Texts: Isaiah 58:1-12; Psalm 112:1-10; 1st Corinthians 2:1-16; Matthew 5:13-20
Call to Worship:
L: To a society that lives in the shadowed recesses of doubt and fear,
P: God calls us to be light.
L: To a world where every appetite is fed until there is not taste to life,
P: God calls us to be salt.
L: To a time when loyalties are discarded as easily as the clothes we wear,
P: God calls us to be faithful.
Prayer of the Day
Creator of the Day,
you rise before dawn
to make breakfast for the poor,
to water our parched hearts
with the joy of grace,
and to patch the potholes
poverty has made
in the streets of the kingdom.
You proclaim
the mysteries of grace,
Voice of Fulfillment,
not with fancy words
but in weakness,
which gives strength
to the weary;
in compassion,
which offers the guest room
of your heart
to the homeless;
in love,
as you take off your coat,
and place it around the shoulders
of a shivering child.
You speak softly,
Revealer of Wonders,
using the alphabet blocks
of grace and hope,
so all can know
the hidden heart of God;
so all may know the words
to proclaim the Light
who has come into the world.
God in Community, Holy in One,
hear us as we pray as faithful children,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
It is so simple - make a sandwich for the hungry,
open our ears to the crying child, and change unjust
laws. These are how we are called to worship God.
Let us confess how we have not answered this call,
as we pray saying,
Unison Prayer of Confession
We admit, Holy One, how in superstition, we will
throw salt over our shoulders, but find it hard to
flavor a world made bland by the ordinary. We dim
our gifts to save our energy, instead of shining as
long as we can in society's shadowed corners. We
skip a meal once a week to show our faith, but are
unable to see those who go through the dumpster
to feed their children.
Forgive us, and have mercy, Creation's Goodness.
By your grace, heal our brokenness, so we might fix
the shattered dreams of our world. With your hope,
strengthen our hearts, so we might fill the emptiness
of our society. This we ask in the wonderful name
of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is observed
Assurance of Pardon
L: God has heard our prayers and comes to us to sweeten
our bitterness with hope - to shatter our darkness with
the light of mercy.
P: We will share this good news without being ordered to do so.
We will praise God's name because we want to! Thanks be
to God! Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: May the Lord of the Feast be with you!
P: And also with you!
L: You are God's salt here on earth.
P: We offer our hearts to God, so they may be spiced
with mercy, justice, and love.
L: You are God's light in this time.
P: We show the world the brokenness in its midst,
so that all creation might be healed!
You would not let emptiness remain constant,
God of wisdom and wonder,
but brought forth creation,
flavoring the seas with your salty tears,
lightening the shadows of chaos
so the universe could find the way
as it unfolded from your imagination.
you shaped us in your image hoping
that, in faith, we would fast with you
on justice, peace, reconciliation, joy.
But when sin laid out is feast,
we ran, pushing and shoving to the table,
to gorge ourselves on tempting entrees,
to be stuffed by deadening desserts.
Prophets came, reminding us of our stubbornness,
but we only practiced righteousness,
never getting past the first act.
So you sent Jesus to us,
to show us the fast you choose.
So, we join our voices with those
who call out to you in every age,
singing of your hopes for us:
P: Holy, holy, holy are you, God who holds our hearts.
All creation proclaims that mystery decreed before the ages.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the coming One, who is taught by the Spirit.
Hosanna in the highest!
You are the holiness of our lives, Loving God,
and Jesus Christ is your Light for all.
The bright morning star of creation,
he would not remain hidden,
but came to light the way for us.
The one who hung the stars in the heavens,
he comes to loosen the knots
tied tightly around the hearts of the oppressed.
The one who received every gift from you,
empties the closets filled with grace and hope,
sharing them with sisters and brothers everywhere.
The one who holds us in his heart,
opens his hands in surrender on the cross,
so that death's clenched fist will release us,
so our healing will spring up to embrace us.
Was we remember how his light shone on all,
as we celebrate his spirit which enhances our lives,
we speak of that mystery of faith:
P: Christ died, to fulfill the law and the prophets;
Christ rose, to give glory to God;
Christ will come, to illumine the way to the kingdom
Pour out your Spirit
upon the gifts of the bread and the cup,
prepared for those who love you.
As we unclench our fists
to receive your brokenness,
we would open our hearts in love
to those burdened by hopelessness,
we would feed all who hunger.
As we are welcomed at your Table,
and nourished by the cup of live,
we would add a room onto our homes,
to shelter a homeless family,
we would share from our abundance
to rebuild the shattered lives of the poor.
And when the yoke of time has been removed,
and we gather at the feast prepared for us in glory,
our songs of thanksgiving will be like springs of water,
which will flow for all eternity into your heart,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
© 2011 Thom M. Shuman
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time/Epiphany 4 - A
Texts: Micah 6:1-8; Psalm 15; 1st Corinthians 1:18-31; Matthew 5:1-12
Call to Worship
One: We are blessed when we hunger for justice and thirst for reconciliation.
All: Our souls are nourished by God's hope and grace.
One: We are blessed when we grieve over the brokenness of the world,
All: choosing, as God does, to be with those who are weak and powerless.
One: We are blessed when we become God's fools,
All: willing to do what is right and good, not what is easy.
Prayer of the Day
The hills sing your hopes,
and the valleys echo your dreams,
Holy God, of a world
where we catch sight of you
in the innocent hearts of children;
where we listen to the wisdom
of souls willing to be weak;
where we find the home we long for
in your heart's brokenness.
Teacher of our hearts,
when we are generous to the poor,
your kingdom of justice is built;
when we love kindness
more than we do power,
we are heirs of creation's grace;
when we walk hand-in-hand
with the humble-hearted,
we are in step with you;
when we share a picnic of hope and joy
with the forgotten of the world,
we follow you up the hill of faithfulness.
Wisdom of Weakness,
when our differences with one another
become stumbling blocks to life together,
you come
with your hopeful foolishness
so your children
might be at peace,
and a blessing of life
to a world in need of healing.
God in Community, Holy in One,
hear us as we pray as Jesus has taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
Called to be weak,
we idolize the powerful;
called to be foolish,
we hunger for the world's wisdom;
called to be poor in spirit,
we thirst for more and more.
Let us confess to God how following Jesus is oftenb a stumbling block for us.
Unison Prayer of Confession
How do we approach you, Exalted God, with our confessions? We make
you weary with our inability to do justice for the poor and outcast.
We gossip about those who are close to us, instead of being their
loving friend. We make promises, and then go back on our word.
Forgive us, God of Hope, and bless us with your mercy. By your
peace, we can do justice. By your love, we can act kindly. By your
grace, we can walk with you as humbly, and hopefully, as did our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
One: It is through foolishness that God makes us wise;
it is through weakness that God strengthens us to serve;
it is through forgiveness that God makes us whole.
All: We cannot boast in what we have done, but only in the grace
and joy of our God, who showers us with mercy. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
One: May the God of foolishness be with you!
All: And also with you!
One: Blessed of our God, offer your hearts to the One who has brought us into the kingdom.
All: We lift our spirits to God, who has chosen us, weak as we are.
One: Children of God, sing songs of justice, of peace, of kindness to our God.
All: We offer our praises to they One who fills us with grace and hope.
Blessed is all creation, God on high,
for you brought it out of chaos,
setting free all that is beautiful and good.
The hills heard you singing in the morning,
calves and lambs danced in the meadows,
drinking deeply from the rivers of life.
You invited us to live in your love,
building us a home on your holy hill.
But we chose the power of sin,
believing that death was wiser than you.
You sent the prophets, men and women,
to reveal to us what is good
but we continued to do injustice,
to love bitterness and cruelty,
to parade arrogantly before you.
So, you sent Jesus, the source of life.
With those who are blessed because they trust your future,
and with those who are foolish enough to believe your promises,
we offer our songs of thanksgiving:
All: Holy, holy, holy, God who walks in our midst.
All creation hungers and thirsts for you,
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the Poor One of your heart, who brings the kingdom to us.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, God of weakness,
for yours is the kingdom given to us.
And blessed is Jesus Christ,
who would not be moved from doing your will.
When he could have danced with the angels,
he came and sat down among us,
to teach us how to walk with you.
Blameless in your eyes and in your heart,
he humbly walked among us,
so we could find the kingdom's streets.
Sharing the gift of your peace
to those of us who fight with one another,
he embraces us as sisters and brother.
With tears flowing down his face at our brokenness,
he wraps us in your shawl of hope.
Truly pure in heart, he took on our sins,
so we might discover the freedom you offer to us.
Persecuted for our sake,
he endured all kinds of evil
brought against him by sin and death,
trusting that your weakness
is stronger than their feared power.
As we celebrate your wisdom in Christ,
as we remember his death and resurrection,
we speak of that mystery we call faith:
All: Christ died, foolish in the eyes of the world;
Christ rose, the despised One defeating death and sin;
Christ will come, for ours is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the gifts of this Table,
and the Spirit which fills them with your life,
and who is poured into those
who gather in your holy place.
When the bread is broken and we eat of it,
we will see the poor in spirit,
and open our hearts to receive
the blessing of the kingdom
in which they already dwell.
When we drink from the cup
and our thirst for righteousness is filled,
we, too, will mourn that your vision
of peace, of hope, of mercy for
all your children has not been realized,
and we will join in seeking
to be taught justice by the marginalized,
to follow the example of kindness modeled by children,
to learn the steps of the dance of humility from the weak of our world.
And when our final blessing comes at the end of time
and we are gathered together on your holy hill
to live with our sisters and brothers through eternity,
we will sing our praises to you,
God in Community, Holy in One,
for we will have inherited all your blessings. Amen.
(c) 2011 Thom M. Shuman
Call to Worship
One: We are blessed when we hunger for justice and thirst for reconciliation.
All: Our souls are nourished by God's hope and grace.
One: We are blessed when we grieve over the brokenness of the world,
All: choosing, as God does, to be with those who are weak and powerless.
One: We are blessed when we become God's fools,
All: willing to do what is right and good, not what is easy.
Prayer of the Day
The hills sing your hopes,
and the valleys echo your dreams,
Holy God, of a world
where we catch sight of you
in the innocent hearts of children;
where we listen to the wisdom
of souls willing to be weak;
where we find the home we long for
in your heart's brokenness.
Teacher of our hearts,
when we are generous to the poor,
your kingdom of justice is built;
when we love kindness
more than we do power,
we are heirs of creation's grace;
when we walk hand-in-hand
with the humble-hearted,
we are in step with you;
when we share a picnic of hope and joy
with the forgotten of the world,
we follow you up the hill of faithfulness.
Wisdom of Weakness,
when our differences with one another
become stumbling blocks to life together,
you come
with your hopeful foolishness
so your children
might be at peace,
and a blessing of life
to a world in need of healing.
God in Community, Holy in One,
hear us as we pray as Jesus has taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
Called to be weak,
we idolize the powerful;
called to be foolish,
we hunger for the world's wisdom;
called to be poor in spirit,
we thirst for more and more.
Let us confess to God how following Jesus is oftenb a stumbling block for us.
Unison Prayer of Confession
How do we approach you, Exalted God, with our confessions? We make
you weary with our inability to do justice for the poor and outcast.
We gossip about those who are close to us, instead of being their
loving friend. We make promises, and then go back on our word.
Forgive us, God of Hope, and bless us with your mercy. By your
peace, we can do justice. By your love, we can act kindly. By your
grace, we can walk with you as humbly, and hopefully, as did our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
One: It is through foolishness that God makes us wise;
it is through weakness that God strengthens us to serve;
it is through forgiveness that God makes us whole.
All: We cannot boast in what we have done, but only in the grace
and joy of our God, who showers us with mercy. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
One: May the God of foolishness be with you!
All: And also with you!
One: Blessed of our God, offer your hearts to the One who has brought us into the kingdom.
All: We lift our spirits to God, who has chosen us, weak as we are.
One: Children of God, sing songs of justice, of peace, of kindness to our God.
All: We offer our praises to they One who fills us with grace and hope.
Blessed is all creation, God on high,
for you brought it out of chaos,
setting free all that is beautiful and good.
The hills heard you singing in the morning,
calves and lambs danced in the meadows,
drinking deeply from the rivers of life.
You invited us to live in your love,
building us a home on your holy hill.
But we chose the power of sin,
believing that death was wiser than you.
You sent the prophets, men and women,
to reveal to us what is good
but we continued to do injustice,
to love bitterness and cruelty,
to parade arrogantly before you.
So, you sent Jesus, the source of life.
With those who are blessed because they trust your future,
and with those who are foolish enough to believe your promises,
we offer our songs of thanksgiving:
All: Holy, holy, holy, God who walks in our midst.
All creation hungers and thirsts for you,
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the Poor One of your heart, who brings the kingdom to us.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, God of weakness,
for yours is the kingdom given to us.
And blessed is Jesus Christ,
who would not be moved from doing your will.
When he could have danced with the angels,
he came and sat down among us,
to teach us how to walk with you.
Blameless in your eyes and in your heart,
he humbly walked among us,
so we could find the kingdom's streets.
Sharing the gift of your peace
to those of us who fight with one another,
he embraces us as sisters and brother.
With tears flowing down his face at our brokenness,
he wraps us in your shawl of hope.
Truly pure in heart, he took on our sins,
so we might discover the freedom you offer to us.
Persecuted for our sake,
he endured all kinds of evil
brought against him by sin and death,
trusting that your weakness
is stronger than their feared power.
As we celebrate your wisdom in Christ,
as we remember his death and resurrection,
we speak of that mystery we call faith:
All: Christ died, foolish in the eyes of the world;
Christ rose, the despised One defeating death and sin;
Christ will come, for ours is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the gifts of this Table,
and the Spirit which fills them with your life,
and who is poured into those
who gather in your holy place.
When the bread is broken and we eat of it,
we will see the poor in spirit,
and open our hearts to receive
the blessing of the kingdom
in which they already dwell.
When we drink from the cup
and our thirst for righteousness is filled,
we, too, will mourn that your vision
of peace, of hope, of mercy for
all your children has not been realized,
and we will join in seeking
to be taught justice by the marginalized,
to follow the example of kindness modeled by children,
to learn the steps of the dance of humility from the weak of our world.
And when our final blessing comes at the end of time
and we are gathered together on your holy hill
to live with our sisters and brothers through eternity,
we will sing our praises to you,
God in Community, Holy in One,
for we will have inherited all your blessings. Amen.
(c) 2011 Thom M. Shuman
Sunday, January 16, 2011
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - A
Texts: Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27:1, 4-9; 1st Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23
Call to Worship
As he walked by a lake, Jesus called folks to follow him.
And immediately, immediately!,
they left their work and went with him.
As Jesus journeys through our lives, he asks us to follow him.
In this moment, in this moment!,
we have the chance to leave the past behind,
and pursue him into God's future.
As Jesus wanders in our world, he invites others to join him.
We would join him in this ministry,
reaching out to our neighbors,
without delay, without delay!
Prayer of the DayWhen we get scared
in the middle of life,
you hide us
under the blanket of your grace;
when we struggle
with those who don't like us,
you lift us up
to see the Prince of Peace
coming to make us one;
when we are lost,
you stop playing hide-and-seek
and call us home.
One thing we ask,
God of our hearts:
be gracious to us!
When our sin-parched throats
crack trying to whisper your name,
you teach us glad songs;
when we are afraid
of what is hidden
in the shadows of life,
you take our hand
so we can walk
in your Light;
when we are alone,
we discover your face
in every person we meet.
One thing we ask,
Playmate of Peace:
keep calling us to follow!
When we no longer
see eye-to-eye,
you cleanse our sight
with living waters;
when we are stooped
by the beams of our burdens,
you twist and shape them
into a kids' playground;
when we find ourselves
living in sorrow's city,
you pack us up and move us
into hope's neighborhood.
One thing we ask,
Foolish Grace:
walk with us!
One thing we ask,
God in Community, Holy in One:
listen to us as we pray, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to ReconciliationWhen we are embarrassed by how we have treated others, God invites us to seek the face of grace. When we regret foolish words that cannot be taken back, God reminds us of the hope which comes to us in every moment. Let us confess our lives to the One who not only hears us, but answers us with forgiveness.
Unison Prayer of Confession
We are reluctant to admit all the ways we have failed to be your people. Created to be one Body, Holy Hope, we are often torn apart by petty squabbles. Called to follow, we push and shove for first place in line. Invited to seek your face, we have trouble looking our sisters and brothers in the eye.
You have promised to be our Light, Healing Heart, so lead us from the shadows of our sin and silliness. You have promised to be our salvation, so set us free to explore the depths of your heart. You have promised to lead us into your kingdom, so show us how to join hands with one another, as we follow our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Silence is kept
Assurance of PardonRight now, right now!, Christ proclaims the good news to us; Christ teaches us how to live with one another; Christ tears down the barriers between us.
In God's math, joy is multiplied that we cannot compute the number - we can only welcome this gift into our hearts, to share it with everyone we meet. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
Into the gloom of chaos,
a Light burst forth,
God of all time.
This light shone on life
in all its variety;
it lit the way for the sea
as it danced along
the beaches of glory;
it twinkled in the night,
reflected in the eyes
of your beloved children,
created in your image.
When we could
have been playing leapfrog
in the meadows of Eden,
we chose to stalk through
the shadows of sin and death.
The prophets came, inviting us
to leave our hidden lives,
so we could dwell in your heart,
but we chose cast our gaze
at the temptations of the world.
Finally, your sorrow multiplied
beyond all measure,
you sent Jesus to proclaim the good news.
So, with those who lived in the former times,
and with those who will dwell in the latter moments,
we lift our glad songs of grace to you:
Holy, holy, holy, God who does not forsake us.
All creation shouts with joy to you.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is teh One who comes bringing the kingdom near.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, God of all joy,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, our Lord.
When he could have withdrawn
into your eternal glory,
he came to us,
that we might be brought
into your hopeful heart.
When he could have ignored
our foolish fighting,
he came to tear down
the barriers we have built,
that we might be one with you.
When he have claimed all power,
he emptied himself
of your love and life,
that we might be filled
with your peace forever.
As we celebrate his life and death,
as we sing of our joy multiplied
by the joy of your love,
we speak of that mystery we call faith:
Christ died, crying out to his light and salvation;
Christ rose, breaking all the bonds of death;
Christ will come, making glorious the way to God.
Pour out your Spirit
upon the bread and the cup,
simple gifts with the sole purpose
of restoring us to wholeness,
and making us one with you
and with all our sisters and brothers.
As we gather around your Table,
may we break the boundaries
of fear, of hurt, of loss
which separate us,
so we may serve each other.
As we turn from the Table,
may we see those
who are lost and alone
in our neighborhoods and homes,
so we might carry grace
to share with them.
As we hear your whispers
of hope and peace
in our hearts,
may we call to everyone we meet,
'Come and join us;
we will lead you
to the hope you are longing for!'
And when all time, former and latter,
have come to an end,
and we have left gloom and desolation behind
to live in your Light forever,
we will join our hands
to dance in your glory,
singing glad songs for all eternity,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
(c) 2011 Thom M. Shuman
Call to Worship
As he walked by a lake, Jesus called folks to follow him.
And immediately, immediately!,
they left their work and went with him.
As Jesus journeys through our lives, he asks us to follow him.
In this moment, in this moment!,
we have the chance to leave the past behind,
and pursue him into God's future.
As Jesus wanders in our world, he invites others to join him.
We would join him in this ministry,
reaching out to our neighbors,
without delay, without delay!
Prayer of the DayWhen we get scared
in the middle of life,
you hide us
under the blanket of your grace;
when we struggle
with those who don't like us,
you lift us up
to see the Prince of Peace
coming to make us one;
when we are lost,
you stop playing hide-and-seek
and call us home.
One thing we ask,
God of our hearts:
be gracious to us!
When our sin-parched throats
crack trying to whisper your name,
you teach us glad songs;
when we are afraid
of what is hidden
in the shadows of life,
you take our hand
so we can walk
in your Light;
when we are alone,
we discover your face
in every person we meet.
One thing we ask,
Playmate of Peace:
keep calling us to follow!
When we no longer
see eye-to-eye,
you cleanse our sight
with living waters;
when we are stooped
by the beams of our burdens,
you twist and shape them
into a kids' playground;
when we find ourselves
living in sorrow's city,
you pack us up and move us
into hope's neighborhood.
One thing we ask,
Foolish Grace:
walk with us!
One thing we ask,
God in Community, Holy in One:
listen to us as we pray, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to ReconciliationWhen we are embarrassed by how we have treated others, God invites us to seek the face of grace. When we regret foolish words that cannot be taken back, God reminds us of the hope which comes to us in every moment. Let us confess our lives to the One who not only hears us, but answers us with forgiveness.
Unison Prayer of Confession
We are reluctant to admit all the ways we have failed to be your people. Created to be one Body, Holy Hope, we are often torn apart by petty squabbles. Called to follow, we push and shove for first place in line. Invited to seek your face, we have trouble looking our sisters and brothers in the eye.
You have promised to be our Light, Healing Heart, so lead us from the shadows of our sin and silliness. You have promised to be our salvation, so set us free to explore the depths of your heart. You have promised to lead us into your kingdom, so show us how to join hands with one another, as we follow our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Silence is kept
Assurance of PardonRight now, right now!, Christ proclaims the good news to us; Christ teaches us how to live with one another; Christ tears down the barriers between us.
In God's math, joy is multiplied that we cannot compute the number - we can only welcome this gift into our hearts, to share it with everyone we meet. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
Into the gloom of chaos,
a Light burst forth,
God of all time.
This light shone on life
in all its variety;
it lit the way for the sea
as it danced along
the beaches of glory;
it twinkled in the night,
reflected in the eyes
of your beloved children,
created in your image.
When we could
have been playing leapfrog
in the meadows of Eden,
we chose to stalk through
the shadows of sin and death.
The prophets came, inviting us
to leave our hidden lives,
so we could dwell in your heart,
but we chose cast our gaze
at the temptations of the world.
Finally, your sorrow multiplied
beyond all measure,
you sent Jesus to proclaim the good news.
So, with those who lived in the former times,
and with those who will dwell in the latter moments,
we lift our glad songs of grace to you:
Holy, holy, holy, God who does not forsake us.
All creation shouts with joy to you.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is teh One who comes bringing the kingdom near.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, God of all joy,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, our Lord.
When he could have withdrawn
into your eternal glory,
he came to us,
that we might be brought
into your hopeful heart.
When he could have ignored
our foolish fighting,
he came to tear down
the barriers we have built,
that we might be one with you.
When he have claimed all power,
he emptied himself
of your love and life,
that we might be filled
with your peace forever.
As we celebrate his life and death,
as we sing of our joy multiplied
by the joy of your love,
we speak of that mystery we call faith:
Christ died, crying out to his light and salvation;
Christ rose, breaking all the bonds of death;
Christ will come, making glorious the way to God.
Pour out your Spirit
upon the bread and the cup,
simple gifts with the sole purpose
of restoring us to wholeness,
and making us one with you
and with all our sisters and brothers.
As we gather around your Table,
may we break the boundaries
of fear, of hurt, of loss
which separate us,
so we may serve each other.
As we turn from the Table,
may we see those
who are lost and alone
in our neighborhoods and homes,
so we might carry grace
to share with them.
As we hear your whispers
of hope and peace
in our hearts,
may we call to everyone we meet,
'Come and join us;
we will lead you
to the hope you are longing for!'
And when all time, former and latter,
have come to an end,
and we have left gloom and desolation behind
to live in your Light forever,
we will join our hands
to dance in your glory,
singing glad songs for all eternity,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
(c) 2011 Thom M. Shuman
Sunday, January 09, 2011
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time/Epiphany 2-A
Texts: Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 40:1-11; 1st Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42
Call to Worship
L: In the bleak mid-winter, we wait:
P: for the One who warms us
with stories of love and hope.
L: In the stillness of a snowfall, we wait:
P for the One who clears a path
so we may follow in faith.
L: In the shadows of life, we wait:
P: for the One who lights
the way through the world.
Prayer of the Day
Like a teacher
who bends down
to hear a shy student,
you listen to our hearts;
like a fellow hiker,
you reach down
and pull us out
when we have fallen
into desolation's pit.
You are faithful,
Steadfast Love.
Like a school custodian,
you scrub the grafitti
off our graceless lives;
like a nurse,
you clean out our ears
so we can hear
the hurt and loss around us,
as well as your gentle reminder,
"what are you looking for?
Those are the ones to help."
You are faithful,
Servant of the poor.
Like a best friend,
you whisper peace
into our quaking ears;
like a debate student,
you testify about
God's never-ending love;
like an innocent child,
you see wonder in every moment.
You are faithful,
Spirit of Salvation.
God in Community, Holy in One,
we proclaim your faithfulness even,
as in faith, we pray as we are taught,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
Called to follow, we often trip over our
temptations, falling flat on our faith. But
God picks us up, sets us on the solid ground
of grace, and sends us out as servants. Let
us confess our sins to the One who is always
faithful.
Unison Prayer of Confession
Shaped, formed, born to be servants, Faithful
One, we spend so much time focused on ourselves.
Called to be saints, we deeply despise those with
whom we disagree. Challenged to testify about
the good news, we keep silent, hoarding stories
of joy and hope for ourselves.
Forgive us, Merciful Lamb. Give us open ears,
that we might hear your words of pardon; give us
open eyes, that we might see those you would
have us serve; give us open hearts, that we might
welcome the One who takes away our sins, Jesus
Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: Listen! Before you were born, God called you
by name, claiming you as God's child. Pay
attention! You are forgiven.
P: We will not keep silent. We will tell, and we
will sing; we will whisper, and we will shout:
God is faithful! Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: May the grace of God be with you!
P: And also with you!
L: Lift up your hearts, people gifted by God.
P: We offer all that we have to our God.
L: Let us give thanks to God always, dear ones of God.
P: We lift our praises to our faithful God, who calls us
into the household of faith.
You called creation into existence,
Gatherer of goodness.
You shaped the hollows
to hold the waters of life,
you formed the stars
to glitter in the night sky,
and the suns to warm
all you created.
Before we were born from dust,
you named us as your own,
giving us breath that
we might honor you with our lives.
But when the world asked
about your constant love,
and death wondered if
you were indeed faithful,
we responded, 'we do not know God,'
and planted our feet deep
into the mud of sin and desolation.
Deeply distressed by our rebellion
hoping to bring us back to you,
you sent the prophets
to gather us home.
But we abhorred their advice,
and silenced them with our laughter.
So you sent Jesus,
the One we were looking for,
even though we did not know.
So, we join our voices with all who,
in every place and time,
call on Jesus' name, singing:
P: Holy, holy, holy, God who takes away sins.
All creation tells the glad news of salvation.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One whose trust is in you.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, Gatherer of the lost,
and blessed is Jesus Christ,
Salvation's Servant and our Lord.
He came,
opening our eyes so we could see
your light shining in our shadows;
he came,
testifying that your love and faithfulness
were the bookends
holding together our lives;
he came,
to carry our sins to the cross,
so they would be left behind
in sin's grave forever,
as the Risen Lord comes
to lead your people
back into the kingdom.
As we remember his birth, his life,
his words and wonders, his death and love,
we would speak of that mystery we call faith:
P: Christ died, hidden in the shadow of God's heart;
Christ rose, delighting to do God's will;
Christ will return, to bring us back to God.
As you gather us around the Table,
pour out your Spirit
upon the gifts of the bread and the cup,
and upon those who come,
longing to do your will
and to follow you faithfully.
May the bread which has been broken
shape us as servants
to a world shattered
by injustice and hopelessness;
as we drink from the cup,
may our hearts be reformed
so we would hear the cries
of the lost, the last, the least;
as we are embraced in your grace,
may we be reborn, not as saints
who can bask in our own glory,
but as servants who,
abundant in gifts beyond measure,
would pour them out
for everyone we meet.
And when creation has been reborn
into the new heaven and the new earth,
and we are gathered around
the Marriage Banquet of the Lamb,
we will not keep silent
but tell and sing, whisper and shout
of your grace and of your peace,
of your faithful and constant love,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
(c) 2011 Thom M. Shuman
Call to Worship
L: In the bleak mid-winter, we wait:
P: for the One who warms us
with stories of love and hope.
L: In the stillness of a snowfall, we wait:
P for the One who clears a path
so we may follow in faith.
L: In the shadows of life, we wait:
P: for the One who lights
the way through the world.
Prayer of the Day
Like a teacher
who bends down
to hear a shy student,
you listen to our hearts;
like a fellow hiker,
you reach down
and pull us out
when we have fallen
into desolation's pit.
You are faithful,
Steadfast Love.
Like a school custodian,
you scrub the grafitti
off our graceless lives;
like a nurse,
you clean out our ears
so we can hear
the hurt and loss around us,
as well as your gentle reminder,
"what are you looking for?
Those are the ones to help."
You are faithful,
Servant of the poor.
Like a best friend,
you whisper peace
into our quaking ears;
like a debate student,
you testify about
God's never-ending love;
like an innocent child,
you see wonder in every moment.
You are faithful,
Spirit of Salvation.
God in Community, Holy in One,
we proclaim your faithfulness even,
as in faith, we pray as we are taught,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
Called to follow, we often trip over our
temptations, falling flat on our faith. But
God picks us up, sets us on the solid ground
of grace, and sends us out as servants. Let
us confess our sins to the One who is always
faithful.
Unison Prayer of Confession
Shaped, formed, born to be servants, Faithful
One, we spend so much time focused on ourselves.
Called to be saints, we deeply despise those with
whom we disagree. Challenged to testify about
the good news, we keep silent, hoarding stories
of joy and hope for ourselves.
Forgive us, Merciful Lamb. Give us open ears,
that we might hear your words of pardon; give us
open eyes, that we might see those you would
have us serve; give us open hearts, that we might
welcome the One who takes away our sins, Jesus
Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: Listen! Before you were born, God called you
by name, claiming you as God's child. Pay
attention! You are forgiven.
P: We will not keep silent. We will tell, and we
will sing; we will whisper, and we will shout:
God is faithful! Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: May the grace of God be with you!
P: And also with you!
L: Lift up your hearts, people gifted by God.
P: We offer all that we have to our God.
L: Let us give thanks to God always, dear ones of God.
P: We lift our praises to our faithful God, who calls us
into the household of faith.
You called creation into existence,
Gatherer of goodness.
You shaped the hollows
to hold the waters of life,
you formed the stars
to glitter in the night sky,
and the suns to warm
all you created.
Before we were born from dust,
you named us as your own,
giving us breath that
we might honor you with our lives.
But when the world asked
about your constant love,
and death wondered if
you were indeed faithful,
we responded, 'we do not know God,'
and planted our feet deep
into the mud of sin and desolation.
Deeply distressed by our rebellion
hoping to bring us back to you,
you sent the prophets
to gather us home.
But we abhorred their advice,
and silenced them with our laughter.
So you sent Jesus,
the One we were looking for,
even though we did not know.
So, we join our voices with all who,
in every place and time,
call on Jesus' name, singing:
P: Holy, holy, holy, God who takes away sins.
All creation tells the glad news of salvation.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One whose trust is in you.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, Gatherer of the lost,
and blessed is Jesus Christ,
Salvation's Servant and our Lord.
He came,
opening our eyes so we could see
your light shining in our shadows;
he came,
testifying that your love and faithfulness
were the bookends
holding together our lives;
he came,
to carry our sins to the cross,
so they would be left behind
in sin's grave forever,
as the Risen Lord comes
to lead your people
back into the kingdom.
As we remember his birth, his life,
his words and wonders, his death and love,
we would speak of that mystery we call faith:
P: Christ died, hidden in the shadow of God's heart;
Christ rose, delighting to do God's will;
Christ will return, to bring us back to God.
As you gather us around the Table,
pour out your Spirit
upon the gifts of the bread and the cup,
and upon those who come,
longing to do your will
and to follow you faithfully.
May the bread which has been broken
shape us as servants
to a world shattered
by injustice and hopelessness;
as we drink from the cup,
may our hearts be reformed
so we would hear the cries
of the lost, the last, the least;
as we are embraced in your grace,
may we be reborn, not as saints
who can bask in our own glory,
but as servants who,
abundant in gifts beyond measure,
would pour them out
for everyone we meet.
And when creation has been reborn
into the new heaven and the new earth,
and we are gathered around
the Marriage Banquet of the Lamb,
we will not keep silent
but tell and sing, whisper and shout
of your grace and of your peace,
of your faithful and constant love,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
(c) 2011 Thom M. Shuman
Sunday, January 02, 2011
Baptism of the Lord - A
Texts: Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:13-17
Call to Worship
L: When we are reluctant to dip
our toes into faith's river,
P: Jesus comes, to teach us how to swim.
L: When we are hesitant to cup our hands
to drink from the fountain of grace,
P: Jesus comes, to reach in and splash
our faces with God's joy.
L: When we are unwilling to be the pipeline of hope,
P: Jesus comes, to turn on the faucets
God has installed in our hearts.
Prayer of the Day
When we clasp the past
tight to our fading memories,
you come, Glory of Creation:
to strip us bare
of all pride and pretense,
with your future;
to slip the latch
on the fears and worries
which keep us bound
from following you;
to stand with us
when death and sin
try to bully us.
And we cry, 'Glory!'
When our faith flickers
in the shadows of chaos,
you come, Servant of sinners:
to be the grace-crier
through the streets of our hearts;
to teach eager students
the songs of peace and hope;
to open our eyes
heavy-lidded by indifference.
And we cry, 'Glory!'
When we are dubious
about being disciples,
you come, Baptism's Spirit:
to journey with peace-walkers
through the world's violent streets;
to strengthen us
when we are bent by doubt;
to anoint us with rivers
of grace, hope, and reconciliation.
And we cry, 'Glory!'
God in Community, Holy in One,
we cry 'Glory!' to you,
even as we pray as we have been taught,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
The psalmist tells us that the One whose
voice can knock trees to the ground listens
to our hesitant prayers which speak of our
sin, of how we have hurt others, as well
as God. Join me, as we pray to the One
who will bless us with peace and forgiveness.
Unison Prayer of Confession
You would have all people hear of your
grace, Servant God, but we hinder your
efforts by hoarding your Word for ourselves.
You would have hope flow through our
neighborhoods, but we thwart your plans
by damming it up in our hearts. You would
have us skip into your kingdom, but we
frustrate your future by clinging so tightly
to those grudges we have carried for so long.
Have mercy on us, Shaker of our wildernesses,
and unlock the shuttered doors of our hearts.
Remind us that at our baptism you touch
us with the waters of life, promise to be
with us always, and call us your beloved,
even as you sang your joy to Jesus Christ,
our Lord and Savior, at the waters of the
Jordan.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: You know the good news God has
proclaimed to you: we are called to
let go of the past, and to walk, hand
in hand with the Spirit, into the
kingdom.
P: God forgives us, accepts us, and
sends us forth to do good, and to
testify about the One who baptizes
us in the water and the Spirit.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: People of the living waters:
the Lord be with you!
P: And also with you!
L: Beloved of the Lord,
lift your hearts to God.
P: We lift our grace-washed hearts
to the One who pours hope into us.
L: Children of the Spirit, offer your
thanksgiving and praises to God.
P: We sing 'Glory' to the God
who baptizes us with water
and the Spirit.
You immersed chaos
in the waters of creation,
God of new beginnings.
You stretched the sky
to fill it with shimmering stars,
and taught the planets
to prance like deer.
The mountains skipped with delight,
dancing round and round with the rivers.
You took us by the hand
to play in Eden's joy,
but we broke free
to go running after
sin and death.
You asked the prophets
to bear witness to all you did,
are doing, and will do,
but we were averse
to listening to their advice.
So you sent Jesus,
letting go of your glory,
to come to us
with your hope and redemption.
So, with those who have wandered
through every wilderness,
and those who have waded
in the waters of life,
we praise you that, in our baptism,
we are made one with those
of every place and time
forever singing of your grace:
P: Holy, holy, holy, God who blesses people with peace.
Creation skips like a child, coming to praise you.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed sit he One who comes to fulfill all righteousness.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, hurler of the heavens,
and blessed is Jesus Christ,
your Beloved, our Servant and Lord.
When the evil one
bullied us with fear,
he came to stand with us
filling us with hope.
When we huddled in the shadows
of despair and doubt,
he came to be the Light
showing the path to faith.
When death was convinced
it had won the final battle,
you gave him the go-ahead
to leave the grave,
to lead us back home.
In the baptism of his suffering and death,
in his journey through the waters of resurrection,
we are united with him,
even as we speak of that mystery we call faith,
P: Christ died, choosing to establish justice;
Christ rose, healing all who are oppressed by death;
Christ will return, taking us by the hand and keeping us for you.
Pour out your Spirit of grace
upon the gifts of the bread and the cup
and on those who gather to eat and drink
with the Risen Lord.
When we have been fed by your life,
and refreshed by your hope,
may we go forth
to bear witness to your presence
in our lives and in our world.
With your Spirit upon us,
send us out:
to speak of your peace,
so that all violence might end;
to bring healing
to all tyrannized by terror;
to work for justice
in all the brokenness of our times;
to welcome all
with the inclusive love
you have shown to us.
And when we gather at the banquet
you have catered with your joy and love,
we will join hands with all
gathered around the Table of grace and peace,
singing 'Glory! Glory! Glory!' to you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
(c) 2010 Thom M. Shuman
Call to Worship
L: When we are reluctant to dip
our toes into faith's river,
P: Jesus comes, to teach us how to swim.
L: When we are hesitant to cup our hands
to drink from the fountain of grace,
P: Jesus comes, to reach in and splash
our faces with God's joy.
L: When we are unwilling to be the pipeline of hope,
P: Jesus comes, to turn on the faucets
God has installed in our hearts.
Prayer of the Day
When we clasp the past
tight to our fading memories,
you come, Glory of Creation:
to strip us bare
of all pride and pretense,
with your future;
to slip the latch
on the fears and worries
which keep us bound
from following you;
to stand with us
when death and sin
try to bully us.
And we cry, 'Glory!'
When our faith flickers
in the shadows of chaos,
you come, Servant of sinners:
to be the grace-crier
through the streets of our hearts;
to teach eager students
the songs of peace and hope;
to open our eyes
heavy-lidded by indifference.
And we cry, 'Glory!'
When we are dubious
about being disciples,
you come, Baptism's Spirit:
to journey with peace-walkers
through the world's violent streets;
to strengthen us
when we are bent by doubt;
to anoint us with rivers
of grace, hope, and reconciliation.
And we cry, 'Glory!'
God in Community, Holy in One,
we cry 'Glory!' to you,
even as we pray as we have been taught,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
The psalmist tells us that the One whose
voice can knock trees to the ground listens
to our hesitant prayers which speak of our
sin, of how we have hurt others, as well
as God. Join me, as we pray to the One
who will bless us with peace and forgiveness.
Unison Prayer of Confession
You would have all people hear of your
grace, Servant God, but we hinder your
efforts by hoarding your Word for ourselves.
You would have hope flow through our
neighborhoods, but we thwart your plans
by damming it up in our hearts. You would
have us skip into your kingdom, but we
frustrate your future by clinging so tightly
to those grudges we have carried for so long.
Have mercy on us, Shaker of our wildernesses,
and unlock the shuttered doors of our hearts.
Remind us that at our baptism you touch
us with the waters of life, promise to be
with us always, and call us your beloved,
even as you sang your joy to Jesus Christ,
our Lord and Savior, at the waters of the
Jordan.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: You know the good news God has
proclaimed to you: we are called to
let go of the past, and to walk, hand
in hand with the Spirit, into the
kingdom.
P: God forgives us, accepts us, and
sends us forth to do good, and to
testify about the One who baptizes
us in the water and the Spirit.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: People of the living waters:
the Lord be with you!
P: And also with you!
L: Beloved of the Lord,
lift your hearts to God.
P: We lift our grace-washed hearts
to the One who pours hope into us.
L: Children of the Spirit, offer your
thanksgiving and praises to God.
P: We sing 'Glory' to the God
who baptizes us with water
and the Spirit.
You immersed chaos
in the waters of creation,
God of new beginnings.
You stretched the sky
to fill it with shimmering stars,
and taught the planets
to prance like deer.
The mountains skipped with delight,
dancing round and round with the rivers.
You took us by the hand
to play in Eden's joy,
but we broke free
to go running after
sin and death.
You asked the prophets
to bear witness to all you did,
are doing, and will do,
but we were averse
to listening to their advice.
So you sent Jesus,
letting go of your glory,
to come to us
with your hope and redemption.
So, with those who have wandered
through every wilderness,
and those who have waded
in the waters of life,
we praise you that, in our baptism,
we are made one with those
of every place and time
forever singing of your grace:
P: Holy, holy, holy, God who blesses people with peace.
Creation skips like a child, coming to praise you.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed sit he One who comes to fulfill all righteousness.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, hurler of the heavens,
and blessed is Jesus Christ,
your Beloved, our Servant and Lord.
When the evil one
bullied us with fear,
he came to stand with us
filling us with hope.
When we huddled in the shadows
of despair and doubt,
he came to be the Light
showing the path to faith.
When death was convinced
it had won the final battle,
you gave him the go-ahead
to leave the grave,
to lead us back home.
In the baptism of his suffering and death,
in his journey through the waters of resurrection,
we are united with him,
even as we speak of that mystery we call faith,
P: Christ died, choosing to establish justice;
Christ rose, healing all who are oppressed by death;
Christ will return, taking us by the hand and keeping us for you.
Pour out your Spirit of grace
upon the gifts of the bread and the cup
and on those who gather to eat and drink
with the Risen Lord.
When we have been fed by your life,
and refreshed by your hope,
may we go forth
to bear witness to your presence
in our lives and in our world.
With your Spirit upon us,
send us out:
to speak of your peace,
so that all violence might end;
to bring healing
to all tyrannized by terror;
to work for justice
in all the brokenness of our times;
to welcome all
with the inclusive love
you have shown to us.
And when we gather at the banquet
you have catered with your joy and love,
we will join hands with all
gathered around the Table of grace and peace,
singing 'Glory! Glory! Glory!' to you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
(c) 2010 Thom M. Shuman
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
