August 2, 2026
TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
wORSHIP ON THE LAWN
A Service of Prayer, of Song, of Celebration,
and, of Worshiping Out in Nature.
Lead Minister: The Rev. Jope Langejans
Music Director: Cody Obst
Minister Emeritus: Rev. Gerry Scharff
Honorary Associate Ministers: Rev. Clint Mooney & Rev. Kelley Warner
Licensed Lay Worship Leaders: Fiona Hayes
Chair of Council: Vacant
Reader: Don Branter
Worship Leader: Fiona Hayes LLWL
Special Music: Christopher MacRae (tenor)
Gathering
(*Indicates that you may stand if you are able…)
PRELUDE
WELCOMING / ANNOUNCEMENTS / INTRODUCTIONS
*HYMN: VU #291 All Things Bright and Beautiful
Land Acknowledgement
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: We are called to live gently on earth. It belongs to God.
All: The earth and all that is here.
Leader: In the heat of summer
All: We seek refreshment and gentle breezes.
Leader: In an indifferent world
All: We long to connect to you and others.
Leader: In the midst of uncertainty
All: We hunger for generosity and a shared humanity.
Leader: In a season of beauty and abundance
All: We are thankful and willing to share.
Leader: In this moment of reflection and prayer
All: We seek your presence, God our Maker.
OPENING PRAYER
SPECIAL MUSIC Christopher MacRae
MEDITATION ON GOD’S LOVE
(based on a meditation by David Sparks, Rossland, BC)
Leader: God’s love, you can’t define it.
All: God’s love, you can’t explain it.
Leader: God’s love, you can’t limit it or confine it to a book or faith or person.
All: There is evidence of God’s love all around us in the natural world.
Leader: There is evidence of love as we live our daily lives, as we follow the way of Jesus.
In silence, let us take a moment to open ourselves to God’s love and confess whatever keeps us from experiencing and sharing that love.
Assurance of Pardon
HYMN: VU #376 Spirit of the Living God
Engaging
(Reader: Don Branter)
PSALM 145: 8-9, 14-20
(You give enough to satisfy the needs of all)
GOSPEL READING: Matthew 14: 13-21
(Feeding 5000 people)
MESSAGE A Call to Sharing and Generosity
Responding
*OFFERTORY HYMN: VU #541 Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow
PRAYER of DEDICATION
SPECIAL MUSIC: Christopher MacRae
PRAYER FOR GOD’S GUIDANCE
(adapted from a prayer of the Chinook people, posted by Sanjiv Manifest)
With prayer response: Teach us and show us the way.
PRAYERS of INTERCESSION
The Lord’s Prayer VU # 959
Blessing
*HYMN: Lord of all Hopefulness (Tune Slane VU 642)
1 Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy,
whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy:
Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,
your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.
2 Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,
whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe:
Be there at our labors, and give us, we pray,
your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.
3 Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,
your hands swift to welcome, your arms to embrace:
Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,
your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.
4 Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,
whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm:
Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,
your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.
COMMISSIONING
SPECIAL MUSIC: Christopher MacRae
BLESSING
POSTLUDE MUSIC