Exodus 16:1-18, John 6:51

Narrative Lectionary
Year 4, Week 5
Oct. 10, 2021

Exodus 16:1-18, John 6:51

Opening Prayer
Lord of all who wander through the desert:
Sometimes we trust you enough to follow you, but when this begins to feel hard, we start to think that perhaps we’re lost.  Then we begin to complain and our trust begins to falter.  Today, we come seeking bread of life that will enable us to trust that there is an eternal life…
even if it seems hard because we are unsure where we’re going,
even if it seems hard because we are unsure how to get there,
even if it seems hard because we’ve left behind seems more attractive than it actually was.
In times like this, remind us that you have provided all we need to sustain our lives and our souls.
In the name of the one who is the Bread of Life Come Down From Heaven
AMEN 

Prayer of Preparation
Lord Jesus, the Bread of Life Come Down From Heaven:
We desire now to eat of the bread that allows us to live forever, the bread that is your flesh, which you have given for the whole world.  Open our hearts to receive this gift that it will feed our souls.  We pray this to you in your name, Lord Jesus, AMEN.

Offering Prayer
We have seen the glory of the Lord like a cloud in the wilderness that is full of quails and a fine frost on the ground that fed the camp of Israel.  We have seen the glory of the Lord in five fishes and two loaves that fed 5000.  If miracles like this can happen, then it is possible that the gifts we bring today can, through your miracle, bring life to the community of this church, the county around us, and even the entire state, country, and world.  May it be so, Lord Jesus, that through the provision of your miracle, your church blesses many thousands more.  In your holy name, AMEN.

Intercessory Prayer
God who has appeared as fire and cloud in Sinai:
Even though we know you have freed us from sin through Jesus Christ, who is the bread of life, we sometimes have complaints just as those who were freed from slavery in Egypt.  We want to bring these complaints to you with the right attitude of asking for your mercy and not the wrong attitude of complaining as if life were better before we knew you.  So first we ask that you cause our hearts to have the right attitude.  And then we ask for these things because sometimes they are so difficult that we cannot continue to live abundantly with these complaints in our lives.  And so, we do not complain, but we ask your mercy for those who live with chronic disease, hospitalizations, need of surgical interventions, need of healing from illness, grief, mental health struggles, victimization, addiction, abuse, discrimination, persecution.  We ask that you would rain down upon the bread of life so that they will feel life anew.  We pray in the name of Christ with His prayer…Our Father… Amen. 

Benediction
Congregation:
Like the whole congregation of the children Israel
You have received the word of God today
Let this bread of life from heaven be with you always
Because it is:
Sent by God the Father
Seen in Jesus the Son
Shared through the Holy Spirit
AMEN