Texts: Isaiah 55:1-5; Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew
14:13-21
Call to Worship
All who are thirsty, come!
God is
the fountain for our lives.
All who are hungry, come!
Jesus feeds
us with goodness and grace.
Rich and poor, young and old, neighbor and guest, come!
The Holy Spirit gathers everyone around the
Table.
Prayer of the Day
We try to distance ourselves from
you,
Loving God, and you spread a picnic of grace,
waving us over, with a
big grin on your face.
We whisper our worries in the night,
and you say,
"You don't have to shout!"
Your compassion is spread over our
brokenness
like we spread nutella on toast.
When we are tempted to
spend
our lives on all the luxuries offered
to us by the world, Brother of
the hungry,
you set up a table piled high with
grace, hope, peace, joy,
and wonder
under a big sign which reads
"Clearance! Everything 100%
off!!"
When we get all in a sweat
over whether or not we can
meet
all our self-imposed expectations,
you take your bandana out
of
your back pocket, Spirit of peace,
wiping our faces, and handing us
a cup
of cool water, whispering,
"Relax. I've taken all that
off your
shoulders."
We rejoice in your gifts which are ours,
God in Community,
Holy in One,
even as we pray as we are taught,
(The Lord's
Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
The Lord is not mean-spirited or
vengeful. God is gracious and merciful, always willing to listen to Our
prayers, and to hear our hearts. Let us join in the prayer for forgiveness,
saying,
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
We are sure we do not have
enough
to end hunger in our communities, Holy God.
Forgive us that we
forget that, by your
presence and power, very little can do
so
much.
We believe we are the only ones
who carry heartache around with
us.
Forgive us, Compassion's Heart,
that we do not see, or
embrace
the despair of those around us.
We think we do not have the
words
with which to offer hope and healing to strangers.
Forgive us,
Welcoming God, for not having
the courage to run up to them with your
grace.
We convince ourselves that we need to devote
all our time, our
energy, our resources, our lives
on keeping up with others.
Forgive
us for not living that joyful,
gracious life modeled for us by
you,
Jesus our Brother.
Silence is kept
Assurance of
Pardon
Listen! Come to the One who covers us with compassion, who
feeds us on grace and mercy.
What good news! Everyone who thirsts is
given water; everyone who hungers is fed; everyone Who sins is forgive.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
Offertory/Prayer of Dedication
May our gifts
quench the thirst of those who desire hope; may our lives by spent in
feeding those Whose hunger is all too real; may we always give away the
blessings you have given to us, God of The Compassionate Heart.
Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the Table-setting God be
with you.
And also with you.
Lift your hungry hearts to our
God.
We offer them to the One who feeds us with grace.
God gives
us all we need in every moment.
Our mouths will sing God's praise in
these moments.
When the hour was late,
you spoke, Steadfast
Love,
and creation sprang forth in newness:
tadpoles stretching into
bullfrogs;
caterpillars crystallizing into butterflies;
raindrops plopping on broad leaves;
thunder rolling through the
valleys,
and you shaped us in your image.
If we had listened to you,
we
would have feasted on Eden's delights,
but we hungered for sin's moldy
bread,
and drank death's sour wine.
With great love and unceasing
hope,
you sent the prophets to us,
but we sent them away for
the hour was too early to follow you.
Then, in overwhelming
compassion,
you sent Jesus to us.
With those who have been fed by your
love,
with those who drink deeply of your joy,
we lift our songs of
thanksgiving to you:
Holy, holy, holy are you, God of gracious
love.
All creation rejoices in you.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed
is the One filled with great compassion.
Hosanna in the highest!
You
are gracious and merciful, Holy God,
and Jesus Christ is your heart made
flesh.
He, who had everything,
came to fill those who had
nothing.
He, who lived in glory,
came to the deserted places
of our hearts to love us.
He, who is over all,
came to submit to
death's power,
being cut off from you, until
you raised him to
new life.
We need not go away empty,
but are fed at the
Table,
where we speak the truth in Christ:
Christ died, the
witness to obedience;
God raised Christ, the witness to the
resurrection;
Christ will come, the witness to the promises to
us.
Here a this Table, God of abundance,
you feed us with that grace
and peace
which is offered at no cost to us.
The Holy Spirit blesses the
bread,
breaks it, and gives it to us
so we might have the
strength
to hold those whose knees wobble
from fear and
despair.
The Holy Spirit blesses the cup,
pours it, and gives it to
us
so we can go to lift up
the hopes which the world
has
dashed to the ground.
The Holy Spirit will gather up
the broken people to
create
a community of wholeness.
And when the final hour is
now,
when we are gathered with
our sisters and brothers of every time and
place,
we will eat and be filled at the Lamb's Supper,
and rejoice with
one voice
as we praise you forever and ever,
God in Community, Holy in
One. Amen.
Sending
L: Go now, to find the thirsty.
P: We will
show them where the living water flows.
L: Go now, to find the
hungry.
P: We will share from our abundance to feed them.
L: Go now, to
find the stranger.
P: We will embrace them as sister and brother.
©
2014 Thom M. Shuman
Monday, July 28, 2014
Monday, July 21, 2014
Liturgy w/communion for July 27, 2014 (Pentecost 7/Trinity 6/Proper 12/Ordinary 17 - A)
Texts: 1 Kings 3:5-12; Psalm 119:129-136; Romans 8:26-39; Matthew
13:31-33, 44-52
Call to Worship
L: Come and worship, proclaim God's ways
of faithfulness and steadfast love.
P: We will tell of God's love,
which unfolds in our lives.
L: Come and worship, for we are God's
people, rejoicing in his graciousness.
P: God is always with us, there is nothing
which can keep us apart.
L: Come to the One who tells stories;
worship our God who keeps promises.
P: We rejoice with God
who is with us always.
Prayer of the Day
In this kingdom
where the hopeless
are thrown into
Lake Forgotten forever,
you cast your net,
drawing them
into your embrace,
cradling them in your heart.
In this kingdom
where folks turn anorexic
gorging on greed,
while the poor scratch
in famine's fallow fields,
you wander in,
offering top dollar
for the pearls of grace
they uncover.
In this kingdom
where hope and faith,
patience and peace
have been sold as showpieces
for fancy museums,
you come,
purchasing them back,
polishing off the dust,
handing them back to us
so we can see the reflection
of that kingdom
your forged for us,
God in Community, Holy in One,
even as we pray, saying
(The Lord's Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
It is not our past which keeps us from God,
for that is behind us. It is not our present,
for God is with us on this day. And our future
is held tight in God's hands. It is true - there
is absolutely nothing which can separate us
from God. Whatever sins we have committed,
God's forgiveness and love take them away
forever. Join me as we pray together, saying,
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
What can we say about our foolish lives, God
of Love? Too often, we choose to worship power
when we could serve others in humility. We toss
and turn at night, all those things over which we
have no control keeping us wide awake, when we
could turn them over to you. No matter how many
times we hear the news that death has lost its power
over us, we dread that day and try everything we can
to postpone it.
For believing that our sins are more powerful
than your mercy, forgive us, Grace of the world.
You cast out your net of grace so that all might be
gathered into your kingdom. Your Spirit carries
the whispers of our hearts to you, and we are
embraced with your hope, blessed with your love
through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: Who has the right to judge us? Only Christ. Yet
Christ died for us, Christ was raised for us, Christ
reigns in power over us - Christ even prays for us!
P: This is the love which binds us to god forever. There
is nothing is this word, or beyond, which will keep
us from being God's children. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication/Offering
We offer our gifts to you, Steadfast Love, not because
you need them, but so others might be as blessed as
we are by your presence, your power, and your peace. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: May the God whose life is stronger than death be with you.
P: And also with you.
L: Come to the One who searches your hearts.
P: We open them to God, who justifies us.
L: Let us give thanks to God who shows us steadfast love.
P: We sing to the Lord, whose grace is kept in our hearts.
What then are we to say, God of creative thought?
You carved mountains out of valleys,
poured rivers to the seas,
created galaxies so numerous they cannot be counted,
and shaped us from the dust of the stars.
You walked before us in righteousness,
inviting us to follow in your footsteps,
but we bought fields filled with fools' gold,
and threw out our nets until they
overflowed with temptations.
Prophets came, to impart wisdom to us,
but tears ran down their cheeks as
we continued to be conformed to sin.
Turning to us, you were gracious enough
to send Jesus to us, to help us in our weakness.
With those who listen and understand,
with those who seek a discerning mind,
we sing our thanksgivings to you:
P: Holy, holy, holy are you, God who justifies us.
All creation rejoices in your steadfast love.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who reveals your kingdom.
Hosanna in the highest!
What then are we to say,
Searcher for God's most precious possessions?
Like a farmer,
you plant seeds into insignificant people,
watching them grow into servants.
Like a baker,
you mix the least with the mighty,
the poor with the rich,
the weak with the strong,
to shape your inclusive kingdom.
Like a lover,
you withhold nothing from those
you carry in your heart,
even dying so that we might
have life forever with God.
As we rejoice that Jesus gave us everything,
as we remember nothing stands between us and God,
we speak of that mysterious faith which is ours:
P: Christ died, giving up his own life for us;
Christ was raised, God's treasure brought forth
from the potter's field;
Christ will intercede for us, with joy and hope.
What then are we to say,
Spirit of the Sights?
In the bread shaped for the healing,
you unfold the Word to us,
feeding us on God's hopes
until we seethe over
the injustices of our time.
In the cup prepared for the pouring,
you fill us with light,
so we can journey into
the shadows of our world,
searching for those thrown
aside by our society.
And when time ends,
when there is nothing more to say,
we will sing our praises to you forever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending
L: Go forth to proclaim God's constant love.
P: We will live out that love for everyone we meet.
L: Go forth to unfold God's Word to the world.
P: We will gather up the tears of those around us,
as we offer the healing grace of Jesus.
L: Go forth to tell stories of hope and peace.
P: We will spread the Spirit of life all around us.
© 2014 Thom M. Shuman
Call to Worship
L: Come and worship, proclaim God's ways
of faithfulness and steadfast love.
P: We will tell of God's love,
which unfolds in our lives.
L: Come and worship, for we are God's
people, rejoicing in his graciousness.
P: God is always with us, there is nothing
which can keep us apart.
L: Come to the One who tells stories;
worship our God who keeps promises.
P: We rejoice with God
who is with us always.
Prayer of the Day
In this kingdom
where the hopeless
are thrown into
Lake Forgotten forever,
you cast your net,
drawing them
into your embrace,
cradling them in your heart.
In this kingdom
where folks turn anorexic
gorging on greed,
while the poor scratch
in famine's fallow fields,
you wander in,
offering top dollar
for the pearls of grace
they uncover.
In this kingdom
where hope and faith,
patience and peace
have been sold as showpieces
for fancy museums,
you come,
purchasing them back,
polishing off the dust,
handing them back to us
so we can see the reflection
of that kingdom
your forged for us,
God in Community, Holy in One,
even as we pray, saying
(The Lord's Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
It is not our past which keeps us from God,
for that is behind us. It is not our present,
for God is with us on this day. And our future
is held tight in God's hands. It is true - there
is absolutely nothing which can separate us
from God. Whatever sins we have committed,
God's forgiveness and love take them away
forever. Join me as we pray together, saying,
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
What can we say about our foolish lives, God
of Love? Too often, we choose to worship power
when we could serve others in humility. We toss
and turn at night, all those things over which we
have no control keeping us wide awake, when we
could turn them over to you. No matter how many
times we hear the news that death has lost its power
over us, we dread that day and try everything we can
to postpone it.
For believing that our sins are more powerful
than your mercy, forgive us, Grace of the world.
You cast out your net of grace so that all might be
gathered into your kingdom. Your Spirit carries
the whispers of our hearts to you, and we are
embraced with your hope, blessed with your love
through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: Who has the right to judge us? Only Christ. Yet
Christ died for us, Christ was raised for us, Christ
reigns in power over us - Christ even prays for us!
P: This is the love which binds us to god forever. There
is nothing is this word, or beyond, which will keep
us from being God's children. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication/Offering
We offer our gifts to you, Steadfast Love, not because
you need them, but so others might be as blessed as
we are by your presence, your power, and your peace. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: May the God whose life is stronger than death be with you.
P: And also with you.
L: Come to the One who searches your hearts.
P: We open them to God, who justifies us.
L: Let us give thanks to God who shows us steadfast love.
P: We sing to the Lord, whose grace is kept in our hearts.
What then are we to say, God of creative thought?
You carved mountains out of valleys,
poured rivers to the seas,
created galaxies so numerous they cannot be counted,
and shaped us from the dust of the stars.
You walked before us in righteousness,
inviting us to follow in your footsteps,
but we bought fields filled with fools' gold,
and threw out our nets until they
overflowed with temptations.
Prophets came, to impart wisdom to us,
but tears ran down their cheeks as
we continued to be conformed to sin.
Turning to us, you were gracious enough
to send Jesus to us, to help us in our weakness.
With those who listen and understand,
with those who seek a discerning mind,
we sing our thanksgivings to you:
P: Holy, holy, holy are you, God who justifies us.
All creation rejoices in your steadfast love.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who reveals your kingdom.
Hosanna in the highest!
What then are we to say,
Searcher for God's most precious possessions?
Like a farmer,
you plant seeds into insignificant people,
watching them grow into servants.
Like a baker,
you mix the least with the mighty,
the poor with the rich,
the weak with the strong,
to shape your inclusive kingdom.
Like a lover,
you withhold nothing from those
you carry in your heart,
even dying so that we might
have life forever with God.
As we rejoice that Jesus gave us everything,
as we remember nothing stands between us and God,
we speak of that mysterious faith which is ours:
P: Christ died, giving up his own life for us;
Christ was raised, God's treasure brought forth
from the potter's field;
Christ will intercede for us, with joy and hope.
What then are we to say,
Spirit of the Sights?
In the bread shaped for the healing,
you unfold the Word to us,
feeding us on God's hopes
until we seethe over
the injustices of our time.
In the cup prepared for the pouring,
you fill us with light,
so we can journey into
the shadows of our world,
searching for those thrown
aside by our society.
And when time ends,
when there is nothing more to say,
we will sing our praises to you forever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending
L: Go forth to proclaim God's constant love.
P: We will live out that love for everyone we meet.
L: Go forth to unfold God's Word to the world.
P: We will gather up the tears of those around us,
as we offer the healing grace of Jesus.
L: Go forth to tell stories of hope and peace.
P: We will spread the Spirit of life all around us.
© 2014 Thom M. Shuman
Monday, July 14, 2014
Liturgy w/communion for July 20, 2014 (Pentecost 6/Trinity 5/Proper 11/Ordinary 16 - A)
Texts: Isaiah 44:6-8; Psalm 86:11-17; Romans 8:12-25; Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Call to Worship
From the moment we open our eyes each morning,
until we close them at night, God is with us.
There is no one like you, our God!
In times when we are surrounded with struggles,
in all the surprising places we find hope, Jesus is with us.
There is no one like you, our Brother!
When we feel orphaned by the world,
when we are welcomed into faith's family,
the Holy Spirit is with us.
There is no one like you, Witnessing Spirit!
Prayer of the Day
You we praise, Steadfast Love,
for your presence never abandons us,
but is at our side in all of life.
There is no cobwebbed corner
that is not claimed by your grace.
You we praise, Teller of parables.
Your words challenge us in moments of doubt,
as well as in our times of great faith.
When we run around in circles
chasing our worries and fears
like a dog after it's tail,
you whisper hope to us.
You we praise, Spirit who calls to our hearts.
Your voice is that gentle whisper
in a world filled with angry shouts;
your joy is that refreshing shower
when despair parches our souls;
your wonder opens our eyes and ears
to the gifts which surround our lives.
You we praise, God in Community, Holy in One,
even as we pray as we are taught, saying,
(The Lord's Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
When we fail to live as God's people, we are like flowers which give way to weeds. But God seeks us out, not to condemn us, but to comfort, to forgive, and to bring us home. Let us stop playing hide-and-seek with our God, as we confess our sins together, saying,
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
Insolently we turn against you, God of truth. When we follow those desires that control us; when we live for ourselves, shutting off the gifts of those around us; when we think we do not need to share love, hope, peace with others, we show how we have joined that league of hooligans who ignore your way of life.
Yet, you have chosen to adopt us as your children, God-who-stands-with-us, forgiving us and making us inheritors with Jesus of your grace and joy. So lead us by the Spirit, that we might follow Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, into creation which groans for love and healing.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
In sorrow so deep we cannot find our way out,
God cradles us in comfort;
in moments so shadowed we trip over our fears,
God lights the way for us;
in joy which cascades into our souls,
God fills us with healing.
Even when we cannot see it, God's hope is all around us, surrounding us with peace and healing. Thanks be to God, we are forgiven ! Amen.
Prayer of Dedication/Offertory
Your steadfast love is but one of the many gifts you pour into us. Our offerings are but a part of the ways in which we can serve you and your people. Bless them, and bless us, to ministries of healing and hope. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of hope be with you.
And also with you.
People of God, lift your hearts to your Creator.
We offer them to the One who fills us with wonder.
Children of God, join in glad songs of praise to God.
We join the psalmists and prophets, the disciples and the doubters in glorifying God.
Who is like you, whimsical God?
You could have kept creation for yourself,
but instead you
poured light into the shadows of chaos,
planted seeds for crops to strengthen all,
shaped companions to journey with us.
You freely give these gifts to those
who are made in your loving image,
but from old, we choose over and over
to trust in sin and death,
believing their tangible temptations
to be of more value than your unseen hope.
Prophets come along to teach us your way,
so we might walk in your truth,
but we consider them to be a
troupe of troublemakers
and chase them away.
Finally Jesus came, to gather up your children,
so we might shine like the Son in your kingdom.
With those who remain indebted to the flesh,
with those who owe their life to the Spirit,
we join our voices in praising you:
Holy, holy, holy are you, God of steadfast love.
All creation groans, awaiting your redemption.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who gives us listening ears.
Hosanna in the highest!
Who is like you, Story Teller?
You left the crowds of angels
and came into our world.
With parables and simple truths,
you opened our ears so we could listen
to words of joy and comfort.
Grounded in that hope no one can see,
you opened our eyes so we can glimpse
touch, taste, and live in the kingdom.
You suffered on the cross to break
the hold sin and death have on us,
so by the grace of your resurrection,
we become your sisters and brothers,
joint heirs of God's constant grace.
As we wait with eager longing for you,
as we celebrate this feast of heaven,
we declare that faith which is a mystery:
Christ died, refusing to fall back into fear;
God raised him, revealing glory to us;
Christ will come to gather us into the kingdom.
Who is like you, Spirit of Creation?
You plant the seeds that become
the grain which is turned into bread;
you warm the vines that nurture
the grapes which are for the cup;
you transform these simple gifts
into a meal set at the children's Table.
May the broken bread give us strength
so we may go to serve
the vulnerable with our whole hearts.
May the cup offered to us open our ears
so we may listen to the oppressed
with attention focused only on them.
Then, when all creation is gathered up at the end
and all your children from every age and place
gather around that Table prepared from your hope,
we will spend all eternity forever praising you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending
Go forth as God's people.
We will greet everyone as one of the family.
Go forth as followers of Jesus.
We will serve everyone we meet, especially those who have been thrown aside by the world.
Go forth with the gifts of the Spirit in you.
We will be that hope which everyone longs to see.
© 2014 Thom M. Shuman
Call to Worship
From the moment we open our eyes each morning,
until we close them at night, God is with us.
There is no one like you, our God!
In times when we are surrounded with struggles,
in all the surprising places we find hope, Jesus is with us.
There is no one like you, our Brother!
When we feel orphaned by the world,
when we are welcomed into faith's family,
the Holy Spirit is with us.
There is no one like you, Witnessing Spirit!
Prayer of the Day
You we praise, Steadfast Love,
for your presence never abandons us,
but is at our side in all of life.
There is no cobwebbed corner
that is not claimed by your grace.
You we praise, Teller of parables.
Your words challenge us in moments of doubt,
as well as in our times of great faith.
When we run around in circles
chasing our worries and fears
like a dog after it's tail,
you whisper hope to us.
You we praise, Spirit who calls to our hearts.
Your voice is that gentle whisper
in a world filled with angry shouts;
your joy is that refreshing shower
when despair parches our souls;
your wonder opens our eyes and ears
to the gifts which surround our lives.
You we praise, God in Community, Holy in One,
even as we pray as we are taught, saying,
(The Lord's Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
When we fail to live as God's people, we are like flowers which give way to weeds. But God seeks us out, not to condemn us, but to comfort, to forgive, and to bring us home. Let us stop playing hide-and-seek with our God, as we confess our sins together, saying,
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
Insolently we turn against you, God of truth. When we follow those desires that control us; when we live for ourselves, shutting off the gifts of those around us; when we think we do not need to share love, hope, peace with others, we show how we have joined that league of hooligans who ignore your way of life.
Yet, you have chosen to adopt us as your children, God-who-stands-with-us, forgiving us and making us inheritors with Jesus of your grace and joy. So lead us by the Spirit, that we might follow Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, into creation which groans for love and healing.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
In sorrow so deep we cannot find our way out,
God cradles us in comfort;
in moments so shadowed we trip over our fears,
God lights the way for us;
in joy which cascades into our souls,
God fills us with healing.
Even when we cannot see it, God's hope is all around us, surrounding us with peace and healing. Thanks be to God, we are forgiven ! Amen.
Prayer of Dedication/Offertory
Your steadfast love is but one of the many gifts you pour into us. Our offerings are but a part of the ways in which we can serve you and your people. Bless them, and bless us, to ministries of healing and hope. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of hope be with you.
And also with you.
People of God, lift your hearts to your Creator.
We offer them to the One who fills us with wonder.
Children of God, join in glad songs of praise to God.
We join the psalmists and prophets, the disciples and the doubters in glorifying God.
Who is like you, whimsical God?
You could have kept creation for yourself,
but instead you
poured light into the shadows of chaos,
planted seeds for crops to strengthen all,
shaped companions to journey with us.
You freely give these gifts to those
who are made in your loving image,
but from old, we choose over and over
to trust in sin and death,
believing their tangible temptations
to be of more value than your unseen hope.
Prophets come along to teach us your way,
so we might walk in your truth,
but we consider them to be a
troupe of troublemakers
and chase them away.
Finally Jesus came, to gather up your children,
so we might shine like the Son in your kingdom.
With those who remain indebted to the flesh,
with those who owe their life to the Spirit,
we join our voices in praising you:
Holy, holy, holy are you, God of steadfast love.
All creation groans, awaiting your redemption.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who gives us listening ears.
Hosanna in the highest!
Who is like you, Story Teller?
You left the crowds of angels
and came into our world.
With parables and simple truths,
you opened our ears so we could listen
to words of joy and comfort.
Grounded in that hope no one can see,
you opened our eyes so we can glimpse
touch, taste, and live in the kingdom.
You suffered on the cross to break
the hold sin and death have on us,
so by the grace of your resurrection,
we become your sisters and brothers,
joint heirs of God's constant grace.
As we wait with eager longing for you,
as we celebrate this feast of heaven,
we declare that faith which is a mystery:
Christ died, refusing to fall back into fear;
God raised him, revealing glory to us;
Christ will come to gather us into the kingdom.
Who is like you, Spirit of Creation?
You plant the seeds that become
the grain which is turned into bread;
you warm the vines that nurture
the grapes which are for the cup;
you transform these simple gifts
into a meal set at the children's Table.
May the broken bread give us strength
so we may go to serve
the vulnerable with our whole hearts.
May the cup offered to us open our ears
so we may listen to the oppressed
with attention focused only on them.
Then, when all creation is gathered up at the end
and all your children from every age and place
gather around that Table prepared from your hope,
we will spend all eternity forever praising you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending
Go forth as God's people.
We will greet everyone as one of the family.
Go forth as followers of Jesus.
We will serve everyone we meet, especially those who have been thrown aside by the world.
Go forth with the gifts of the Spirit in you.
We will be that hope which everyone longs to see.
© 2014 Thom M. Shuman
Monday, July 07, 2014
Liturgy for July 13, 2014 (Pentecost 5/Trinity 4/Proper 10/Ordinary 15 - A)
Texts: Isaiah 55:10-13; Psalm 65:1-13; Romans 8:1-11; Matthew 13:1-9,
18-23
Call to Worship
Fresh corn dripping with butter,
juicy peaches topping our cereal:
praise is due to you, God of the harvest!
Children chasing fireflies in evening's shadows,
families picnicking in the backyard:
Praise is due to you, God of summer days!
Mothers tightening training wheels on bikes,
fathers teaching kids to bait a hook:
praise is due to you, God of our lives!
Prayer of the Day
You open our hearts, O God,
as you put a sail on your hope
so it may reach the furthest
shores of our despair.
Your showers of grace
fall softly upon the loose soil
of our dried-up dreams.
Your words do not return
empty to you, Story-teller.
They take root deep within us,
blossoming into gentleness
which can comfort a broken heart,
into compassion which can transform
a cold shoulder into an embrace,
into kindness which can make
a curmudgeon break into laughter.
You move into our lives,
Spirit of life,
quietly taking those fears
which trip us in the night hours
and putting them out in the trash;
gently watering the seeds
planted in our inept souls
until they become bushels of grace.
We join all in coming to you
God in Community, Holy in One,
even as we pray together, saying,
(The Lord's Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
We could offer seeds of hope, but don't. We could help a friend with a difficult problem, but won't. We could smooth the way for someone stumbling through life, but can't. Let us confess our harvest of sin to our God, as we pray together, saying,
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
We know the seeds we have sown, Harvesting God: anger which springs from our flinty hearts; bitterness which flows like a rushing river into another's heart; hurtful words which wrap their thorny briars around a friend's kindness; passion which poisons an innocent relationship.
Forgive us, Loving God, and have mercy. Your grace can turn our fallow hearts into rich fields of love. Your hope can smooth the rocks in our way, so we can go to be reconciled to another. Your love for us in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, can untangle the thorny mess we have made of our lives. Bless us with these gifts, we pray.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
No ifs, no ands, no buts. Now there is no condemnation - period! God answers all our hurts, our wrongs, our sin with salvation. Believe this good news, my friends.
We are stunned by your grace, and embraced in your love, Forgiving God, and lift our thanks to you. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication/Offertory
What we offer may not seem significant in a world of so much, Caring God, but we pray they may become seeds of hope, of grace, of change, of life to all those around us. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the Sower of grace be with you!
And also with you!
Seeds of hope and joy are planted in you.
May our hearts yield a rich harvest for God.
Join your voices with the valleys and mountains in praise.
We rejoice in the One who welcomes us at this Table.
You cast your seeds upon chaos,
Sower of creation, and
pastures overflowed with flocks,
valleys brought forth flowers to welcome you,
mountains sang out their praises to you
as trees clapped out the beat.
We were shaped in your image
to enjoy all these generous gifts,
but we chose to walk the rocky paths
of sin and death, their thorny temptations
choking us off from your hopes for us.
Prophets came to us with joy,
hoping to lead us back to you in peace,
but we sent them away empty-handed,
scattering their words on our sinful paths
like bread crumbs left for birds of prey.
Yet you would not leave us condemned,
and sent Jesus to accomplish your hopes.
With those whose ears are wide open,
with those who struggle to walk with you,
we lift our songs of thanksgiving to you:
Holy, holy, holy are you, God our Presence.
All creations is stunned by your deeds.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the Sower of the good news.
Hosanna in the highest!
Your holiness fills the earth with hope,
and Jesus Christ is the everlasting sign
we will not be separated from you.
He walked the dusty paths,
picking us up from where
the world had cast us aside.
He gathered up all the rocks
which fill our lives,
so your word might take root
deep within us.
He prunes all the twisted briars
of sin and death
so that your resurrection
might bloom for us all.
As we gather for this memorial feast,
as we seek to hear and understand his words,
we proclaim that mystery we know as faith:
Christ died, condemning sing to death;
God raised Christ, giving him new life;
Christ will come for us again, refusing to return to God empty-handed.
The Sower casts out the seeds
and the grain comes forth
to provide substance for the Bread.
The rain and snow refresh the vines,
the plump grapes ripened
to fill the Cup of life.
Your Spirit gathers us these gifts
and prepares the Table for your people
who, blessed with your presence, go forth
to bring hope and life to others;
and who, set free from sin and death,
go to release neighbors and strangers
from hunger, fear, doubts, and loneliness.
Then, when time has ended,
we will gather with our sisters and brothers
around your table of grace and peace,
and satisfied with your goodness
we will join all creation in praising you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending
Go forth as God's people.
We will sow seeds of love and joy in the world.
Go forth as Christ's true friends.
We will sow seeds of justice and hope in oppression-strewn paths.
Go forth as the Spirit's love.
We will sow seeds of peace and reconciliation in every corner of creation.
© 2014 Thom M. Shuman
Call to Worship
Fresh corn dripping with butter,
juicy peaches topping our cereal:
praise is due to you, God of the harvest!
Children chasing fireflies in evening's shadows,
families picnicking in the backyard:
Praise is due to you, God of summer days!
Mothers tightening training wheels on bikes,
fathers teaching kids to bait a hook:
praise is due to you, God of our lives!
Prayer of the Day
You open our hearts, O God,
as you put a sail on your hope
so it may reach the furthest
shores of our despair.
Your showers of grace
fall softly upon the loose soil
of our dried-up dreams.
Your words do not return
empty to you, Story-teller.
They take root deep within us,
blossoming into gentleness
which can comfort a broken heart,
into compassion which can transform
a cold shoulder into an embrace,
into kindness which can make
a curmudgeon break into laughter.
You move into our lives,
Spirit of life,
quietly taking those fears
which trip us in the night hours
and putting them out in the trash;
gently watering the seeds
planted in our inept souls
until they become bushels of grace.
We join all in coming to you
God in Community, Holy in One,
even as we pray together, saying,
(The Lord's Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
We could offer seeds of hope, but don't. We could help a friend with a difficult problem, but won't. We could smooth the way for someone stumbling through life, but can't. Let us confess our harvest of sin to our God, as we pray together, saying,
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
We know the seeds we have sown, Harvesting God: anger which springs from our flinty hearts; bitterness which flows like a rushing river into another's heart; hurtful words which wrap their thorny briars around a friend's kindness; passion which poisons an innocent relationship.
Forgive us, Loving God, and have mercy. Your grace can turn our fallow hearts into rich fields of love. Your hope can smooth the rocks in our way, so we can go to be reconciled to another. Your love for us in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, can untangle the thorny mess we have made of our lives. Bless us with these gifts, we pray.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
No ifs, no ands, no buts. Now there is no condemnation - period! God answers all our hurts, our wrongs, our sin with salvation. Believe this good news, my friends.
We are stunned by your grace, and embraced in your love, Forgiving God, and lift our thanks to you. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication/Offertory
What we offer may not seem significant in a world of so much, Caring God, but we pray they may become seeds of hope, of grace, of change, of life to all those around us. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the Sower of grace be with you!
And also with you!
Seeds of hope and joy are planted in you.
May our hearts yield a rich harvest for God.
Join your voices with the valleys and mountains in praise.
We rejoice in the One who welcomes us at this Table.
You cast your seeds upon chaos,
Sower of creation, and
pastures overflowed with flocks,
valleys brought forth flowers to welcome you,
mountains sang out their praises to you
as trees clapped out the beat.
We were shaped in your image
to enjoy all these generous gifts,
but we chose to walk the rocky paths
of sin and death, their thorny temptations
choking us off from your hopes for us.
Prophets came to us with joy,
hoping to lead us back to you in peace,
but we sent them away empty-handed,
scattering their words on our sinful paths
like bread crumbs left for birds of prey.
Yet you would not leave us condemned,
and sent Jesus to accomplish your hopes.
With those whose ears are wide open,
with those who struggle to walk with you,
we lift our songs of thanksgiving to you:
Holy, holy, holy are you, God our Presence.
All creations is stunned by your deeds.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the Sower of the good news.
Hosanna in the highest!
Your holiness fills the earth with hope,
and Jesus Christ is the everlasting sign
we will not be separated from you.
He walked the dusty paths,
picking us up from where
the world had cast us aside.
He gathered up all the rocks
which fill our lives,
so your word might take root
deep within us.
He prunes all the twisted briars
of sin and death
so that your resurrection
might bloom for us all.
As we gather for this memorial feast,
as we seek to hear and understand his words,
we proclaim that mystery we know as faith:
Christ died, condemning sing to death;
God raised Christ, giving him new life;
Christ will come for us again, refusing to return to God empty-handed.
The Sower casts out the seeds
and the grain comes forth
to provide substance for the Bread.
The rain and snow refresh the vines,
the plump grapes ripened
to fill the Cup of life.
Your Spirit gathers us these gifts
and prepares the Table for your people
who, blessed with your presence, go forth
to bring hope and life to others;
and who, set free from sin and death,
go to release neighbors and strangers
from hunger, fear, doubts, and loneliness.
Then, when time has ended,
we will gather with our sisters and brothers
around your table of grace and peace,
and satisfied with your goodness
we will join all creation in praising you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending
Go forth as God's people.
We will sow seeds of love and joy in the world.
Go forth as Christ's true friends.
We will sow seeds of justice and hope in oppression-strewn paths.
Go forth as the Spirit's love.
We will sow seeds of peace and reconciliation in every corner of creation.
© 2014 Thom M. Shuman
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