Texts: Acts 2:14a, 22-32; Psalm 16; 1st Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-29
Call to Worship
L: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
P: Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!
L: We have not seen the risen Christ,
P: but we see him in the lives
of those transformed by grace.
L: We have not seen Jesus face-to-face,
P: but we have seen him in the faces
of everyone whose love encourages us.
L: We have not touched the wounds
from the cross,
P: but we have been called to bring healing
to the scarred of the world.
Prayer of the Day
On the evening
of the first day of creation,
Holy God,
you held out your hands,
filled with all the grace
we would ever need;
you began to surround us
with all that is good and pleasant.
On the evening
of the first day of Easter,
Defeater of Death,
you walked through
the closed doors
of our doubts and fears;
you held us tight
until the warmth of your grace
softened our hardened hearts;
you handed us the gift of peace
to calm our frightened faith.
On the evening
of the first day of following you,
Breath of Peace,
you open our eyes
to the bright color of hope;
you teach us
the glad songs of grace;
you share the most
valuable gift of all:
faith.
God in Community, Holy in One,
we lift our prayers to you
as Jesus has taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
While it is true that we did not put Jesus
to death, we are quite aware of all the
ways in which we have not followed the
paths of life that have been offered to us
by God. Let us confess our sins, as we
pray, saying,
Unison Prayer of Confession
We lock the doors of compassion, God
of Easter, so that we may share it only with
those we believe to be deserving. We harden
our hearts to the cries around us, because we
cannot be completely sure of who is in need.
We close our eyes to the suffering around us,
believing it will all go away if we don't look.
Forgive us, Hope of the Ages. You fill us
with all the grace we need, not because we
are so special, but because we are servants,
called to hold out our hands to all in need,
even as Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior,
holds out his hands to us, to lead us into
your kingdom.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: From the shadows of life, God brings
us into the Light of Christ. From the
prison of sin and death, God sets us
free to live in hope.
P: The God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ has raised him from the dead,
and given us new life. Thanks be to
God. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: The Lord of Easter be with you.
P: And also with you.
L; People of the God of Joy,
lift up your hearts.
P: We offer them to the Lord
who gives us peace.
L: The Joyous Feast of the Lamb
has been prepared for you.
P: We rejoice, clapping our hands
and singing praises to our God.
Into the darkness of chaos,
you stepped, Creation's Joy.
You opened your hands,
and rivers flowed through
the deserts of delight;
you spoke a simple Word
and a universe complex
with beauty and diversity was formed.
You birthed us
from the dust of earth,
with the Breath of peace
filling our lungs.
Yet, we were attracted
by the deeds of sin and death,
and drank from their sweet cup.
You sent holy ones called prophets
to make known to us
your ways of life and grace,
but we multiplied your sorrow
by turning our backs on them.
By your great mercy,
you would not give up on us,
but sent Jesus Christ
for the salvation of our souls.
And so, we join our voices
with those of every time and place,
who forever sing your praises:
P: Holy, holy, holy are you, God our chosen portion.
All creation rejoices in your peace.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who has been raised from the dead.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, Path of life,
and blessed is Jesus Christ,
Right Hand of the righteous.
With signs and wonders,
he pointed to your hopes for us;
with simple words of invitation,
he welcomed us into your family;
keeping you ever before him,
he looked sin direct in the face,
and broke its power over us;
with that hope grounded in you,
he entered into the locked room of death,
believing what he had not seen,
that you would bring him to new life,
our inheritance awaiting us
in your kingdom.
As we remember his life, his death, his resurrection,
as we seek to believe what we have not seen,
we tell of that mystery called faith:
P: Christ died, birthing us into a living hope;
Christ arose, breathing peace into our lives;
Christ will come, that we might receive the outcome of our faith.
Stir this cup with your grace,
and warm this bread with
the Breath of Peace,
Joy of our hearts.
You hold these gifts in your hands,
and offer them to us
as the living hope of our lives.
As you fill us with
the gladness of your presence,
may we go forth to be with those
who are forsaken by the world.
As you pour out your Spirit
into our hearts,
may we be sent to bring healing
to those whose brokenness
is ignored by our society.
And when, by your great mercy,
all time has ended
and we rest secure in your grace,
we will gather around the Table
joining hands with your children
of every time and place,
who will rejoice with glad hearts,
singing your praises forever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
(c) 2011 Thom M. Shuman
Monday, April 25, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Holy Humor Sunday (Easter 2-A)
(Some churches follow the ancient practice of seeing the Sunday after Easter as a time to celebrate the great joke God played on sin and death by raising Jesus from the dead. Bright Sunday, Holy Humor/Hilarity Sunday are occasions for people to join in praise, laughter, and good humor in celebrating God's love for us, with the choir singing silly songs, the members dressing outlandishly, the preacher serving as a stand-up comic. Not for every congregation, but it does sometimes turn 'low Sunday' into a Sunday with a new glow)
Suggested texts: Genesis 18:9-15; 21:1-6; Psalm 150
1st Corinthians 1:18-31; John 20:19-29
Call to Laughter
One: This is the time to rejoice!
All: What better time than now!
One: This is the day to laugh:
What did the cabbage pastor
say to the people?
Pastor: Lettuce pray!
One: How many choir directors does
it take to change a light bulb?
Choir: No one knows, because no one
ever watches the director!
One: How many Presbyterians does it take
to change a light bulb?
All: Change? Presbyterians don't believe
in change!
One: What's the greatest joke ever?
All: The one God played on
death on Easter morning!
Prayer of the Day and our Lord's Prayer
You smiled and the sun burst
through the shadows of chaos;
you chuckled,
and the platypus splashed
in creation's fountain;
you laughed,
and all that is good and beautiful
was give shape by you,
Imaginative God.
Snickering at the feeble attempts
of the evil one,
you showed us
how to resist temptation;
giggling at sin's desperate desire
to hold on to us,
you released us by your love;
howling with laughter
at death's foolish belief
that the tomb could hold you,
you burst forth into the kingdom
as the stars pealed with joy,
Laughing Jesus.
As you fill us with new life,
may we delight in sharing it with others;
as you tell us the good news
which can never be taken from us,
may we rejoice in offering it
to the broken, the sad, the lonely;
as you tickle us with grace,
may we give it away
with laughter on our lips
and joy in our hearts,
Spirit of Easter.
God in Community, Holy in One,
our hearts overflow with wonder
as we lift the prayer Jesus has taught us,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
None of us likes to look foolish, but which is
sillier? Chasing after the world and all its gaudy
trinkets which flatter our souls, or being a 'fool
for Christ', imitating him in service to others,
offering ourselves in love and joy to the world?
Let us admit to God the foolish choices we
make each and every day, as we pray, saying,
Unison Prayer of Confession
You know better than we do, Amused God, what
important people we believe we are. Believing we
have to be serious all the time, we miss out on
the joy of your creation. Choosing to feast on the
pain of the world, we skip the picnic offered in
paradise. Clinging to the despair which is our best
friend, we ignore Jesus. who can bring us home to
your heart.
Forgive us, Heart of Joy, and make us open to the
startling, and upside-down, ways in which you work.
Fill us with Easter's laughter; fill us with your healing
joy; fill us with the love poured into us through Jesus
Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silent Prayers may be offered
Assurance of Pardon:
One: The Gospels tell us over and over again of
the joy which comes to us through Christ.
When Jesus was around, lives were changed,
the sick were healed, the sorrowful began
to laugh with joy. The good news is that this
joy is now given to us.
All: Through the Holy Spirit, we are gifted with
joy. We are sent forth to bring good news
to the oppressed, to bring healing to the broken,
to anoint everyone with the oil of gladness.
Thanks be to God, we are forgiven. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
One: May the God of love and ladybugs be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: Childen of joy, open your hearts to God.
All: May God fill them with laughter, wonder, and joy.
One: Heirs of pleasure and grace, sing songs of thanksgiving.
All: With banjos and bagpipes, with snare drums and saxophones,
we will praise the One who is filled with laughter.
Into the face of cantankerous chaos, God of guffaws,
you sprayed the waters of creation
from the Spirit's selzer botle.
you laughed out loud as you shaped
the platypus, ostrich, and catfish;
you whistled a merry tune for the songbirds
to learn for that first Easter morning.
Your joy, your laughter, your heart-full spirit
overflowed in creating from your vibrant imagination,
comets racing through the night skies,
hummingbirds darting so fast we cannot see them.
All was created for those shaped in your image,
but in our self-styled wisdom, we thought sin and death
to contain all the knowledge we would ever need.
Prophets came, the greasepaint of judgement dabbed on,
willing to speak of your hopes with what
seemed to be foolish phrases,
so we continued to learn from the sequels
penned anew each day by sin.
Finally, when it seemed our lives were too barren,
you sent Jesus, to break into our midst
with laughter on his lips and joy in his heart.
So with those far-too-wise of every time,
with those who take themselves too seriously in every place,
we sing our glad songs to you:
P: Holy, holy holy are you, creator of dandelions and komodo dragons.
all creation joins in the laughter caused by the empty tomb.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the who comes carrying the joy of the Lord in his heart.
Hosanna in the highest!
You are God, with a great sense of humor,
and your Son, Jesus Christ, blesses us with joy.
Taking off the resplendent robes of glory,
he put on the frizzy, rainbow hair,
the polka-dotted, baggy pants with the red suspenders,
willing to play the clown, tramping through our world
with the pair of shoes five times the size of his feet.
He was willing to look foolish,
so we might wise up to our sinful ways;
he was willing to be laughed at,
so we might hear your serious words;
he was willing to walk through death's wide open doors,
so we might find the exit marked 'salvation.'
As we remember how foolish he seemed to be to many,
as we celebrate this joyous season of resurrection,
we join with those in the glad song of faith:
P: Christ died, foolish in the eyes of the world;
Christ was raised, wise enought to trust you;
Christ will return, gathering us up and taking us to you,
laughing all the way.
Is there anything more foolish than to believe
we can be made whole by Jesus' brokenness?
Is there anything that looks more silly
than to think a common cup can hold grace?
Yet, in the wisdom of your foolish ways,
the ordinary, the everyday become the sacred,
the barren can bring forth new life,
we can reach out a finger and be grasped
by that love which will never let go.
So, as your Spirit is poured out
on the gifts of the Table,
as the bread and cup renew your foolish people,
send us forth to be bearers of joy to the broken,
to be the bread of hope to all who hunger,
to be laughter and light to all who live in shadows.
Then, when the evening of history conmes,
and we awaken on the first day of eternity,
we will join our sisters and brothers around your Table,
celebrating your love, your salvation, your wonder
with clanging cymbals, steel drums, and didgeridoos,
a mighty chorus of praise to you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
(c) 2011 Thom M. Shuman
Suggested texts: Genesis 18:9-15; 21:1-6; Psalm 150
1st Corinthians 1:18-31; John 20:19-29
Call to Laughter
One: This is the time to rejoice!
All: What better time than now!
One: This is the day to laugh:
What did the cabbage pastor
say to the people?
Pastor: Lettuce pray!
One: How many choir directors does
it take to change a light bulb?
Choir: No one knows, because no one
ever watches the director!
One: How many Presbyterians does it take
to change a light bulb?
All: Change? Presbyterians don't believe
in change!
One: What's the greatest joke ever?
All: The one God played on
death on Easter morning!
Prayer of the Day and our Lord's Prayer
You smiled and the sun burst
through the shadows of chaos;
you chuckled,
and the platypus splashed
in creation's fountain;
you laughed,
and all that is good and beautiful
was give shape by you,
Imaginative God.
Snickering at the feeble attempts
of the evil one,
you showed us
how to resist temptation;
giggling at sin's desperate desire
to hold on to us,
you released us by your love;
howling with laughter
at death's foolish belief
that the tomb could hold you,
you burst forth into the kingdom
as the stars pealed with joy,
Laughing Jesus.
As you fill us with new life,
may we delight in sharing it with others;
as you tell us the good news
which can never be taken from us,
may we rejoice in offering it
to the broken, the sad, the lonely;
as you tickle us with grace,
may we give it away
with laughter on our lips
and joy in our hearts,
Spirit of Easter.
God in Community, Holy in One,
our hearts overflow with wonder
as we lift the prayer Jesus has taught us,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
None of us likes to look foolish, but which is
sillier? Chasing after the world and all its gaudy
trinkets which flatter our souls, or being a 'fool
for Christ', imitating him in service to others,
offering ourselves in love and joy to the world?
Let us admit to God the foolish choices we
make each and every day, as we pray, saying,
Unison Prayer of Confession
You know better than we do, Amused God, what
important people we believe we are. Believing we
have to be serious all the time, we miss out on
the joy of your creation. Choosing to feast on the
pain of the world, we skip the picnic offered in
paradise. Clinging to the despair which is our best
friend, we ignore Jesus. who can bring us home to
your heart.
Forgive us, Heart of Joy, and make us open to the
startling, and upside-down, ways in which you work.
Fill us with Easter's laughter; fill us with your healing
joy; fill us with the love poured into us through Jesus
Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silent Prayers may be offered
Assurance of Pardon:
One: The Gospels tell us over and over again of
the joy which comes to us through Christ.
When Jesus was around, lives were changed,
the sick were healed, the sorrowful began
to laugh with joy. The good news is that this
joy is now given to us.
All: Through the Holy Spirit, we are gifted with
joy. We are sent forth to bring good news
to the oppressed, to bring healing to the broken,
to anoint everyone with the oil of gladness.
Thanks be to God, we are forgiven. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
One: May the God of love and ladybugs be with you.
All: And also with you.
One: Childen of joy, open your hearts to God.
All: May God fill them with laughter, wonder, and joy.
One: Heirs of pleasure and grace, sing songs of thanksgiving.
All: With banjos and bagpipes, with snare drums and saxophones,
we will praise the One who is filled with laughter.
Into the face of cantankerous chaos, God of guffaws,
you sprayed the waters of creation
from the Spirit's selzer botle.
you laughed out loud as you shaped
the platypus, ostrich, and catfish;
you whistled a merry tune for the songbirds
to learn for that first Easter morning.
Your joy, your laughter, your heart-full spirit
overflowed in creating from your vibrant imagination,
comets racing through the night skies,
hummingbirds darting so fast we cannot see them.
All was created for those shaped in your image,
but in our self-styled wisdom, we thought sin and death
to contain all the knowledge we would ever need.
Prophets came, the greasepaint of judgement dabbed on,
willing to speak of your hopes with what
seemed to be foolish phrases,
so we continued to learn from the sequels
penned anew each day by sin.
Finally, when it seemed our lives were too barren,
you sent Jesus, to break into our midst
with laughter on his lips and joy in his heart.
So with those far-too-wise of every time,
with those who take themselves too seriously in every place,
we sing our glad songs to you:
P: Holy, holy holy are you, creator of dandelions and komodo dragons.
all creation joins in the laughter caused by the empty tomb.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the who comes carrying the joy of the Lord in his heart.
Hosanna in the highest!
You are God, with a great sense of humor,
and your Son, Jesus Christ, blesses us with joy.
Taking off the resplendent robes of glory,
he put on the frizzy, rainbow hair,
the polka-dotted, baggy pants with the red suspenders,
willing to play the clown, tramping through our world
with the pair of shoes five times the size of his feet.
He was willing to look foolish,
so we might wise up to our sinful ways;
he was willing to be laughed at,
so we might hear your serious words;
he was willing to walk through death's wide open doors,
so we might find the exit marked 'salvation.'
As we remember how foolish he seemed to be to many,
as we celebrate this joyous season of resurrection,
we join with those in the glad song of faith:
P: Christ died, foolish in the eyes of the world;
Christ was raised, wise enought to trust you;
Christ will return, gathering us up and taking us to you,
laughing all the way.
Is there anything more foolish than to believe
we can be made whole by Jesus' brokenness?
Is there anything that looks more silly
than to think a common cup can hold grace?
Yet, in the wisdom of your foolish ways,
the ordinary, the everyday become the sacred,
the barren can bring forth new life,
we can reach out a finger and be grasped
by that love which will never let go.
So, as your Spirit is poured out
on the gifts of the Table,
as the bread and cup renew your foolish people,
send us forth to be bearers of joy to the broken,
to be the bread of hope to all who hunger,
to be laughter and light to all who live in shadows.
Then, when the evening of history conmes,
and we awaken on the first day of eternity,
we will join our sisters and brothers around your Table,
celebrating your love, your salvation, your wonder
with clanging cymbals, steel drums, and didgeridoos,
a mighty chorus of praise to you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
(c) 2011 Thom M. Shuman
Monday, April 18, 2011
Easter - A
Call to Worship
L: This is the day:
P: when healing touches the suffering;
when loneliness discovers a family;
when peace caresses the stressed.
L: This is the day the Lord:
P: breaks free of death's clutches,
rolls away the stone,
folds the grave clothes into a neat pile.
L: This is the day the Lord has made:
P: the day of sin's defeat,
the day of resurrection,
the first day of the new creation.
L: This is the day!
P: Christ is risen! Hallelujah!
Prayer of the Day
Early in the morning
before chaos was awake,
you tiptoed quietly past,
Surprising God:
and whispered the Word
which caused grace and love
to blossom into creation.
Early in the morning
while the disciples slept,
Jesus, Son of the Living God:
you prepared a feast
to fill their emptiness;
you rolled away their hardened hearts
to open them to your grace;
you whispered their names
to awaken them to new life.
Early in the morning
while we are still drowsy,
you sing your songs to us,
Holy Spirit:
hymns of hope,
cantatas of compassion,
psalms of peace,
litanies of love.
God in Community, Holy in One,
early this morning we bring our prayer to you
as Jesus has taught us, saying,
Our Father...
Call to Reconciliation
It was early in the morning, when God created
all the good and beauty in the universe. It was
early in the morning that a baby cried in a manger.
It was early in the morning on that first day, when
a voice told us that death has been defeated and
Jesus is alive in our midst. Let us confess the
fear, and the great joy, we bring with us, early
in the mornings . . .
Unison Prayer of Confession
This morning, Wonderful God, in the company
of your church - saints and sinners - we gather to
celebrate your life, your ministry, your death and
resurrection, your great love for us. Yet, we know
we often leave the celebration here in the sanctuary,
as we leave and go back to our homes, our jobs, our
fears, our doubts, our lives.
Bring us a new life, God of the living, where we
are tired and stressed; transform our hardened hearts
into fountains of love; forgive us the hurts and harms
we have caused; fill us with the joy of your Holy
Spirit in the hollows of our souls.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: God, our Creator, gives us new life;
Christ, our Reconciliation, invites us
to a Table;
Holy Spirit, our Teacher of the Way, the
Truth, the Life;
this is the Good News: the tomb is empty,
death is conquered, sin has lost its power.
P: We are a new people, shaped by the Risen
Lord into new life forever! Thanks be to God.
Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: The God of early mornings be with you.
P: and also with you.
L: People of the first day, lift up your hearts!
P: We lift them to the One
who makes every day Easter.
L: People of Easter joy, give thanks
to the One who is your salvation.
P: We offer our hallelujahs
to the God of steadfast love.
We lift our praise to you,
Gardener of Creation.
On the first day,
your Light split the shadows of chaos,
and all goodness flowed forth.
Gently and tenderly,
you gathered up the dust of the earth
and shaped us into your image.
But the day came
when we chose
to run away from you,
preferring our petty schemes
to your dreams for us.
You sang to us through the prophets,
hoping we would join you
in the heavenly chorus.
But we kept silent,
believing our wisdom
was far superior to your love.
And when we dug our heels in
through blind stubbornness,
refusing to follow you,
you became one of us
that you might lead us back to you.
Therefore we join our glad songs of Easter
with those in every time and in every place,
who sing to you their praise:
P: Rejoice, heavenly powers!
Sing, choirs of angels!
Jesus Christ, our Lord, is risen!
You alone are holy, Steadfast God,
and blessed is your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
God's true Light,
he wandered the shadows of hell
to bring us out;
God's own Beloved,
he endured our sin,
to heal us forever;
God's own Glory,
he went into the grave,
that we might enter
the gates of righteousness.
As we remember you raising him
from the dead and giving us life,
we proclaim our faith:
P: Sin is conquered;
death is defeated;
Christ is risen!
Alleluia!
Here at this Table
we are nourished by your steadfast love,
Resurrecting God.
As you pour out your Spirit
upon the bread and the cup,
fill us with the grace of Jesus.
As we have been raised to new life,
may we reach out to those who have fallen;
as we have been fed,
may we fill the hunger of the world;
as we have seen the empty tomb,
may we bear witness to the presence
of the Risen Lord in our lives.
Then, when we are united with all the saints,
may we gather around your Table,
one people, lifting our voices in praise to you,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen.
(c) Thom M. Shuman
L: This is the day:
P: when healing touches the suffering;
when loneliness discovers a family;
when peace caresses the stressed.
L: This is the day the Lord:
P: breaks free of death's clutches,
rolls away the stone,
folds the grave clothes into a neat pile.
L: This is the day the Lord has made:
P: the day of sin's defeat,
the day of resurrection,
the first day of the new creation.
L: This is the day!
P: Christ is risen! Hallelujah!
Prayer of the Day
Early in the morning
before chaos was awake,
you tiptoed quietly past,
Surprising God:
and whispered the Word
which caused grace and love
to blossom into creation.
Early in the morning
while the disciples slept,
Jesus, Son of the Living God:
you prepared a feast
to fill their emptiness;
you rolled away their hardened hearts
to open them to your grace;
you whispered their names
to awaken them to new life.
Early in the morning
while we are still drowsy,
you sing your songs to us,
Holy Spirit:
hymns of hope,
cantatas of compassion,
psalms of peace,
litanies of love.
God in Community, Holy in One,
early this morning we bring our prayer to you
as Jesus has taught us, saying,
Our Father...
Call to Reconciliation
It was early in the morning, when God created
all the good and beauty in the universe. It was
early in the morning that a baby cried in a manger.
It was early in the morning on that first day, when
a voice told us that death has been defeated and
Jesus is alive in our midst. Let us confess the
fear, and the great joy, we bring with us, early
in the mornings . . .
Unison Prayer of Confession
This morning, Wonderful God, in the company
of your church - saints and sinners - we gather to
celebrate your life, your ministry, your death and
resurrection, your great love for us. Yet, we know
we often leave the celebration here in the sanctuary,
as we leave and go back to our homes, our jobs, our
fears, our doubts, our lives.
Bring us a new life, God of the living, where we
are tired and stressed; transform our hardened hearts
into fountains of love; forgive us the hurts and harms
we have caused; fill us with the joy of your Holy
Spirit in the hollows of our souls.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: God, our Creator, gives us new life;
Christ, our Reconciliation, invites us
to a Table;
Holy Spirit, our Teacher of the Way, the
Truth, the Life;
this is the Good News: the tomb is empty,
death is conquered, sin has lost its power.
P: We are a new people, shaped by the Risen
Lord into new life forever! Thanks be to God.
Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: The God of early mornings be with you.
P: and also with you.
L: People of the first day, lift up your hearts!
P: We lift them to the One
who makes every day Easter.
L: People of Easter joy, give thanks
to the One who is your salvation.
P: We offer our hallelujahs
to the God of steadfast love.
We lift our praise to you,
Gardener of Creation.
On the first day,
your Light split the shadows of chaos,
and all goodness flowed forth.
Gently and tenderly,
you gathered up the dust of the earth
and shaped us into your image.
But the day came
when we chose
to run away from you,
preferring our petty schemes
to your dreams for us.
You sang to us through the prophets,
hoping we would join you
in the heavenly chorus.
But we kept silent,
believing our wisdom
was far superior to your love.
And when we dug our heels in
through blind stubbornness,
refusing to follow you,
you became one of us
that you might lead us back to you.
Therefore we join our glad songs of Easter
with those in every time and in every place,
who sing to you their praise:
P: Rejoice, heavenly powers!
Sing, choirs of angels!
Jesus Christ, our Lord, is risen!
You alone are holy, Steadfast God,
and blessed is your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
God's true Light,
he wandered the shadows of hell
to bring us out;
God's own Beloved,
he endured our sin,
to heal us forever;
God's own Glory,
he went into the grave,
that we might enter
the gates of righteousness.
As we remember you raising him
from the dead and giving us life,
we proclaim our faith:
P: Sin is conquered;
death is defeated;
Christ is risen!
Alleluia!
Here at this Table
we are nourished by your steadfast love,
Resurrecting God.
As you pour out your Spirit
upon the bread and the cup,
fill us with the grace of Jesus.
As we have been raised to new life,
may we reach out to those who have fallen;
as we have been fed,
may we fill the hunger of the world;
as we have seen the empty tomb,
may we bear witness to the presence
of the Risen Lord in our lives.
Then, when we are united with all the saints,
may we gather around your Table,
one people, lifting our voices in praise to you,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen.
(c) Thom M. Shuman
Good Friday
Call to Worship
L: Here, in the midst of these people,
we come to worship you.
P: We come with the groans of our lives,
and the whispers of hope in our hearts.
L: Here, in the midst of these people,
we come to remember you.
P: We come, trusting you have not forgotten us;
and that here, promises will be fulfilled.
L Here, in the midst of these people,
we come to have our hearts touched.
P: We come, knowing you hear our souls;
we come, to praise you for your steadfast love.
Prayer of the Day
On this day, God of all tears,
you call us in the midst
of our busy lives
to look at the suffering and death
of the One who came to carry
the pain of the world into your heart.
Give us eyes to see your love
this day.
On this day
you would gather everyone
to your side,
Grace of Calvary,
but we leave you
to carry the cross alone.
You came simply as love incarnate,
but hate and bitterness
were the gifts we offered to you.
You poured out your love
so our emptiness might be filled.
Give us ears to her your pain
this day.
On this day,
you would pray for us,
for we cannot find the words
on our own,
Shattered Spirit.
Hear the cries of those in need.
Listen to the lament of the lonely.
Cradle the whispered hopes of children.
Set free the dreams of prisoners and captives.
Give us hearts to pray with you
this day.
God in Community, Holy in One,
we lift our prayers to you in the name of the One
who suffered and died for us
this day
and who teaches us to pray, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
Confident of the hope received by the death of Christ, we bring our hearts -
broken, stained with sin, filled with failings - to the One who sprinkles
them with grace, cleansing them with the waters of life.
Unison Prayer of Confession
Like little children who can wander off in a crowded store, we have lost our
way, God of the grim day. We betray you when we do not befriend the poor; we
deny you when we are afraid to speak up for the voiceless; we turn our backs
on you when we do not do good for others; we crucify you when we harm our
family and friends.
At the foot of the cross, we stand with all who have forgotten you and
forsaken the way which you offer to us. Forgive us, Lamb of God, and fill us
with the mercy, the hope, the grace you poured out for us, as you gave your
life for the sins of the world.
Extended silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: Christ has lifted our suffering onto his shoulders, carrying all our
hurts and rejections into God's heart. There, God casts them away into the
sea of forgetfulness, so we may be restored to hope and live as new people.
P: Fed with grace, carried in God's arms, we know that we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
(c) 2007 Thom M. Shuman
L: Here, in the midst of these people,
we come to worship you.
P: We come with the groans of our lives,
and the whispers of hope in our hearts.
L: Here, in the midst of these people,
we come to remember you.
P: We come, trusting you have not forgotten us;
and that here, promises will be fulfilled.
L Here, in the midst of these people,
we come to have our hearts touched.
P: We come, knowing you hear our souls;
we come, to praise you for your steadfast love.
Prayer of the Day
On this day, God of all tears,
you call us in the midst
of our busy lives
to look at the suffering and death
of the One who came to carry
the pain of the world into your heart.
Give us eyes to see your love
this day.
On this day
you would gather everyone
to your side,
Grace of Calvary,
but we leave you
to carry the cross alone.
You came simply as love incarnate,
but hate and bitterness
were the gifts we offered to you.
You poured out your love
so our emptiness might be filled.
Give us ears to her your pain
this day.
On this day,
you would pray for us,
for we cannot find the words
on our own,
Shattered Spirit.
Hear the cries of those in need.
Listen to the lament of the lonely.
Cradle the whispered hopes of children.
Set free the dreams of prisoners and captives.
Give us hearts to pray with you
this day.
God in Community, Holy in One,
we lift our prayers to you in the name of the One
who suffered and died for us
this day
and who teaches us to pray, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
Confident of the hope received by the death of Christ, we bring our hearts -
broken, stained with sin, filled with failings - to the One who sprinkles
them with grace, cleansing them with the waters of life.
Unison Prayer of Confession
Like little children who can wander off in a crowded store, we have lost our
way, God of the grim day. We betray you when we do not befriend the poor; we
deny you when we are afraid to speak up for the voiceless; we turn our backs
on you when we do not do good for others; we crucify you when we harm our
family and friends.
At the foot of the cross, we stand with all who have forgotten you and
forsaken the way which you offer to us. Forgive us, Lamb of God, and fill us
with the mercy, the hope, the grace you poured out for us, as you gave your
life for the sins of the world.
Extended silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: Christ has lifted our suffering onto his shoulders, carrying all our
hurts and rejections into God's heart. There, God casts them away into the
sea of forgetfulness, so we may be restored to hope and live as new people.
P: Fed with grace, carried in God's arms, we know that we are forgiven.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
(c) 2007 Thom M. Shuman
Maundy Thursday
Call to Worship
L: In remembrance, we gather:
P: to be with the One who teaches us the meaning of faithfulness.
L: In remembrance, we worship:
P: lifting our voices to the One who calls us to love one another.
L: In remembrance, we feast:
P: breaking the Bread which makes us whole,
drinking the Cup which fills us with grace.
Evening Prayer
It was the beginning of hope
on that night long ago,
Liberating God,
as you prepared to lead
your people to freedom.
As they readied themselves,
you fed them
with your unblemished grace,
so all sin, pain, and bitterness
could be set down and left behind
when it was time
to follow you.
It was the beginning of salvation
on that night long ago,
Servant Lord,
as you prepared your disciples
for all the things which were to happen.
You humbled yourself
by washing their feet,
so they could follow you
in service and love
to a world which would reject you
and hang you on a cross.
We tell these stories once again
on this night of remembrance,
Servant's Spirit.
Here is the Bread
which gives us life;
here is the Cup
which slakes our thirst for justice;
here is the towel
with which we wipe the tears
of the broken-hearted;
here is the basin
which cleanses the stains
of the world.
Prepare us for our journey of discipleship,
God in Community, Holy in One,
as we pray as our Servant, Jesus Christ,
teaches us, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
How is it people will recognize us as followers of Jesus? Simply by how we
treat one another. Let us confess how we have not loved as Christ loves us.
Unison Prayer of Confession
Creator and Loving God, you kneel to wash our feet, yet we are reluctant
for you to see all the places we have gone in our attempts to escape you.
You would bathe us in the warm, living waters of your love, and though we
splash and play in the puddles of temptation. We have received all the
gifts you have to offer, yet we are tempted to think they are only for us,
rather than sharing them.
Forgive us, Holy One, and have mercy on us. What can we give you for all
your wonderful graciousness towards us? As you have broken your heart for
us, may we open ours in service to others. As you have given your life for
us, may we offer ours to bring healing to the world. As you have called us
together around your Table, may we go forth to feed a world hungry, not only
for food, but for that Spirit which brings peace and reconciliation. This
we pray as servants of Jesus Christ, who came to serve us in life, in death,
in resurrection hope.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: On this holiest of nights, we have received the good news: God has come
in Christ Jesus, to fill us with hope and peace, to bathe us in grace and
mercy.
P: In remembrance, we go forth:
to bring hope where despair resides;
to be servants to those who are broken;
to love as selflessly as we are loved by Jesus Christ, our Lord
and Savior. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: May the God of last suppers be with you.
P: And also with you.
L: Open your hearts to God this night.
P: We open them to the One whose heart is broken this night.
L: In the midst of uncertainty and fears, we will praise God.
P: Our thanks are offered to the One who walks and waits
with us through long nights.
When the hour had come, Creator of the heavens and earth,
you lifted up the cup of creation,
pouring it into the emptiness of chaos.
Rivers played tag through the valleys,
stars spangled the blue-black night,
joy danced in the fields of grace.
Given that fountain flowing with living water,
we drank from betrayal's bitter cup;
offered the feast of faith,
we sat down at sin's groaning table.
You asked the prophets to remind us of promises made,
but we continued to embrace the pangs of hopelessness.
Then, because we are your own, you sent Jesus
to glorify you by saving us from ourselves.
Therefore, with those whose feet are covered with sin,
and those who hearts are gripped by fear,
we join the choirs of every time and place,
forever singing your praises:
P: Holy, holy, holy, God of towels and basins.
We join heaven and earth in praising your name.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who became a servant for us.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, God of Redemption,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, our Servant, our Savior.
When the hour had come, he got up from grace's side,
took off his glory, tied humanity around his heart
to cleanse us of our sins.
In the midst of his friends, in the congregation of his enemies,
he kept the promised made to you, to love us to the very end.
our friend, he welcomed all;
our teacher, he modeled the life of obedience and faith;
our Lord, he endured the snares of death,
that we might have life with you.
Every time we eat the bread, our brokenness is made whole;
every time we drink from the cup, we receive unceasing grace;
every time we come to the Table,
we remember that mystery called faith:
P: In remembrance, we mourn Christ's death;
in remembrance, we look to the Day of Resurrection;
in remembrance, we await his return to us.
Now that the hour is come,
send your Spirit upon the gifts
of the bread and the cup.
As you cradle the bread in your gentleness,
break it, give it to us, feed us with your compassion
that we might be made whole
and, in our healing,
become servants to a shattered world.
As you take the cup,
mingle its juices with your tears of hope,
so we might carry this gift
to all who have lost every thing.
And when there are no more hours to come,
when there is only eternal peace and life with you,
we will gather in that upper room called your heart,
serving our families and friends with grace,
receiving forgiveness from our enemies,
singing your joy, forever and ever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
(c) 2009 Thom M. Shuman
L: In remembrance, we gather:
P: to be with the One who teaches us the meaning of faithfulness.
L: In remembrance, we worship:
P: lifting our voices to the One who calls us to love one another.
L: In remembrance, we feast:
P: breaking the Bread which makes us whole,
drinking the Cup which fills us with grace.
Evening Prayer
It was the beginning of hope
on that night long ago,
Liberating God,
as you prepared to lead
your people to freedom.
As they readied themselves,
you fed them
with your unblemished grace,
so all sin, pain, and bitterness
could be set down and left behind
when it was time
to follow you.
It was the beginning of salvation
on that night long ago,
Servant Lord,
as you prepared your disciples
for all the things which were to happen.
You humbled yourself
by washing their feet,
so they could follow you
in service and love
to a world which would reject you
and hang you on a cross.
We tell these stories once again
on this night of remembrance,
Servant's Spirit.
Here is the Bread
which gives us life;
here is the Cup
which slakes our thirst for justice;
here is the towel
with which we wipe the tears
of the broken-hearted;
here is the basin
which cleanses the stains
of the world.
Prepare us for our journey of discipleship,
God in Community, Holy in One,
as we pray as our Servant, Jesus Christ,
teaches us, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
How is it people will recognize us as followers of Jesus? Simply by how we
treat one another. Let us confess how we have not loved as Christ loves us.
Unison Prayer of Confession
Creator and Loving God, you kneel to wash our feet, yet we are reluctant
for you to see all the places we have gone in our attempts to escape you.
You would bathe us in the warm, living waters of your love, and though we
splash and play in the puddles of temptation. We have received all the
gifts you have to offer, yet we are tempted to think they are only for us,
rather than sharing them.
Forgive us, Holy One, and have mercy on us. What can we give you for all
your wonderful graciousness towards us? As you have broken your heart for
us, may we open ours in service to others. As you have given your life for
us, may we offer ours to bring healing to the world. As you have called us
together around your Table, may we go forth to feed a world hungry, not only
for food, but for that Spirit which brings peace and reconciliation. This
we pray as servants of Jesus Christ, who came to serve us in life, in death,
in resurrection hope.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: On this holiest of nights, we have received the good news: God has come
in Christ Jesus, to fill us with hope and peace, to bathe us in grace and
mercy.
P: In remembrance, we go forth:
to bring hope where despair resides;
to be servants to those who are broken;
to love as selflessly as we are loved by Jesus Christ, our Lord
and Savior. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: May the God of last suppers be with you.
P: And also with you.
L: Open your hearts to God this night.
P: We open them to the One whose heart is broken this night.
L: In the midst of uncertainty and fears, we will praise God.
P: Our thanks are offered to the One who walks and waits
with us through long nights.
When the hour had come, Creator of the heavens and earth,
you lifted up the cup of creation,
pouring it into the emptiness of chaos.
Rivers played tag through the valleys,
stars spangled the blue-black night,
joy danced in the fields of grace.
Given that fountain flowing with living water,
we drank from betrayal's bitter cup;
offered the feast of faith,
we sat down at sin's groaning table.
You asked the prophets to remind us of promises made,
but we continued to embrace the pangs of hopelessness.
Then, because we are your own, you sent Jesus
to glorify you by saving us from ourselves.
Therefore, with those whose feet are covered with sin,
and those who hearts are gripped by fear,
we join the choirs of every time and place,
forever singing your praises:
P: Holy, holy, holy, God of towels and basins.
We join heaven and earth in praising your name.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who became a servant for us.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, God of Redemption,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, our Servant, our Savior.
When the hour had come, he got up from grace's side,
took off his glory, tied humanity around his heart
to cleanse us of our sins.
In the midst of his friends, in the congregation of his enemies,
he kept the promised made to you, to love us to the very end.
our friend, he welcomed all;
our teacher, he modeled the life of obedience and faith;
our Lord, he endured the snares of death,
that we might have life with you.
Every time we eat the bread, our brokenness is made whole;
every time we drink from the cup, we receive unceasing grace;
every time we come to the Table,
we remember that mystery called faith:
P: In remembrance, we mourn Christ's death;
in remembrance, we look to the Day of Resurrection;
in remembrance, we await his return to us.
Now that the hour is come,
send your Spirit upon the gifts
of the bread and the cup.
As you cradle the bread in your gentleness,
break it, give it to us, feed us with your compassion
that we might be made whole
and, in our healing,
become servants to a shattered world.
As you take the cup,
mingle its juices with your tears of hope,
so we might carry this gift
to all who have lost every thing.
And when there are no more hours to come,
when there is only eternal peace and life with you,
we will gather in that upper room called your heart,
serving our families and friends with grace,
receiving forgiveness from our enemies,
singing your joy, forever and ever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
(c) 2009 Thom M. Shuman
Monday, April 11, 2011
Passion/Palm Sunday - A
Texts: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Philippians 2:5-11;
Matthew 21:1-11
Call to Worship
L: Here in this place, with these people,
we begin that week we call Holy.
P: We crane our necks to see the parade,
we will bow our heads as the funeral
procession winds through the streets.
L: We have been with Jesus on this journey;
we long for courage to go to the end.
P: In one hand, we clutch the palm branches;
in the other, we cradle our broken hearts.
L: As children dance excitedly around him,
Jesus humbly enters our lives.
P: Hosanna! We welcome the kingdom
bearer into our midst. Hosanna!
Prayer of the Day
Our hearts are wounded
by the nails we carry in them,
yet you would heal us
with your love.
We are worn to the quick
by the struggles of our lives,
yet you carry us in your heart.
Our souls are emptied
by the loneliness of our lives,
yet you would fill us
with sisters and brothers.
Blessed are you,
who comes to live with us!
You could have remained
in Nazareth, caring for your family,
but you journeyed through our lives
to bring us home.
You could have stayed
at home in glory,
but you vacated God's heart,
to serve us with grace.
You could have come
clutching unbearable power,
but you filled your pockets
with humility's wealth
to share it with us.
Blessed are you,
who comes to save us!
When we would puff up with pride,
deflate us with your gentleness.
When we would go home,
after the parade has ended,
walk us to the foot of the cross.
When we would put
our "Hosannas" away
for another year,
teach us to sing
our gratitude for new life.
Blessed are you,
who comes to help us.
God in Community, Holy in One
we bless you, as we lift our prayer, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
We sing, we wave our branches, we shout
'Hosanna.' Then, we turn away, to go back to
our old ways, our old lives, our old sins. But
God is in the business of granting forgiveness
and filling us with new life. Let us confess
to the One who comes to fill us with grace,
Unison Prayer of Confession
With eager hearts and open hands, Holy One,
we welcome Jesus, until he refuses the power
we offer him, choosing to become our servant.
We pick up the faith we had laid on the ground
before him, and put it back on the shelf where
it belongs. Our pride keeps us from being able
to follow him all the way to Calvary.
Hosanna, Steadfast God, save us! Help us to
let our fears, our doubts, our faithlessness slip
from our lives to fall at your feet, so we may stand
with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who comes
in your name, in your glory, in your grace to save us.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: Tell the daughters of despair, proclaim it to the
sons of sadness: Christ has come to save us!
P: Hosanna! We will give our thanks to God,
who comes to bring us grace, hope, life.
Hosanna in the highest. Amen!
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: The Lord of parades be with you.
P: And also with you.
L: People of God, open your hearts
to the One who comes with hope.
P: We would receive the joy and grace
the prophet from Nazareth brings us.
L: Give thanks to God,
for God's love endures forever!
P: God is our God, the One who comes
to make us whole
Joy is indeed the highest praise
we can offer to you,
Steadfast Love.
On that first morning,
you woke creation
from its slumbering sleep,
to give light to chaos' shadows.
Morning by morning,
you shaped your dreams
into everything that is true,
turning hopes into your justice.
You asked simply that we rejoice
in your gifts and glory,
but we chose to sing the choruses
of sin and rebellion,
following death as it paraded
through the world.
Prophets struggled to awaken
our dulled ears
with whispers of peace,
but we laughed at their ideas
that we should return to you.
When you could have set your face like flint,
when you could have hardened your resolve,
you sent your Child, your Joy,
Therefore, we join our voices in thanksgiving,
with those who shouted "Hosanna"
and with those who ran away from you,
with those in every moment, and in this moment,
singing with all creation to your glory:
P: Holy, holy, holy are you, Opener of our ears.
All creation proclaims, "God's steadfast love endures forever."
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who opens the gates of righteousness.
Hosanna in the highest!
You are holy, God our Creator,
and blessed is Jesus Christ,
who comes in your grace.
When he could have filled your heart,
he poured himself out for us;
when he could have remained by your side,
he came to be a servant,
raising us to glory;
when he could have watched from heaven,
he came down to show us your heart;
when he could have taken the easy way,
he chose to be faithful to you,
even to the point of shameful death.
As he gathered up our brokenness
to make us whole,
you raised him to new life,
and he stands with us in eternity,
glorifying you forever.
As we remember the joy and excitement of the parade,
as we remember the gentle words he taught,
as we remember the spirit with which he died,
we proclaim the One who is the Bread of Life:
P: Christ died, emptying his life for us;
Christ rose, defeating our old adversaries sin and death;
Christ will come, to fulfill what has been promised.
Here, at this Table,
we would receive the gifts
of the bread and the cup,
and your Spirit which anoints us with peace.
Nourish us with the Bread of hope,
that we might go into
the brokenness of our world;
fill us with the cup of grace,
so the weary would discover us
standing by their side;
fill us with the overflowing joy
of the good news,
so we might sing forever
of your heart's desire
for justice and peace for all people.
Then, on that final morning,
when we gather for the Feast of the Lamb,
when we are seated with those
who shouted their hosannas,
as well as those who yelled for death,
we will join our voices in eternity's anthem,
giving our thanks to you forever and ever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
(c) Thom M. Shuman
Matthew 21:1-11
Call to Worship
L: Here in this place, with these people,
we begin that week we call Holy.
P: We crane our necks to see the parade,
we will bow our heads as the funeral
procession winds through the streets.
L: We have been with Jesus on this journey;
we long for courage to go to the end.
P: In one hand, we clutch the palm branches;
in the other, we cradle our broken hearts.
L: As children dance excitedly around him,
Jesus humbly enters our lives.
P: Hosanna! We welcome the kingdom
bearer into our midst. Hosanna!
Prayer of the Day
Our hearts are wounded
by the nails we carry in them,
yet you would heal us
with your love.
We are worn to the quick
by the struggles of our lives,
yet you carry us in your heart.
Our souls are emptied
by the loneliness of our lives,
yet you would fill us
with sisters and brothers.
Blessed are you,
who comes to live with us!
You could have remained
in Nazareth, caring for your family,
but you journeyed through our lives
to bring us home.
You could have stayed
at home in glory,
but you vacated God's heart,
to serve us with grace.
You could have come
clutching unbearable power,
but you filled your pockets
with humility's wealth
to share it with us.
Blessed are you,
who comes to save us!
When we would puff up with pride,
deflate us with your gentleness.
When we would go home,
after the parade has ended,
walk us to the foot of the cross.
When we would put
our "Hosannas" away
for another year,
teach us to sing
our gratitude for new life.
Blessed are you,
who comes to help us.
God in Community, Holy in One
we bless you, as we lift our prayer, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
We sing, we wave our branches, we shout
'Hosanna.' Then, we turn away, to go back to
our old ways, our old lives, our old sins. But
God is in the business of granting forgiveness
and filling us with new life. Let us confess
to the One who comes to fill us with grace,
Unison Prayer of Confession
With eager hearts and open hands, Holy One,
we welcome Jesus, until he refuses the power
we offer him, choosing to become our servant.
We pick up the faith we had laid on the ground
before him, and put it back on the shelf where
it belongs. Our pride keeps us from being able
to follow him all the way to Calvary.
Hosanna, Steadfast God, save us! Help us to
let our fears, our doubts, our faithlessness slip
from our lives to fall at your feet, so we may stand
with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who comes
in your name, in your glory, in your grace to save us.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: Tell the daughters of despair, proclaim it to the
sons of sadness: Christ has come to save us!
P: Hosanna! We will give our thanks to God,
who comes to bring us grace, hope, life.
Hosanna in the highest. Amen!
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: The Lord of parades be with you.
P: And also with you.
L: People of God, open your hearts
to the One who comes with hope.
P: We would receive the joy and grace
the prophet from Nazareth brings us.
L: Give thanks to God,
for God's love endures forever!
P: God is our God, the One who comes
to make us whole
Joy is indeed the highest praise
we can offer to you,
Steadfast Love.
On that first morning,
you woke creation
from its slumbering sleep,
to give light to chaos' shadows.
Morning by morning,
you shaped your dreams
into everything that is true,
turning hopes into your justice.
You asked simply that we rejoice
in your gifts and glory,
but we chose to sing the choruses
of sin and rebellion,
following death as it paraded
through the world.
Prophets struggled to awaken
our dulled ears
with whispers of peace,
but we laughed at their ideas
that we should return to you.
When you could have set your face like flint,
when you could have hardened your resolve,
you sent your Child, your Joy,
Therefore, we join our voices in thanksgiving,
with those who shouted "Hosanna"
and with those who ran away from you,
with those in every moment, and in this moment,
singing with all creation to your glory:
P: Holy, holy, holy are you, Opener of our ears.
All creation proclaims, "God's steadfast love endures forever."
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who opens the gates of righteousness.
Hosanna in the highest!
You are holy, God our Creator,
and blessed is Jesus Christ,
who comes in your grace.
When he could have filled your heart,
he poured himself out for us;
when he could have remained by your side,
he came to be a servant,
raising us to glory;
when he could have watched from heaven,
he came down to show us your heart;
when he could have taken the easy way,
he chose to be faithful to you,
even to the point of shameful death.
As he gathered up our brokenness
to make us whole,
you raised him to new life,
and he stands with us in eternity,
glorifying you forever.
As we remember the joy and excitement of the parade,
as we remember the gentle words he taught,
as we remember the spirit with which he died,
we proclaim the One who is the Bread of Life:
P: Christ died, emptying his life for us;
Christ rose, defeating our old adversaries sin and death;
Christ will come, to fulfill what has been promised.
Here, at this Table,
we would receive the gifts
of the bread and the cup,
and your Spirit which anoints us with peace.
Nourish us with the Bread of hope,
that we might go into
the brokenness of our world;
fill us with the cup of grace,
so the weary would discover us
standing by their side;
fill us with the overflowing joy
of the good news,
so we might sing forever
of your heart's desire
for justice and peace for all people.
Then, on that final morning,
when we gather for the Feast of the Lamb,
when we are seated with those
who shouted their hosannas,
as well as those who yelled for death,
we will join our voices in eternity's anthem,
giving our thanks to you forever and ever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
(c) Thom M. Shuman
Sunday, April 03, 2011
Fifth Sunday in Lent - A
Texts: Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45
Call to Worship
L: The psalmist tells us if we will but wait, God will whisper hope to us.
Do you believe this?
P: We believe God's Word is not a pipe dream, but the river of love which flows forever!
L: Paul reminds us that it is foolishness to think only of ourselves and our wants.
Do you believe this?
P: We believe that when we pay attention to God, we will find joy, peace, love!
L: Jesus calls us to walk in the light, so we will not continue to stumble over our sin.
Do you believe this?
P: We believe he is the One who leads us out of Hopeless Valley into the kingdom of grace and life!
Prayer of the Day
With you,
there is that life
broken enough to make us whole;
with you,
there is that gentleness
strong enough to save us from sin;
with you,
there is that grace
powerful enough to defeat death.
Bone of our bone:
our hearts hear your voice
and do handsprings of hope.
In you,
our death-stained souls
are cleansed by your tears;
in you,
we are brought out of
the graves of our bitterness;
in you,
our broken relationships
are knitted together
into the Beloved's community.
Flesh of our flesh:
our hearts hear your voice
and do handsprings of grace.
Through you,
our dried-up lives
are refreshed;
through you,
the valley of No Hope
becomes the Garden of Grace;
through you,
our exhausted souls
are filled with joy's breath.
Spirit of our spirits:
our hearts hear your voice
and do handsprings of laughter.
God in Community, Holy in One,
may your heart do handsprings
as we pray as Jesus has taught us, saying
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
If God was intent on keeping score, we would end up in the losers' bracket every time. But God loves us so much, that we are invited to join in that game of grace which never comes to an end. With such hope for our lives, let us confess our sins to God.
Unison Prayer of Confession
Like the disciples, Holy One, we drag our feet when it comes to following you. You would have us face conflict, and we prefer to look the other way. You would lead us into those hopeless valleys where so many of your children live, and we would build homes on the mountaintops. You would bring us into peace and reconciliation, but we would stay entombed in our troubles and fears.
Forgive us, Creator of new lives. As Lazarus was brought forth from the grave, unbind every worry which keeps us from living as your children. As the Spirit lead Jesus from the tomb into the joy of the Resurrection, fill us with the power to walk in the light of this hope. As Jesus offers us the life and resurrection we need, help us to believe the good news which comes from our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: Jesus loved Lazarus so much, he brought him back from the grave. God loved Jesus so much that he was raised to new life. See how much God loves us - loves you! - by forgiving and saving us.
P: We thank you for hearing our prayers, Lord God, and for setting us free from everything which would bind us to sin and death. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: May the God of old graves and new life be with you!
P: And also with you.
L: People of God, lift up your hearts.
P: We offer them to the One whose spirit is placed within us.
L: Wait for God, children of the resurrection, wait with hope in your souls.
P: We sing to the One who rolled away the stone, and who will open the graves.
Into the barren valley of chaos,
you breathed, River of Love:
joy raced through the heavens
flinging stars into the night;
grace danced upon the earth,
springing up in every place
in which it was planted.
Gathering up creation's dust,
you formed us as your image,
bone of your bone,
flesh of your flesh,
heart of your heart.
You gave us the garden of your heart
in which to dwell with you forever,
but we became entranced
with the world's seductive valleys,
and wrapped ourselves in death's gravecloths,
finding them a perfect fit.
Though your heart was broken,
you sent prophets to call us forth
from all those places littered
with our faithless hearts and souls.
But we would not breathe
the new grace you offered,
turning over to sleep in our dried-up dreams.
So, with tears running down your face,
you sent Jesus to become
our hope, our life, our salvation.
Therefore, we join our voices
with those whose dried bones were given new life,
and all who cry out to you for hope,
singing of the glory of your name:
P: Holy, Holy, Holy are you, Breath of new life.
All creation waits, hoping in your Word.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the resurrection and the life who comes to us.
Hosanna in the highest!
Grace is who you are, God of Every Heart,
and blessed is Jesus Christ,
our Brother, our Redeemer, our Hope.
Weeping over the brokenness
of your dreams for us,
he came to make us whole.
Weeping over the pain we cause,
he came to heal us.
Weeping over Jerusalem,
he came to bring forth
the new kingdom of peace.
Weeping over Lazarus,
he wipes away the tears
of all who grieve.
Weeping over the power
of sin and death,
he left them behind at the grave,
as your Spirit raised him
to the life of your new hope.
As we remember his life, his death, his love,
as we long for the promise of our resurrection,
we sing of that mystery called faith:
P: Christ died, and God wept;
Christ arose, and the angels rejoiced;
Christ wil come, untangling us from sin and death.
Send your Spirit upon those gathered
around your Table of joy,
and upon the gifts of grace and peace.
As we are fed by the Bread of Life,
may we be serve all
who live around us.
As we drink from the Cup of hope,
may we share it
with all who long for your presence.
As your Spirit moves into
the guestroom of our hearts,
may we welcome those
who have no family or home.
As you listen to our prayers,
may we open our hearts
to the cries of the broken of our world.
And when we are awakened from sleep,
to live forever with you,
as we join hands and hearts
around your Feast in heaven,
may we sing your praises forever and ever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
(c) 2011 Thom M. Shuman
Call to Worship
L: The psalmist tells us if we will but wait, God will whisper hope to us.
Do you believe this?
P: We believe God's Word is not a pipe dream, but the river of love which flows forever!
L: Paul reminds us that it is foolishness to think only of ourselves and our wants.
Do you believe this?
P: We believe that when we pay attention to God, we will find joy, peace, love!
L: Jesus calls us to walk in the light, so we will not continue to stumble over our sin.
Do you believe this?
P: We believe he is the One who leads us out of Hopeless Valley into the kingdom of grace and life!
Prayer of the Day
With you,
there is that life
broken enough to make us whole;
with you,
there is that gentleness
strong enough to save us from sin;
with you,
there is that grace
powerful enough to defeat death.
Bone of our bone:
our hearts hear your voice
and do handsprings of hope.
In you,
our death-stained souls
are cleansed by your tears;
in you,
we are brought out of
the graves of our bitterness;
in you,
our broken relationships
are knitted together
into the Beloved's community.
Flesh of our flesh:
our hearts hear your voice
and do handsprings of grace.
Through you,
our dried-up lives
are refreshed;
through you,
the valley of No Hope
becomes the Garden of Grace;
through you,
our exhausted souls
are filled with joy's breath.
Spirit of our spirits:
our hearts hear your voice
and do handsprings of laughter.
God in Community, Holy in One,
may your heart do handsprings
as we pray as Jesus has taught us, saying
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
If God was intent on keeping score, we would end up in the losers' bracket every time. But God loves us so much, that we are invited to join in that game of grace which never comes to an end. With such hope for our lives, let us confess our sins to God.
Unison Prayer of Confession
Like the disciples, Holy One, we drag our feet when it comes to following you. You would have us face conflict, and we prefer to look the other way. You would lead us into those hopeless valleys where so many of your children live, and we would build homes on the mountaintops. You would bring us into peace and reconciliation, but we would stay entombed in our troubles and fears.
Forgive us, Creator of new lives. As Lazarus was brought forth from the grave, unbind every worry which keeps us from living as your children. As the Spirit lead Jesus from the tomb into the joy of the Resurrection, fill us with the power to walk in the light of this hope. As Jesus offers us the life and resurrection we need, help us to believe the good news which comes from our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: Jesus loved Lazarus so much, he brought him back from the grave. God loved Jesus so much that he was raised to new life. See how much God loves us - loves you! - by forgiving and saving us.
P: We thank you for hearing our prayers, Lord God, and for setting us free from everything which would bind us to sin and death. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: May the God of old graves and new life be with you!
P: And also with you.
L: People of God, lift up your hearts.
P: We offer them to the One whose spirit is placed within us.
L: Wait for God, children of the resurrection, wait with hope in your souls.
P: We sing to the One who rolled away the stone, and who will open the graves.
Into the barren valley of chaos,
you breathed, River of Love:
joy raced through the heavens
flinging stars into the night;
grace danced upon the earth,
springing up in every place
in which it was planted.
Gathering up creation's dust,
you formed us as your image,
bone of your bone,
flesh of your flesh,
heart of your heart.
You gave us the garden of your heart
in which to dwell with you forever,
but we became entranced
with the world's seductive valleys,
and wrapped ourselves in death's gravecloths,
finding them a perfect fit.
Though your heart was broken,
you sent prophets to call us forth
from all those places littered
with our faithless hearts and souls.
But we would not breathe
the new grace you offered,
turning over to sleep in our dried-up dreams.
So, with tears running down your face,
you sent Jesus to become
our hope, our life, our salvation.
Therefore, we join our voices
with those whose dried bones were given new life,
and all who cry out to you for hope,
singing of the glory of your name:
P: Holy, Holy, Holy are you, Breath of new life.
All creation waits, hoping in your Word.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the resurrection and the life who comes to us.
Hosanna in the highest!
Grace is who you are, God of Every Heart,
and blessed is Jesus Christ,
our Brother, our Redeemer, our Hope.
Weeping over the brokenness
of your dreams for us,
he came to make us whole.
Weeping over the pain we cause,
he came to heal us.
Weeping over Jerusalem,
he came to bring forth
the new kingdom of peace.
Weeping over Lazarus,
he wipes away the tears
of all who grieve.
Weeping over the power
of sin and death,
he left them behind at the grave,
as your Spirit raised him
to the life of your new hope.
As we remember his life, his death, his love,
as we long for the promise of our resurrection,
we sing of that mystery called faith:
P: Christ died, and God wept;
Christ arose, and the angels rejoiced;
Christ wil come, untangling us from sin and death.
Send your Spirit upon those gathered
around your Table of joy,
and upon the gifts of grace and peace.
As we are fed by the Bread of Life,
may we be serve all
who live around us.
As we drink from the Cup of hope,
may we share it
with all who long for your presence.
As your Spirit moves into
the guestroom of our hearts,
may we welcome those
who have no family or home.
As you listen to our prayers,
may we open our hearts
to the cries of the broken of our world.
And when we are awakened from sleep,
to live forever with you,
as we join hands and hearts
around your Feast in heaven,
may we sing your praises forever and ever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
(c) 2011 Thom M. Shuman
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