Call to Worship
We
come to worship our God,who has done wonders in our lives.
God anoints us with joy and light,
gifts from the treasures of God’s heart.
We come to follow Jesus,
who bears our lives with grace and hope.
Jesus would send us into the brokenness
of the world to bring healing.
We come to be touched by the Spirit,
who brings gentleness and peace for all.
The Spirit would enable us to offer
reconciliation and justice to everyone we meet.
Prayer of the Day
We
would sing glad songs to you, Commissioning God,
as we enter your heart
with thanksgiving on our lips,
for you are
that love which never ends;
that joy which overflows;
that faith which is always full.
We
would proclaim our praise
to
you, Voice of compassion,as you would send us
into the world in which we live,
for you are
the Word we can speak to power;
the healing we can offer to the broken;
the justice which can replace oppression.
We would offer our hands and hearts
to you, Imaginative Spirit,
as you teach us new steps
in this dance we call life,
for you are
the cleanser of our messy hearts,
the breath of hope for shallow lungs,
the password for access to grace.
With our hearts, voices, bodies, souls,
we offer joyful noise to you,
God in Community, Holy in One,
even as we pray as taught by you,
(The Lord’s Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
We hunt for those links which offer life, but they are all broken. We keep searching for hope, only to be sent from one false site to another. But God, freely and faithfully, offers us the access to grace we need, through Jesus Christ. Let us join in offering our prayers to the One who is our hope, our life, as we pray together, saying,
Unison Prayer for
Forgiveness
Of course, we will do everything you ask,
Faithfulness of creation, even as we cross our souls behind our backs. Yes, we could go where people are suffering,
but we like the comfort of our homes. Yes,
we could be with others as they seek to endure life, but compassion is often
hard to share. Yes, we could offer hope
to the hungry and homeless, but we barely have enough for ourselves.Forgive us, Steadfast Love, and have mercy on us. Remind us that is was when we were most foolish, that you became fallible; it was when we were vile, that you became so vulnerable; when the world would not welcome us, that Jesus came – to listen to our emptiness, to comfort our grieving hearts, and to cast out death’s power over us.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
God
as done it! God has carried away our
foolishness. God has brought us out of
despair and hope, and made us God’s precious treasure.We give thanks to our God, whose love is fresh and new in every moment, whose faithfulness is forever. Amen. Amen.
Prayer of
Dedication/Offering
We
could be the healing for those who suffer;we could be the strength for those who long to endure;
we could be the hope for those buffeted by the world, and so,
we offer ourselves, as well as our gifts,
in hopes that you will bless others who are in your heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of faithfulness be with you.
And also with you.
Let us open our hearts to God in this moment.
We offer our hearts to the One who does all things for us.
People of God, lift your voices in songs of praise.
We will make a joyful noise to the One who is our life.
Before time began, your faithfulness
was ever present, God of Grace,
and your never-ending love
poured out beauty and goodness,
transforming chaos into
full moons treading across the night,
dinosaurs lumbering through valleys,
bees pollinating flowers and making honey.
All this – the earth, the rivers, the wonders –
were for those you formed in your image,
but when we could go anywhere,
we chose the comforts of sin and death.
You called women and men as prophets,
sending them out with only your hopes in hand,
but we turned away from them, offering contempt,
not compassion, when we saw them.
So, you sent your precious Treasure
to become one of us that
we might become your holy people.
With all those who make a joyful noise,
and those who only rumble the notes,
we sing glad songs of praise to you:
Holy, holy, holy, are you, God of steadfast love.
Not only we, but all creation sings of your faithfulness.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes to everyone, everywhere.
Hosanna in the highest!
When the time was right, Heart of holiness,
you looked with compassion on us,
and sent your Child to be our hope and blessings.
He came, not with judgment on his lips,
but proclaiming your grace;
he came, not to aggravate us,
but to palliate our foolishness;
he came, not to knock us down,
but to lift us when we stumble;
he came, not to watch us die,
but to stand at the emptiness of death,
pointing and proclaiming we have nothing to fear,
because of your steadfast love
which became our resurrection hope.
As we would seek to see others through his compassionate eyes,
as we would go to serve his people,
we would speak of that mystery we call faith:
Christ suffered for us, so we might endure;
Christ died for us, showing us the character of grace;
Christ was raised for us, resurrection bringing us hope;
Christ will come for us, and we will not be disappointed.
At this time, ever faithful God,
pour out your Spirit upon
the gifts of the bread and the cup
and all your children gathered here.
May the bread of broken life
strengthen us so we may
go wherever there is need,
feed whoever is hungry,
cleanse the world of fear and worry.
As we drink from the cup of grace,
may we be nourished
to offer access to grace to everyone,
to bring healing to the lonely,
to mourn with those who grieve.
Then, beyond the end of time, gather us
with our sisters and brothers from all places
around your Feast of faithfulness,
as we sing of your steadfast love forever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending
God sends us out to bear witness to grace.
We will speak of all God has done.
Jesus sends us out into every neighborhood and community.
We will go to bear the burdens of everyone we meet.
The Spirit sends us out on a journey of faithfulness.
We will go to see everyone through the eyes of compassion.
© 2017 Thom M. Shuman
