6:24 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were
there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum
looking for Jesus.
6:25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to
him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?"
6:26 Jesus answered them, "Very truly, I tell you, you are looking
for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of
the loaves.
6:27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that
endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it
is on him that God the Father has set his seal."
6:28 Then they said to him, "What must we do to perform the works of
God?"
6:29 Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe
in him whom he has sent."
6:30 So they said to him, "What sign are you going to give us then,
so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing?
6:31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is
written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"
6:32 Then Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, it was not
Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who
gives you the true bread from heaven.
6:33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and
gives life to the world."
6:34 They said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always."
6:35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to
me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be
thirsty.
Comments:
Even when they grumbled and complained, God provided food for the
Israelites. In today's gospel, when the disciples ask Jesus for an
impressive sign, he offers them himself, the bread of life to all who
truly hunger. This gift enables all believers to grow in Christ and to
become one with his mission in the world. Though our hunger will
always return, Christ is present to nourish us with his very life.
Many of the five thousand people Jesus fed in the wilderness continued
to follow him throughout the countryside. Jesus challenges them to
consider the real nature of their quest.
Five thousand people cross the Sea of Galilee to track down Jesus.
Finding him they ask, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" At first
hearing it sounds like the question of coincidence. We just happened
to be in the neighborhood and what a surprise, here you are as well.
So nice to see you, and by the way, we are hungry again. Jesus knows
they are looking for food. They ate their fill of fish and bread and
want more.
The question is a deeper one, though. Not only is it "When did you get
here?" but "Where did you come from?" Perhaps it is even more the
question of "Where are you going?" These are not the questions of
place but of meaning. Having one's fill of food is a good thing, but
the crowds want more than food this time. "Give us a sign," they ask.
As God gave bread to those wandering in the wilderness, so also this
God give you bread, which gives life to the world. "Give us this
bread," they ask. And Jesus responds, "I am the bread of life."
Daily in the Lord's Prayer we pray for this bread. "Give us today our
daily bread." And daily we are reminded that God gives us bread, even
without our asking. What is meant by daily bread? Everything that we
need for daily life, as Luther pointed out in his Small Catechism. In
face, the bread offered us by Christ is even good to eternal life.
What an invitation we are offered and what an invitation we have to
offer the world. "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will
never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."
Well, my friends, the brief Episcopal detour is passed and we are now
back on pretty much the same lectionary path (with a stray verse of
difference here and there), so it's good to be back together with you.
I want to remind you that the Celebration of New Ministry
(installation) service at my new church will be on October 1, 2003, at
7 p.m. and you are all invited. (Those who can, bring vestments and
join the procession!) The place is St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 317 E.
Liberty Street, Medina, OH.
Blessings, Eric in OH
Eric, Glad to hear you have a new spot to share your gifts with to
bring people to the Lord Jesus.
"Give us this bread always." We have this bread in the Eucharist. We
have the presence of Christ himself in the form of bread and wine.
What a great gift. And the reward "you will never be hungry, never be
thirsty." What great comfort there is the Eucharist! old priest in
Iowa
These folks are like us. They are like me. Too often I follow after
Jesus and seek the goodies - the blesings, the comfort, the peace -
the temporal bread. I even try at times to explain my selfishness away
to God as if God does not know my heart.
Jesus sees through the crowd and sees through me and calls us deeper
into faith. "I AM the bread!" he declares. Lord give me that bread
always.
Seeking a deeper hunger, Binny
Will some of you please give me more thoughts on "Rabbi, when did you
come here?" The first contributor, though unsigned, has piqued my
interest, I had not noticed the way that was phrased before. Thank
you, Toni
I am pondering a theme and I wonder what y'all would think about it.
Here is a bunch of people who have just been fed and are coming back
for more of these self-serving signs from Jesus. Yet Jesus' whole
point was that it was not about food for their stomachs, but genuine
relationship--literally taking the bread of life into themselves.
My question relates to the vast number of Christians that will flock
to high-profile events or worship with incredible entertainment value.
They get excited, they "get fed" with the gospel. They come away all
pumped up. Yet little changes in the long term.
In the realm of religious experience, how does one discern the
difference between being filled with the Bread of Life and just
filling up on bread?
Just wondering DWR
The people ask for signs. Does anyone know if this was common
question? Nancy-Wi
Wow! Already some thought-provoking contributions. I'm thinking of
going with the sermon title: "What fills you?" or something like that.
The answer, of course, should be Jesus. But I'm struggling with
bringing some depth to the answer. I know Jesus is the answer for the
hunger in my soul, but how to preach it with out sounding cliche and
trite. There is nothing trite about Jesus, but my words just can't
describe the depth of what I feel. Anyone else struggling with the
same thing?
By the way, congrats to Eric! Blessings on you as you begin a new
ministry.
Mel in NE
Toni
The first contributor plagiarizes from a publication called "Sundays
in Season"-that is why they never sign. I doubt they have anything to
add.
Pr.del in Ia
I think Jesus's exchange with the crowd is fascinating. Jesus tells
them that he knows they have come after him --not because they are
dazzled by the miracle of the loaves and fishes (signs)--but because
they are hungry again and need more food. (v. 26) He tells them they
should work for "eternal food" not the food "that perishes." They
don't question this; they believe he is the Son of God and they
understand the distinction between the perishable bread and the bread
of eternal life. But they ask how they can perform "the works of God."
Jesus replies that believing in him as the Son of God IS doing the
work of God. Believing is doing--the two are inseparable.
I like the disciples' question. "What must we do to perform the works
of God?" I interpret it this way: How do we perform miracles here on
earth? Remember how Jesus sets up the miracle of the loaves and
fishes? He asks the disciples "How are we to buy enough bread to feed
the people?" (Note the "WE." It has never occured to them that this is
their problem.) The crowd is now asking him the same question. We have
come full circle.
In my sermon last Sunday, I talked about the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.
This is an ecumenical effort that began on the Canadian Prairies. Here
in Quebec it works this way: The churches donate money for farmers to
rent extra fields from landowners. The farmers, friends, and
neighbours sow and harvest mostly corn and soya. Other farmers donate
combines and other equipment. The farmers sell the harvested crop and
buy lentils that are then shipped to Aghanistan.
Jesus set up the miracle of the loaves and fishes by asking, "How are
to buy enough bread to feed the crowd?" We may have few resources, but
all it takes is five barley loaves and two fish to lay the groundwork
for Christ to work a miracle. I think the followers wanted to know
exactly how they, too, could work miracles--to feed the hungry. This
week's passage give this answer. We must believe in the Son of God.
When we believe in Jesus we begin to see the world through the lens of
faith--Faith that sees potential miracles where others see only
dead-ends; like two meager loaves and two fish or an empty farmer's
field. Isn't it interesting that the crowd that knew what hunger was,
and the Canadaian farmers who know what it is like to struggle, are
the ones who are take it upon themselves to work a miracle in Christ's
name.
Sorry to go on so long. I'm a little anxious. This is my second week
in my two-point charge.
RC in Quebec
DWR asks, "In the realm of religious experience, how does one discern
the difference between being filled with the Bread of Life and just
filling up on bread?"
Very good question! In my new parish (where I have been ministering
since June 1, despite the fact that the bishop won't be here for an
official "installation" for another two months!) I am getting ready to
offer a spiritual-gifts-discernment course ... the purpose is to help
folks grow in their spiritual lives. I think that growth is the
evidence of being fed with "the bread of heaven" as opposed to just
being entertained by it. There would be, I think, obvious outward
signs of being stretched and challenged by spiritual growth, by
feeding on the Bread of Life, but they are probably different in every
person's life.
Blessings, Eric in OH
Eric, Congrats on the new ministry and the installation. I hope your
service is a empowering as my was last February. I'd long to come to
see your style, but alas, our congregation expects me to be present.
And, I imagine OH is a bit too far of a commute for me from Asheville,
NC.
Godspeed,
Steve in NC
sometimes we can tell we are being fed with/through the bread of life
through a look at our vocation and avocations. 15-20 years ago terry
hershey referred to call as where your joy meets the needs of the
world. (similar to buechners view). i look at some mid-age folks
willing to risk everything to change vocations because they are
starving a little more each day in the work place. it sure takes
christ as a partner to follow ones heart when ones head (and often
family) give reminders of groceries, rent, luxury, etc. that may be
sacrificed, at least for many years, in retraining. this feels like it
may be on the same track as eric's upcoming discernment process.
j in oh
Hello all, I've been reading your comments for some months now, but
have also been in the midst of a transatlantic move, so have not had
the energy to contribute. You have made me think and rejoice and you
have shared much that has helped my preaching. For that I give you
many thanks.
So, here I am in a new context, looking with fresh eyes at the Word.
The first Sunday of the month here is a family service, so I am
working on a children's sermon.
I'm playing with these concepts: The crowds (that is us) COME to Jesus
and get bread to feed their bodies. Then they / we COME TO in Jesus
presence, realizing there is something very special going on here.
Then they / we COME TO BELIEVE that Jesus is God coming to us with
hands outstretched, hungry for relationship with us, hungry to feed us
on the bread of eternal life.
This COME, COME TO, COME TO BELIEVE, bit is from 12 step recovery
rooms, where people are struggling to give up those things that they
cling to for sustenance that can't really feed them. rooms where
relationship with God is the thing that gradually takes place of the
object of addiction.
There is great crusty bread here, so I want to use a loaf as an
illustration and then maybe as the communion bread.
I have a ways to go in forming this into a children's sermon.
Blessings to all, Martha in Germany
First, congratulations Eric! A fresh new start is exciting. We can
really hear your enthusiasm.
I was to have this Sunday off as I'm leaving my call to do a year CPE
Residency. But, I recieved a request to preach this Sunday, so I'm
getting into this a little late.
I see so many things in this text it will be hard not to "shot-gun"
the text and try to cover too much. Certainly, the theme of bread is
clear. Obviously, last Sunday and this Sunday's text belong together.
A couple of the above comments certainly show some of the "humor" of
these events. And, for many mainline denominations,it will be easy to
connect this Gospel with the Eucharist. But, the word "whoever"
challenges us. It certainly makes one think that the universalism of
the Gospel is impeded by sin. There is a call to commitment. But,
there is also the grace and the promise that Jesus is the gift offered
for all. So, do we preach on World Hunger, a response to the gospel?
Do we preach simple grace that Jesus is bread and drink indeed. Or, do
we simply let the words of the text talk to people who sit in pews on
Sunday mornings hungry and thirsting to receive Jesus and all that
gift gives? Lynn in Omaha.
This is off topic but does anyone have any sort of liturgy for a "godspeed"
or "sending" service? A saint of the congregation has retired and is
moving across the country. Since we are a small church but a large
family, we would like to do something during our worship service -
praising God for this saint's ministry among us and sending him off to
this new adventure. burt
Gimme Bread, Gimme Bread, Gimme Bread. We are not much different that
the people who followed Jesus around the lake. They THINK they know
what it is that they want. They KNOW they are hungry. They ate the
bread and fish and now find themselves hungry again so are coming to
get more bread.
It reminds me of the saying that if you feed a "man" a fish he will be
hungry tomorrow, but if you teach him to fish he will be able to feed
himself for a life time.
They think they are hungry for food and indeed they are, but I agree
that their hunger is deeper than material bread, Jesus has something
much more life sustaining for them. With this Spiritual food they will
come to know a way of living with God and each other that will be much
more important than just bread on the table. In the book of Acts we
find that through their faith and new life together they learned to
share what they had with each other. They organized to take care of
the orphans and widows.
Spritual feeding is not just about "pie in the sky". True love for
God, true religion, guides us to pitch in and do our share, to share
what we have with others, to care for people in body and spirit!
When we encourage people in thier Spiritual Journey, when we help to
guide them to the places and ways in which they can be feed spritually
they often begin functioning at a more confident level. For example
when people are caught in the cycle of poverty, the first thing they
seek is to meet the basic need for that day. To eat, find a place to
sleep, pay the bill that will do them in if it is not paid. Their self
concept is zilch - it is hard to see the forest for the trees, there
are so many layers they are not sure what their real problem is. They
think they know, but often is is not what the root problem is. To keep
bailing them out financially will not do it. How do we as churches and
people move to a deeper level of ministry? do we have the patience to
walk with people for a longer period of time, get to know them? be
willing to say NO or to offer other guidance. Most of all are we able
and willing to share our faith stories with them so that they my find
the bread that really feeds?
just some thoughts. jmj in mt
burt - In the United Methodist Book of Worship on page 590 "The
chlurch is a family. Wunited by the common recognition of Jesus Christ
as our Savior, we are all brothers and sisters. And, for a time,(name
of congragation) is our home.
Like every human family, our church family is formed and reformed over
time: as members are born, as they die, as members are adopted iinto
our family, and as they leave our congregation for a new home, in a
different place.
For a time (name-s has/have) lived with us. We have shared with each
other good times and bad, we have shared each other's joys and
sorrows, we have lightened each other's heavy loads. Together we have
laughed and cried, together we have worshiped and praised God,
together we have lived. CONGREGATION: We feel sorrow in your leaving,
yet we rejoice with you in anticipatio of this new phase of your life.
We will lmiss your love and support, yet we know you will add much to
the lives of those who will beyour new church family, as you have
added much to our lives.
CONGREGATION AND PASTOR: We will pray for you and for the whold family
of God.
PASTOR: Let us pray: O God, you are the strength and the protector of
your people. We humbly place in your hands (name-s_ of this
congregation who (is/are) about to leave us.
Keep and preserve (him/her/them), O Lord, in all health and safety,
both of body and soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN
Go in the peace of Christ. Our prayers go with you. (ALL - AMEN)
I would enclude some stories of life together in the appropriate
places in the above liturgy by others and your self jmj in mt.
Dear jmj--good point. How do we address systemic injustice? It is one
thing to feed the crowd today--but what about next week and the week
after that...etc. Building on another contribution--how do we break
the cycle? I think (in answer to Lynn in Omaha)that it is only by the
gift of grace that we will have the strength, vision and courage to
offer more than band-aid solutions. And so, I think I will preach on
spiritual bread and the bread that feeds the body.
Dear "j in oh" -- could you say more about "where your joy meets the
needs of the world?" re: hershey and buechner. Where can I read more
about this?
r in quebec
Hey all, Good to read again as I was out of town last week taking my
daughter to the Mall of America. While in the area, I met with my ol'
campus pastor. We discussed many things. What stands out for me as I
approach this passage is that so many today are looking to have their
emotions filled. They need to "feel the spirit". The mear termonology
of the day speaks volumes about our need to "feel" joy. This passages
comforts me because I, and many I know, do not "feel" much joy day to
day. IT is hard seeing children suffer and "feeling" joyeous. It is
hard to watch the wars throughout the world and "feel" Joy. But when
we are fed with THE BREAD OF LIFE, we are FILLED with joy. It isn't
about a feeling, but a knowledge that Christ is ever present in all
circumstances. I don't have to "feel" good about my faith. I just have
to have faith in the giver of Life. I know I am rambling. But I am
really struggleing with this personally as my 13 year old son prefers
to attend the youth group at the Baptist church because they DO so
much. Our church, struggling finacially and without a full time
pastor, has minimal opporatunities for the youth. I am glad he is
going. But I want him to know a Faith that is beyond entertainment!...
Okay, the thoughts are jumbled..but that happens... More when I sort
it all out Tammy in Texas.
Hi all,
To Eric in OH - congratulations.
You mention you are doing a spiritual gifts discernment course. Off
topic for this text perhaps but. . . look into the gifts work by
Saddleback and Rich Warren. He checks a persons SHAPE - I forget
exactly what all the letters stand for - but their approach takes into
account the personality and experience of people as well as the data
other gifts classes look at.
Forgive the outside of the text comment.
Binny
Binny: Thanks for the recommendation -- Warren has produced some fine
stuff. However, we've already settled on Kenneth Haugk's "Discovering
God's Vision for Your Life." (Haugk is the founder of Stephen
Ministries.) It looks like a good approach.
Last week in the Episcopal Lectionary we had Paul's "gifts" passages
from Ephesians, so I began a "series" (not titled as such, but that's
my intent) on discernment of gifts.... So this week I am working to
tie the Bread discourse into that... (Our lessons this week are this
gospel, Eph. 4:17-25, and Exodus 16:2-4,9-15.)
Blessings, Eric in OH
Eric, you are up and at em early this morning. thought it was just I
who got up as the Dr.'s come to poke at my daughter. I can't go back
to sleep. Tell me about the Spiritual Gifts study stuff. Our church is
in MAJOR transision. Lots of bagage we are getting rid of by everyone.
In the process, what an opporatunity to challenge EVERYONE to find
their gifts and USE them. I would love some more info...I always enjoy
your thoughts. This is off track so if you would like to respond via
email..tjmort1964@yahoo.com
Tammy in Texas
Eric in OH,
I am a methodist minister in Texas ans I have been truly blessed by
you contribution over the past several years. I have contributed from
time to time as Mike in texas. I just changed parishes also this past
June and am looking to take some vacation time this Fall. I am
interested in attending your installation service. Could you possible
email me a little more about it. (like time, and possible give me a
little information about where we might stay(hotels) ect...) May God
continue to bless you where you are now
Grace, Mike in Dallas (now)!
It reminds me of the saying that if you feed a "man" a fish he will be
hungry tomorrow, but if you teach him to fish he will be able to feed
himself for a life time.
My concern is that I am very inexperienced in teaching how to fish
within themselves for the "Spirit", so that one can fish also for the
Spirit for a lifetime. FROG is a great concept but difficult for many
to put in to practice with out some spritual disciplines at the least,
daily prayer that is longer than blessing food. Wresling a bit.
nancy-Wi
Thanks all! This text sent me to re-research Maslow's heirarchy of
needs. Maslow looks like a good link to this story in my view.
RevUrbanFunk, CO
Nancy-Wi (or anyone else who knows),
Please, what does "FROG" stand for? I'm not familiar with that one...
Thanks!
Rick in Canada, eh?
Forever Relying On God = FROG
KyHoosierCat
The title of my sermon is "What's For Breakfast?"
Along the spritual bread/physical bread line: I think that we are
talking about the difference between charity and justice. Charity,
like a meal, meets the immediate needs of a given situation while
justice, like a skill, seeks to right the reasons that cause the need.
Our food shelf, which feeds hundreds each month, is a worthy and
important charity doing life saving work but the effort would be
meaningless if we did not address the reasons why so many families go
hungry each month. Jesus calls us to do both. One could rewrite verse
35 to read, "I am the reason for living. Whoever serves me will never
want for a purpose in life."
TB in MN
PS Blessings to you, Eric. It is good to know that we have a strong
brother in faith ministering to the good people of Ohio. You
strengthen our ministries by your presence and effort. I look forward
to hearing how your ministry will unfold.
PPS If I might share an answer to prayer: Two nights ago, at a
homeless shelter I help at, a long time resident came bursting in
waving a key over his head. "I got an apartment! I got an apartment!"
he yelled. After several months of hard work and saving, he pulled
together enough to get a small studio apartment. The shelter was full
of joy and we signed a few guys up for our work/savings program so
they could get an apartment someday too. It was a good night.
Thanks to all for your thoughts and contributions. I want to pass on
some other sources of help to me...just in case you are not aware of
them. Sermoncentral.com list allows searches by a number of fields
including scripture text. I often find great ideas there and
meaningful illustrations of the text. Since they are just posted
sermons....on occasion I have needed to check out stories and "facts"
and have sometimes been suprised. For example...around easter I came
across a sermon that mentioned that Lincolns body had been stolen and
the lengths his son went to make sure it stayed in the ground...my
"urban myth" antenaee (sp?) immediately came up. But....checked it out
and did happen. Lots of sermons on some texts...little on others. If
you follow the lectionary, the site is not divided by lectionary
readings and so one must look up the individual texts. I have found
lots of good rqw material here. This week a Fairchild sermon on the
gospel text has a great Japanese fable related to the text. Another
site I have found helpful is www.spirit-net.ca
Blessings on you all. Chaplain T at Fort B
several Gleanings for your consideration
Gimme Bread, Gimme Bread, Gimme Bread. We are not much different that
the people who followed Jesus around the lake. .They THINK they know
what it is that they want. They KNOW they are hungry They THINK they
know what will satisfy.
"Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not
satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul
will delight in the richest of fare"(ISAIAH 55:2).
Question: Interestingly Jesus was born - where? Answer: In Bethlehem,
which means the “house of bread”.
In his book entitled God’s Psychiatry, Charles Allen tells this story:
As World War II was drawing to a close, the Allied armies gathered up
many hungry orphans. They were placed in camps where they were
well-fed. Despite excellent care, they slept poorly. They seemed
nervous and afraid. Finally, a psychologist came up with the solution.
Each child was given a piece of bread to hold after he was put to bed.
This particular piece of bread was just to be held—not eaten. The
piece of bread produced wonderful results. The children went to bed
knowing instinctively they would have food to eat the next day. That
guarantee gave the children a restful and contented sleep.
Biblical commentator Ravi Zacharis writes: Jesus’ words were intended
to lift the listeners from their barren, food-dominated existence to
the recognition and acknowledgment of the supreme hunger of life that
can only be filled with a different bread. Food and power blind the
mind to the need for nourishment and strength of soul.
Russian sociologists have written recently that some of the
contributing failures of Soviet communism were widespread despair and
alcoholism among the Russian people. Replacing God with the state and
illusory hopes of a utopian worker’s paradise cannot ever satisfy the
human heart. Our delusion is different and yet the same basic
delusion. We fill are garages with more expensive cars, our mantels
with tokens of our success, and our houses with “things.” But none of
those things can ever give us an ounce of meaning or tranquility,
Chaplain B from Fort B
RC in Quebec,
God's blessings to you in your new charge. There are many blessings of
a two-point charge, and I pray you receive every one of them!
Michelle
jmj in mt, Thanks for the great UM service - we PC(USA) people just
don't have that kind of resource available - I guess that they think
that we are so creative and have so much time that pastor's can just
write something off the top of their heads. Barbara Bruce writes that
some people are creators and some are adaptors - I'm in the latter
category - so thanks again. Bert
Sisters and brothers,
Please help me! Does one of you know the title to the hymn with this
chorus: Bread of heaven! Bread of heaven! Feed me 'til I want no more!
Feed me 'til I want no more! Thank you for your help.
Oklahoma Irishman Ephesians 3:14-21
Blessings on your ministry, Eric in OH!
LA Johnson-2B
There are two hymns with those words: Fill My Cup Lord by Richard
Blanchard and Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah by William Williams et al.
Oklahoma Irishman-- The hymn you're referring to is "Fill My Cup,
Lord." It is in the UM hymnal #641. I didn't find it in the
Prsbyterian hymnal or the Lutheran Book of Worship, but it may be in
the Lutheran "With One Voice" The other LP in CO
Eric in OH:
Re:spiritual gifts - another resource to check out is "LifeKeys," by
Jane Kise, published by Bethany House. There is a companion
book/workbook for teens entitled "Find Your Fit." Online at:
www.lifekeys.com
I just got back from a youth leadership program which used "Fit" and
it was great - the kids got it. Both combine spiritual gifts with life
experiences, talents, and some summarized Myers Briggs typology.
LA Johnson 2B
Well,I guess I should have said that is one hymn that has very similar
lyrics to what you mentioned. Perhaps others know of a hymn that fits
more exactly what you were seeking. The other LP in CO
TB in MN Would you please send me some more info about your program in
the homeless shelter? It sounds like it has some merit for single moms
too. email is revncarmichael@yahoo.com many thanks. I am also looking
for any suggestion of a good stewardship drive, for a medium
congregation who hate them. If you have used one and found it helpful
please give size of congregation to the same email. Nancy-Wi
Bert:
Here's the "Farewell and Godspeed" from the Lutheran Book of
Occasional Services", published by Augsburg Fortress:
Minister: In Holy Baptism our Lord Jesus receive dyou and made you
members of his Church. When you came to/were baptized in this
congregaiton we rejoiced to receive you into our fellowship in the
Gospel. In this community of faith you have heard the proclamation of
God's Word which reveals his loving purpose for you and for all
creation. You have been nourished at Christ's holy table and called to
be witnesses to the Gospel. God has blessed you in this fellowship,
and he has blessed us through you.
We encourage you to continue to receive and share Gd's gifts in (name
of new congregation if known, or city) as workers with us in the
kingdom of God.
Let us pray. Eternal God, we thank you for (names) and for our life
together in this congregation and community. As they have been a
blessing to us, so now send them forth to be a blessing to others;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Congregation: Amen.
Oklahoma:
This might have got lost in my other (rather long, sorry) postings.
There are two hymns with those words: Fill My Cup Lord by Richard
Blanchard and Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah by William Williams et al.
CCLI makes a program called "Song Select" which grants you a license
to uswe many songs and has a search engine to find songs. It is good
and easy to use.
Austin in Albion, IN
Some things are right under our nose and we don't smell them!
A little manna to sweated our palate in the dry desert heat; a little
faith that Jesus calls the "bread of life" to help us on our journey;
a little community of faith so filled with promise and wonder that we
forget that it is of God and that the nature of our ministry is to
build up the manna, the bread of life, among us.
tom in ga
