Call to Worship

Leader: Hear our prayers, O Lord. Listen to us when we call out to You.

People: You are our Deliverer. In our times of need, You will draw near and provide for us.

Leader: We hunger for Your Word. We thirst for Your Spirit.

People: Come to us and satisfy the longing of our hearts. Fill us with the good things that only You are able to give.

Prayer of Confession

God of compassion, You provide for all our needs. But sometimes we hesitate to see to the needs of those around us. We know that millions of people hunger in the world, but as we look at the canned goods in our cupboards, we assume there is little we can do. We realize there are people in our communities who are dying of loneliness, but as we glance at our busy calendars, we figure there is no time for us to address that problem. We are aware of families in our neighborhoods who do not know You as Lord and Savior, but as we look within ourselves, we figure that we are not qualified to do anything about it. The problems in our world seem so large, and the resources at our disposal seem so meager. Forgive us for our lack of faith. Forgive us for not trusting You to work wonders. For with You, nothing is impossible. Amen.

Pastoral Prayer

Almighty God, we live in a world with such pressing needs. Around the globe we see people afflicted with disease, disasters, and droughts. Throughout our nation we witness people suffering from mud slides, muggings, and murders. And in our own lives, we are aware of trials, temptations, and terrors. In the midst of all that, You tell us to care for those around us. You command us to take what we have and to offer it to others. But as we look at the resources we have, so often we end up concluding that it’s impossible. We feel inadequate. We feel weak. We feel powerless to have any real effect.

But just as Jesus took those few pieces of bread and fish there on that hillside and fed the multitude, lead us to trust that Jesus will do the same with us. Grant us a renewed confidence that Jesus will take the crumbs of faith that we have and that he will multiply those crumbs into loaves that will satisfy those who are hurting. Take what we have, O God, and make it grow, so that the deep longings of those around us might be quenched. Use us, O Lord, and enlarge our horizons, so that we might turn no one away. Take away our doubts, and renew our faith. May all the world come to know that You are the Bread of Life. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication

God of majesty, as we consider all the needs in the world around us, the gifts we bring appear to be so small. But as we place them now into Your hands, multiply them and make them grow. Enlarge them in ways that go beyond our wildest expectations. Cause them to grow so that all the world might see the wonders of Your love. Amen.