Washed and Fed · Stop 6

How does worship wash, feed, and send us back into the world?

Two friends of Jesus walked home sad on the first Easter. A stranger joined them, explained the Scriptures, and broke bread. Then they knew it was Jesus, and they ran back to tell the others. Today you'll see how many worship services follow their path.

Start this stop

Sent

Many ELCA services follow four parts. Gathering: we come together, often remembering Baptism with confession and forgiveness. Word: we hear Scripture and the sermon. Meal: on many days, we share the Lord's Supper. Sending: we're blessed and sent out.

The two friends on the road to Emmaus lived the same four parts. Jesus met them, opened the Scriptures, broke the bread, and sent them running back to Jerusalem with good news.

Lutherans call God's word, Baptism, and the Lord's Supper the means of grace. They are the ways God promised to meet us. You don't have to go looking for God somewhere else. God comes to you right here.

Worship ends with words like “Go in peace. Serve the Lord.” You answer, “Thanks be to God.” Then worship keeps going: at school, at home, and wherever you're sent.

Read it in your Bible

Luke 24:28–35. At the end of a long walk, two disciples invite the stranger to stay. At supper he takes bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to them. They recognize Jesus, and he vanishes. They hurry back to Jerusalem to tell the others.
Isaiah 55:1. God calls out to everyone who is thirsty to come to the water. Even people with no money are invited to come, buy, and eat, free of charge.

The Morning Blessing, from Luther's Small Catechism

I thank Thee, my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Thy dear Son, that Thou hast kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray Thee to keep me this day also from sin and all evil, that all my doings and life may please Thee.

For into Thy hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Thy holy angel be with me, that the Wicked Foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Words to know

Emmaus. The village two disciples were walking to when the risen Jesus joined them. They knew him when he broke the bread. We still meet him the same way.
Gathering. The first of the four parts of ELCA worship, when we come together. Nobody worships alone. Even arriving together is part of it.
Liturgy. The pattern of words and actions in worship. It means “the work of the people.” Everyone has a part: singing, praying, saying Amen.
Sending. The last part of worship, when we're blessed and sent out to serve. Worship doesn't end at the door. It goes with you.
Sent. What every baptized, fed, and forgiven person is at the end of worship. God feeds you so you can feed others.