SCROLL DOWN FOR JULY 31 AND AUGUST 7
Welcome to Hunger Sermon Starters!
The lessons for each Sunday in the church year proclaim God’s grace in Jesus Christ. Also derived from a Sunday’s texts are lessons for the Christ-inspired and Christ-like life of God’s people. The comments here will help you find hunger-related threads – sermon starters – among the themes of this day’s texts. (We're presuming you have already done your exegetical work on the texts.) God bless your proclamation (and teaching) of what is most certainly true!
July 31, 2011 (Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, Lectionary 18)
Complementary Series
Isaiah 55:1-5
This passage opens with the image of clean flowing water for all. This is a pretty bold statement for a world where 1.1 billion people in the world have no access to safe drinking water. While you may be picturing villagers in Africa without access to a well, this occurs in the United States as well. Read about those who struggle to find clean water in Appalachia (Story - http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Responding-to-the-World/ELCA-World-Hunger/Stories/By-Region/North-America/West-Virginia-s09.aspx). Water is not just essential for our physical existence but it is also necessary for our spiritual existence. As Christians we died with Christ in the waters of baptism to live a new life free from the bonds of sin. Since water holds such importance as the source of life we must work to ensure that all have access to clean water and, in turn, the life-giving water of Christ. To engage your congregation more with issues pertaining to water check out the Water Resources available here:http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Responding-to-the-World/ELCA-World-Hunger/Resources/Water-Resources.aspx. Encourage your members to help by donating to ELCA World Hunger to purchase water jugs, water pumps and cisterns. Or challenge your whole congregation to raise funds to purchase a community rainwater catchment system or a well that will bring water to an entire village.
Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21 (16)
Romans 9:1-5
Matthew 14:13-21
The feeding of the five thousand is a well known passage that has traditionally been interpreted as one of Jesus’ miracles. With only two fish and five loaves of bread a huge crowd was fed with 12 baskets of bread left over. But what if this passage is actually about the miracle of generosity rather than a miracle performed by Jesus? Imagine being a member in the crowd of the five thousand. Perhaps a lot of people in the crowd had their own personal meals that they had packed for themselves. No one would blame them for not wanting to share with anyone since they didn’t have enough for everyone. We all feel like those in the crowd of five thousand sometimes. We feel like our contributions aren’t making a big difference in the world. Hopelessness creeps into our thinking and immobilizes us.
Now imagine you are one in the crowd of thousands and you watch Jesus look to heaven, break bread and start passing it out with the clear intention to share with all. It’s inspiring to think that Jesus’ one act of generosity motivated all others with food to share with the rest of the crowd. With Jesus’ help our small contributions can combine with others’ to make a big change in the world. Jesus turns our concepts of self-preservation upside down and gives us a more global mind set. We might think that our small contribution won’t help in a big way but through the power of Christ all believers are called to be the change in the world. That’s the miracle of this passage. Visit this Web site to see ways that you can be the change: Water Resources - Donate - http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action/Responding-to-the-World/ELCA-World-Hunger/Donate-Now/ELCA-Good-Gifts.aspx.
Prayer of the Day
Glorious God, your generosity waters the world with goodness, and you cover creation with abundance. Awaken in us a hunger for the food that satisfies both body and spirit, and with this food fill all the starving world; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Prayers of intercession
Let your compassion guide the countries and leaders of the world, so that all may fun themselves free from abuse and fear and may live in your peace.
Guide this congregation and all congregations everywhere as visitors are welcomed and the hungry are fed.
Gracious God, give bread to those who hunger and hunger for justice to those who have bread.
Lord of all, let your waters of justice flow to all the corners of the world. Inspire us to work to ensure all have access to clean water.
Hymns
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Lord, whose love in humble service
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712
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We come to the hungry feast
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479
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You satisfy the hungry heart
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484
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Karen Ward
Intern, ELCA World Hunger
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Welcome to Hunger Sermon Starters!
The lessons for each Sunday in the church year proclaim God’s grace in Jesus Christ. Also derived from a Sunday’s texts are lessons for the Christ-inspired and Christ-like life of God’s people. The comments here will help you find hunger-related threads – sermon starters – among the themes of this day’s texts. (We're presuming you have already done your exegetical work on the texts.) God bless your proclamation (and teaching) of what is most certainly true!
1 Kings 19:9-18
Earlier in the chapter of this passage God sends and angel to feed Elijah (v. 5-8). God recognized that Elijah needed food to complete his journey safely. As believers and followers of Christ we too need to recognize the needs of others during times of war and struggle.
God was found not in the earthquake or great fire, things that cause fear and destruction. God was in the whisper, the subtle sound that brings Elijah comfort in his hour of fear and uncertainty. Sometimes it may seem that our small contributions don’t make a big difference in the world. Especially when confronted with great wars and conflicts, we wonder how much our contributions can do. But this passage reminds us that our efforts can be that whisper of hope and comfort to the millions around the world who are displaced and living with conflict.
Psalm 85:8-13 (8)
Verse 10 jumps out when read in light of God’s command to love our neighbors and serve those who are suffering. Love and faithfulness meet together. Both need to be connected and are strengthened by one another’s presence. When someone is strong in their belief in God and their love and passion to serve Christ, love for humanity grows. That love can take the form of serving those around the world suffering from disease, hunger and war. Also the reverse is true. When one shows love to their neighbors around the world their faithfulness and love of God overflows.
Righteousness and peace kiss each other. This is a tender image showing the correlation between God’s righteous people and the necessity to strive for peace and justice in the world. We cannot call ourselves God’s righteous people if we are not striving for peace in war-torn areas. Also righteousness can have room to flourish in a land that is free from violence and oppression.
Romans 10:5-15
Matthew 14:22-33
This passage also explores the fear that many who are caught in conflict go through on a daily basis. Peter is terrified as he sinks into the treacherous waters. But Jesus doesn’t hesitate. He pulls him right out to safety. Sometimes we are presented with hesitation when we are confronted with a situation where we know we should help. We are afraid to stumble or to embarrass ourselves. I always reminisce back to high school days when I would watch someone get picked on. I know I should have said something, but I was scared. Sometimes we are afraid that our efforts won’t make a difference. But if everyone thinks that nothing will ever be done. In this passage Jesus shows us that we can always rely on him to pull us out when we are sinking. We need to be that same rock to others who are scared and alone around the world. World Hunger supports millions in over 60 countries around the world. Those individuals rely on us to keep our promises and we can do that only when ELCA members don’t hesitate and commit to support.
Prayer of the Day
O God our defender, wars rage around the world that bring fear to all affected. Guide us to be defenders of those in peril and a light of hope for this war-torn world. Rescue your people from despair, deliver your children from fear, and preserve us in the faith of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Prayers of Intercession
Almighty Creator, your desire is for all humanity to live in peace. Give those in authority the ability to govern with care and justice.
God our rock, we are gracious for your unwavering love for us. Help us become a rock of strength to others suffering from disease, war and hunger.
Lord of Peace, please be with those who are fearful about where their next meal will come from. Let your soothing presence wash over them and give them peace.
Litany
L: In this season of vineyard labor, let us call to mind the prophet's vision: If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
C: Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. [Isaiah 58:9]
L: Let us pray. O God, you are the true bread that comes down from heaven and gives life; hear, now, the prayers of your people for the hungers of this world.
C: God, have mercy upon us.
L: We remember all who labor but go hungry to their rest; We remember those who cannot find work for their hands; We remember the children who go unfed, and we ask:
C: Lord, have mercy.
L: We remember all who hunger and thirst for justice; we remember the victims of oppression; we remember those who have placed their trust in you, and we ask:
C: Christ, have mercy.
L: We remember all who live upon the bread of affliction; we remember those whose tears are their food; we remember the homeless and the poor, and we ask:
C: Lord, have mercy.
L: As we remember the suffering and want of others, we acknowledge our own hunger and need.
C: When we are empty of hope, fill us; when we are worn from care, renew us; when we fail to love, forgive us.
L: Bring us to your table and feed us with bread for the journey. Strengthen us and gladden our hearts; that we might taste and see your goodness, that our lives might be as bread that is broken and wine that is poured, and that we might work in hope for the day when all are fed. This we ask in the name of Christ;
C: Amen.
Hymns
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Christ, be our light
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715
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Lord, whose love in humble service
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712
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When the pain of the world surrounds us
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704
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Karen Ward
Intern, ELCA World Hunger
