Liturgy w/communion for August 31, 2014 (Pentecost 12/Trintiy 11/Proper 17/Ordinary 22 -A)

Texts:  Jeremiah 15:15-21; Psalm 26:1-8; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28

Call to Worship
Even when we encounter folks who
are mean, dishonest, hateful,
we are called to respond with
that love which is true and sincere.
God calls us to love all people as if
they were our sisters and brothers,
for God seeks to weave us into one family,
tearing down all the barriers between us.
No matter how weary we become
from our loneliness, our struggles, our service,
God challenges us to be patient,
to rejoice, and to never stop praying.
Why should we do all things?
Because we are God's people,
called to lives which are different,
and which make a difference!

Prayer of the Day
God our Creator,
you are alive:
     in the singing of geese flying south,
     in the leaves gently stirring in the breeze,
     in the stars that dance at night.

Jesus, Brother to the poor,
you are in our midst:
     in the lap of a grandmother,
     in the cries of a newborn,
     in the stillness of dawn.

Spirit of God,
you make all our places holy:
     the classrooms where we fidget,
     the sidewalks where we meet neighbors,
     the grass in our backyards.

God in Community, Holy in One,
make us aware of your presence in every moment,
even as we pray as we are taught, saying,
(The Lord's Prayer)

Call to Reconciliation
If God is in every person we meet, what does that say about the harmful words we speak, the hurt we cause to others in our lives?  We are invited to bring our faults and foolishness, our brokenness and bitterness to our God, confessing such lives, so we might be made new.  Join me, as we pray together saying,

Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
     You know us, Watching God.  You know who we are, people who find it easier to hold on to all we do that is wrong, rather that clinging to goodness.  You know what we do, when we ignore the poor, or refuse to live at peace with others.  You know why we do all these things, for we continue to set our minds on all those temptations which insinuate themselves into our lives.
     You do indeed know us all too well, Steadfast Love.  Yet, you continue to be patient with us and forgiving towards us. Yet, you would embrace as we turn towards you in repentance, rather than washing your hands of us.  Yet, you would continue to call us to follow Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, so we might find our life with you.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
This is the good news for us, my friends.  God remembers us and forgives us, so we might live as people of love and hope.
We will sing our praises to the One who has made us whole.  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

Prayer of Dedication/Offertory
May the gifts we offer, Loving God, feed those who are hungry, as you have fed us with your Word.  May these gifts give those who thirst for hope a cup which is overflowing.  May our gifts be used to welcome all those who are your children, our sisters and brothers in this life.  Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May our God of goodness be with you.
And also with you.
Offer your hearts to God and rejoice in hope.
We bring them to the One who blesses us with love.
Join in singing thanksgivings to the One who calls us to this feast.
We praise our God who feeds us with peace.

Reaching into your imagination, God of wonder,
you wove that community we call creation:
     your steadfast love swimming in the waters,
     your joy teaching songs to the birds,
     your peace placing stars in the skies.
You made ready your guest room
for those shaped in your likeness,
     but we set our minds on sin's things,
     wanting to walk down the road to death.
You sent prophets to offer us your words
so that they might delight our hearts,
     but we would not even try a taste,
     preferring to party with hypocritical temptation.
You would not wash your sins of us,
but sent your Child into our world,
to be with us, to save us.

With all those who cling to goodness,
with those who long to live in harmony,
we sing aloud our thanksgivings:

Holy, holy, holy are you, God who knows us.
All creation rejoices in your hope.
Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who walks in integrity.
Hosanna in the highest!

In Jesus, you walked faithfully
toward us, God of holiness,
     so we might see your love
     wherever and whenever we looked.
In Jesus, you sat down with those
considered worthless in the world's eyes,
     so we might feast on your words
     of mercy and hope.
In Jesus, your reached out
     to pry us out of Wicked's hands,
     to break Ruthless's grip on us.
In Jesus, you showed us the cost
of delivering us, as he lost his life
so we might be saved by grace.

Because we want to follow Jesus,
because we want to be your people,
we would proclaim our faith:

Taking up his cross, Christ died for us;
overcoming death with life, you raised Christ from the grave;
Christ will come with the angels, to reveal your glory.

Pour out your Spirit upon
the gifts of the Table,
and on the people being woven
into your community in this place.
As we eat of the bread,
may we find that life of serving
     the poor, the hungry,
     the lost, the hopeless.
As we drink from the cup,
may we find the strength
to lose our selves
     in sharing your peace,
     in giving water to the thirsty,
     in becoming friends with the oppressed.

When this journey through life has ended,
and we gather in your house around your table
with those of every place, and of every time,
we will sing your praises forever,
God in Community, Holy in One.  Amen.

Sending
Take the love of God into the world.
We will be genuine in sharing this with everyone we meet.
Take the grace of Jesus into your communities.
We will share the joy of those who rejoice, we will mingle our tears with those who weep.
Share the Spirit's community with all this week.
We will welcome everyone, especially those who feel alone and afraid.

© 2014  Thom M. Shuman