Calendar

Order of Worship

Prelude

“My Jesus, I Love Thee,” arr. Martha Mier

*Call to Worship

(The congregation responds aloud with the bold text)

Anyone who thirsts, come and drink!
If you have no money but you’re hungry, come and receive wine and milk without price.

Why do you spend money on what does not nourish you?
Why do you work for what does not nurture you?

Listen, come and eat healthy food that will delight you.
Come and partake in the Spirit that will give you life.
Come, let us worship God!

*Hymn #509, “All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly”

1. All who hunger, gather gladly;
holy manna is our bread.
Come from wilderness and wandering.
Here, in truth, we will be fed.
You that yearn for days of fullness,
all around us is our food.
Taste and see the grace eternal.
Taste and see that God is good.

2. All who hunger, never strangers,
seeker, be a welcome guest.
Come from restlessness and roaming.
Here, in joy, we keep the feast.
We that once were lost and scattered
in communion’s love have stood.
Taste and see the grace eternal.
Taste and see that God is good.

3. All who hunger, sing together;
Jesus Christ is living bread.
Come from loneliness and longing.
Here, in peace, we have been led.
Blest are those who from this table
live their days in gratitude.
Taste and see the grace eternal.
Taste and see that God is good.

Prayer of Adoration

Call to Confession

Prayer of Confession

God of justice and mercy, we admit that we are not always free of deceit. We are fooled by false promises of the world into pursuing things that do not truly nourish us. Hear our cry and save us, dear God, in Jesus’ name.

Silent prayer of confession.

Assurance of pardon

Here is good news for everyone:
God is gracious, merciful, abounding in steadfast love, and extends forgiveness and grace. We do not have to earn it. It is a free gift from a generous God.
Thanks be to God!

*Response of Praise: Hymn #582, “Glory to God, Whose Goodness Shines on Me”

1. Glory to God, whose goodness shines on me,
and to the Son, whose grace has pardoned me,
and to the Spirit, whose love has set me free.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen.

2. World without end, without end. Amen.
World without end, without end. Amen.
World without end, without end. Amen.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. Amen.

Life in Community

Thank you for joining us for worship! Explore the calendar of events and recent announcements to take another step into our life together this week. If you’re joining us for the first time or would like to learn more about Catonsville Presbyterian, you’re welcome to share your email with us. We’ll send some information that will help you get connected.

Children’s Message

Prayer for Illumination

Providing God, by your Holy Spirit feed us with your word
that we might be filled with the bread of life. Amen.

Scripture: Matthew 14:13-21

Now when Jesus heard this, 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. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. 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.” Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 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. And all ate and were filled, and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Sermon

“Bless, Break, Give,” Kenneth E. Kovacs

Call to Offering

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Offertory

“There is a Balm in Gilead,” Trad. African American spiritual

*Doxology #607, “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow”

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Christ, all people here below;
Praise Holy Spirit evermore;
Praise Triune God, whom we adore. Amen.

*Prayer of Dedication

Loving and generous God, you provide for us and even bless us in more ways than we can number. We give these tithes and offerings to tell of your wondrous and steadfast love so that those who do not yet know you may also come to know your love. Amen.

Hymn #498: “Loaves Were Broken, Words Were Spoken”

1. Loaves were broken, words were spoken
by the Galilean shore.
Jesus, Bread of Life from heaven,
was their food forevermore.
By your body broken for us,
by your wine of life outpoured,
Jesus, feed again your people.
Be our Host, our Life, our Lord.

2. Loaves were broken, words were spoken
in a quiet room one night.
In the bread and wine you gave them,
Christ, you came as Light from Light.
By your body broken for us,
by your wine of life outpoured,
Jesus, feed again your people.
Be our Host, our Life, our Lord.

3. Loaves are broken, words are spoken,
as in faith we gather here.
Jesus speaks across the ages:
“I am with you; do not fear!”
By your body broken for us,
by your wine of life outpoured,
Jesus, feed again your people.
Be our Host, our Life, our Lord.

4. By the loaves you break and give us,
send us in your name to share
bread for which the millions hunger,
words that tell your love and care.
By your body broken for us,
by your wine of life outpoured,
Jesus, feed again your people.
Be our Host, our Life, our Lord.

Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper

Invitation to the Table

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving and the Lord’s Prayer

God is here.
God’s Spirit is with us.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

We give thanks to you, creating God,
breath of all being;
the earth is yours and all that is in it,
and all who dwell therein.
You founded it upon the seas
and made it firm upon the deep.
You planted seeds in fertile ground,
to rise and sing your praise.
Glory to you forever.

You formed us from the earth
and planted goodness in our souls,
that we might love like you.
You called us to live your law of harmony
and to long for your commands.
Yet when our disordered cravings bowed down upon our spirit,
you did not leave us low,
but bent down to meet us and grow us up again.

Therefore, we lift our voices in thanksgiving,
for you have wondrously made us.
By water and your life-giving Spirit,
you have more wondrously remade us
to join the song of all creation
and forever sing your praise:

[Sung]

1. Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the Highest.

2. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest,
hosanna in the highest.

[Spoken] We give you thanks, O God,
that you sowed your word in Jesus,
to grow your kingdom here on earth
and draw us ever near.

Jesus planted mercy wherever he went
to reap a greater righteousness.
He shared bread with outcasts and sinners
and healed the brokenhearted.
Glory to you forever.

Pour out your Spirit upon these gifts
and all your people here today.
Breathe your Spirit over all creation
that together we may cultivate peace
in every corner of the world.

Then bring us to that blessed mountain
where with the meek and pure in heart
we will live forever in blessedness
as we taste the fruits of heaven.
Glory to you forever.

Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ,
by the inspiration of your Life-giving Spirit,
we worship you, Creating God,
and offer the prayer,
ancient yet ever-new:

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 debts, as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom and the power
and the glory, forever. Amen.

Communion of God’s People

Prayer of Gratitude

Gracious God, how can we thank you for such a gift?
For you have met us, fed us, drawn us to you, and bound us to one another. Now send us out to share your love and proclaim our hope
until that day when you make all things new. Amen.

Passing of the Peace

Hymn #539: “We Will Go Out with Joy”

1. Leader: We will go out with joy in the Spirit;
we will go out with God.
All: We will go out with joy in the Spirit;
we will go out with God.

Refrain:
Alleluia! We will go out with joy.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

2. Leader: Now anyone who’s born of the Spirit,
sing a new song of joy.
All: Now anyone who’s born of the Spirit,
sing a new song of joy. (Refrain)

3. Leader: We will go out with joy in the Spirit;
we will go out with God.
All: We will go out with joy in the Spirit;
we will go out with God. (Refrain)

*Benediction

Postlude

“Down to the River/Shall We Gather at the River?” Setting by Pepper Choplin

Participants

• Dorothy L. Boulton, Associate Pastor
• John Dittman, Ruling Elder, liturgist
• Keith and Kathy Glennan, Ruling Elders, video production
• Wendy Johnston, Organist and Assistant Director of Music
• Greg Knauf, Director of Music
• Susan Krehbiel, vocalist
• Kenneth E. Kovacs, Pastor
• Vickie Lord, Social media support
• Dottie Marshall, Sanctuary set up

Sources

• Kimberly Bracken Long, ed., Feasting on the Word: Liturgies for Year A, Vol. 2 (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2014).
• Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2013).
• Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from One License with license #A-734388; CCLI Copyright License B 20481088 + Streaming License B 481071