Gospel | Matthew 14:13-21 (with Nick Locke)

Opening Song:
Come to the Table by Ben Glover, Ben McDonald, Dave Frey

Lyrics:
We all start on the outside
The outside looking in
This is where grace begins
We were hungry we were thirsty
With nothing left to give
Oh the shape that we were in

Just when all hope seemed lost
Love opened the door for us

(He said) come to the table
Come join the sinners who have been redeemed
Take your place beside the Savior
Sit down and be set free
(Come to the table)

Come meet this motley crew of misfits
These liars and these thieves
There's no one unwelcome here
So that sin and shame that you've brought with you
You can leave it at the door
And let mercy draw you near

To the thief and to the doubter
To the hero and the coward
To the pris'ner and the soldier
To the young and to the older
All who hunger all who thirst
All the last and all the first
All the paupers and the princes
All who've failed you've been forgiven
All who dream and all who suffer
All who've loved and lost another
All the chained and all the free
All who follow all who lead
Anyone who's been let down
All the lost you have been found
All who've been labeled right or wrong
To ev'ryone who hears this song

Woah sit down and be set free
Come to the table
Come to the table
Just sit down and rest awhile
Just sit down and rest awhile
Come to the table

Passage:
13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Musical Reflection:
Jesus, Remember Me by Jacques Berthier

Reflection Notes:
“Jesus, Remember Me” is a tune from the French Taizé tradition; these simple songs are meant to be repeated indefinitely with added instrumentation or voice parts. They are meant to be meditative and allow for prayer.

Prayer:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.