Texts: Amos 5:6-7, 10-15; Psalm 90:12-17; Hebrews 4:12-16; Mark 10:17-31
Call to Worship
What can we do to have life?
We can seek God, who gives us live in every moment.
What can we do to serve justice in our world?
We can set aside that which keeps us
from following Jesus – wealth, pride, power, whatever.
What can we do to share the good news with others?
We can open ourselves to the Spirit,
so people can see God at work in us.
Prayer of the Day
Each morning, at the table,
you offer a serving of love,
not so we will scarf it down
and rush out the door, but
so that we have more than enough
to share with everyone we meet,
God who cares for us.
Each day, when our courage
begins to lag and we think
we just cannot
listen to one more lie,
watch the powerful ridicule the vulnerable,
have the courage to confront evil,
you offer a serving of justice,
so that we can continue to follow,
Jesus who has given up everything for us.
Each evening, as we check
social media, turn on the news,
listen to the voices on the radio,
and are tempted to simply believe
there is nothing to do but
fall into the arms of despair for comfort,
you offer us a cup of peace,
with lots of mercy and hope stirred in,
so we can rest in you,
Spirit who is always with us.
Each moment, and every moment,
you serve us with all we need,
God in Community, Holy in One,
and so we pray as we are taught,
(The Lord’s Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
We have failed, we have not lived as God’s people. And while we think we should hide, God invites us to come, to confess our lives, and to be restored to wholeness. Let us pray, using these words,
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
There are so many things, Wise God, which keeps us from following Jesus. We try to turn justice into a bitter pill for others. We push righteousness out of the way, so we can seek those who tell lies. We know, deep down inside, that one thing which keeps us from faithful living, but just can’t loosen our grip on it.
We can’t seem to do it, God who remembers us, but because everything is possible with you, give us the wisdom to know what that one thing might be; the grace to let go and leave it behind us; and the courage to follow Jesus wherever he might lead us, especially into that life which you offer in love and hope.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
Here at the seat of grace, we are forgiven, and can climb up and find the love of God comforting and restoring us to new life.
Every moment, God offers us a serving of love and mercy, so we can continue to live as God intends. Thanks be to God, we are forgiven! Amen.
Prayer of Dedication/Offering
We think what we offer in these moments is not that much, or can accomplish anything of worth, but with you, Holy God, all things are possible. So we trust you will use them, multiply them, offer them to those who need hope, healing, grace, and peace in their lives. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the welcoming God be with you.
And also with you.
Let us lift our hearts to our God.
We offer them to the One who shares grace with us.
Let us lift our voices to our God.
We will glad songs to the One who loves us.
In the cold, dead silence of chaos,
your Word, God of wonder,
was active and moving with the Spirit,
breathing life into creatures,
planting seeds of justice in hearts,
bringing beauty and goodness into everything.
All that was wonderful, and that was gracious,
was offered to those formed in your image,
but we chose to live in sin’s glass houses,
and to drink the fine wines of death.
You sent prophets and psalmists
to offer your love and hope to us
and to call us back to you,
yet we continued to pocket the bribes
temptation offered to us over and over.
Then you sent Jesus into our lives,
so we would know that you long
to be with us in every moment.
With those who see you at work among us,
with those who try to hide from you,
we lift our voices in praise:
Holy, holy, holy are you, god who shares grace freely.
All creation shares in the wonders you have given.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who is our high priest.
Hosanna in the highest!
You alone are holy, God of grace,
and Jesus is our hope, our peace.
Advocate for the poor,
he teaches us not to walk over them,
but to lift them to their feet.
Speaker of your truth,
he reminds us of the hope
which is ours if we but reach out.
Challenger of our easy faith,
he calls us to let go of the very things
which we cannot set aside.
Trusting that you indeed can,
and will do, anything,
he gives it all up on the cross,
being raised to new life,
as death and sin are defeated.
As we seek to remember his life and teachings,
as we celebrate the resurrection given to us,
we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
Jesus died, looking past evil;
Jesus was raised, your love turning death into life;
Jesus will come, to remind us God has not forgotten us.
Here at the Table we are reminded
that you alone are good, Generous God,
and so, we pray you pour out your Spirit
on your children and on the gifts of the Feast.
As we taste the bread which is broken,
may it give us the strength
to build bridges, not walls;
to care for the vulnerable;
to listen to the victimized.
As we drink from cup,
may it nourish us with grace,
so we can share hope with the broken,
so we can plant peace in war-torn fields,
so we can share from our abundance.
And when you gather us around
the throne of grace to feed us
at your Table with our sisters and brothers,
we sing our praises to you forever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending
Let us go with God into the world.
We will share all the wonders God has given us.
Let us go with Jesus to care for others.
We will build justice for all who need it.
Let us go with the Spirit to search for good.
We will speak truth to a world which needs it.
© Thom M. Shuman