Texts: 1 Kings 18:20-21, (22-29), 30-39; Psalm 96; Galatians 1:1-12; Luke
7:1-10
Call to Worship
With loud engines at the race
track,
and with soft-spoken wisdom:
sing to God new songs of
wonder!
With planets spinning in the galaxies,
and with jack
hammers tearing up our streets:
sing to God new songs of joy!
With
fireworks in summer's night skies,
and with winter's ice crunching under
our boots:
sing to God new songs of grace!
With crowds at exciting
sports venues,
and with children whispering dreams to their pets:
sing to God new songs of hope!
Prayer of the Day
When
we would take
our
fears, doubts, broken dreams
and set them to
death's
mournful dirge,
you take them, rearranging the
notes
and rewriting the lyrics for
drums, electric guitar,
tambourines
and keyboard,
singing a new
song
of joy
to us.
Composer of
Creation,
we give you the glory!
When
the world considers
us
second-rate,
putting us out on the
BOGO clearance table
on the sidewalk,
you come under the
awning,
telling the proprietor
to put us on your
card
(which you will
pay in full
before the next billing cycle
begins).
Liberator
of our lives,
We give you the glory!
When
day after
day,
we cannot seem
to break the cycles of
legalism,
cynicism,
apathy,
you come,
proclaiming
the good news,
speaking the Word
which heals
us.
Spirit of Peace, we give you the
glory!
God in Community, Holy in One,
to you be the glory forever and
ever,
as we pray, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to
Reconciliation
We go limping along, convinced we can make it on our own, that
we are too busy for God. But when we look at our mistakes, the words we
wish we could take back, the hurts we long to heal, we know we must confess,
so God can forgive us and wrap us in steadfast love. Join me, as we pray
together saying,
Unison Prayer of Confession
We want you to
know, Holy God, that we do try. Between the politicians and the pundits, it is easy to become confused as to how we should live. We spend so much time
trying to win the approval of certain people, that we forget our call to
serve those around us. We are so busy telling others 'go there' or 'do
this,' we cannot hear your whispers of love.
We do not presume to come
to you expecting easy grace, for we are aware of what it cost you to forgive
us, Tender God. But speak the word, and we will know your mercy; speak the
word, and we will be made whole; speak the Word, Jesus Christ, and we will
find that faith to trust you in every moment.
Silence is
kept
Assurance of Pardon
God comes, not to punish, not to condemn, but
to judge - with that righteousness which brings redemption, with that truth
which sets us free.
Let it be known this day. The Lord indeed is God, who
brings forgiveness and hope to all people. Glory to God!
Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May creation's Lord be with
you!
And also with you!
Here at this Table, dear ones, draw closer
to God.
We come, to offer our hearts to God.
Join the chorus of
the universes in praising God.
Our voices unite with all of God's people
in songs of joy.
All creation is grounded in you,
Sovereign God, who
spoke the Word
and let it be known that you were coming
so seas might
roar your majesty,
so fields might exult your glory,
so trees
might sing your joy.
You formed us in your divine image,
letting it be
known that we were yours,
the people of your heart and hopes.
But sin and
death called our names,
and we chose to follow those petty gods,
limping along, letting our dance partners
lead us as seduction's sirens
sang their songs.
You sent the prophets to intercede,
hoping that we would
listen,
but we made no answer, gave no response.
So you decided to
come closer still,
sending Jesus to bring us your healing.
With those
who gave you glory in every time and place,
with those from all over this
wide earth,
we sing that new song which has echoed down the
generations:
Holy, holy, holy are you, Sovereign of the
universe.
All creation joins in singing your glory.
Hosanna in
the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes in your name.
Hosanna in the highest!
You indeed are God, Holy One,
and Jesus Christ
is your blessed Child.
When we limped along through the world,
he
came to strengthen us to walk in your way.
When our petty gods became too
busy for us,
he came to listen to our faltering prayers.
When we
would cling to sin in every moment,
he went to the cross
so
sin would have no voice to call us,
so death would be left
empty-handed.
As we rejoice in his coming to us,
as we remember we
would have no hope without him,
we declare that mystery we know as
faith:
Christ died, breaking the power of sin;
Christ is
risen, breaking the cycle of death;
Christ comes, bringing the power of
the gospel for all.
We sing glad songs to you,
God of honor and
majesty,
for here at the Table,
you pour out your Spirit
on the gifts
of your creation
set apart for sacred use.
The grain of exultant
fields
is shaped into the Bread of life,
which strengthens us to go
forth
to intercede for those who
are not highly valued by our
world,
yet who need healing and hope.
The fruit of creation's
vines
becomes the sweet nectar of grace,
which fills our emptiness until
it overflows
into justice for the oppressed,
release for all held
captive,
recovery for the addicted,
good news for the
broken-hearted.
And when all our times have come to an end,
when
the new seas roar with wonder,
when newly planted meadows exult with
laughter,
when the trees of life sing for joy,
we will lift our
voices with our sisters and brothers,
singing the new songs of eternal life
with you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
© Thom M.
Shuman
Monday, May 27, 2013
Sunday, May 05, 2013
Seventh Sunday of Easter - C
Texts: Acts 16:16-34; Psalm 97; Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21;
John 17:20-26
Call to Worship
We come to this place of prayer,
for here we can bring our hopes and dreams,
our hidden fears and the doubts we wear on our sleeves.
We come to this place of grace,
for here we learn compassion and joy,
and discover how deeply we are loved.
We come with these people called the church,
to be blessed by the variety of gifts,
to live as one for our God.
Prayer of the Day
In your presence,
Creator of the Universe,
mountains melt into
muddy puddles
and stars whisper
your name to us.
Faithfulness and justice
are the scuffed shoes
you put on each morning,
clouds are your prayer shawl
in the evening.
When you could have
kept God's glory in your pocket,
Servant of the poor,
you took it out
and spent it on us.
Confident in that love
which was yours before
the world began spinning,
you came to walk
the dusty path of death.
Spirit of Blessing,
like a crossing guard
you keep your eyes on us
as we cross the busy streets of life,
ready to pull us out of the way
of oncoming sin.
You take us by the hand
to lead us to the shade
of the tree of life.
God in Community, Holy in One,
make us one Body from many individuals,
as we pray as Jesus teaches us, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
Plastic cards, shiny cars, brick and glass homes - what idols we fashion with our hands, how much energy and time serving them occupy our hearts! Let us confess how we have misplaced our priorities, and seek the One who asks us to be first in our lives.
Unison Prayer of Confession
Enslaved to sin, we cannot see the lives we lead, God of Glory. Each day, and every day, there are those times when we ignore you and your dreams for us. Each week, and every week, we find the time to ridicule others, when we could have affirmed them. Each moment, and every moment, though we do not want to admit it, we seek our own way rather than skipping down your path of joy and obedience.
We come asking forgiveness for our foolish lives, Eternal Blessing. Deliver us, and break the chains of sin and death which hold us captive. Open us to that grace you offer, and give us the gift of the Spirit so we may live as people of the Risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
In the beginning was God, and at the end will be God, and in every moment in between, there is God: creating, redeeming, sustaining us.
And through Christ, gracious love is poured into our empty souls; through the Spirit, peace becomes the gift we can share with those around us. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of wonder be with you.
And also with you.
Lift your hearts to the One who invites you to this Table, calling, "Come, Come!"
Thirsty for life and hope, we bring our hearts to this feast.
Rejoice in the Lord, all you people!
We sing glad songs of thanks to God's holy name!
Disturbing chaos at the very beginning,
Dawn for the righteous,
you created wonder and beauty.
Coastlands were filled with life's abundance,
clouds scudded across the skies,
justice became the foundation for hope.
Crafted in your image to behold your glory,
we believed the boasts of worthless idols,
bowing down to worship sin and death.
Prophets came, speaking your word,
but we accused them of disturbing our peace.
When you saw your hope
of our returning on our own,
you sent Jesus, who came,
not only on behalf of those who knew him,
but also for all who would believe in him.
So with those who thirst for righteousness,
and with those who hunger for justice,
we lift our voices to you:
Holy, holy, holy, Joy of the upright in heart.
All creation beholds your glory.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who testifies to all things.
Hosanna in the highest!
You are most high over all Creation, Holy One,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, your Joy, our Hope.
You gave him your glory,
which he shares with all your children.
The Bright Morning Star, he came
to illumine the shadows of our lives.
Bringing the testimony of your salvation,
he proclaimed the good news to all who listened.
Desiring that we might be with him wherever he is,
he went to the cross,
throwing open death's imprisoning doors,
that we might have life eternal.
As we celebrate his life and love,
as we testify to his peace and hope,
we witness to that mystery called faith:
Christ died, that we may enter the holy city by the gates;
Christ arose, that we may receive the water of life as a gift;
Christ will come soon, your grace calling us home.
Come, Holy God, come,
pouring out your Spirit upon this feast,
transforming your children
with the simple gifts of the bread and cup.
As we eat of the bread,
we find you within us,
uniting us, wherever we are divided,
healing us, where we are broken,
sending us, when we are reluctant,
to throw open wide all that imprisons
our sisters and brothers throughout the world.
As we drink from the cup,
we realize how deeply we know you,
and will go forth to witness to all around us,
that the love with which you have loved us
may be in them, and we in them.
And when the end of all time has come,
when the Alpha and Omega invites us to "come,"
we will gather around your Table in the holy city,
clothed in your grace with all the saints,
we will sing your praises forever and ever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
© Thom M. Shuman
Call to Worship
We come to this place of prayer,
for here we can bring our hopes and dreams,
our hidden fears and the doubts we wear on our sleeves.
We come to this place of grace,
for here we learn compassion and joy,
and discover how deeply we are loved.
We come with these people called the church,
to be blessed by the variety of gifts,
to live as one for our God.
Prayer of the Day
In your presence,
Creator of the Universe,
mountains melt into
muddy puddles
and stars whisper
your name to us.
Faithfulness and justice
are the scuffed shoes
you put on each morning,
clouds are your prayer shawl
in the evening.
When you could have
kept God's glory in your pocket,
Servant of the poor,
you took it out
and spent it on us.
Confident in that love
which was yours before
the world began spinning,
you came to walk
the dusty path of death.
Spirit of Blessing,
like a crossing guard
you keep your eyes on us
as we cross the busy streets of life,
ready to pull us out of the way
of oncoming sin.
You take us by the hand
to lead us to the shade
of the tree of life.
God in Community, Holy in One,
make us one Body from many individuals,
as we pray as Jesus teaches us, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
Plastic cards, shiny cars, brick and glass homes - what idols we fashion with our hands, how much energy and time serving them occupy our hearts! Let us confess how we have misplaced our priorities, and seek the One who asks us to be first in our lives.
Unison Prayer of Confession
Enslaved to sin, we cannot see the lives we lead, God of Glory. Each day, and every day, there are those times when we ignore you and your dreams for us. Each week, and every week, we find the time to ridicule others, when we could have affirmed them. Each moment, and every moment, though we do not want to admit it, we seek our own way rather than skipping down your path of joy and obedience.
We come asking forgiveness for our foolish lives, Eternal Blessing. Deliver us, and break the chains of sin and death which hold us captive. Open us to that grace you offer, and give us the gift of the Spirit so we may live as people of the Risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
In the beginning was God, and at the end will be God, and in every moment in between, there is God: creating, redeeming, sustaining us.
And through Christ, gracious love is poured into our empty souls; through the Spirit, peace becomes the gift we can share with those around us. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of wonder be with you.
And also with you.
Lift your hearts to the One who invites you to this Table, calling, "Come, Come!"
Thirsty for life and hope, we bring our hearts to this feast.
Rejoice in the Lord, all you people!
We sing glad songs of thanks to God's holy name!
Disturbing chaos at the very beginning,
Dawn for the righteous,
you created wonder and beauty.
Coastlands were filled with life's abundance,
clouds scudded across the skies,
justice became the foundation for hope.
Crafted in your image to behold your glory,
we believed the boasts of worthless idols,
bowing down to worship sin and death.
Prophets came, speaking your word,
but we accused them of disturbing our peace.
When you saw your hope
of our returning on our own,
you sent Jesus, who came,
not only on behalf of those who knew him,
but also for all who would believe in him.
So with those who thirst for righteousness,
and with those who hunger for justice,
we lift our voices to you:
Holy, holy, holy, Joy of the upright in heart.
All creation beholds your glory.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who testifies to all things.
Hosanna in the highest!
You are most high over all Creation, Holy One,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, your Joy, our Hope.
You gave him your glory,
which he shares with all your children.
The Bright Morning Star, he came
to illumine the shadows of our lives.
Bringing the testimony of your salvation,
he proclaimed the good news to all who listened.
Desiring that we might be with him wherever he is,
he went to the cross,
throwing open death's imprisoning doors,
that we might have life eternal.
As we celebrate his life and love,
as we testify to his peace and hope,
we witness to that mystery called faith:
Christ died, that we may enter the holy city by the gates;
Christ arose, that we may receive the water of life as a gift;
Christ will come soon, your grace calling us home.
Come, Holy God, come,
pouring out your Spirit upon this feast,
transforming your children
with the simple gifts of the bread and cup.
As we eat of the bread,
we find you within us,
uniting us, wherever we are divided,
healing us, where we are broken,
sending us, when we are reluctant,
to throw open wide all that imprisons
our sisters and brothers throughout the world.
As we drink from the cup,
we realize how deeply we know you,
and will go forth to witness to all around us,
that the love with which you have loved us
may be in them, and we in them.
And when the end of all time has come,
when the Alpha and Omega invites us to "come,"
we will gather around your Table in the holy city,
clothed in your grace with all the saints,
we will sing your praises forever and ever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
© Thom M. Shuman
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