Texts: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Psalm 22:23-31; Romans 4:13-25; Mark 8:31-38
Call to Worship
L: Pilgrims, we are invited to journey through this season of Lent
P: towards the One who calls us each by a new name.
L: Disciples, we walk with Jesus wherever he leads us,
P: pulling our fears, our doubts, our longings behind us.
L: Believers, we seek to trust the God who always surprises us,
P: whose promises take on flesh and blood in the good news called Jesus.
Prayer of the Day
Though people may turn
their backs on us,
you do not hide
your face from us.
Though others may try
to take away our hope,
you assure us of
that future waiting for us.
You speak your name,
Inscrutable Creator,
and it is enough.
When we try to dictate
our fears to you,
you invite us to follow you
into self-denial and service.
As we struggle to shape
our lifestyle to yours,
you carry us with you
wherever we go.
You speak your good news,
Teacher of open hearts,
and it is enough.
Though we have done
nothing to earn them,
you pour out the gifts
of grace and mercy upon us.
When we stumble
over our lack of trust,
you set us back on our feet,
to follow you into the kingdom.
You speak your peace,
Breath of Holiness,
and it is enough.
God in Community, Holy in One,
it is enough that you hear us
even as we pray as we are taught,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
Looking deep within ourselves, we see that barrenness
that dwells in our souls. Reluctant to trust God, we find
our faith wavering when we have to make difficult
choices. We look for quick fixes and easy solutions,
rather than for God's answers in our lives. Let us
be honest with ourselves, and with God, as we pray
together, saying,
Unison Prayer of Confession
God of our ancestors in the faith, we are a people
who have known the hurt of broken promises, and have
spoken words we could not keep. We are quick to
condemn those who make wrong choices, but want
only gentle criticism directed our way. We let our
lives be guided so much by our past, rather than
opening our eyes, our hearts, our hopes to your
amazing future.
Forgive our distrust of the vows you have made
to us, God of Sarah. Forgive our disbelief that you
can bring hope to those places where we see only
despair, God of Abraham. Forgive our hesitancy
in denying all that keeps us from committing ourselves
completely to you, God of Peter and the psalmists.
Forgive us, so we may take up the life you offer
to us in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: Listen carefully, dear friends. God does not
reject us, God redeems us. God does not back
out of the relationship created so long ago,
God restores it to its original purpose. God
does not hold back, but pours abundant
forgiveness into our lives.
P: Forgiven, we can follow; filled with hope,
we can empty ourselves for others; restored
to new life, we can live in relationship with
God, with our neighbors and enemies, with
ourselves. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: May the Lord of the journey be with you.
P: And also with you.
L: Pilgrims of God, lift up your hearts.
P: We offer them to the One who denied himself
to carry us into life forever.
L: Sing songs of thanksgiving to the God who
is faithful in keeping promises.
P: We offer glad anthems of joy to the One
who calls us by name.
Out of that barrenness called chaos
you called into life all that is good and true,
Beneficent God:
your face shining in the starlight,
your voice echoing in the crashing waves,
your heart, your hopes, your love
poured into those created in your image.
Showering them with peace and mercy,
you began to teach them all they needed
in order to live in hope, and in joy, with you.
But setting their minds on all the desires
which temptation revealed to them,
they began to rebuke you,
denying your dreams for them,
as we thought only of ourselves.
You continued to speak of your promises,
sending the prophets into all the barren places
where we lived and worked and dreamed,
but we were ashamed of the words they spoke,
and would not listen to the love which formed them.
So, you asked the One called Blameless
to leave your side and walk before you,
coming to share your faith in us.
Therefore, we join our voices with those
from every time and in every place,
and with the choirs of heaven,
who forever sing your praises:
P: Holy, holy, holy, God who calls life into being.
All the ends of the earth and far corners of the universe
sing your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who comes to take up his cross.
Hosanna in the highest.
You are holy, God of Abraham and Sarah,
and Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, is blessed forever.
When he could have stumbled over our distrust,
he called us to follow him into your promises;
when our rejection could have weakened his faith,
he grew strong in his commitment to deny himself;
when he could have remained silent,
he declared your salvation to all,
even to those not yet alive;
when he could have hidden his face in fear,
he turned towards Jerusalem,
going to his death and into the grave,
that you might give life to all
who had died to sin.
As we come to the Table he has prepared,
we declare that in his crucifixion and resurrection
we find that mystery we call faith:
P: Christ died to bring forth life;
Christ has risen to declare 'God has done it';
Christ will come again in glory.
Here, at this Table,
where the gifts of the bread and the cup
are offered to your children gathered around,
pour out your Spirit of healing and hope.
Feed us with the food of heaven
which can make us whole once more,
so we can go to serve all
whom we have treated with contempt.
Nourish us with the cup of life
which can change us into your faithful people,
so we can go to bring healing
to those disabled by our prejudices.
And when we are brought home to you,
when we are gathered with our sisters and brothers
from all the ends of the earth,
we will sing your glory and grace forever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
(c) 2009 Thom M. Shuman
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Lent 1-B
Texts: Genesis 9:8-17; Psalm 25:1-10; 1st Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:9-15
Call to Worship
L: We come, so God might open our eyes,
P: that we may discover the wonders surrounding us;
that we may embrace the joy deep within us.
L: We gather, so Christ might widen our hearts,
P: that we may hear the sounds of brokenness around us;
that we may sing the melodies of hope.
L: We are here, so the Spirit might teach us the ways of humility,
P: that we may walk that street named Enduring Love;
that we may wait at the corner called Faithfulness.
Prayer of the Day
How you love us, God of rainbow promises!
Like a mother who teaches her son
the steps for his first dance,
like the father who goes out
with his daughter after work
so she can learn how to drive,
you love us that much and more.
How you offer yourself to us, Brother of the beloved!
You gather us up in your arms,
simply to hear our deepest hopes;
you reach out your scarred hands
to gently wipe our fears away;
you stain a cross with your blood,
so we might washed clean in the tears
pouring down God's face.
How you share yourself with us, journey's Spirit!
You bathe our wearied souls
in the cooling waters of baptism;
you wipe the dust of the wilderness
out of our eyes so we can see the kingdom;
you teach us those ancient ways
which offer new life for each of us.
God in Community, Holy in One,
be with us in this Lenten season,
even as we pray, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
God takes broken promises and turns them into vows of faithfulness.
God takes our biggest failings and shapes lives of service. God
listens to our prayers of confession and changes them into songs
of mercy. Let us come to the One who pours forgiveness into
our lives, praying,
Unison Prayer of Confession
We admit we are hesitant to walk to Jerusalem and beyond with
you, God of Glory. In a world where we worry about tomorrow
before enjoying today, we race by your moments of silence, of
learning. In that flood of worries, which can overwhelm us, we may
miss that assurance that you have not cut us off from your grace.
In the deserts of our desires, we may ignore that feast of hope, of
joy, of life you offer to us.
Forgive us and have mercy on us, Gentle Guardian of our souls.
In humility, may we offer our lives to others. In love, may we share
your grace with everyone we meet. In hope, may we wait for you
all our days, as you come to us in the life and joy of Jesus Christ,
our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: In this place we find God's word, God's way, God's love,
God's forgiveness. What more do we need to sustain us
as we continue as pilgrims along the Way?
P: In every wilderness, on every road;
in every moment, in every life;
in every journey, in every heart,
we receive the daily bread we need - God's hope,
God's mercy, God's joy. Thanks be to God, we
are forgiven. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: May the God of Lent be with you.
P: And also with you.
L: People of God, open your hearts.
P: We open them to the One who calls us 'Beloved.'
L: Beloved of God, give thanks and praise to the One
who loves you forever.
P: We sing our hymns of joy to the One
who leads us into the kingdom.
Hearts overflow with you, Covenant Keeper,
as we lift our hearts to you.
When there was no time as we know it,
you crafted day and night,
so we could wait for you in every moment,
tasting the savory goodness of grace.
You imagined those moments
of gathering us to your side
to teach us all the wonder of your ways,
but we turned our ears towards
the whispered invitations of the Evil One,
running off to play in the wilderness
with rebellion and death our guides.
You recalled the promises you had made
to Noah, to Sarah, to Joseph, and to Hannah,
and so sent the prophets to remind us
of the good gift of your covenant
and to point out the ways to your heart.
When we continued to ignore their words,
you sent Jesus to be with us,
to set us free from the imprisonment
we had created for ourselves.
So, we lift our voices with those who waited patiently,
and with those who trust your covenantal promises,
joining the choirs of heaven and earth,
who forever sing of your hope and love:
P: Holy, holy, holy, Everlasting God of grace.
Every living creature in heaven and earth sing your praises.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who sits as your right hand of mercy.
Hosanna in the highest.
Faithful and holy are you, Creator of all,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, Steadfast Love and Hope.
When he could have stayed at your side
during the days of our rebellion and pride,
he came to be our friend and guide.
When he could have feasted on your power,
in those days of glory with you,
he came to prepare a Table for us
where our hardened hearts might be softened,
and our broken lives might be made whole.
When he could have the angels waiting on him,
he came to serve us your forgiveness and grace,
enduring death on the cross
so we could have life forever.
As we begin once more our Lenten journey,
as we seek to follow faithfully, remembering
the life, the death, the resurrection of Jesus,
we tell the story of that mystery we call faith:
P: Christ died to set us free from sin;
Christ rose to break the power of death;
Christ will come again, to bring the kingdom
as close to us as God's heart.
Pour out your Spirit of imagination
upon this bread, and this cup,
gifts of your good and wonderful creation.
As we are embraced at the Table
by the One who has prepared it for us,
may we open our hearts to welcome
our sisters and brothers.
As we have been set free by your love,
may we proclaim freedom to the prisoners
confined by fear and oppression;
as we are filled with the Bread of life,
may we never cease feeding
the hungry of our world;
as we are nurtured by compassion's cup,
may we go out into the wilderness around us,
to take the lost, the last, the least, the little
by the hand to walk together
into that kingdom prepared for all your children.
And we we are gathered around the Table
with your beloved children of every time and place,
our songs will join together as our tears of joy mingle,
singing your praises forever and ever to you:
God of David and Rebecca, of Mary and Noah;
Jesus of the outcast and lonely;
Spirit of those who seek peace and reconciliation:
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen and Amen.
(c) Thom M. Shuman
Call to Worship
L: We come, so God might open our eyes,
P: that we may discover the wonders surrounding us;
that we may embrace the joy deep within us.
L: We gather, so Christ might widen our hearts,
P: that we may hear the sounds of brokenness around us;
that we may sing the melodies of hope.
L: We are here, so the Spirit might teach us the ways of humility,
P: that we may walk that street named Enduring Love;
that we may wait at the corner called Faithfulness.
Prayer of the Day
How you love us, God of rainbow promises!
Like a mother who teaches her son
the steps for his first dance,
like the father who goes out
with his daughter after work
so she can learn how to drive,
you love us that much and more.
How you offer yourself to us, Brother of the beloved!
You gather us up in your arms,
simply to hear our deepest hopes;
you reach out your scarred hands
to gently wipe our fears away;
you stain a cross with your blood,
so we might washed clean in the tears
pouring down God's face.
How you share yourself with us, journey's Spirit!
You bathe our wearied souls
in the cooling waters of baptism;
you wipe the dust of the wilderness
out of our eyes so we can see the kingdom;
you teach us those ancient ways
which offer new life for each of us.
God in Community, Holy in One,
be with us in this Lenten season,
even as we pray, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
God takes broken promises and turns them into vows of faithfulness.
God takes our biggest failings and shapes lives of service. God
listens to our prayers of confession and changes them into songs
of mercy. Let us come to the One who pours forgiveness into
our lives, praying,
Unison Prayer of Confession
We admit we are hesitant to walk to Jerusalem and beyond with
you, God of Glory. In a world where we worry about tomorrow
before enjoying today, we race by your moments of silence, of
learning. In that flood of worries, which can overwhelm us, we may
miss that assurance that you have not cut us off from your grace.
In the deserts of our desires, we may ignore that feast of hope, of
joy, of life you offer to us.
Forgive us and have mercy on us, Gentle Guardian of our souls.
In humility, may we offer our lives to others. In love, may we share
your grace with everyone we meet. In hope, may we wait for you
all our days, as you come to us in the life and joy of Jesus Christ,
our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: In this place we find God's word, God's way, God's love,
God's forgiveness. What more do we need to sustain us
as we continue as pilgrims along the Way?
P: In every wilderness, on every road;
in every moment, in every life;
in every journey, in every heart,
we receive the daily bread we need - God's hope,
God's mercy, God's joy. Thanks be to God, we
are forgiven. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: May the God of Lent be with you.
P: And also with you.
L: People of God, open your hearts.
P: We open them to the One who calls us 'Beloved.'
L: Beloved of God, give thanks and praise to the One
who loves you forever.
P: We sing our hymns of joy to the One
who leads us into the kingdom.
Hearts overflow with you, Covenant Keeper,
as we lift our hearts to you.
When there was no time as we know it,
you crafted day and night,
so we could wait for you in every moment,
tasting the savory goodness of grace.
You imagined those moments
of gathering us to your side
to teach us all the wonder of your ways,
but we turned our ears towards
the whispered invitations of the Evil One,
running off to play in the wilderness
with rebellion and death our guides.
You recalled the promises you had made
to Noah, to Sarah, to Joseph, and to Hannah,
and so sent the prophets to remind us
of the good gift of your covenant
and to point out the ways to your heart.
When we continued to ignore their words,
you sent Jesus to be with us,
to set us free from the imprisonment
we had created for ourselves.
So, we lift our voices with those who waited patiently,
and with those who trust your covenantal promises,
joining the choirs of heaven and earth,
who forever sing of your hope and love:
P: Holy, holy, holy, Everlasting God of grace.
Every living creature in heaven and earth sing your praises.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who sits as your right hand of mercy.
Hosanna in the highest.
Faithful and holy are you, Creator of all,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, Steadfast Love and Hope.
When he could have stayed at your side
during the days of our rebellion and pride,
he came to be our friend and guide.
When he could have feasted on your power,
in those days of glory with you,
he came to prepare a Table for us
where our hardened hearts might be softened,
and our broken lives might be made whole.
When he could have the angels waiting on him,
he came to serve us your forgiveness and grace,
enduring death on the cross
so we could have life forever.
As we begin once more our Lenten journey,
as we seek to follow faithfully, remembering
the life, the death, the resurrection of Jesus,
we tell the story of that mystery we call faith:
P: Christ died to set us free from sin;
Christ rose to break the power of death;
Christ will come again, to bring the kingdom
as close to us as God's heart.
Pour out your Spirit of imagination
upon this bread, and this cup,
gifts of your good and wonderful creation.
As we are embraced at the Table
by the One who has prepared it for us,
may we open our hearts to welcome
our sisters and brothers.
As we have been set free by your love,
may we proclaim freedom to the prisoners
confined by fear and oppression;
as we are filled with the Bread of life,
may we never cease feeding
the hungry of our world;
as we are nurtured by compassion's cup,
may we go out into the wilderness around us,
to take the lost, the last, the least, the little
by the hand to walk together
into that kingdom prepared for all your children.
And we we are gathered around the Table
with your beloved children of every time and place,
our songs will join together as our tears of joy mingle,
singing your praises forever and ever to you:
God of David and Rebecca, of Mary and Noah;
Jesus of the outcast and lonely;
Spirit of those who seek peace and reconciliation:
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen and Amen.
(c) Thom M. Shuman
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Ash Wednesday
(Note that while we use Taize songs for our worship, other songs can be substituted for other congregations)
Silent Prayer in Preparation for Worship
As you begin this service, take a few moments to bring yourself before
God - your present state of mind and preoccupations, as well as your
desire to meet God during this time.
Call to Worship
L: God's people have been called to gather.
P: From breast-feeding infants to aged
grandparents, all are welcome.
L: God's people have been called to repent.
P: From those who wear their faults on
their sleeves, to those whose secret hearts
are broken, all are welcome.
L: God's people have been called to be reconciled to our God.
P: From those who have turned away,
to those whose pain whispers in the night,
all are welcome.
Taize song "Wait for the Lord"
Prayer of the Day and our Lord's Prayer
God of holiness:
your day comes near,
and we tremble,
not out of fear,
but from awe and gratitude.
For on your day,
we are fully known,
completely restored,
reconciled to you forever.
Jesus Christ,
Grace Bearer:
as we come to your fast,
may we be filled with your hope;
as we receive your gifts,
may our hearts be opened to others;
as we begin our journey with you,
may we put no roadblocks
in the path to Jerusalem.
Holy Spirit,
Creator of clean hearts:
as water rushes
into an empty hole,
may your sacramental silence
fill the emptiness of our souls.
God in Community, Holy in One,
our Treasure, our Hope, our Joy,
hear us as we pray as Jesus taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .
Taize song "In the Lord, I'll Be Ever Thankful"
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
Taize song "Our Darkness"
Psalm 51 (read in unison)
Taize song "In God Alone My Soul"
2 Corinthians 5:20b - 6:10
Taize song "Our Eyes"
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Silence is observed (10 minutes)
Invitation to Lenten Disciplines
Beloved in Christ,
at the time of the Christian Passover,
we celebrate our deliverance from sin and death
through the death and resurrection
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Lent is the season of preparation
for this great celebration,
the means by which we renew our life
in the Paschal mystery.
We begin our Lenten journey
by acknowledging our need for repentance,
for in penitance,
we name those things
which damage us and others
for what they really are,
and we open ourselves
to the One whose love knows no boundaries
and whose mercy is demonstrated to us
in the life of Jesus Christ.
By taking an honest look at our lives,
and repenting of our humanness;
by praying quietly
but with full hearts;
by letting go of those things that harm us
and by taking on works of love for others;
by reading and feasting on God's Word,
we observe a holy Lent,
and prepare ourselves for the passion
of Holy Week
and the joy of Easter.
Let us prepare ourselves
to come to our God.
Taize song "O Lord, Hear My Prayer"
Call to Reconciliation
God begs us to turn from those words, those acts, those obstacles
which keep us from being God's people. As we begin our Lenten journey,
I invite you to join with me, with words and in silence, as we bring
our brokenness to God who desires to make us whole.
Unison Prayer of Confession
Too long have traveled our own ways, Approaching God, too long have
we sought to satisfy our hidden desires. We have trusted the
falsehoods of the world, and relied on the power which would consume
our souls. We have sought healing from impostors, and rejected the One
who was broken for our wholeness.
Have mercy on us, God whose love overflows our deepest hopes. Let
our hearts be a sanctuary for your Spirit; let our lives abound in
service to others; let our spirits reflect the One we call our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Silence is observed
Assurance of Pardon
L: God lets go of the punishment we deserve and gives us mercy in its
place. Willingly, God puts a new spirit into us, the spirit of hope
and joy.
p: We will sing to the One who has delivered us from our sins. We
will praise God with cleansed hearts. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Imposition of the Ashes
Our ancestors in the faith
used ashes as a sign of our repentance,
a symbol of the uncertainty and fragility
of human life.
Like them,
we have tasted the ashes of hopelessness;
we have walked through the ashes
of our loss and pain;
we have stood knee-deep
in the ashes of our brokenness.
God of our lives,
out of the dust of creation
you have formed us and given us life.
May these ashes not only be a sign
of our repentance and death,
but reminders that by your gift of grace
in Jesus Christ, our Redeemer,
we are granted life forever with you.
Amen.
(A period of silence will follow. Those who wish to do so, may come
forward to have the sign of the cross placed on their foreheads or
hands. The ashes are from palm branches used at Palm Sunday services
in the past, mixed with oil).
Responsive Invitation to the Table (from Isaiah 58)
L: We try, God knows, we try.
We show up at church, hoping God will notice..
We study Scripture, pretending god is reading aloud to us;
we put on those masks to show everyone
how proper we are,
how law-abiding,
how religious;
and we wonder - does God even care?
P: Not when we clench our fists in anger,
rather than opening them in love;
not when we work people too hard,
and pay them too little;
not when we speak bitter and harmful words
to those we are given to love.
L: So tonight, as we begin our Lenten fast,
God offers us a feast. Why?
So that the broken bread will strengthen us
to break the chains of injustice,
to take the burden of poverty off our neighbors,
to stop trying to control those around us,
to fix a meal for the hungry.
P: God offers us a feast
so that the cup of grace will free us
to take coats out of our closets
and wrap them around shivering shoulders;
to offer shelter to the homeless
without judging them;
to spend more time with our families
and less on the internet.
L: So, come to this Table and eat.
Then, you will see the light God offers to your darkness;
then, you will find the path God calls you to walk;
then, you will discover God waiting to help you,
even before you say a word.
P: We will come to this Table and feast.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: People of God, the Lord be with you.
P: And also with you.
L: People of dust, lift up your hearts to God.
P: We lift them up to the One who created us.
L: People of ashes, give thanks to the Lord our God.
P: Praise and thanks are offered to the One who restores us to life.
Now is the right time to praise you;
now is the moment to sing your praises,
Holy God of Creation.
You formed us to live in joy
and peace with you,
but we tore your heart
when we chose our desires
over your dreams for us.
We prefer to swim in the cesspool of the world
than to be cleansed in your living waters.
We hunger more for the adulation of others
than for the quiet intimacy of your grace.
Yet you did not turn away from us
but remained true to your covenant,
calling us to return in the words
trumpeted by the prophets;
inviting us to gather in your kingdom,
entreating us to accept your overflowing love.
Therefore, we glorify you,
joining our voices with those
who had wandered far from you,
but who were brought home;
and with those who seek you now
in this time and place:
Taize song "Bless the Lord"
Holy are you, Steadfast Love,
and blessed is Jesus Christ,Bread of Life.
Considered a pretender to David's throne,
he is your heart's true Son.
Taking on the poverty of the human spirit,
he shared the abundance of your heart;
weeping over our broken relationships,
he reconciles us with your saving joy;
having nothing he could call his own,
he gives us more than we ever need;
dying like a common criminal,
he gives us life,
releasing us from the grip of sin and death.
Preparing to journey with him once again,
we remember the mystery
of his faithful obedience to your heart:
Taize song "Jesus Christ, Bread of Life"
Holy Spirit,
Heart of Compassion:
as the ashes of our humanity
are placed upon your baptismal seal,
so the brokenness of our lives
is placed on the Table of grace,
so the bread might make us whole,
and the cup might fill us with hope.
Then, in your wisdom,
may we turn to serve others;
in your joy,
may we bear the burdens of others;
in your grace,
may our love overflow to others.
Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ,
in the community of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor are yours,
God of holiness,
now and forever. Amen.
The Breaking of the Bread
The Sharing of the Cup
(while receiving communion, you are invited to sing the Taize song,
"Eat This Bread")
Prayers of Petition
Taize song "Jesus, Remember Me"
Please depart the sanctuary in silence
(c) 2006 Thom M. Shuman
Silent Prayer in Preparation for Worship
As you begin this service, take a few moments to bring yourself before
God - your present state of mind and preoccupations, as well as your
desire to meet God during this time.
Call to Worship
L: God's people have been called to gather.
P: From breast-feeding infants to aged
grandparents, all are welcome.
L: God's people have been called to repent.
P: From those who wear their faults on
their sleeves, to those whose secret hearts
are broken, all are welcome.
L: God's people have been called to be reconciled to our God.
P: From those who have turned away,
to those whose pain whispers in the night,
all are welcome.
Taize song "Wait for the Lord"
Prayer of the Day and our Lord's Prayer
God of holiness:
your day comes near,
and we tremble,
not out of fear,
but from awe and gratitude.
For on your day,
we are fully known,
completely restored,
reconciled to you forever.
Jesus Christ,
Grace Bearer:
as we come to your fast,
may we be filled with your hope;
as we receive your gifts,
may our hearts be opened to others;
as we begin our journey with you,
may we put no roadblocks
in the path to Jerusalem.
Holy Spirit,
Creator of clean hearts:
as water rushes
into an empty hole,
may your sacramental silence
fill the emptiness of our souls.
God in Community, Holy in One,
our Treasure, our Hope, our Joy,
hear us as we pray as Jesus taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .
Taize song "In the Lord, I'll Be Ever Thankful"
Joel 2:1-2, 12-17
Taize song "Our Darkness"
Psalm 51 (read in unison)
Taize song "In God Alone My Soul"
2 Corinthians 5:20b - 6:10
Taize song "Our Eyes"
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Silence is observed (10 minutes)
Invitation to Lenten Disciplines
Beloved in Christ,
at the time of the Christian Passover,
we celebrate our deliverance from sin and death
through the death and resurrection
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Lent is the season of preparation
for this great celebration,
the means by which we renew our life
in the Paschal mystery.
We begin our Lenten journey
by acknowledging our need for repentance,
for in penitance,
we name those things
which damage us and others
for what they really are,
and we open ourselves
to the One whose love knows no boundaries
and whose mercy is demonstrated to us
in the life of Jesus Christ.
By taking an honest look at our lives,
and repenting of our humanness;
by praying quietly
but with full hearts;
by letting go of those things that harm us
and by taking on works of love for others;
by reading and feasting on God's Word,
we observe a holy Lent,
and prepare ourselves for the passion
of Holy Week
and the joy of Easter.
Let us prepare ourselves
to come to our God.
Taize song "O Lord, Hear My Prayer"
Call to Reconciliation
God begs us to turn from those words, those acts, those obstacles
which keep us from being God's people. As we begin our Lenten journey,
I invite you to join with me, with words and in silence, as we bring
our brokenness to God who desires to make us whole.
Unison Prayer of Confession
Too long have traveled our own ways, Approaching God, too long have
we sought to satisfy our hidden desires. We have trusted the
falsehoods of the world, and relied on the power which would consume
our souls. We have sought healing from impostors, and rejected the One
who was broken for our wholeness.
Have mercy on us, God whose love overflows our deepest hopes. Let
our hearts be a sanctuary for your Spirit; let our lives abound in
service to others; let our spirits reflect the One we call our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Silence is observed
Assurance of Pardon
L: God lets go of the punishment we deserve and gives us mercy in its
place. Willingly, God puts a new spirit into us, the spirit of hope
and joy.
p: We will sing to the One who has delivered us from our sins. We
will praise God with cleansed hearts. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Imposition of the Ashes
Our ancestors in the faith
used ashes as a sign of our repentance,
a symbol of the uncertainty and fragility
of human life.
Like them,
we have tasted the ashes of hopelessness;
we have walked through the ashes
of our loss and pain;
we have stood knee-deep
in the ashes of our brokenness.
God of our lives,
out of the dust of creation
you have formed us and given us life.
May these ashes not only be a sign
of our repentance and death,
but reminders that by your gift of grace
in Jesus Christ, our Redeemer,
we are granted life forever with you.
Amen.
(A period of silence will follow. Those who wish to do so, may come
forward to have the sign of the cross placed on their foreheads or
hands. The ashes are from palm branches used at Palm Sunday services
in the past, mixed with oil).
Responsive Invitation to the Table (from Isaiah 58)
L: We try, God knows, we try.
We show up at church, hoping God will notice..
We study Scripture, pretending god is reading aloud to us;
we put on those masks to show everyone
how proper we are,
how law-abiding,
how religious;
and we wonder - does God even care?
P: Not when we clench our fists in anger,
rather than opening them in love;
not when we work people too hard,
and pay them too little;
not when we speak bitter and harmful words
to those we are given to love.
L: So tonight, as we begin our Lenten fast,
God offers us a feast. Why?
So that the broken bread will strengthen us
to break the chains of injustice,
to take the burden of poverty off our neighbors,
to stop trying to control those around us,
to fix a meal for the hungry.
P: God offers us a feast
so that the cup of grace will free us
to take coats out of our closets
and wrap them around shivering shoulders;
to offer shelter to the homeless
without judging them;
to spend more time with our families
and less on the internet.
L: So, come to this Table and eat.
Then, you will see the light God offers to your darkness;
then, you will find the path God calls you to walk;
then, you will discover God waiting to help you,
even before you say a word.
P: We will come to this Table and feast.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: People of God, the Lord be with you.
P: And also with you.
L: People of dust, lift up your hearts to God.
P: We lift them up to the One who created us.
L: People of ashes, give thanks to the Lord our God.
P: Praise and thanks are offered to the One who restores us to life.
Now is the right time to praise you;
now is the moment to sing your praises,
Holy God of Creation.
You formed us to live in joy
and peace with you,
but we tore your heart
when we chose our desires
over your dreams for us.
We prefer to swim in the cesspool of the world
than to be cleansed in your living waters.
We hunger more for the adulation of others
than for the quiet intimacy of your grace.
Yet you did not turn away from us
but remained true to your covenant,
calling us to return in the words
trumpeted by the prophets;
inviting us to gather in your kingdom,
entreating us to accept your overflowing love.
Therefore, we glorify you,
joining our voices with those
who had wandered far from you,
but who were brought home;
and with those who seek you now
in this time and place:
Taize song "Bless the Lord"
Holy are you, Steadfast Love,
and blessed is Jesus Christ,Bread of Life.
Considered a pretender to David's throne,
he is your heart's true Son.
Taking on the poverty of the human spirit,
he shared the abundance of your heart;
weeping over our broken relationships,
he reconciles us with your saving joy;
having nothing he could call his own,
he gives us more than we ever need;
dying like a common criminal,
he gives us life,
releasing us from the grip of sin and death.
Preparing to journey with him once again,
we remember the mystery
of his faithful obedience to your heart:
Taize song "Jesus Christ, Bread of Life"
Holy Spirit,
Heart of Compassion:
as the ashes of our humanity
are placed upon your baptismal seal,
so the brokenness of our lives
is placed on the Table of grace,
so the bread might make us whole,
and the cup might fill us with hope.
Then, in your wisdom,
may we turn to serve others;
in your joy,
may we bear the burdens of others;
in your grace,
may our love overflow to others.
Through Christ, with Christ, in Christ,
in the community of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor are yours,
God of holiness,
now and forever. Amen.
The Breaking of the Bread
The Sharing of the Cup
(while receiving communion, you are invited to sing the Taize song,
"Eat This Bread")
Prayers of Petition
Taize song "Jesus, Remember Me"
Please depart the sanctuary in silence
(c) 2006 Thom M. Shuman
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Transfiguration - B
Texts: 2nd Kings 2:1-12; Psalm 50:1-6; 2nd Corinthians 4:3-6; Mark 9:2-9
Call to Worship
L: You are with us, God of sunrises:
P: you awaken us with each bright new day,
overflowing with promise.
L: You are with us, Inviting God:
P: calling us to respond to all the chances
to share the spirit of grace and hope.
L: You are with us, Glory of God:
P: gathering us into the presence of your peace,
listening to the deep sighs of our hearts.
Prayer of the Day
Glory of all creation:
as the sun nudges us
out of bed each morning,
so you gently lift the veil
of doubts and fears from our hearts
that we might see your joy.
At the setting of the sun,
you do not leave us alone,
but you sit with us
through the night,
sharing stories of hope.
And we do not lose heart.
Joyous Face of God:
on the peaks of promise,
we discover your grace,
sparkling with gentle delight
as it comes to rest
within our weary lives.
In the valleys of despair,
as we trudge long,
our burdens dragging behind us,
we turn to discover you
putting them on your shoulders,
the gentleness of your compassion
lighting the way to the kingdom.
And we do not lose heart.
Listening Spirit:
in the hard times
which life may offer,
you are there with us,
hearing not only our struggles,
but the hopes singing
silently in our souls.
In the barren seasons
through which we may walk,
we find you ahead of us,
planting the seeds of joy
which will once more blossom
in the springtime of God's love.
And we do not lose heart.
God in Community, Holy in One,
we lift our hearts, our hopes, our voices
as we pray as Jesus teaches us, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
We can become so burned out by our hectic days that
we lose sight of the One who gives us life. We can
become so impatient waiting for God to astound us
with wonders, when we have the simple pleasure of
each day. In these quiet moments, away from all those
things which distract us, let us bring our brokenness to
the One who listens to our hearts, and heals our souls.
Join me, as we pray, saying,
Unison Prayer of Confession
The radiance of your grace is poured out in every moment,
Shaper of mountaintops, but we dull its luster by living in the
shadows. We indulge in fantasy games and watch shows
which claim to be 'real,' but we have trouble simply sitting in
your presence, in your healing silence. We can become so
infatuated with your love for us, we overlook those who
hunger for acceptance and hope.
Revealer of mystery,
forgive us.
In silence,
may we hear your whispers of grace.
In mercy,
may we feel your forgiveness lifting the burden of guilt from us.
In trust,
may we go forth to serve your world,
filling it with the light and love of the One who
is the Light of the world, Jesus Christ.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: The promise is true--God's Light has come into the world,
and into our lives. We are graced with glimpses of God's
glory, even as we are filled with mercy and forgiveness.
P: Here we find the peace and quiet we need; here we are set
free from all that keeps us from serving; here we are given
mercy and hope. Here we give thanks to our God. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: May God be with you.
P: May God be with you also.
L: Lift up your hearts, people of God.
P: We open them to the One who loves us.
L: People of God, give thanks to the One who meets us
on the mountaintops of glory and in the valleys of service.
P: It is good that we offer praise and thanksgiving
to the One who is with us in every moment.
You crafted mountains on which
we might find your majesty;
you carved rivers of life
where we might bathe in your grace.
All things were shaped by you,
Bright Glory of creation,
and given that we might live
in the abundance of your hopes for us.
When we could have lived in that garden
of serenity which you planted for us,
we caught a glimpse of temptation
out of the corners of our eyes,
and sought gifts from sin and death,
who were only too eager
to offer us a double portion.
You sent the prophets to lead us out
of the valleys of despair
back to the mountaintop with you,
but we chose to remain in the company
of the false gods of this world.
But you would not forsake us,
but became one of us,
that we might be transformed
into your faithful children.
With the Breath of life within us,
with the Word of grace in our hearts,
we join all who have gone before us,
and with those who are with us now,
singing the ancient song of glory:
P: Holy, holy, holy, God of glory and grace.
Heaven and earth sing loud songs of praise to you.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes to offer us
a double portion of grace and mercy.
Hosanna in the highest!
Mighty God, lover of justice,
you summoned your Son, our Savior,
to come to us that we might be redeemed.
Coming down Glory's mountainside,
he does not remain silent about your hopes,
but calls to us to follow him into
your kingdom of mercy and love.
He carried his cross to the top
of that garbage heap called Calvary,
to be put to death beside two thieves.
Surrounded by sin and death in the tomb,
he made a path through them
into the new life given by God,
tearing their power over us into pieces.
Remembering that he could have chosen to stay
with Moses and Elijah, but came to serve us,
we proclaim our faith as we come to the Table:
P: In love, Christ died for us.
In joy, Christ rose for us.
In glory, Christ comes to be with us.
Now, on the gifts of the bread and the cup,
and on your children gathered in this place,
pour out your Spirit, God of Joy.
As we share the brokenness of Christ,
may we be restored to wholeness;
as we drink of his forgiveness,
may we become more gracious.
May his return in faith
find us praying for your peace;
may his return in hope,
find us working for your justice;
may his return in love,
find us welcoming all your children.
And when Christ does come again in glory,
when all have received a double portion of your grace,
when creation is made whole once again,
and joins in the glad songs of praise,
we will worship and adore you, forever and ever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
(c) Thom M. Shuman
Call to Worship
L: You are with us, God of sunrises:
P: you awaken us with each bright new day,
overflowing with promise.
L: You are with us, Inviting God:
P: calling us to respond to all the chances
to share the spirit of grace and hope.
L: You are with us, Glory of God:
P: gathering us into the presence of your peace,
listening to the deep sighs of our hearts.
Prayer of the Day
Glory of all creation:
as the sun nudges us
out of bed each morning,
so you gently lift the veil
of doubts and fears from our hearts
that we might see your joy.
At the setting of the sun,
you do not leave us alone,
but you sit with us
through the night,
sharing stories of hope.
And we do not lose heart.
Joyous Face of God:
on the peaks of promise,
we discover your grace,
sparkling with gentle delight
as it comes to rest
within our weary lives.
In the valleys of despair,
as we trudge long,
our burdens dragging behind us,
we turn to discover you
putting them on your shoulders,
the gentleness of your compassion
lighting the way to the kingdom.
And we do not lose heart.
Listening Spirit:
in the hard times
which life may offer,
you are there with us,
hearing not only our struggles,
but the hopes singing
silently in our souls.
In the barren seasons
through which we may walk,
we find you ahead of us,
planting the seeds of joy
which will once more blossom
in the springtime of God's love.
And we do not lose heart.
God in Community, Holy in One,
we lift our hearts, our hopes, our voices
as we pray as Jesus teaches us, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
We can become so burned out by our hectic days that
we lose sight of the One who gives us life. We can
become so impatient waiting for God to astound us
with wonders, when we have the simple pleasure of
each day. In these quiet moments, away from all those
things which distract us, let us bring our brokenness to
the One who listens to our hearts, and heals our souls.
Join me, as we pray, saying,
Unison Prayer of Confession
The radiance of your grace is poured out in every moment,
Shaper of mountaintops, but we dull its luster by living in the
shadows. We indulge in fantasy games and watch shows
which claim to be 'real,' but we have trouble simply sitting in
your presence, in your healing silence. We can become so
infatuated with your love for us, we overlook those who
hunger for acceptance and hope.
Revealer of mystery,
forgive us.
In silence,
may we hear your whispers of grace.
In mercy,
may we feel your forgiveness lifting the burden of guilt from us.
In trust,
may we go forth to serve your world,
filling it with the light and love of the One who
is the Light of the world, Jesus Christ.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: The promise is true--God's Light has come into the world,
and into our lives. We are graced with glimpses of God's
glory, even as we are filled with mercy and forgiveness.
P: Here we find the peace and quiet we need; here we are set
free from all that keeps us from serving; here we are given
mercy and hope. Here we give thanks to our God. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: May God be with you.
P: May God be with you also.
L: Lift up your hearts, people of God.
P: We open them to the One who loves us.
L: People of God, give thanks to the One who meets us
on the mountaintops of glory and in the valleys of service.
P: It is good that we offer praise and thanksgiving
to the One who is with us in every moment.
You crafted mountains on which
we might find your majesty;
you carved rivers of life
where we might bathe in your grace.
All things were shaped by you,
Bright Glory of creation,
and given that we might live
in the abundance of your hopes for us.
When we could have lived in that garden
of serenity which you planted for us,
we caught a glimpse of temptation
out of the corners of our eyes,
and sought gifts from sin and death,
who were only too eager
to offer us a double portion.
You sent the prophets to lead us out
of the valleys of despair
back to the mountaintop with you,
but we chose to remain in the company
of the false gods of this world.
But you would not forsake us,
but became one of us,
that we might be transformed
into your faithful children.
With the Breath of life within us,
with the Word of grace in our hearts,
we join all who have gone before us,
and with those who are with us now,
singing the ancient song of glory:
P: Holy, holy, holy, God of glory and grace.
Heaven and earth sing loud songs of praise to you.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes to offer us
a double portion of grace and mercy.
Hosanna in the highest!
Mighty God, lover of justice,
you summoned your Son, our Savior,
to come to us that we might be redeemed.
Coming down Glory's mountainside,
he does not remain silent about your hopes,
but calls to us to follow him into
your kingdom of mercy and love.
He carried his cross to the top
of that garbage heap called Calvary,
to be put to death beside two thieves.
Surrounded by sin and death in the tomb,
he made a path through them
into the new life given by God,
tearing their power over us into pieces.
Remembering that he could have chosen to stay
with Moses and Elijah, but came to serve us,
we proclaim our faith as we come to the Table:
P: In love, Christ died for us.
In joy, Christ rose for us.
In glory, Christ comes to be with us.
Now, on the gifts of the bread and the cup,
and on your children gathered in this place,
pour out your Spirit, God of Joy.
As we share the brokenness of Christ,
may we be restored to wholeness;
as we drink of his forgiveness,
may we become more gracious.
May his return in faith
find us praying for your peace;
may his return in hope,
find us working for your justice;
may his return in love,
find us welcoming all your children.
And when Christ does come again in glory,
when all have received a double portion of your grace,
when creation is made whole once again,
and joins in the glad songs of praise,
we will worship and adore you, forever and ever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
(c) Thom M. Shuman
Sunday, February 05, 2012
6th Sunday after Epiphany/OT 6 - B
Texts: 2nd Kings 5:1-14; Psalm 30; 1st Corinthians 9:24-27; Mark 1:40-45
Call to Worship
L: At night, when our cries for help echo off our walls,
you hear us;
P: you turn our tears into rivers of joy,
Listener of our hearts.
L: Each day, as our fears push us closer
to the edge of loneliness;
P: you tug us back into the safety of your grace,
Servant of the suffering.
L: Every time we stumble over our efforts to be perfect;
P: you pull us to our feet to learn new dance steps of hope,
Peace of our souls.
Prayer of the Day
When you could choose
to cover us with judgment,
you stretch out your hand
to pull us out of all the holes
we have dug for ourselves.
When you could simply
turn up your nose
when we run to you
covered in sin's slime,
you fill the tub with
the Spirit's soapy water,
gently washing us clean.
When you could see fit
to clothe us in grief's tattered rags,
you take our sack cloths
down to the thrift store,
coming back with arms loaded
with grace-wrapped boxes
filled with hope and comfort.
God in Community, Holy in One,
you choose to love us beyond our wildest dreams,
as listen to our hearts as we pray saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
Would a mother not comfort her son who has made a
foolish mistake? Does a father not let go of his anger
at his daughter to embrace her in forgiveness? This
is how God is towards us, longing to dry our tears,
to make us whole. So let us come, confessing to the
One who loves us so much. Join me as we pray, saying,
Unison Prayer of Confession
We must admit that on most days, we are so busy
racing around that we do not notice the street signs for
the kingdom. Rather than lifting the fallen to their feet
and brushing them off, we belittle them as we walk on
past. When we could offer a cup of hope and joy to
the broken-hearted, we turn away so we do not have
to see the tears sliding down their faces.
Forgive us, God our Maker, and touch us with
your grace. Mend our hearts, so we might be more
loving. Fill the emptiness of our souls with the Word
of life. Turn our faces towards the need of the world,
so we might offer our lives to bring healing and hope,
even as our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, touches us
with these gifts.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: What is God like? God is the One who turns despair
into dancing, who transforms grief into grace, who
binds brokenness with cords of compassion, who
makes us whole once again.
P: As Jesus chose to make the leper whole, so God
chooses to forgive us. We can cast off sin's
sadness, putting on the garments of joy. Thanks
be to God. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: May our God be with you.
P: And also with you.
L: Come to the one who offers us grace,
opening your hearts to God.
P: We come to the One who proves beyond any doubt
how much we are loved.
L: Faithful people of God, sing praises
to the One who loves and heals us.
P: Our souls will not remain silent,
as we lift our songs to the God of compassion.
You could choose to create
in any manner you desired,
God of truth and beauty,
so you brought light
to enlighten the shadows,
living waters to course the fields,
birds to sing your hopes to us.
All that you created
you called good and wonderful,
including those created in your image.
Believing that your call to stay with you
by the tumbling brooks of joy
to be too difficult a task,
we chose the easier way,
drowning ourselves in the
twin rivers of sin and death.
Prophets came, extolling your love,
seeking to attract us back to you.
We picked quarrels with them,
so we would not have to listen
to the truths which they spoke.
So, you sent Jesus to us,
choosing to send your heart
that our hardened ones might be broken
and made new with your love.
We join our voices with the lepers and the lovers
of every age, of every place, who stretch out their hearts,
singing of your glory and grace forever:
P: Holy, holy, holy, God of healing and hope.
All creation will not remain silent in singing your praises.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who chooses to come in your name.
Hosanna in the highest.
Holy are you, Compassionate Heart,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, Lord of Creation, Healer of all.
When we tried our best
to pick quarrels with you,
he stretched out his hand,
touch his finger to our lips
whispering, 'Peace. Be healed.'
When he could remain
leaning against the wall,
he taps death on the shoulder,
cutting in, to twirl us
around and around
the kingdom's dance floor.
So recalling he he chose to heal your children,
remembering his willingness to give himself for us,
we will not stay silent but proclaim that mystery called faith:
P: Christ died, to give life back to us.
Christ arose, to bring us out of the grace.
Christ will come again, stretching out his hand
to lead us into the kingdom.
As you stretch out your hand
to offer us the gifts of this Table,
pour out your Spirit of peace and life
upon the Bread and the Cup.
We open our hands
to receive the life offered to us
in the Bread of heaven,
so we can them use them
to serve your children
in the world around us.
We offer our brokenness to you,
that it might be immersed
in your rich, life-giving grace
poured out of your heart,
so we might go forth
to welcome others into
the dance of hope and joy
you intend for all your children.
And when our race is finished,
when we gather with all our sisters and brothers
from every moment and every place,
we will come to the Table of the Lamb
with hearts overflowing with joy,
and our voices united, forever praising you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
(c) Thom M. Shuman
Call to Worship
L: At night, when our cries for help echo off our walls,
you hear us;
P: you turn our tears into rivers of joy,
Listener of our hearts.
L: Each day, as our fears push us closer
to the edge of loneliness;
P: you tug us back into the safety of your grace,
Servant of the suffering.
L: Every time we stumble over our efforts to be perfect;
P: you pull us to our feet to learn new dance steps of hope,
Peace of our souls.
Prayer of the Day
When you could choose
to cover us with judgment,
you stretch out your hand
to pull us out of all the holes
we have dug for ourselves.
When you could simply
turn up your nose
when we run to you
covered in sin's slime,
you fill the tub with
the Spirit's soapy water,
gently washing us clean.
When you could see fit
to clothe us in grief's tattered rags,
you take our sack cloths
down to the thrift store,
coming back with arms loaded
with grace-wrapped boxes
filled with hope and comfort.
God in Community, Holy in One,
you choose to love us beyond our wildest dreams,
as listen to our hearts as we pray saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
Would a mother not comfort her son who has made a
foolish mistake? Does a father not let go of his anger
at his daughter to embrace her in forgiveness? This
is how God is towards us, longing to dry our tears,
to make us whole. So let us come, confessing to the
One who loves us so much. Join me as we pray, saying,
Unison Prayer of Confession
We must admit that on most days, we are so busy
racing around that we do not notice the street signs for
the kingdom. Rather than lifting the fallen to their feet
and brushing them off, we belittle them as we walk on
past. When we could offer a cup of hope and joy to
the broken-hearted, we turn away so we do not have
to see the tears sliding down their faces.
Forgive us, God our Maker, and touch us with
your grace. Mend our hearts, so we might be more
loving. Fill the emptiness of our souls with the Word
of life. Turn our faces towards the need of the world,
so we might offer our lives to bring healing and hope,
even as our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, touches us
with these gifts.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: What is God like? God is the One who turns despair
into dancing, who transforms grief into grace, who
binds brokenness with cords of compassion, who
makes us whole once again.
P: As Jesus chose to make the leper whole, so God
chooses to forgive us. We can cast off sin's
sadness, putting on the garments of joy. Thanks
be to God. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: May our God be with you.
P: And also with you.
L: Come to the one who offers us grace,
opening your hearts to God.
P: We come to the One who proves beyond any doubt
how much we are loved.
L: Faithful people of God, sing praises
to the One who loves and heals us.
P: Our souls will not remain silent,
as we lift our songs to the God of compassion.
You could choose to create
in any manner you desired,
God of truth and beauty,
so you brought light
to enlighten the shadows,
living waters to course the fields,
birds to sing your hopes to us.
All that you created
you called good and wonderful,
including those created in your image.
Believing that your call to stay with you
by the tumbling brooks of joy
to be too difficult a task,
we chose the easier way,
drowning ourselves in the
twin rivers of sin and death.
Prophets came, extolling your love,
seeking to attract us back to you.
We picked quarrels with them,
so we would not have to listen
to the truths which they spoke.
So, you sent Jesus to us,
choosing to send your heart
that our hardened ones might be broken
and made new with your love.
We join our voices with the lepers and the lovers
of every age, of every place, who stretch out their hearts,
singing of your glory and grace forever:
P: Holy, holy, holy, God of healing and hope.
All creation will not remain silent in singing your praises.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is the One who chooses to come in your name.
Hosanna in the highest.
Holy are you, Compassionate Heart,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, Lord of Creation, Healer of all.
When we tried our best
to pick quarrels with you,
he stretched out his hand,
touch his finger to our lips
whispering, 'Peace. Be healed.'
When he could remain
leaning against the wall,
he taps death on the shoulder,
cutting in, to twirl us
around and around
the kingdom's dance floor.
So recalling he he chose to heal your children,
remembering his willingness to give himself for us,
we will not stay silent but proclaim that mystery called faith:
P: Christ died, to give life back to us.
Christ arose, to bring us out of the grace.
Christ will come again, stretching out his hand
to lead us into the kingdom.
As you stretch out your hand
to offer us the gifts of this Table,
pour out your Spirit of peace and life
upon the Bread and the Cup.
We open our hands
to receive the life offered to us
in the Bread of heaven,
so we can them use them
to serve your children
in the world around us.
We offer our brokenness to you,
that it might be immersed
in your rich, life-giving grace
poured out of your heart,
so we might go forth
to welcome others into
the dance of hope and joy
you intend for all your children.
And when our race is finished,
when we gather with all our sisters and brothers
from every moment and every place,
we will come to the Table of the Lamb
with hearts overflowing with joy,
and our voices united, forever praising you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
(c) Thom M. Shuman
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