Call to Worship
The God who is greater than we will ever understand,
is humbled to become one of us.
The God who is more loving that our hearts dare imagine,
gives us more grace than we ever realize.
The God who is wiser than we will ever know,
teaches us all we need to become God's children.
Prayer of the Day
Why should we fear,
God of compassion?
You choose us
to be bearers
of grace and justice
to a broken world;
you call us to be words
of hope and joy
to people deafened by despair.
We will extol you.
Why should we fear,
Brother of justice?
You call us to follow you
so we may serve all
who have been abandoned
by a society focused on self.
You model kindness
so we might bring healing
to a fractured culture.
We will bless you.
Why should we fear,
Spirit of grace?
When we run around in circles,
you fill us with your peace;
when we stumble through each day,
you energize us with your hope;
when our spirits are empty,
you come and dwell in us.
We will praise you.
Why should we fear,
God in Community, Holy in One,
as you listen to us pray
as Jesus has taught us, saying,
(The Lord's Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
We often think God is 'out there' somewhere, distant and uncaring. But God hears our hearts, God shares our struggles, God walks with us as we try to be faithful disciples. Let us come to the One who is as close as the very breath we take in this moment to confess the brokenness of our lives. Please join me as we pray,
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
We are so easily confused by what the world tells us, Watching God, that we forget the stories of faith we heard as children. We are so fearful of tomorrow, we are not aware of your Spirit with us today. We are so busy wondering 'what if?' or 'suppose?’ - we cannot hear the promises you whisper to us.
So once again, Gracious God, have mercy on us. You know our hearts so well - touch them with your grace. You see our deepest fears - heal them with your peace. You hear our secret longings - speak to them of your hope. This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
The One who searches our broken hearts has found the way to mend them and make us new people. The good news is that everything God has done in Christ is for us, that we might be made whole.
With kindness and with justice, God makes us new people. We will sing our thanks through all eternity. Great is God and greatly to be praised! Amen.
Prayer of Dedication/Offering
Truth be told, Holy God, we are often afraid that you will misuse the gifts we offer - bringing hope to those who deserve none, feeding those who could be working, looking after those who are coddled too much. Forgive our fearfulness. After all, you entrusted these gifts to us in the first place! In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
People of God, lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the One who heals our brokenness.
Let us offer our thanks to God, who has prepared this Table for us.
We will bless the One who offers us life in every moment.
We thank you for your greatness,
God of the living, and fall silent.
When there was only chaos,
you whispered your Word,
and creation sprang forth.
The sun and the stars
filled the heavens with your splendor,
and the earth sang your glory.
You filled us with your dreams
of life with you forever,
but we confused your hopes
with our desires and went chasing
after the seductions of sin and death.
You sent the prophets
to remind us of the stories
we had been told as your children,
but we thought them
to be myths and fables.
So once again, you sent your Word
to speak sense to our lives.
Therefore, in this time and place,
with those who have gone before,
and those who will come after,
we join in the song of all creation:
Holy, holy, holy are you, God of unsearchable greatness!
The glorious splendor of your creation sings your praises.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes according to the promises made.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, God of understanding,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, your Son.
When we had been deafened
by the songs of the world,
he came to speak of hope,
and to offer us justice.
When we were easily confused
by the promises of sin,
he came to make clear
your dreams for us.
When we thought
we could save ourselves,
he offered himself on the cross,
that we might spend eternity
in your presence.
As we come to the Table of grace,
as we are offered all your gifts,
we remember what Christ has done for us:
Christ died, holding fast to God's promises;
Christ was raised, opposing the so-called god death;
Christ will return to fill our hearts with splendor.
Send your Spirit upon the gifts
of the bread and the cup,
and upon your children
who gather in this place.
Place into our empty hands
your Bread made with life and mercy,
that we might take
justice and peace
to the outcasts of our world.
Fill our parched hearts
with the Cup of grace,
that we might be poured out
for the broken and lost
in these times and places.
Heal us with the peace
of this joyous feast,
that we might become
your people of hope.
Then, when this world passes away,
and time has come to an end,
we will gather around the Table
in your kingdom of grace,
singing our praises to you for all eternity,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending
Now, go out into the world as God's people!
We will not be afraid to trust in God's future.
Now, go out as followers of Jesus!
We will not falter in bringing justice and hope to all.
Now, go out as those gifted by the Spirit!
We will not fear, but will journey into the days ahead.
(c) 2016 Thom M. Shuman
