Alternate texts liturgy for August 25, 2024 (Pentecost 14/Trinity 13/Proper 16/Ordinary 21 - B)

  Texts: Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18; Psalm 34:15-22; Ephesians 6:10-20; John 6:56-69

 Call to Worship

To abide in you;

to find strength in you;

to worship you in these moments,

we gather, O God.

To challenge the evil around us;

to bring healing to the hurt;

to offer hope to the vulnerable,

we follow, Jesus our Brother.

To learn how to live;

to put away our old gods;

to stick with God in every moment,

we listen, Holy Spirit.

Prayer of the Day

Knowing the words to familiar hymns

and offering a word of welcome to a stranger;

listening to the silly stories of 5-year-olds

and affirming an awkward adolescent;

dancing to soul-filled tunes

and walking a sick neighbor’s dog:

we continue to love you, O God.

Filling a grocery cart for the food pantry

and dropping off supplies for a free health clinic;

living out God’s hopes for others,

rather than giving into the mongers of fear;

cradling the broken heart of the widower

and mending the toddler’s flat tire:

we choose to stick by your side, Servant to all.

Noticing the faithful teachers arms full of supplies

and paying for them out of our own pockets;

taking a lonely neighbor out for lunch

and reconnecting with an old college mate;

refusing to turn our backs on the forgotten

and holding leaders accountable for injustices,

we offer the bread of life, Holy Spirit.

In all ways, with all people, in all moments,

we give thanks to you,

God in Community, Holy in One, 

even as we lift the prayer we are taught, saying,

(The Lord’s Prayer)

Call to Reconciliation

When we could pay attention to our words and actions, we become distracted by our worries, our desires.  Yet God would seek to clothe us in garments of hope and grace, so we might continue to walk in the ways of love and peace.  Let us bring our lives to the One who offers us mercy, as we pray together,

Unison Prayer for Forgiveness

   Yes, Watcher of the faithful, we could put on the comfortable shirt of faith, but prefer fear with its frayed cuffs and stains on the front.  We could slip on the loafers of peace, but squeeze into the size-too-small stiff dress shoes of anger.  We could wrap truth around our lives, yet continue to punch holes in the belt of falsehood so it always fits.

     Hear us, Faithful heart, and rescue us from our worst selves.  When we are lonely, you offer us your heart as a refuge.  When we are broken, you knit us back together.  When we are afraid, you promise to draw us into your embrace.  When we are faithless, you continue to call us to follow Jesus the Christ, the only Word we need in the midst of so many hollow promises.  Amen.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon

As God listens to our voices and hearts, our brokenness is gathered up and we are made whole, as mercy and hope fill our lives.

We are forgiven.  We are transformed into new people.  We are clothed with grace and peace, so we may go and serve as God’s people.  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

Prayer of Dedication/Offering

May these simple gifts transform into shoes for those who have none, into clothes for kids heading off to school, into faith, hope, peace, and grace for all of your children, Holy God.  Amen.

The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

May the God of the feast be with you;

may God also be with you.

We come to the place where God has called us.

We lift up our hearts to the One who mends them.

Here, we are fed with living hope and grace.

And so, we lift our songs of thanksgiving to God.

You listened to the silence of chaos,

Wonder-filled God, and called forth creation.

Yes, there were feathered birds,

   but also faith planted in the hollows of our hearts;

there were porpoises swimming in clear waters,

   as well as peace to shelter us in trouble;

trees grew tall with shade

   and truth whispered to us in the evenings.

All these good and precious gifts

were offered to those in your image,

   but we were seduced by the wiles

   of the Evil One, feasting on moldy lies.

Prophets came to call us back to you

with words, prayers, and challenges,

   but we wished that you would go away

   and leave us alone to our doubts.

That is when you chose to send

your love, your hope, your grace to us

in the One made human like us.

With those who are bold in their faith,

and those who can barely lift their hearts,

we sing our praises to you:

Holy, holy, holy are you, God who clothes us.

All creation gathers to praise you.

Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the Bread of life offered to us.

Hosanna in the highest!

Though you are holy, Eternal God,

you would not forsake us to our foolishness

but became bone of our bone, flesh of our flesh.

In Jesus, we hear the tough teachings

of justice for those we would ignore,

   not the easy platitudes of those

   who claim they do not matter.

In Jesus, we are offered the life

which is grounded in your hope and grace,

   not the daily promises of success

   which are pulled out from under us.

In Jesus, we taste the sweetness

of resurrection life and love,

   not the moldy and stale death

   the Evil One tells us is our finish.

As we come to the Table of living bread,

as we prepare to take the cup of grace,

make us bold with that faith which is hard to understand:  

Though the Word was shattered on the cross,

you did not forsake him, Loving God,

but completed the mystery of the gospel

with your resurrection love, offered to all.         

We come to this holy feast, Loving God,

because this is where you want us to be,

gathered with those who like us,

seek to be faithful and not forsake you.

Here, the Spirit is the yeast in

the bread which, though broken, offers life

to those who eat of it, so we might

   share peace with every step we take,

   speak the gospel with every action of our lives,

   stand firm against the injustices around us.

Here, the Spirit is poured into

the cup which, when emptied, fills us so we can

   wrap our arms around the lonely and grieving,

   gather up broken hearts and mend them,

   reunite children separated from their families.

And when we are no longer ambassadors

in chains of hope, grace, and peace,

but are gathered with our sisters and brothers,

we will join in praising you at all times,

God in Community, Holy in One.  Amen. 

Sending

To whom should we go, Holy God,

now that worship is done?

We will go to nurture others with grace.

Where should we go, Holy One of God,

now that the songs have been sung?

We will go to serve those around us,

for you are the Word of hope all need.

Why should we go from this space,

gracious Spirit, where we find life?

We will go to gather who are lonely,

all who hunger for community.  

© Thom M. Shuman

Liturgy w/communion for August 18, 2024 (Pentecost 13/Trinity 12/Proper 15/Ordinary 20 - B)

 Texts:  1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14; Psalm 111; Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58

Call to Worship

For cool mornings and rumbling afternoon storms,
for amazing days and even more ordinary evenings,
for deep friendships and shallow wading pools:
we give thanks to God!
For the laughing God who tickles us with joy,
for the broken-hearted Love who joins in our struggles:
we give thanks to God at all times!
For the Bread of heaven who feeds us hope,
for the Spirit of grace who teaches us to dance:
we give thanks to God at all times and for everything!

Prayer of the Day
We long to worship
in high-vaulted cathedrals,
our songs and prayers
echoing the deep sighs
of the saints cradled in the stone.
Yet you, unpredictable Creator,
you compose a canticle
with the gentle drops of rain
on a tin-roofed shelter.

We long to worship

beside the high and famous,
rubbing shoulders with those
clothed in power, wealth, renown.
But you, quirky Redeemer,
you we find sitting at the gutter,
huddling in the shadowed doorway,
curled up on a sidewalk grate

with your long-lost kin.

We long to worship

with drums pounding
and the amps turned up
so high our hearts tremble.
And you, fanciful Spirit,
you would draw us into
that still, silent, sacred
space called peace.

We long to worship you,

God in Community, Holy in One,
even as we pray saying,
(The Lord’s Prayer)

Call to Reconciliation
We would follow Jesus, but sometimes it seems that we do not know how to go out in faith, or come in out of the shadows of life. The One who has sent the Bread of life to us is the God who is just and true, longing to grace us with mercy. Please join me, as we pray together, saying,

Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
     We try to be so careful, Faithful God, yet we make so many mistakes. We think we are so wise, yet do not understand the simple wonder of a child. We spend so little time in your presence, and ask why we do not know your dreams for us. We long to be good, upright people, but find our hearts tripping over the temptations of the world.
     Have mercy, Covenant Keeper, and be gracious to us. As you continue to teach us of your hopes, your dreams, your love for us, may we practice what we learn, as we follow our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in faith.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon

Out of our lives laced with foolish mistakes and unwise choices, God is able to weave a tapestry of grace, forgiveness, and healing.
God has sent redemption for all, God has fed us with the healing bread of life. At all times, and for every grace, we give thanks to God in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication/Offering
By your grace, Holy God, our gifts become the bread which feeds the hungry, become the water which drought ravaged lands need, become a community for the lonely, become medical missions for those battling disease and worries.  By your grace, Holy God, may we offer more and more as your feed us with the Bread of life.  Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of joy be with you!
And also with you!
At this Table, God speaks grace to us.
We offer our listening hearts so we hear these words of life.
In this company of faithful followers of Jesus, give thanks.
In this moment, and always, we sing praises to our Steadfast Love.

All praise is due to you, Amazing God,
for your great works we call creation.
Grace flowed out of your heart,
its gentleness woven into
the light, the earth, the air;
peace rested upon all that was shaped
out of your unpredictable imagination,
all that lived and breathed touched by
the wisdom of your Spirit.
You formed humanity in your image,
that we might bear witness to you,
but we could not discern between
good and evil, choosing to follow
death and sin out of your presence.
You asked your servants, the prophets,
to teach us your ways and will,
but we did not have understanding minds.
So, in grace and mercy, you sent Jesus,
the living bread come down from heaven
that we might have eternal life with you.

So, with the wise and the unwise,
the foolish and the faithful of every time,
we join our voices to sing our thanks:

Holy, holy, holy are you, God who teaches us to walk in faith.
All hearts in creation sing praises to you.
Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the Living Bread which came down from heaven.
Hosanna in the highest!

Holy are you, Awesome God,

and blessed is Jesus Christ, Living Bread.
When he could have remained
in the high places of glory with you,
he became fully human,
walking the paths of pain,
drinking the brackish waters of rejection,
eating the stale bread of our broken promises.
When he could have been careful,
he threw his fears to the wind,
taking up his cross to embrace death,
rising from the grave to lead us to eternal life.

As we gather to eat at your Table of remembrance,
as we give thanks for the life, death, and resurrection of Christ,
we point to that mystery of grace called faith:

Christ died, the Bread which will live forever;
Christ was raised, on the first day of new life;
Christ will come for us, so we may abide in God's kingdom forever.

It is not in the high places

but here at this Table graced
with the common loaf and the graced cup
that we find your promises kept,
and your Spirit poured out upon us.
You offer us the Bread of heaven,
broken that we might be made whole,
to us, so that filled with grace,
we might go to find all those
whose hopes have been foreclosed.
You touch the Cup of life,
poured out for our renewal,
to our lips, to our hands, to our hearts,
so that we might be transformed
into servants to all the world.

And when all your works have come to fruition,

when all your children are gathered around you,
we will lift our voices, singing praises to you,
through all time, and for all good things you have done,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.

Sending
Fed with words of grace and hope,
let us go to bring the Bread of life to our world.
Called to be faithful as followers of Jesus,
let us go to share justice and hope with all.
Touched by the Spirit of wonder in these moments,
let us go to bring peace to the broken.

(c) Thom M. Shuman

Alternate texts liturgy w/communion for August 18, 2024 (Pentecost 13/Trinity 12/Proper 15/Ordinary 20-B)

  Texts:  Proverbs 9:1-6; Psalm 34:9-14; Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58

`Call to Worship

With voices and instruments,

with hearts and with hands,

we play music for our God.

At all times, with each person;

in ever place, through every moment,

we give thanks in the name of Jesus.

Turning away from evil, doing good at every chance;

seeking peace, and sharing hope everywhere,

we will walk in the Spirit’s way.

Prayer of the Day

Rainbows replacing thunder and lightning

on stormy, summer days;

snowpeople slowly dripping into puddles

on winter afternoons;

meteor showers crossing night skies

to enthrall sleepy-eyed gazers:

we watch in wonder and joy

at the gifts of your creation, 

Imaginative God.

Stubborn enough to believe 

that children should not be separated

from their parents;

speaking love and grace

to those whose hate-filled words

drip with bile and bitterness;

digging in your heels

until justice becomes the right

of each and every person:

we watch in hope and grace,

even as we seek the courage to join you,

Servant of God’s people. 

Shaper of words which

we can sing to offer comfort

to everyone around us;

the peace which we chase after

until you turn around 

and sweep us up in your arms;

we watch in silent awe

as you lay the path for us to walk,

Wisdom who teaches us all we need.

As we watch you move and work among us,

God in Community, Holy in One,

we lift the prayer you have taught us,

(The Lord’s Prayer)

Call to Reconciliation

We are convinced that God watches us, just waiting to catch us using the wrong words, doing the dumb thing, hanging out with the trouble-makers.  But the truth is, God watches in love, in hope, in grace – just waiting to forgive us whenever we mess up.  Let us bring out messy lives to God, as we pray together, saying,

Unison Prayer for Forgiveness

   It is not easy to admit, Watching God, but we are not very careful with our lives.  We could find a home in your heart, but seem to stay in the Airbnb run by fear.  We could sip the Spirit’s best vintage, yet get drunk on cheap bottles of bitterness.  We could learn your ways of wise choices, but prefer sin’s silly paths.

   Forgive us, God of mercy.  Remind us that we no longer need to live in the old ways, or to yearn for those good ol’ days.  But we are free to listen to your hopes, to learn from your heart, and to walk with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.  Amen.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon

Are you watching what God does, as love embraces us, as grace forgives us, and hope gives us the wisdom to walk in God’s ways?

Our God restores our lives with the peace of the Spirit, so we may feast on the gifts of mercy and grace offered to us by the Bread of heaven.  Thanks be to God, we are forgiven!  Amen.

Prayer of Dedication/Offering

As we offer our gifts to you, O God, may we not stand by thinking we need only watch you go to work.  But may we join you in feeding the hungry, in offering a welcome to outsiders, and building communities of peace and justice.  This we pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

May the God of life be with you,

and with you in these moments.

Let us lift our hearts to God with joy.

God promises to fill us with all good things.

We will join together in praising our God.

We lift our hearts and voices in songs of glad thanksgiving.

Ducks waddling down to ponds,

children imagining games on summer evenings,

meteor showers which are worth staying awake to watch –

these and so many good and beautiful wonders

sprang from your creative mind, God of surprises.

They were not for your enjoyment alone,

but gifted to those formed in your image,

   yet we wear ourselves out chasing evil,

   and believing the easy promises of sin.

Your words dwelt in the prophets you sent,

and they could not contain them, but

offered them to us time and again,

   yet we could not set aside our childish ways,

   and wandered down paths paved with foolishness.

That is why you came to us in Jesus,

to abide in us, so we would know

your love and hopes for us.

With those who desire what you want,

with those who struggle to follow,

we lift our voices in songs of thanksgiving:

Holy, holy, holy are you, God who builds our hearts.

All creation reveres you in every moment.  

Hosanna in the highest!  

Blessed is the Living Bread who feeds us with your grace.  

Hosanna in the highest!  

In these moments of holiness

offered by your generous heart, O God,

may we come to learn words of hope,

   so we will no longer whisper evil;

may we listen to the cries 

of the lonely and forgotten,

   so we may welcome them

   as our sisters and brothers;

may we learn that,

in your unimaginable suffering, 

  sin has lost its grip on us, 

  and death’s power is broken forever,

  by the unexpected gift 

  of resurrecting love of the One

  rejected by a world of anger and fear.

As we continue to live in these ordinary days,

as we reflect on the extraordinary life of Jesus,

may we proclaim that mystery we call faith:

Jesus came, so grace might abide in us;

Jesus died, so sin would no longer control us;

Jesus was raised, so resurrection hope would live in our hearts;

Jesus will come, so we might dwell with you forever.

We gather at this Feast of love,

as you pour out your Spirit 

on the bread and the cup which have been prepared

to bring life and hope to all your children.

This is the living Bread which, though broken,

   heals those broken by fear,

   rebuilds hearts crumbled by rejection,

   creates communities from those who were once enemies.

This is the cup of grace which, when imbibed,

   nourishes us to bearers of hope to the despairing,

   opens our hearts to welcome the refugees,

   transforms our bitter hearts into vessels of peace.

And when that time which began at creation

comes to an end and we are gathered

with our sisters and brothers at the Table of the Lamb,

we will give thanks to you in every moment, for everything,

God in Community, Holy in One.  Amen.

Sending

YOU ARE grace and wonder, God of our lives,

and so, we will go to offer mercy to everyone we meet.

to share your good news in every place.

YOU ARE the Bread of Life, Jesus of our hearts.

and so, we will go to feed those whose stomachs ache for food,

and whose souls hunger for hope and justice.

YOU ARE the Wisdom which builds communities, Holy Spirit,

and so, we will go to gather all rejected by our society,

to welcome them into our hearts and lives.

© Thom M. Shuman

Liturgy w/communion for Agust 11, 2024 (Pentecost 12/Trinity 11/Proper 14/Ordinary 19 - B)

 Texts: 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33; Psalm 130; Ephesians 4:25-5:2; John 6:35, 41-51

Call to Worship

Watch what God does: 

mostly God loves us.

We would learn a life of such love 

so we might do as God does.

Watch how Christ loves us:

not with caution, but with extravagance.

We would practice such lavish love,

not noticing what it costs us.

Watch how the Spirit loves us: 

moving in us, breathing love into us. 

We would live such love for others,

keeping company with God. 

Prayer of the Day

We gather in this place, 

with these people,

in these moments, Gentle God,

because we hope our self-righteous anger 

might become passionate justice for others.

We gather in this place, 

with these people,

in these moments, Christ our Bread,

because we hope our complacency with half-lies

might become a hunger for your truth.

We gather in this place, 

with these people,

in these moments, Gifting Spirit,

because we hope our fumbling, faltering words

might be transfigured into good news to others.

We gather in this place, with these people,

in these moments, God, Christ, and Spirit,

praying as we have been taught,

(The Lord's Prayer)

Call to Reconciliation

It's this simple  -  God loves us.  But our inactions grieve God, our sins break God's heart. In Christ, God forgives us through and through.  Let us confess our failures and our faithlessness, trusting in God's promise to make us new.

Unison Prayer for Forgiveness   

   We break your heart, God of all the world, by the respectable lives we lead.  Blessed by you with every gift, we practice thrift towards others.  Seeking to be good and proper Christians, we overlook you in the company of the poor, the oppressed, those without a voice.  We choose to spread gossip about our friends and neighbors, when we could speak gently to them.

   Forgive us for the pain we cause you and other people, Grieving God.  Help us to make a clean break with those habits which keep us from wholeness.  Open us to the movement of your Spirit within us.  Feed us with the Bread of Life, so we might have the love and passion to feed the world.  This we pray in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon

It is really that simple - God loves us.  Through the Holy Spirit, God works in us, transfiguring our old ways, breathing life and love into us.

We receive God's grace, so we can offer it to others.  We are caressed in God's gentleness, so we can hold the broken.  We will be quick to forgive, even as God has forgiven us.  Thanks be to God.  Amen.

Prayer of Dedication/Offering

May we imitate your generosity, Gracious God, as we offer these gifts to you.  May we model your justice, as we seek to bring hope to the broken all around us.  May we share the gift of your love with all who are alone and hurting, and simply looking for grace in their lives.  This we pray in the name of our Bread, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

May the Bread of life be with you.

And also with you.

Come to the One who waits for you at this Table.

We bring our hearts to the One with whom 

there is grace and wonder.

Children of God, hope in the Lord!

We will sing glad songs to the One

who listens to our hearts and lives.

Such slight words -

light, water, earth, sky -

when written on a list,

but in your voice,

echoing in the Spirit,

creation bursts the logjam of chaos,

rushing forth to fill the void

with life, hope peace, grace,

all the gifts you shaped for us.

Our denial of you broke your heart,

as we made room for sin and death,

but you did not forget us,

sending the prophets to remind us

that there is forgiveness with you.

When we continued to watch

more for temptation than for you,

you sent Jesus into our midst,

to speak the truth of your love for us.

So, as we gather with our friends and neighbors,

as we are members of the one Body

in every time and place,

we lift our voices singing of your love:

Holy, holy, holy are you, God of steadfast love.

All creation waits for you.

Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who is the living bread.

Hosanna in the highest!

Steadfast love is who you are, God of Compassion,

and this love is made flesh in Jesus, your Child.

Though we struggle to follow,

he is the Guide to your heart;

though we rarely seek him,

he is the Bread which can feed

our deep-down-in-the-belly longings;

though we resist drinking from the fountain,

he is the living water which can quench our thirsts;

though we are convinced we can do it ourselves,

he is the one who gives himself up to sin and death,

defeating forever their power over us.

As we remember this fragrant offering for our sakes,

as we come to the Table of joy and peace,

we tell of that mystery we call faith:

In Christ's death, we hope;

in Christ's resurrection, we live;

for Christ's return, we wait.

Here at this Table of bread and cup,

graced by your Spirit of hope and peace,

we discover the extravagant love you have for us.

As we feast on the Bread of life,

may its lavish grace fill our hearts,

so that we may go out to serve others,

never minding the cost.

As we drink from the cup,

may we be transformed by its peace,

that we might go out to embrace

all who have been forgotten by the world.

And when we no longer need to watch

but awaken in that eternal morning,

when we no longer need to wait,

but will find ourselves seated around the Lamb's Table,

we will join our voices with all your beloved children,

singing to you forever and ever,

God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.

Sending

Go, with the God of gentleness, into the world.

We will go to offer passionate justice for all

Go with the Bread of life into the world.

We will share compassion with the needy in our communities.

Go with the Spirit of holiness into the world.

We will speak the good news, even with our fumbling words.

(c) Thom M. Shuman

Alternate texts liturgy w/communion for August 11, 2024 (Pentecost 12/Trinity 11/Proper 14/Ordinary 19 - B)

 Texts: 1 Kings 19:4-8; Psalm 34:1-8; Ephesians 4:25 – 5:2; John 6:35, 41-51

Call to Worship

You are the One for whom we search, O God,

and we worship you because you have found us.

You are the hope for which we yearn, O Christ,

and so we follow you to serve at your side.

You are the peace which can calm us, Holy Spirit,

and so we open our brokenness so you might fill us.

Prayer of the Day

In the touch of a lover’s hand,

in the tickling fingers of a child,

in the brush strokes on a canvas,

in the notes played on a violin,

You Are the grace of life

in our hearts.

In the meals neighbors bring during grief,

in the cold lemonade of children on the corner,

in the cookies and milk offered after school,

in the sacks of groceries shared with the homeless,

You Are the Bread of life,

in our moments.

In the gentle showers of summer,

in the cool breezes of autumn,

in the brittle stars of winter,

in the butterflies of spring,

You Are the Spirit of life,

in our midst.

In our midst, in our hearts, in our moments,

You Are, God in Community, Holy in One,

and so we lift the prayer we are taught, saying,

(The Lord’s Prayer)

Call to Reconciliation

We say we know you, and what you hope for us, but our words and actions, our silences and failures to care, show that we have so much to discover about our God.  Let us gather up our foolish lives and offer them in prayer to the One who longs to forgive us and save us from ourselves. 

Unison Prayer for Forgiveness

   If we are to speak truth in these moments, Giver of the Bread of life, we must admit that we are not very gracious folk, with our words or with our actions.  It seems enough to hold grudges, not to speak grace to those who hurt us.  It seems enough to get into arguments with others, rather than find paths of peace.  It seems enough to pour out bitterness to those around us to drink, rather than cool cups of love.

   Forgive us, Merciful God, so we might live in love, as your children.  May the grace which was in Jesus fill us with grace.  May the hope which was in Jesus fill us with hope.  May the life which was in Jesus fill us with life.  As Jesus was your heart to us, may we be your heart to those around us.  This we pray, even as we offer our lives to you in silence.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon

When we love others, we imitate God.  When we help others, we imitate God.  When we offer mercy to others, we imitate God.  May others continue to see God in us, even as we are loved, helped, and forgiven by our God.

We see God’s grace in the eyes of a child; we taste God’s goodness in a meal with friends; we live God’s peace when we offer justice as a sacrifice for others.  Thanks be to God, we are forgiven.  Amen. 

Prayer of Dedication/Offering

Too often, we think it is enough to offer the spare change we have on our dresser, or the few dollars returned after paying for dinner.  But you offer us grace, hope, mercy in abundance beyond imagination, and call us to be as generous and loving as you.  Receive our gifts, and make as more giving, we pray.  Amen. 

The Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

May the God of fragrant offerings be with you;

and also with you. 

Children of God, taste and see the goodness offered to you.

We offer our hearts to the One who fills us with wonder.

People of faith, join in singing glad songs to our God.

We will rejoice in the One who shelters us in grace and love.

Creation is the fragrant offering

shared with us from the moment chaos shattered

and the tangy smells of the ocean,

       the sweet breath of pines,

       the perfume of roses and crocuses

filled us with wonder and peace.

These gifts and so many more were intended

for your children shaped from dust,

   but we preferred the aftershave of sin

   and the stench of death in our lives.

Time and again you sent prophets,

those women and men who spoke

your words of truth to us, but

   we continued to mutter under our breath,

   refusing to listen to their words.

Then you sent your Child to us, 

so that we might know where he came from,

your heart which was broken over us. 

With those who know the sting of harmful words,

with those whose speak grace and hope,

we offer our praises to you: 

Holy, holy, holy are you, God who searches for us.

All creation tastes and sees how good you are.

Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who shows us the way to you.

Hosanna in the highest! 

Hope is the fragrant offering

you pour out for us in Jesus, our brother.

We think we know who he is,

   but discover him abiding 

   in the most vulnerable among us.

We think we know where he comes from,

   until we see him in the Separated Ones

   at the border of fear and anger.

We think we know why he comes,

   and then watch him embrace death,

   challenging sin’s dread power over us,

   and singing “I AM the resurrection”

   as he breaks free from the tomb.

As we remember that he came because you called,

as we seek to be faithful to our call,

we whisper of that mystery we call faith:

The Bread of life was broken on the cross;

the Bread of life was made whole in the resurrection;

the Bread of life will come from heaven, 

   and we will rejoice.

Life is the fragrant offering

given to us at this table

as your pour out your Spirit 

on your people gathered in these moments,

and on the bread and cup which are made ready.

The broken bread is more than enough

to strengthen us so we might

   speak hope to those who need it;

   show wonder to those who wander;

   gather children into our hearts.

The cup of grace is more than enough

to fill us, so we might empty ourselves

   of grudges which keep us from forgiving;

   of fears which prevent us from welcoming;

   of doubts which keep us from serving.

And when we no longer need to search,

but are gathered up in your love

with our sisters and brothers from all time,

we will taste and see your grace

at the great feast of the Lamb,

as we sing your praises forever and ever,

God in Community, Holy in One.  Amen.    

Sending

The God of gentleness sends us forth,

so we may go to offer words of grace 

to those who need them most.

The Bread of Life has fed us,

so we may go to offer justice

as a gift to those held captive by fears.

The Spirit of peace gifts us with truth,

so we might speak out against cruelty,

so we might offer good news to the broken.

© Thom M. Shuman