Worship and Devotions

Tenth Sunday After Pentecost

August 2, 2026

Welcome visitors and old friends. Welcome regardless of belief, ethnic background, sexual orientation, gender, socio-economic status, marital status, age, abilities, or life situation. Welcome believers and doubters as well as doubting believers. Welcome to share the fullness of Christ's love for the world!(Adapted from The welcome message from the Thomas Community in Finland. "Celebrating milestone moments" by Rev. Jukka Joensuu. Canada Lutheran January/February 2024 Vol. 39 No. 1; chorus of ELW 523)

In today’s first reading God invites all who are hungry or thirsty to receive food and drink without cost. Jesus feeds the hungry multitude and reveals the abundance of God. At the eucharistic table we remember all who are hungry or poor in our world today. As we share the bread of life, we are sent forth to give ourselves away as bread for the hungry.

Music

Praise The One Who Breaks The Darkness

Praise The One Who Breaks The Darkness - Elw 843

Prayer

Glorious God, your generosity waters the world with goodness, and you cover creation with abundance. Awaken in us a hunger for the food that satisfies both body and spirit, and with this food fill all the starving world; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Amen.

Music

What Wondrous Love Is This

What Wondrous Love Is This - Fernando Ortega

Readings

Semi-continuous Readings

Genesis 32:22-31; Psalm 17:1-7, 15; Romans 9:1-5

Gospel - Matthew 14:13-21

Alternate First Two Readings

Isaiah 55:1-5; Psalm 145: 8-9, 14-21

Isaiah 55:1-5

God invites Israel to a great feast at which both food and drink are free. God also promises to make an everlasting covenant with all peoples, with promises that previously had been limited to Israel. As David was a witness to the nations, these nations shall now acknowledge the ways in which God has glorified Israel.

¹ Hear, everyone who thirsts; come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. ² Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your earnings for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. ³ Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. ⁴ See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. ⁵ Now you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Romans 9:1-5

This begins a new section in Paul’s letter in which he will deal with the place of Israel in God’s saving plan. He opens by highlighting how Israel’s heritage and legacy include being God’s children, having God’s covenants, being given God’s law, participating in worship of God, and receiving divine promises.

¹ I am speaking the truth in Christ — I am not lying; my conscience confirms it by the Holy Spirit — ² I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. ³ For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my own brothers and sisters, my own flesh and blood. ⁴ They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises; ⁵ to them belong the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, comes the Christ, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.

The Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Music

Ten Thousand Reasons Bless The Lord, O My Soul

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) - Matt Redman (Best Worship Song Ever) (with Lyrics)

Gospel - Matthew 14:13-21

Glory to you, O Lord.

After John the Baptist is murdered, Jesus desires a time of solitude. Still, his compassion for others will not allow him to dismiss those who need him, and he is moved to perform one of his greatest miracles.

¹³ Now when Jesus heard [about the beheading of John the Baptist,] he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. ¹⁴ When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. ¹⁵ When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” ¹⁷ They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” ¹⁸ And he said, “Bring them here to me.” ¹⁹ Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. ²⁰ And all ate and were filled, and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. ²¹ And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

The Gospel of Our Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Music

Break Thou The Bread Of Life

Break Thou the Bread of Life

Prayers of Intercession

With bold trust in God’s unfailing provision, we pray for the church, those in need, and all of God’s creation.

A brief silence.

For your wondrous creation and all the bounty it provides, that your creatures are fed and nourished. Bless the work of farmers, farmworkers, those who fish, and all whose labour brings your abundance to our tables. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

For all who cry out with great sorrow and unceasing anguish, that they are comforted. Feed all who struggle with food insecurity; have mercy on all who are suffering in body, mind, and spirit. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

For this congregation, that it bears faithful witness to the abundance and joy of life in you. Bless all your faithful people gathered here, that they may become blessings for this community. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

With thanksgiving for the faithful who now rest in your mercy, that their witness continues to inspire the church. By their example, may we trust your promises in life and in death. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Receive our prayers and answer, O God, as you have promised. All this we ask in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Music

The Church Of Christ In Every Age