Texts: Isaiah 64:1-9; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:24-37
Call to Worship
Now, in this holy season of Advent, we wait.
For the faithful God is coming to us.
Now, in this season of waiting, we listen.
For the faithful Word speaks of good news to us.
Now, in the waiting and listening, we watch.
For the faithful Spirit is moving among us.
Prayer of the Day
You could feed us bitterness,
Approaching God,
but you choose to serve us
with the Bread of heaven;
you could hand us hot cup of your tears,
but you touch
the Cup of hope to our lips.
All the stars fall down
to shine
the way for you,
Babe of Bethlehem,
as the powers of the world
tremble at
your approach.
You tear open
our hardened hearts
so you can come
in
and live with us forever.
Advent's Spirit:
you unclog our
ears
so we can hear
the songs of the angels;
you wipe the grit
from
our eyes
so we can see
the One who is coming to us.
God in
Community, Holy in One,
help us to wait patiently, and hopefully,
as we
lift the prayer taught to us by Jesus, saying,
(the Lord's Prayer)
Call
to Reconciliation
Advent is the season
of preparing,
of
waiting,
of hoping
so let us confess to the One who comes, our impatient, toe-tapping, instant-gratification-filled lives, as we pray, saying
Responsive Prayer for Forgiveness
God who is drawing near to us:
we live in a world of
violence,
which we do not condemn enough:
Come to us, with
your peace.
We are filled with the best of intentions,
but
are unable to follow through with action:
Come to us, with your
will.
We are sinners, who are afraid
to gaze into your
mirror of grace:
Come to us, with your mercy.
Word of
Flesh:
have mercy;
Friend of the poor:
have
mercy;
Bridegroom of the faithful:
have mercy.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
In this season
of waiting, the Good News is this: mercy, new life, hope, and
joy are the gifts we receive from our God.
Thanks be to the
God of Advent, who came in the Child, who is with us in the
Spirit, who will come again in glory! Amen.
Prayer of Dedication/Offering
God-who-gifts-us, you do so, not so we might have more, but we might care for those who have so little; not so we might splurge, but we might share. In the waiting of Advent, may we see the wanting, and use our resources to fill their lives with hope, grace, and joy. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
Now, in this holy season of Advent, God comes to be with you.
God comes to be with you as well.
As we begin our journey to Bethlehem, let us open our hearts to God.
For God will fill them with strength and courage for the journey.
Let us join our voices in singing praise to God.
We will lift glad songs of joy to the One who is coming to us.
When you were tired of waiting,
God-of-the-first-moment,
you tore open chaos,
so creation might flow unimpeded:
puppies quivering in falling snow,
ice for skating forming on ponds,
giraffes stretching their necks for snacks.
All these fresh and glorious wonders
were crafted for those in your image,
so we might live in your joy forever,
but we chose to be doorkeepers
for sin, waiting for death to appear.
Prophets came, so we might hear you
and see you at work in our midst,
yet, we turned a deaf ear to them,
refusing to notice you.
So you came down to us
in Jesus, your Child of life,
simply to save us.
With those who try never to turn away,
and those who call on your name,
we sing your praises this day:
Holy, holy, holy are you, God who comes to us.
All creation gives thanks to you, always.
Glory to you in the highest!
Blessed is the One who gathers us to you.
Glory to you in the highest!
In your holiness, you could have stood apart from us,
God of compassion and hope,
but in your love, you came to us
to be one of us in Jesus.
When we struggle in despair's poverty,
he enriches us with your grace.
When we are weakened by fear,
he strengthens us with your hope.
When we think our lives are empty,
he fills us with everything we need.
When death thought it
had lulled him to sleep,
he kept alert, waiting
for your resurrection love
to gather him up
and bring him to new life.
With those who are always alert,
and with those who are drowsy from waiting,
we proclaim that mystery which is our faith:
Christ died, giving his life as he called to you;
Christ was raised, resurrection love shining the way;
Christ will come, to gather us from every time and place.
Remembering that we are all your people,
you pour out your Spirit upon us
and the gifts prepared for this Feast.
You came to earth in Jesus
and now we find you in the broken bread
which gives us the strength
to be your hope to those in sadness,
to be your light to those in shadows,
to be your justice to the oppressed.
Your life was poured out for us in Jesus,
and now we find your grace in the cup
which gives us the spirit
to be your healing to the broken,
to be your family to the lonely,
to be your love to those who are ignored.
And when all time is ended,
gather us with our sisters and brothers
from every time and every place
around the table you have prepared for us,
as we sing our joyful praises to you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending
We do not know when Christ will return,
so we will wait, and in the waiting
we will share hope with everyone around us.
We do not know what the coming days will bring,
but we will be alert,
noticing all those who need the help we can provide.
We do not know the opportunities we will be given,
but we will keep our eyes open,
so we can welcome each
person
as if they are the Christ.
(c) 2017 Thom M. Shuman
Saturday, November 25, 2017
Friday, November 17, 2017
Liturgy w/communion for November 26, 2017 (Christ the King/Reign of Christ - A)
Texts: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24; Psalm 100; Ephesians 1:15-23; Matthew 25:31-46
Call to Worship
Our lives scattered on the floor of the world,
our limits pushed by stress and its best friend, impatience,
we come:
For here, God would gather us,
bringing us to the realm of peace.
Wondering if truth is fake or worth pursuing,
questioning whether anyone is worth following or believing,
we come:
For here, God would feed us with wisdom,
sending the One who would lead us to the realm of hope.
Questioning the motives of everyone in power,
doubting that justice can be found anywhere,
we come:
For here, God brings us to worship with our sisters and brothers,
scooping us up from every place we have strayed.
Prayer of the Day
We are lost and wonder
if anyone cares, and you come,
Master of the Universe,
to bring us home to you.
Our thoughts chase themselves
around and around our minds,
and you weave them together
into words of hope for the lonely.
Too often, we find ourselves
parched in the deserts of temptation,
feasting on those scraps
found on worry's table,
and wonder why we still
hunger and thirst.
So you come to find us,
hope's Word-carrier,
so we might be filled
with grace and life.
You take our brokenness,
Spirit of our hearts,
and make us whole.
You scatter our anger and fears,
so we might be gathered
into communities of love.
You set our feet back
on those paths of grace
which will lead us back to you.
You rescue us from every place we have gone,
God in Community, Holy in One,
and so we pray as Jesus has taught us, saying,
(The Lord's Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
So accustomed to the world's shadows, we do not think of ourselves as being lost. We are so confident of where we are going, we never ask for directions. But as we confess the lives we truly lead, we discover how scattered we are. So, let us pray together, as we discover the One who has been searching for us.
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
Gathering God, this week, we threw an extra can of (on sale) veggies in our overflowing grocery carts; we donated that old coat we haven't worn in a couple of years to the thrift store; we re-gifted a bouquet to a neighbor in the hospital. Did you notice? Or were you too busy cleaning the guest room for the immigrant couple; buying hats and gloves for all the kids in the school near your home; sitting by the bed of a hospice patient after the family left for the night.
We spend so much time patting ourselves on the back, that we do not notice how you are constantly searching the ends of the earth for all your children, Merciful God, even going into the very grip of death to bring us all new life. Give us the faith to live as your people, and the wisdom to let go of all that you have poured into our lives, even as did Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
God feeds the hungry and gives hope to the parched.
That's us.
God brings healing to the sick and visits those imprisoned.
That's us.
God wraps warmth around the cold, and knits a sweater for the naked.
That's us.
God loves every person, forgives every person, cares for every person.
That's us. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication and Offering
We may not be hungry, but there are those who are.
We may not be parched from thirst, but there are those who do.
We may not worry about health care, or have someone in prison, or have to wear clothes tossed aside by others, but many of our sisters and brothers find themselves in such lives. But we have been blessed by you. So may these gifts we offer be used to everyone might know that your community of compassion, of hope, of grace, of life is for everyone. This we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of all hope be with you.
And also with you.
Let us lift our hearts to our God.
The eyes of our hearts look to the One who is our God.
Let us worship our God with glad songs of praise.
We come into God's presence with thanksgiving.
You gathered up the scattered
fragments of chaos, God of wonder,
shaping them into the wonders
we call the gifts and beauty of creation:
thunderstorms moving over meadows,
snow swirling softly in the evenings,
deer standing in the silence of forests.
All these things and so much more
you offered to those created in your image,
but the eyes of our hearts looked
at the seductions of sin and death,
finding them more desirable then you.
Prophets came as seekers of the lost,
hoping to bring us our of our foolishness,
yet we continued to ignore them
as we did those we could have served
with your gifts of healing and hope.
That is when you chose to become one of us,
your heart beating with ours,
your love seeking to save us.
So with those who have reached out to the needy,
and those who somehow never notice them,
we offer our songs of praise to you:
Holy, holy, holy are you, God of every heart.
All creation joins in offering thanks to you.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes to reveal your realm.
Hosanna in the highest!
Your holiness is revealed
in your steadfast love, Searching God,
and your heart in Jesus, our Lord, our brother.
When we would heap temptation's
empty calories on our plates,
he feeds us on hope;
when we would drink from
the fountains of grudges,
he pours us a cup of grace;
when we find every door
slammed shut in our face,
he invites us into your heart;
when we are struggling with
the burdens and bills of illness,
he touches us with healing care;
when we are faced with eternity
in the dank cells of death,
he took the doors
off the hinges, so we
could walk into your
resurrection love.
As we remember his stories of your realm,
as we seek to care for him in our sisters and brothers,
we seek to live that mystery we call faith:
Jesus died, so we might know your justice;
Jesus was raised, so we might know your love;
Jesus will come, so we will be gathered to you at last.
You have searched for us, Steadfast Love,
and gathered us in the sacred space,
where your Spirit is poured out
upon the gifts of the bread and cup,
and on your children gathered
from every place where we strayed.
You feed us on the broken bread so,
that strengthened we would go
to care for the hungry and needy,
to welcome the stranger and straggler,
to bring healing to the hurting.
You offer the cup of grace so,
nourished with your love, we would go
to offer the parched your living waters,
to visit those held captive by fear,
to offer a warm heart to the lonely.
And when the moment at the end of time comes,
as you gather the forgotten and the fragile,
the strangers as well as our sisters and brothers,
we will join hands and hearts singing our praises,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending
Now, from where God has gathered us, let us go.
To discover that the stranger and homeless,
the prisoner and the hospice patient and everyone else
are our sisters and brothers.
Now, from where we have been fed, let us go.
To join Jesus in serving those who thirst for righteousness
as well as those who hunger for justice.
Now, from where we have been one, let us go.
To find those who have been tossed aside,
gathering them up to bring them
to the Spirit's goodness and peace.
(c) 2017 Thom M. Shuman
Call to Worship
Our lives scattered on the floor of the world,
our limits pushed by stress and its best friend, impatience,
we come:
For here, God would gather us,
bringing us to the realm of peace.
Wondering if truth is fake or worth pursuing,
questioning whether anyone is worth following or believing,
we come:
For here, God would feed us with wisdom,
sending the One who would lead us to the realm of hope.
Questioning the motives of everyone in power,
doubting that justice can be found anywhere,
we come:
For here, God brings us to worship with our sisters and brothers,
scooping us up from every place we have strayed.
Prayer of the Day
We are lost and wonder
if anyone cares, and you come,
Master of the Universe,
to bring us home to you.
Our thoughts chase themselves
around and around our minds,
and you weave them together
into words of hope for the lonely.
Too often, we find ourselves
parched in the deserts of temptation,
feasting on those scraps
found on worry's table,
and wonder why we still
hunger and thirst.
So you come to find us,
hope's Word-carrier,
so we might be filled
with grace and life.
You take our brokenness,
Spirit of our hearts,
and make us whole.
You scatter our anger and fears,
so we might be gathered
into communities of love.
You set our feet back
on those paths of grace
which will lead us back to you.
You rescue us from every place we have gone,
God in Community, Holy in One,
and so we pray as Jesus has taught us, saying,
(The Lord's Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
So accustomed to the world's shadows, we do not think of ourselves as being lost. We are so confident of where we are going, we never ask for directions. But as we confess the lives we truly lead, we discover how scattered we are. So, let us pray together, as we discover the One who has been searching for us.
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
Gathering God, this week, we threw an extra can of (on sale) veggies in our overflowing grocery carts; we donated that old coat we haven't worn in a couple of years to the thrift store; we re-gifted a bouquet to a neighbor in the hospital. Did you notice? Or were you too busy cleaning the guest room for the immigrant couple; buying hats and gloves for all the kids in the school near your home; sitting by the bed of a hospice patient after the family left for the night.
We spend so much time patting ourselves on the back, that we do not notice how you are constantly searching the ends of the earth for all your children, Merciful God, even going into the very grip of death to bring us all new life. Give us the faith to live as your people, and the wisdom to let go of all that you have poured into our lives, even as did Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
God feeds the hungry and gives hope to the parched.
That's us.
God brings healing to the sick and visits those imprisoned.
That's us.
God wraps warmth around the cold, and knits a sweater for the naked.
That's us.
God loves every person, forgives every person, cares for every person.
That's us. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication and Offering
We may not be hungry, but there are those who are.
We may not be parched from thirst, but there are those who do.
We may not worry about health care, or have someone in prison, or have to wear clothes tossed aside by others, but many of our sisters and brothers find themselves in such lives. But we have been blessed by you. So may these gifts we offer be used to everyone might know that your community of compassion, of hope, of grace, of life is for everyone. This we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of all hope be with you.
And also with you.
Let us lift our hearts to our God.
The eyes of our hearts look to the One who is our God.
Let us worship our God with glad songs of praise.
We come into God's presence with thanksgiving.
You gathered up the scattered
fragments of chaos, God of wonder,
shaping them into the wonders
we call the gifts and beauty of creation:
thunderstorms moving over meadows,
snow swirling softly in the evenings,
deer standing in the silence of forests.
All these things and so much more
you offered to those created in your image,
but the eyes of our hearts looked
at the seductions of sin and death,
finding them more desirable then you.
Prophets came as seekers of the lost,
hoping to bring us our of our foolishness,
yet we continued to ignore them
as we did those we could have served
with your gifts of healing and hope.
That is when you chose to become one of us,
your heart beating with ours,
your love seeking to save us.
So with those who have reached out to the needy,
and those who somehow never notice them,
we offer our songs of praise to you:
Holy, holy, holy are you, God of every heart.
All creation joins in offering thanks to you.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes to reveal your realm.
Hosanna in the highest!
Your holiness is revealed
in your steadfast love, Searching God,
and your heart in Jesus, our Lord, our brother.
When we would heap temptation's
empty calories on our plates,
he feeds us on hope;
when we would drink from
the fountains of grudges,
he pours us a cup of grace;
when we find every door
slammed shut in our face,
he invites us into your heart;
when we are struggling with
the burdens and bills of illness,
he touches us with healing care;
when we are faced with eternity
in the dank cells of death,
he took the doors
off the hinges, so we
could walk into your
resurrection love.
As we remember his stories of your realm,
as we seek to care for him in our sisters and brothers,
we seek to live that mystery we call faith:
Jesus died, so we might know your justice;
Jesus was raised, so we might know your love;
Jesus will come, so we will be gathered to you at last.
You have searched for us, Steadfast Love,
and gathered us in the sacred space,
where your Spirit is poured out
upon the gifts of the bread and cup,
and on your children gathered
from every place where we strayed.
You feed us on the broken bread so,
that strengthened we would go
to care for the hungry and needy,
to welcome the stranger and straggler,
to bring healing to the hurting.
You offer the cup of grace so,
nourished with your love, we would go
to offer the parched your living waters,
to visit those held captive by fear,
to offer a warm heart to the lonely.
And when the moment at the end of time comes,
as you gather the forgotten and the fragile,
the strangers as well as our sisters and brothers,
we will join hands and hearts singing our praises,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending
Now, from where God has gathered us, let us go.
To discover that the stranger and homeless,
the prisoner and the hospice patient and everyone else
are our sisters and brothers.
Now, from where we have been fed, let us go.
To join Jesus in serving those who thirst for righteousness
as well as those who hunger for justice.
Now, from where we have been one, let us go.
To find those who have been tossed aside,
gathering them up to bring them
to the Spirit's goodness and peace.
(c) 2017 Thom M. Shuman
Monday, November 13, 2017
Liturgy w/communion for Thanksgiving - Year A
Texts: Deuteronomy 8:7-18; Psalm 65; 2 Corinthians 9:6-15; Luke 17:11-19
Call to Worship
Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.
We glorify our God with songs of thanksgiving and joy.
God has done great things for us, filling us with grace.
God fed our ancestors in the wilderness, God clothes us with hope.
We will offer our hearts to God, always saying,
'Thank you!' to the One who loves us.
We will sing our praises, shouting of God's presence in our lives.
Prayer of the Day
Hot showers in the morning
and cool breezes in the evening;
work that provides for our families,
and abundance that makes us generous;
silly jokes told by third graders,
and the silent tears of a grandmother
lost in her childhood forever.
What blessings are ours, Creation's Joy!
Teachers who patiently help us with our math,
and mentors who keep us on the right paths;
friends who shovel snow off sidewalks before we waken,
and employers whose hearts are greater than their profits;
piano teachers who smile at our repeated mistakes,
coaches who teach us (one more time)
how to curl the ball into the goal.
What blessings are ours, Servant of Joy!
Dogs who bounce us awake early in the day
and cats who lullaby us to sleep at night;
grandfathers who teach us how to whittle
and sisters who give up a date to baby sit;
little boys who always forget to wipe their mouths
and folks who always remember to say 'thank you.'
What blessings are ours, Joyous Spirit!
God in Community, Holy in One,
thanksgiving is in every word we speak,
even as we pray as Jesus taught us, saying,
(The Lord's Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
We wonder what's for lunch, we worry about work tomorrow, we fret about the test that is coming up. So much worry, so much time wasted over things we cannot control. The One who showers earth with rain, who places the stars in the autumn sky, is the same One who wraps mercy tight around you, who feeds us on healing and hope. Let us confess how our worries keep us from trusting the God who hears us and restores us to new life. Please join me as we pray,
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
Because we live in this modern, tech-driven, twittering age, we often forget what you have done for us, God of every blessing. We pat ourselves on the back for our ability to learn new computer skills, but have forgotten that life is more than a machine. We have more than we could ever use yet, like squirrels, store up more and more. Our faith is often pushed to the back of the closet, to make room for all the fears we wear so easily.
Forgive us, Restorer of life. As you clothe us with your grace and mercy, may we share with those who have so little. As our hearts overflow with your love and wonder, may we offer them as gifts to everyone we meet. As you feed us with your joy and hope, may we welcome to the Table all those whose lives are filled with tears and pain. As we gather with family and friends during this season, may we continue to give thanks for the gift of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
This is the good news: as God dresses creation in wonder, so you will be clothed in grace; as God pours out abundance upon the earth, so you will be blessed with peace and joy.
We don't say it often enough, but thanks be to God for healing, for life, for wonder, for mercy. We are blessed, for we are forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication/Offering
We cannot begin to express our gratitude to you, Giver of all, for your gifts poured into our lives. But let these offerings be used to bring hope, healing, and peace to all your children, so we may all give thanks to you forever. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
The Lord of blessings be with you.
The Lord be with you, also.
Be glad and rejoice, God's people, lifting your hearts to the Restorer of lives.
We offer them to the God who clothes us in grace.
People of God, come to the Table where you shall eat and be satisfied.
With shouts of joy, we gather to praise the name of God!
Your mouth was filled with laughter,
God of our every moment,
as you sang creation into being.
The heavens rang with shouts of joy,
as fruit-bearing trees sprang up,
as green pastures rippled with wonder.
Crafted in your image, you would
satisfy us with the bounty of grace,
but we chose the destroyer, death,
hanging out with the life-cutter, sin.
Prophets and psalmists were sent by you,
longing to restore us to your side,
but we put their words to shame.
So that everyone might be saved,
Jesus came to be with us,
herald of your grace,
bringer of your truth.
With those who lifted thanks by crossed rivers,
with those who offered gratitude for simple gifts,
we join our voice in praising your name:
Holy, holy, holy! God of wonder and delight.
All creation is filled with your joy.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes to clothe us in grace.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, Restorer of broken lives,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, Mediator of salvation.
Seeing the nightmare of our lives,
he became one of us, so we
might see the dreams you have for us.
Knowing how our hearts overflowed
with fear, bitterness, and worries,
he came with peace and comfort.
Teaching that the body is more than sin,
that life is more than death,
he became our ransom on the cross,
our salvation by rising from the grave.
As we give thanks for his life and death,
as we shout with joy for his resurrection,
we speak of that mystery we call faith:
Christ died, the righteousness for all.
Christ rose, the resurrection for all.
Christ will return, the fulfillment for all.
Pour out your Spirit
doing great things with the bread and the cup.
Empty, we will be filled
with the plenty of your grace,
the broken bread strengthening us
so we might bring healing to a world
shattered by violence and despair.
Longing for hope, we shall be satisfied
with the cup of blessing and hope,
our lives overflowing
with your love and compassion,
pouring ourselves out for the
poor and marginalized of our time.
And when all our worrying hours have ended,
when we are clothed in your mercy forever,
we will gather with our sisters and brothers,
our mouths filled with laughter,
our hearts echoing glad songs of joy to you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending
The God of laughter sends you out.
So we can share joy with everyone.
The Brother of the poor sends you out.
So we may bring hope and healing to the broken and despairing.
The Spirit of wonder sends you out.
So we may join all creation in offering thanks.
(c) Thom M. Shuman
Call to Worship
Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.
We glorify our God with songs of thanksgiving and joy.
God has done great things for us, filling us with grace.
God fed our ancestors in the wilderness, God clothes us with hope.
We will offer our hearts to God, always saying,
'Thank you!' to the One who loves us.
We will sing our praises, shouting of God's presence in our lives.
Prayer of the Day
Hot showers in the morning
and cool breezes in the evening;
work that provides for our families,
and abundance that makes us generous;
silly jokes told by third graders,
and the silent tears of a grandmother
lost in her childhood forever.
What blessings are ours, Creation's Joy!
Teachers who patiently help us with our math,
and mentors who keep us on the right paths;
friends who shovel snow off sidewalks before we waken,
and employers whose hearts are greater than their profits;
piano teachers who smile at our repeated mistakes,
coaches who teach us (one more time)
how to curl the ball into the goal.
What blessings are ours, Servant of Joy!
Dogs who bounce us awake early in the day
and cats who lullaby us to sleep at night;
grandfathers who teach us how to whittle
and sisters who give up a date to baby sit;
little boys who always forget to wipe their mouths
and folks who always remember to say 'thank you.'
What blessings are ours, Joyous Spirit!
God in Community, Holy in One,
thanksgiving is in every word we speak,
even as we pray as Jesus taught us, saying,
(The Lord's Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
We wonder what's for lunch, we worry about work tomorrow, we fret about the test that is coming up. So much worry, so much time wasted over things we cannot control. The One who showers earth with rain, who places the stars in the autumn sky, is the same One who wraps mercy tight around you, who feeds us on healing and hope. Let us confess how our worries keep us from trusting the God who hears us and restores us to new life. Please join me as we pray,
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
Because we live in this modern, tech-driven, twittering age, we often forget what you have done for us, God of every blessing. We pat ourselves on the back for our ability to learn new computer skills, but have forgotten that life is more than a machine. We have more than we could ever use yet, like squirrels, store up more and more. Our faith is often pushed to the back of the closet, to make room for all the fears we wear so easily.
Forgive us, Restorer of life. As you clothe us with your grace and mercy, may we share with those who have so little. As our hearts overflow with your love and wonder, may we offer them as gifts to everyone we meet. As you feed us with your joy and hope, may we welcome to the Table all those whose lives are filled with tears and pain. As we gather with family and friends during this season, may we continue to give thanks for the gift of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
This is the good news: as God dresses creation in wonder, so you will be clothed in grace; as God pours out abundance upon the earth, so you will be blessed with peace and joy.
We don't say it often enough, but thanks be to God for healing, for life, for wonder, for mercy. We are blessed, for we are forgiven. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
The Lord of blessings be with you.
The Lord be with you, also.
Be glad and rejoice, God's people, lifting your hearts to the Restorer of lives.
We offer them to the God who clothes us in grace.
People of God, come to the Table where you shall eat and be satisfied.
With shouts of joy, we gather to praise the name of God!
Your mouth was filled with laughter,
God of our every moment,
as you sang creation into being.
The heavens rang with shouts of joy,
as fruit-bearing trees sprang up,
as green pastures rippled with wonder.
Crafted in your image, you would
satisfy us with the bounty of grace,
but we chose the destroyer, death,
hanging out with the life-cutter, sin.
Prophets and psalmists were sent by you,
longing to restore us to your side,
but we put their words to shame.
So that everyone might be saved,
Jesus came to be with us,
herald of your grace,
bringer of your truth.
With those who lifted thanks by crossed rivers,
with those who offered gratitude for simple gifts,
we join our voice in praising your name:
Holy, holy, holy! God of wonder and delight.
All creation is filled with your joy.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes to clothe us in grace.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, Restorer of broken lives,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, Mediator of salvation.
Seeing the nightmare of our lives,
he became one of us, so we
might see the dreams you have for us.
Knowing how our hearts overflowed
with fear, bitterness, and worries,
he came with peace and comfort.
Teaching that the body is more than sin,
that life is more than death,
he became our ransom on the cross,
our salvation by rising from the grave.
As we give thanks for his life and death,
as we shout with joy for his resurrection,
we speak of that mystery we call faith:
Christ died, the righteousness for all.
Christ rose, the resurrection for all.
Christ will return, the fulfillment for all.
Pour out your Spirit
doing great things with the bread and the cup.
Empty, we will be filled
with the plenty of your grace,
the broken bread strengthening us
so we might bring healing to a world
shattered by violence and despair.
Longing for hope, we shall be satisfied
with the cup of blessing and hope,
our lives overflowing
with your love and compassion,
pouring ourselves out for the
poor and marginalized of our time.
And when all our worrying hours have ended,
when we are clothed in your mercy forever,
we will gather with our sisters and brothers,
our mouths filled with laughter,
our hearts echoing glad songs of joy to you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Saturday, November 11, 2017
Alternate texts liturgy w/communion for November 19, 2017 (Pentecost 24/Trinity 23/Proper 28/Ordinary 33 - A)
Texts: Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18; Psalm 90:1-12; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30
Call to Worship
Before there was any time,
there was God.
When we wandered the wilderness,
God built a way for us.
When we lived in exile,
our homes were built by God.
When we are overwhelmed life,
God unknots the tightness in our shoulders.
When we seek to serve faithfully,
God provides the opportunities.
When tomorrow comes,
we find God awake and waiting for us.
When time ends,
there will still be God.
Prayer of the Day
Conqueror of Chaos,
you reached down
gathering up the dust,
filling it with your breath,
and giving us life.
We gather in worship
so we might continue
to be shaped by your love.
You walked the paths
of this dusty earth,
Jesus our servant,
lifting us up when we had fallen,
feeding us when we were famished,
healing us when we were broken, and
saving us when we were sinners.
Spirit of Hope,
you laugh,
and leaves dance down the streets;
you whisper,
and children sleep in peace;
you clap your hands,
and our souls leap with joy.
God in Community, Holy in One,
we lift our prayers to you,
using the words Jesus teaches,
(The Lord's Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
God created us for goodness, and we make foolish choices. God, who walked this earth, knows our temptations. God, whose hope is for wholeness, waits to forgive us. Let us come to our God, as we confess our lives together, saying,
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
God of promises, you offer us guidance, yet we grasp the hand of the world on our journey. You would nurture us with love and grace, and we feast on the empty calories of success and seduction. You call us to be your faithful people, and we are eager to follow the politicians, the promoters, the petty.
Forgive us, Covenant God. You have not forgotten your promises, nor will you break them. Rather, you come to us so we will know your love. You walk with us, so we will find the way. You redeem us, so we will trust your words which were fulfilled in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
In every time, in every place, in every life, God shows compassion and mercy. Thus, we know God has heard our prayers and has filled us with grace and hope.
In this time, in this place, in our lives, our grace and hope are sustained by this abiding love. Thanks be to God, we are forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication/Offering
May we not hide our gifts, Loving God, but offer them to you with trust and hope, so all may join us on the journey to your kingdom of grace and hope, peace and healing. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of every moment be with you.
And also with you.
Let us lift our hearts to God.
We offer them to the One who comes to us.
Join in singing glad thanksgivings to our God.
We will rejoice in praising our God forever and ever.
Like a thief, creation snuck into
the silence of chaos, Loving God,
light illuminating shadows,
water pouring into rivers,
winds drifting across plains.
These days, and all days,
were for those shaped in your image,
but we thought you were up to no good,
and rushed into the harms of sin.
Hastening fast too draw near,
prophets came to call us back to you,
but we swept your dreams away,
preferring the dusty yarns of death.
So you sent your wise Heart
to gather your children
into the light of your love.
With those who are always awake,
and with all who can't keep their eyes open,
we lift our glad songs to you:
Holy, holy, holy are you, Imagination unplugged.
From everlasting you are God.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the Word who came to us.
Hosanna in the highest!
You crept in on the night
we least expected, Mothering God,
placing your heart in poverty's arms
so we might receive the riches of your grace.
Jesus came, not to discourage us,
but to inspire our lives.
Jesus came, not to confuse us,
but to clarify your hopes for us.
Jesus came, not to frustrate us,
but to spur us to service.
Jesus came, not to abandon us,
but to enter the loneliness of death,
bringing forth resurrection's hope
as he broke free of the tomb.
As we would seek to remain awake,
as we long to live with Jesus,
we tell of that faith which is such a mystery:
Christ died, going on the journey to the grave.
Christ was raised, so we might journey in hope.
Christ will come, as our journey ends in life with you.
You come into the dark nights of our souls,
bringing the gifts of the bread and the cup,
pouring your Spirit on them
and on those gathered for the banquet.
Fed on the broken bread,
we will not hide its hope,
but share it with all
who live in the shadows
of injustice and fear.
Drinking from the cup of salvation,
we will not bury its grace,
but pour it into the emptiness
of those who struggle around us.
And when your day of new life comes,
we will join our sisters and brothers
around the table of the Lamb,
forever singing our praises to you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending
Go with God into the world.
We will journey with our friends and neighbors,
with our families and strangers.
Go with Jesus to serve faithfully.
We will seek to confront injustice;
we will bring healing to those who are broken.
Go with the Spirit to share peace.
We will embrace those forgotten by the world;
we will share our gifts with everyone we meet.
(c) 2017 Thom M. Shuman
Call to Worship
Before there was any time,
there was God.
When we wandered the wilderness,
God built a way for us.
When we lived in exile,
our homes were built by God.
When we are overwhelmed life,
God unknots the tightness in our shoulders.
When we seek to serve faithfully,
God provides the opportunities.
When tomorrow comes,
we find God awake and waiting for us.
When time ends,
there will still be God.
Prayer of the Day
Conqueror of Chaos,
you reached down
gathering up the dust,
filling it with your breath,
and giving us life.
We gather in worship
so we might continue
to be shaped by your love.
You walked the paths
of this dusty earth,
Jesus our servant,
lifting us up when we had fallen,
feeding us when we were famished,
healing us when we were broken, and
saving us when we were sinners.
Spirit of Hope,
you laugh,
and leaves dance down the streets;
you whisper,
and children sleep in peace;
you clap your hands,
and our souls leap with joy.
God in Community, Holy in One,
we lift our prayers to you,
using the words Jesus teaches,
(The Lord's Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
God created us for goodness, and we make foolish choices. God, who walked this earth, knows our temptations. God, whose hope is for wholeness, waits to forgive us. Let us come to our God, as we confess our lives together, saying,
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
God of promises, you offer us guidance, yet we grasp the hand of the world on our journey. You would nurture us with love and grace, and we feast on the empty calories of success and seduction. You call us to be your faithful people, and we are eager to follow the politicians, the promoters, the petty.
Forgive us, Covenant God. You have not forgotten your promises, nor will you break them. Rather, you come to us so we will know your love. You walk with us, so we will find the way. You redeem us, so we will trust your words which were fulfilled in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
In every time, in every place, in every life, God shows compassion and mercy. Thus, we know God has heard our prayers and has filled us with grace and hope.
In this time, in this place, in our lives, our grace and hope are sustained by this abiding love. Thanks be to God, we are forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication/Offering
May we not hide our gifts, Loving God, but offer them to you with trust and hope, so all may join us on the journey to your kingdom of grace and hope, peace and healing. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of every moment be with you.
And also with you.
Let us lift our hearts to God.
We offer them to the One who comes to us.
Join in singing glad thanksgivings to our God.
We will rejoice in praising our God forever and ever.
Like a thief, creation snuck into
the silence of chaos, Loving God,
light illuminating shadows,
water pouring into rivers,
winds drifting across plains.
These days, and all days,
were for those shaped in your image,
but we thought you were up to no good,
and rushed into the harms of sin.
Hastening fast too draw near,
prophets came to call us back to you,
but we swept your dreams away,
preferring the dusty yarns of death.
So you sent your wise Heart
to gather your children
into the light of your love.
With those who are always awake,
and with all who can't keep their eyes open,
we lift our glad songs to you:
Holy, holy, holy are you, Imagination unplugged.
From everlasting you are God.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the Word who came to us.
Hosanna in the highest!
You crept in on the night
we least expected, Mothering God,
placing your heart in poverty's arms
so we might receive the riches of your grace.
Jesus came, not to discourage us,
but to inspire our lives.
Jesus came, not to confuse us,
but to clarify your hopes for us.
Jesus came, not to frustrate us,
but to spur us to service.
Jesus came, not to abandon us,
but to enter the loneliness of death,
bringing forth resurrection's hope
as he broke free of the tomb.
As we would seek to remain awake,
as we long to live with Jesus,
we tell of that faith which is such a mystery:
Christ died, going on the journey to the grave.
Christ was raised, so we might journey in hope.
Christ will come, as our journey ends in life with you.
You come into the dark nights of our souls,
bringing the gifts of the bread and the cup,
pouring your Spirit on them
and on those gathered for the banquet.
Fed on the broken bread,
we will not hide its hope,
but share it with all
who live in the shadows
of injustice and fear.
Drinking from the cup of salvation,
we will not bury its grace,
but pour it into the emptiness
of those who struggle around us.
And when your day of new life comes,
we will join our sisters and brothers
around the table of the Lamb,
forever singing our praises to you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending
Go with God into the world.
We will journey with our friends and neighbors,
with our families and strangers.
Go with Jesus to serve faithfully.
We will seek to confront injustice;
we will bring healing to those who are broken.
Go with the Spirit to share peace.
We will embrace those forgotten by the world;
we will share our gifts with everyone we meet.
(c) 2017 Thom M. Shuman
Friday, November 10, 2017
Liturgy w/communion for November 19, 2017 (Pentecost 24/Trinity 23/Proper 28/Ordinary 33 - A)
Texts: Judges 4:1-7; Psalm 123; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Matthew 25:14-30
Call to Worship
This is the Lord's Day, the day of wonder and grace.
This is the day to worship the One who calls us here.
This is the Lord's Day, the day we are given joy and peace.
This is the day promised to us, the day of healing and renewal.
This is the Lord's Day, and it has come just in time!
This is the day we gather with hope, with faith, with love!
Prayer of the Day
Now,
in the silence,
when we struggle
to control our lives,
may we, once again,
empty ourselves of our pride and fears,
to be filled with your hope.
Now,
in these moments,
when we cannot let go
of our worries and doubts,
may we, once again,
open our hands to hold your faith.
Now,
on this day
which is only and always
your gift to us,
may we, once again,
live into your kingdom.
Now, as we lift our hearts to you,
God in Community, Holy in One,
we once again pray as we have been taught saying,
(The Lord's Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
When we remember all the mistakes we have made, all the careless words we have spoken, all the contempt we have given to those around us, we have trouble looking God in the eye. But God gazes at us with mercy and love, waiting to forgive us, even as we hesitate to speak of the brokenness of our hearts. Join me as we pray, saying,
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
This is the good news: God intends for us to find life, to embrace hope, to receive forgiveness through Jesus Christ, our Servant.
The end of our journey is not rejection and emptiness, but the fullness of grace and hope in our God. Thanks be to God, we are forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication/Offering
Now, in these moments of gratitude, we would offer you a portion of all which you have given to us, Gracious God. We do so, trusting that you will take them, multiplying them in your kingdom, so all might be blessed by your love, your peace, and your hope. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of promises be with you!
And also with you!
Rejoice in the One who surprises us, people of God.
We lift our hearts to God who brings us salvation.
Children of God, join in glad song to the Giver of mercy.
Our voices join in praise to the God of love and hope.
When you had
had enough of chaos,
Covenant God,
you cried out in love
and creation burst forth in joy.
You shaped us into images of you,
that we might be children of light,
but we were drawn into
the shadowy life of sin and death.
You sent people like Deborah
to call us back into your light,
but we were scornful of their words.
Then you sent Jesus,
who came to fill us
with your love and hope.
So, with servants and sinners,
with judges and those who endure injustice,
we lift our voices, our hearts, our eyes
singing to the One enthroned on our hopes:
Holy, holy, holy are you, God enthroned in the heavens.
All creation looks to the hand of the Creator.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who walked the dusty paths of earth.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, God of Wonder,
And blessed is Jesus Christ, our Lord.
When the proud hurled
their contempt at him,
he humbly knelt to serve them.
When friends urged him
to play it safe,
he crawled out onto faith's limb,
trusting it would hold him.
When death wrapped him
in its cold shadows,
he burst forth into the light
of resurrection joy,
that we might live
in the kingdom with you.
As we remember his mercy and hope,
as we celebrate the feast he has prepared,
we speak of that mystery we call faith:
Christ died on that day of shadowed hearts;
Christ was raised on that day when death was surprised by love;
Christ will come to us on that day of light and love.
Your grace showers down
upon the seeds you have planted,
your hope warms the harvest
planted in our hearts.
As the Spirit gathers your gifts
and prepares them for your Table,
make us ready to receive them
with joy and gratitude.
As you send us forth
to serve your people,
may our faith and love
be transformed into winter coats,
we can give to the homeless;
may our hope become
the meals we fix for the hungry.
And when that long-awaited Day comes,
when all times and seasons have ended,
we will gather at your Feast,
joining our voices with our sisters and brothers,
as we sing to you through all eternity,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending
Let us go forth to be God's faithful servants.
We will not hide our gifts but share them with everyone we meet.
Let us go forth to be the followers of Jesus.
We will not hold back our compassion, but will offer it to all.
Let us go forth to be the Spirit's hope and peace.
We will be the grace, the joy, the wonder others need in their lives.
(c) Thom M. Shuman
Call to Worship
This is the Lord's Day, the day of wonder and grace.
This is the day to worship the One who calls us here.
This is the Lord's Day, the day we are given joy and peace.
This is the day promised to us, the day of healing and renewal.
This is the Lord's Day, and it has come just in time!
This is the day we gather with hope, with faith, with love!
Prayer of the Day
Now,
in the silence,
when we struggle
to control our lives,
may we, once again,
empty ourselves of our pride and fears,
to be filled with your hope.
Now,
in these moments,
when we cannot let go
of our worries and doubts,
may we, once again,
open our hands to hold your faith.
Now,
on this day
which is only and always
your gift to us,
may we, once again,
live into your kingdom.
Now, as we lift our hearts to you,
God in Community, Holy in One,
we once again pray as we have been taught saying,
(The Lord's Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
When we remember all the mistakes we have made, all the careless words we have spoken, all the contempt we have given to those around us, we have trouble looking God in the eye. But God gazes at us with mercy and love, waiting to forgive us, even as we hesitate to speak of the brokenness of our hearts. Join me as we pray, saying,
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
Again we must confess, Master of the Universe, our struggles to be faithful disciples. Entrusted
with all your gifts, we become fearful once again of misusing them, missing the chance to be a blessing to others. Invited to dance in the light of your love, we stand against the wall once again, keeping company with our old friend, sin. Called to be emptied for those who struggle in life, we fill ourselves once again, with scorn for the poor choices they make.
Have mercy, Journeying God, have mercy on us. Once again, open our eyes to your kingdom in our midst, so we might discover that your day of hope and grace has already come in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
This is the good news: God intends for us to find life, to embrace hope, to receive forgiveness through Jesus Christ, our Servant.
The end of our journey is not rejection and emptiness, but the fullness of grace and hope in our God. Thanks be to God, we are forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication/Offering
Now, in these moments of gratitude, we would offer you a portion of all which you have given to us, Gracious God. We do so, trusting that you will take them, multiplying them in your kingdom, so all might be blessed by your love, your peace, and your hope. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of promises be with you!
And also with you!
Rejoice in the One who surprises us, people of God.
We lift our hearts to God who brings us salvation.
Children of God, join in glad song to the Giver of mercy.
Our voices join in praise to the God of love and hope.
When you had
had enough of chaos,
Covenant God,
you cried out in love
and creation burst forth in joy.
You shaped us into images of you,
that we might be children of light,
but we were drawn into
the shadowy life of sin and death.
You sent people like Deborah
to call us back into your light,
but we were scornful of their words.
Then you sent Jesus,
who came to fill us
with your love and hope.
So, with servants and sinners,
with judges and those who endure injustice,
we lift our voices, our hearts, our eyes
singing to the One enthroned on our hopes:
Holy, holy, holy are you, God enthroned in the heavens.
All creation looks to the hand of the Creator.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who walked the dusty paths of earth.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, God of Wonder,
And blessed is Jesus Christ, our Lord.
When the proud hurled
their contempt at him,
he humbly knelt to serve them.
When friends urged him
to play it safe,
he crawled out onto faith's limb,
trusting it would hold him.
When death wrapped him
in its cold shadows,
he burst forth into the light
of resurrection joy,
that we might live
in the kingdom with you.
As we remember his mercy and hope,
as we celebrate the feast he has prepared,
we speak of that mystery we call faith:
Christ died on that day of shadowed hearts;
Christ was raised on that day when death was surprised by love;
Christ will come to us on that day of light and love.
Your grace showers down
upon the seeds you have planted,
your hope warms the harvest
planted in our hearts.
As the Spirit gathers your gifts
and prepares them for your Table,
make us ready to receive them
with joy and gratitude.
As you send us forth
to serve your people,
may our faith and love
be transformed into winter coats,
we can give to the homeless;
may our hope become
the meals we fix for the hungry.
And when that long-awaited Day comes,
when all times and seasons have ended,
we will gather at your Feast,
joining our voices with our sisters and brothers,
as we sing to you through all eternity,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending
Let us go forth to be God's faithful servants.
We will not hide our gifts but share them with everyone we meet.
Let us go forth to be the followers of Jesus.
We will not hold back our compassion, but will offer it to all.
Let us go forth to be the Spirit's hope and peace.
We will be the grace, the joy, the wonder others need in their lives.
(c) Thom M. Shuman
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