All Who Hunger, Gather Gladly- 419

All who hunger, gather gladly;

holy manna is our bread.

Come from wilderness and wand’ring.

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.

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.

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.

Scripture Reading Sunday, March 6, 2016 Monica DePoy

Our Hebrew Lesson comes from Joshua 5:9-12

The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of

Egypt.” And so that place is called Gilgal to this day.

While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the evening

on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. On the day after the

passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes

and parched grain. The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the

land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of

Canaan that year.

Our Gospel Lesson comes from Luke 15:11b-32

Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said

to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’

So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son

gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his

property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took

place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired

himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to

feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs

were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he

said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but

here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to

him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer

worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ So he set

off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and

was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.

Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I

am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves,

‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his

finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat

and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and

is found!’ And they began to celebrate.

“Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the

house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what

was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the

fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry

and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he

answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave

for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given

me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this

son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you

killed the fatted calf for him!’ Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always

with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice,

because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has

been found.’”

THE WORD OF GOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD!

Here at Thy Table, Lord- 384

Here at thy table, Lord, this sacred hour,

O let us feel thee near, in loving power;

calling our thoughts away from self and sin.

As to thy banquet hall we enter in.

Sit at the feast, dear Lord, break thou the bread;

fill thou the cup that brings life to the dead;

that we may find in thee, pardon and peace;

and from all bondage win a full release.

Come then, O holy Christ, feed us, we pray;

touch with thy pierced hand each common day;

making this earthly life full of thy grace,

till in the home of heaven we find our place.

What Wondrous Love Is This- 200

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,

what wondrous love is this, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss

to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,

to bear the dreadful curse for my soul!

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,

when I was sinking down, sinking down;

when I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown,

Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul,

Christ laid aside his crown for my soul!

To God and to the Lam I will sing, I will sing,

to God and to the Lamb I will sing!

To God and to the Lam, who is the great “I AM”,

while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,

while millions join the theme, I will sing!

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,

and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on!

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be,

and through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,

and through eternity I’ll sing on!

Holy Ground- 112

We are standing on holy ground,

and I know that there are angels all around;

let us praise Jesus now,

we are standing in his presence

on holy ground.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness - 86

Great is thy faithfulness,

O God my Father,

there is no shadow of turning with thee;

thou changest not,

thy compassions, they fail not;

as thou hast been thou forever wilt be.

Great is thy faithfulness!

Great is thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

all I have needed thy hand hath provided-

Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter,

and spring-time and harvest,

sun, moon, and stars

in their courses above,

join with all nature in manifold witness

to thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Great is thy faithfulness!

Great is thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

all I have needed thy hand hath provided-

Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Pardon for sin

and a peace that endureth,

thy own dear presences

to cheer and to guide;

strength for today

and bright hope for tomorrow,

blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is thy faithfulness!

Great is thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

all I have needed thy hand hath provided-

Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy- 73

There’s a wideness in God’s mercy

like the wideness of the sea;

there’s a kindness in God’s justice,

which is more than liberty.

There is welcome for the sinner,

and more graces for the good!

There is mercy with the Savior;

there is healing in his blood.

For the love of God is broader

than the measure of our mind;

and the heart of the Eternal

is most wonderfully kind.

If our love were but more simple,

we should rest upon God’s word;

and our lives would be illumined

by the presence of our Lord.