FEED THE WORLD | Healing Hands Worship Series, week 5
July 29, 2018

(BOW=United Methodist Book of Worship)

PLANNING FOR THIS WEEK’S SERVICE

This is the last week in this series. The feeding of the five thousand as read from John drives home the fact that Jesus truly feeds the world, physically and spiritually. This week, we invite you to consider celebrating the end of the series with a community meal. Organize it in the way that your community does best, perhaps catered by the church or potluck style. Advertise it throughout the four weeks leading up to this last one, and be sure to invite your community — whatever that means to you!

This season, we will be giving worship pieces in this space rather than an order of worship. This is to allow churches to use these resources in the order of worship that their context is used to. We suggest that you consider including a ritual action each week in worship that connects to the Scripture and allows your congregation to embody their response to the Word.

Week 1 - Service of Healing (BOW 615). If you are welcoming a new pastor today, consider including a Service for the Celebration of an Appointment (BOW 595).

Week 2 - Blessing of Hands

Week 3 - Reaffirmation of the Baptismal Covenant (BOW 111)

Week 4 - Movement Hymn (see Music Notes)

Week 5 - Communion or gathering for a meal immediately following worship.

Worship pieces that you may consider for this week:

CALL TO PRAISE AND PRAYER

One: We are your people! Lord, what are you calling us to do to feed the world?
Many: Our world needs God’s healing touch and restoration. Wherever our journey goes, God is with us. Yes, we are seeking God’s healing touch and hope. We are being sent forth to live your will!

One: Today, we are asking God to send us into this world two by two to witness holy boldness. With these hands and feet, God is healing hearts, transforming lives, renewing souls, raising us from death, and granting this new day!
Many: Yes, we are seeking God’s healing touch! You are known as the one who draws crowds and feeds the hungry around the world!

One: What is our call today? We will worship an awesome God who sends forth healing to a dark world.
All: Let us worship God this day as new life comes forth in the name of Jesus Christ!

We recommend a community meal this week, perhaps a dinner on the ground. The response flows out of the worship service.

NRSV texts, artwork and Revised Common Lectionary Prayers for this service are available at the Vanderbilt Divinity Library.
Leccionario en Español, Leccionario Común Revisado: Consulta Sobre Textos Comunes.
Lectionnaire en français, Le Lectionnaire Œcuménique Révisé

Calendar Notes

The color from now until All Saints Day or All Saints Sunday (November 1 or 4) is green. Consider using different shades or patterns of green throughout the coming months, if you have means available to do so. On All Saints, the color is white or gold.