,                                                    that we might see more clearly your love for us,                                         be reconciled with our neighbour,                                                      and trust more deeply your promise of eternal life.  Amen.

Pastor: We who once were far off

have been brought near to God

through the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,

and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

May our all-loving God through the Holy Spirit

grant you grace to forgive one another

as God in Christ has forgiven you.  

People: Amen.

HOLDEN EVENING PRAYER

[click on the link below]

Listen through the Magnificat.  It ends at 10:40

PRAYER OF THE DAY        

Ever-loving God, your Son gives himself as living bread for the life of the world.  Fill us with such a knowledge of his presence that we may be strengthened and sustained by his risen life to serve you continually, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Amen. 

First Reading

1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14

Then David slept with his ancestors, and was buried in the city of David. The time that David reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned for seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David; and his kingdom was firmly established. 

Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David; only, he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places. The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt-offerings on that altar. At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, ‘Ask what I should give you.’ And Solomon said, ‘You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart towards you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?’ 

It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, ‘Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honour all your life; no other king shall compare with you. If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.’ 

Second Reading                                                                                              Ephesians 5:15-20                                                                                                        

Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil. So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Gospel Reading                                                                                                John 6:51-58                                                                                                                       

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.’ 

The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live for ever.’ 

SERMON

[click on the link below]

HYMN OF THE DAY

“By Your Hand You Feed Your People”

[click on the link below]

By your hand you feed your people,

food of angels, heaven’s bread.

For these gifts we did not labor,

by your grace have we been fed:

Refrain:

Christ’s own body, blessed and broken,

cup o’erflowing, life outpoured,

given as a living token

of your world redeemed, restored.

In this meal we taste your sweetness,

bread for hunger, wine of peace.

Holy word and holy wisdom

satisfy our deepest needs.

Refrain:

Christ’s own body, blessed and broken,

cup o’erflowing, life outpoured,

given as a living token

of your world redeemed, restored.

Send us now with faith and courage

to the hungry, lost, bereaved.

In our living and our dying,

we become what we receive:

Refrain:

Christ’s own body, blessed and broken,

cup o’erflowing, life outpoured,

given as a living token

of your world redeemed, restored.

TODAY IN OUR PRAYERS

Bill, Carol, Curtis, and Christine Buchkowsky, Teri Peterson and baby Maverick Gallant, Wayne Turner, Janet Gregory, Marge McMillan, Kyrie Parimi, John Beaven, Doris Turner, Hilda Anderson, Linda Wolfe, Naomi, Bev Gregory, Dale Robinson, Bryan Matschke, Audrey Hedlin, Liz Sand, Robin Stamm and baby Constantine, Mona Neher, Carl Rausch, Joanne, Bill, and Jocelyn Adams, Oma Ywo, the family of Lyle Sand, the family of Marguerite Sanders (Don Sander’s sister), the family of Norm Gregory, the family of Sophie Kobrynsky (Paul Slusar’s sister), the family of Mary Anderson (Evelyn Robson’s mother), the family of Steve Slusar (Paul Slusar’s brother), the family of Joel Zimmerman.

We remember the missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada, the 215 children buried at the Kamloops residential school, the 751 unmarked graves on Cowessess First Nation, the 182 unmarked graves at the Cranbrook residential school, the more than 160 unmarked graves at Kuper (Penelakut) Island Residential School, and all those who have suffered the trauma of residential schools, the people of Syria, Iraq, Iran, Ukraine, Sudan, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Venezuela, Somalia, Libya, Hong Kong, the Palestinians and Israelis, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Belarus, Tunisia, the Rohingya Muslim refugees and the ethnic Karen of Myanmar, all at the Mexico/United States border seeking refuge, the people of Haiti suffering from natural and political disasters, all those in the path of tropical storm Fred, those in the Western United States and Canada, Greece, Turkey and Italy suffering from heatwave, draught, and wildfires and those in Lytton devastated by wildfire, the people in Germany, Belgium, Italy, western Europe, Turkey, China, and Bangladesh at risk from floods, those in the United States, Canada, and throughout the world caught up in racism and injustice and the resulting violence, and those throughout the world, in Canada, in our province, and in our community still threatened by the coronavirus.

Petitioner:  God of hope, we remember the 215 children buried at the Kamloops residential school, the 751 unmarked graves on Cowessess First Nation, the 182 unmarked graves at the Cranbrook residential school, the more than 160 unmarked graves at Kuper (Penelakut) Island Residential School, and all First Nations, Metis, and Inuit people who desire peace, wholeness, dignity, and justice but experience conflict, abuse, injustice, loss, and grief.  Send your Creator Spirit of comfort and hope in the midst of fear, anxiety, and sorrow.  Be with all who feel despised and vulnerable and live daily with harm and injustice.  Help us to face the truth with repentance and work for reconciliation with grace.  Come, Holy Spirit… Hear us, O God of life…

HOLDEN EVENING PRAYER

[click on the link below]

Begin listening at 10:40, The Prayers

CLOSING HYMN

“As We Gather at Your Table”

[click on the link below]

As we gather at your table,

as we listen to your word,

help us know, O God, your presence;

let our hearts and minds be stirred.

Nourish us with sacred story

till we claim it as our own;

teach us through this holy banquet

how to make Love’s victory known.

Turn our worship into witness

in the sacrament of life;

send us forth to love and serve you,

bringing peace where there is strife.

Give us, Christ, your great compassion

to forgive as you forgave;

may we still behold your image

in the world you died to save.

Gracious Spirit, help us summon

other guests to share that feast

where triumphant Love will welcome

those who had been last and least.

There no more will envy blind us

nor will pride our peace destroy,

as we join with saints and angels

to repeat the sounding joy.

DISMISSAL

Pastor:  Go in peace, renewed with Christ’s Spirit to love and to serve.

People: Thanks be to God.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Because COVID cases as well as the distribution of vaccinations continues throughout Saskatoon and the province, King of Glory’s Church Council at its June meeting unanimously passed a motion that we hold in-person worship services—following the provincial protocols recommended—on the first and third Sundays in July and August at our regular time 6:30 p.m.  All Sunday  services through August will be on-line and posted on our website.  Of course, should there be any significant changes with regard to the pandemic situation the Church Council will revisit the issue.

COMING UP AT KOG   

Sunday, August 15, King of Glory in person Worship service, 6:30 p.m.

Sunday,August 15, King of Glory Annual General Meeting after the service.

Sunday, August 22, King of Glory online Worship service.

Sunday, August 29, King of Glory online Worship service.

June, July, and Year-to-Date Budget and Contribution Report for KOG

2021 Budget:  $49,536       Monthly Budget:  $4,180.50     Weekly Budget:  $964.73

2021income/expenses: $1,753.09

May income/expenses: $3,111.76

Contributions from July 4 through July 18: $1,690

Pastor Michael and Renita will be on holidays from Sunday, August 22 through Wednesday, September 1.  Pastor Ali Tote from Resurrection Lutheran Church will  be on call for any pastoral emergencies.  

Phone: 306-242-4042 (church office)  306-371-7742 (cell)

Offerings.  

Even though we are not meeting together we still have expenses and need your offerings so that we can pay them.  Church Council has decided that best way to receive your offerings is that you mail a cheque (Please no cash for mail security reasons) to the church and we can process them from there.

Send your contributions to:  King of Glory Lutheran Church

    3318 Merritt Street

    Saskatoon, SK  S7M 3P6

Thank you for your generosity.

King of Glory is once again supporting On Eagle’s Wings and their Summer Bible Camps in the North with monies for supplies for the program. A collection basket for free will offerings to buy supplies will be on the back table. We will gather all monies during the in person worship services on July 4 and 18 and August 1 and 15. So far $1010 has been contributed.  Thank you for your generosity.

The website  for all seven ELCIC congregations in Saskatoon is now up and the address is https://saskatoonelcic.com/   It will be used now mainly for sharing information during the pandemic and posting services from the various churches.

Co-Treasurer position for King of Glory 

King of Glory is looking for a co-treasurer primarily responsible for documenting and filling out the forms for the province, the Canada Revenue Agency and the ELCiC.  They will work with Pat Sarich whose primary responsibility is oversight of the budget and the bookkeeping with respect of receipts and expenditures.  Please contact Pastor Michael about this position.

Checklist and Guidelines for Re-opening Worship Services

[For August 15]

Disinfect/sanitize worship space and entrance etc before the service

One person preps worship materials [pastor]

Six feet distancing  recommended

No sharing of pencils, pens, etc.

No serving of food or beverages

Try not to use the washrooms

Open doors and windows if possible

Use/wear face masks, but you may sing quietly recommended

Hand sanitizer available

No physical contact (e.g. sharing of the peace, no passing of offering plate)

Communion procedure: distribution in a way that maintains physical distancing

Disinfect/sanitize worship space and entrance etc after the service