Easter 7-C

Call to Worship
We come to this place of prayer,
for here we can bring our hopes and dreams,
our hidden fears
and the doubts we wear on our sleeves.
We come to this place of grace,
for here we learn compassion and joy,
and discover how deeply we are loved.
We come with these people
called the church,
to be blessed by the variety of gifts,
to live as one for our God.

Prayer of the Day
In your presence,
Creator of the Universe,
mountains melt into
muddy puddles
and stars whisper
your name to us.
Faithfulness and justice
are the scuffed shoes
you put on each morning,
clouds are your prayer shawl
in the evening.

When you could have
kept God's glory in your pocket,
Servant of the poor,
you took it out
and spent it on us.
Confident in that love
which was yours before
the world began spinning,
you came to walk
the dusty path of death.

Spirit of Blessing,
like a crossing guard
you keep your eyes on us
as we cross the busy streets of life,
ready to pull us out of the way
of oncoming sin.
You take us by the hand
to lead us to the shade
of the tree of life.

God in Community, Holy in One,
make us one Body from many individuals,
as we pray as Jesus teaches us, saying,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliation
Plastic cards, shiny cars, brick and glass homes - what idols we fashion with our hands, how much energy and time serving them occupy our hearts! Let us confess how we have misplaced our priorities, and seek the One who asks us to be first in our lives.

Unison Prayer of Confession
Enslaved to sin, we cannot see the lives we lead, God of Glory. Each day, and every day, there are those times when we ignore you and your dreams for us. Each week, and every week, we find the time to ridicule others, when we could have affirmed them. Each moment, and every moment, though we do not want to admit it, we seek our own way rather than skipping down your path of joy and obedience.

We come asking forgiveness for our foolish lives, Eternal Blessing. Deliver us, and break the chains of sin and death which hold us captive. Open us to that grace you offer, and give us the gift of the Spirit so we may live as people of the Risen Lord, Jesus Christ.

Silence is observed

Assurance of Pardon
In the beginning was God, and at the end will be God, and in every moment in between, there
is God: creating, redeeming, sustaining us.
And through Christ, gracious love is poured into our empty souls; through the Spirit, peace becomes the gift we can share with those around us. Thanks be to God. Amen.

(c) 2007 Thom M. Shuman

Easter 6-C

Call to Worship
God calls us to this place,
a haven for healing and hope.
We come, with the pain of our burdens;
we come to hear God's Word for us.
Together, we will sing songs of joy;
each of us will hear God whisper our name:
'Beloved of my heart.'
We join our voices in prayer and praise;
we sing of our longing for new lives.
Here, our shadowed corners are filled with Light;
here we discover that God dwells with us.
And not just us, for God would teach all to love;
God's Spirit would lead all peoples in peace.

Prayer of the Day
Lord God the Almighty,
you bless us wtih all
that you have created:
you teach us to swim
in the bright crystal water of life;
you cook breakfast for us
in that eternal city;
you open your heart to us
and will never close its doors.
We worship you.

Jesus Christ, Lamb of God:
you stand at the door,
your hand on the knob,
your coat over your arm,
ready to go away.
Yet you do not leave us
trouble-hearted,
but fill our emptiness
with your peace.
We praise you.

Holy Spirit, God-sent Gift:
you come to our defense
when we are falsely accused;
you rescue us
from the school yard bully
who picks on us;
you sit by our beds
and comfort us
when the nightmares of life
keep us awake.
We open our hearts to you.

God in Community, Holy in One,
we sing for joy to you,
even as we pray with all people,
as Jesus taught us saying,
Our Father . . .

Cal to Reconciliation
How easy we can learn of God's love - how hard it is to live it! The world distracts us with its easy choices, while we know how intentional we must be to love one another. Join me as we confess our failures to love and we open our hearts to God, saying,

Unison Prayer of Confession
Because you dwell in our hearts, Eternal God, you know how the anger, the pain, the bitterness of our lives try to crowd you out. The noise of the world deafens us to that Word which can heal us. We want our children to be good, kind, and gentle to others, and then they hear us call others names, and speak of them with demeaning words. Our desire for revenge towards those who have hurt us shows that your peace, indeed, is not within us.

You promise a new heaven and a new earth, so create new spirits and lives within us, O God. Shattered by our sin, your heart can still heal our brokenness. Your Spirit, living deep within our souls, can teach us faithful ways. Your Word, Jesus Christ our Lord, whispers to us of your mercy, your hope, your love.

Silence is observed

Assurance of Pardon
The Word which can transform is not some idle
gossip, but good news for us. It fills us with
forgiveness, equips us for service, and sends us
forth to love others as God loves us.
In our midst, the Holy Spirit teaches us all we
need to know, gives us what we need in order
to be faithful, and fills us with peace. Thanks
be to God. Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the Lord our Brother be with you.
May the Spirit our Sister be with you.
Children, lift your hearts to God.
We lift them to the One who,
like a mother, protects us.
Household of God,
sing of your joy and hope.
It is good for us to alleluia the One who,
like a father, nurtures us.

With a vision of goodness and beauty,
Imaginative God,
you replaced the shadows of chaos
with the light of your glory;
you gave voice
to all living creatures
to sing your joy;
you gave us the water of life
to quench our thirsting souls.
Shaping a garden to be our home,
you pleaded with us
to live in peace and grace.
But we wanted
to walk our own paths
hoping to inherit
the false promises
and empty hope of the world.
You urged the prophets
to try to open our hearts,
but we were not eager to listen.
That is when you blessed us,
God our God,
sending Jesus to teach us
all that we had forgotten.

Therefore, with those gathered around the Lamb,
and with those before, behind and beside us,
we sing of your glory,

Sanctus

You bless us, Gentle Creator,
and your face shines upon us
in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Like a brother,
he shows us that gentleness
which is true strength;
like a sister,
he stands at our side
when our friends tease us.
Like a mother,
he keeps his word
in every moment;
like a father,
he listens eagerly
to our dreams.
To make us your family,
he went away into death,
so he could come to us
in the joy of the resurrection,
to lead us home to your heart.

As we would keep his word in our hearts,
so we would speak of that mystery we call faith:

Memorial Acclamation

Mothering God,
send your Holy Spirit
to grace this bread and this cup,
and to bless our hearts
with your gentle healing.
As we keep Christ's word
by feasting at this Table,
may we go forth
to proclaim the good news.
As you come
to make your home with us,
may our homes become
those palaces of love
and sanctuaries of laughter;
those havens of healing
and harbors of hope
which all are seeking:
hearts which welcome all,
and whose doors are never closed,
especially to the prodigals.

And when we gather
around the tables of the Wedding Feast,
our love lighted by the life of the Lamb,
and our souls healed of all brokenness,
we will be your family at last,
singing of your glory, forever and ever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.

(c) 2007 Thom M. Shuman

Easter 5-C

Call to Worship
Praise God, all people!
Praise the Lord, all creation!
whales doing backflips in the air,
squid and octopi dancing
on the ocean floor;
Giant redwoods stretching to the sky,
tomato vines cuddling around a stake.
Mountains blocking the sunrise,
moles tunneling through our front lawns;
5-year-olds sitting in a story-time circle,
grandparents singing 'their song.'
Redbuds decorating our backyard,
grass growing faster than our children;
seals getting a suntan on the rocks,
teenagers knotted together at church.
Praise the Lord, all creation!
Praise God, all people!

Prayer of the Day
Vision-Giving God,
when you put bandaids
on skinned knees;
when you hold the hand
of a teenager
grieving unrequited love;
when you wipe the tears
of parents at graduation day:
you show us
your new creation.

Brother to little chidren,
when you hang out
with the world's outcasts;
when you stay a little longer
with those we rush past;
when you will not take sides
in our petty little games:
you show us
the new earth.

Holy Spirit,
when you turn on the
'no vacancy' sign
as death comes our way;
when mourning becomes
a distant memory;
when pain is found
only in dusty history books:
you show us
the new heaven.

God in Community, Holy in One,
make us new,
as we pray as Jesus teaches, saying,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliation
We show others who we are by the lives we lead, the words we speak, the actions we undertake. Let us confess how we have not been God's little children, when we fail to love as we have been loved.

Unison Prayer of Confession
Who are we to get in your way, Holy God? We put people into neat, little boxes, but you rip them open, so folks can dance in your joy. We imprison others with our unmet expectations, and you set them free with a Word. We build walls around those we don't know, and you tear them down, so they can run wild in the kingdom.

Who are we to get in your way, Saving Power, especially in the way of your forgiveness offered to all! Give us your vision that sees everyone as equal - forgiven, graced, loved - even as we seek to follow our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
We know who God is by the love shown to us in Christ Jesus.
We will show others who we are - and Whose we are - by the loved poured out by our lives. Thanks be to God, we are forgiven! Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May God be with you.
And also with you.
Little children, lift your hearts to God.
We lift them to the One
who loves us forever.
Let us glorify the One
who has raised Jesus to new life.
We sing praises to God,
who makes all things new.

You commanded, Holy God,
and chaos yielded to your Word,
so all that is beautiful and good
might be created by your grace.
The sun and moon were shaped
so we would have days and nights
in which to praise you,
but we spent our time
denying your dreams for us,
living each moment for ourselves.
You fixed the boundaries for your Garden,
where we could have life and joy with you,
but we chose to play
on the garbage dumps of sin.
You told the prophets to 'Go!'
and bring your vision
of healing and restoration,
but we thought them to be fools,
standing on the edges of our lives.
When we had decided
to have nothing to do with you,
you chose to become one of us,
living, calling, creating once again
through Jesus the Christ.

Therefore, with those around the Throne,
and with those in every time and place,
we sing our praises to you:

Sanctus

Holy are you, Creator of the Universe,
and blessed is Jesus, your Son, our Lord.
When he could have left us
to deal with sin and death on our own,
he came to live with us;
when he could have chosen
the path to power and fame,
he walked the deadly road to Calvary;
when he could have called down
the angels to save him,
he cried out for forgiveness
for all your children.
When you could have left him
alone and forsaken in the grave,
you graced him with new life.

So as we sing our Easter Alleluias,
we proclaim that mystery we call faith:

Memorial Acclamation

Pour out your Spirit
upon this Bread and this Cup, O God,
that they might become
your grace and peace for us,
so we might become your servants
of hope and joy to our world.
As we come to your Table,
remind us of your promises
that when the sea is no more,
you will flood us with your grace;
that when the earth is a hollow husk,
you will walk with us
through the streets
of the New Jerusalem;
that when the sun, moon, and stars
have burned out in space,
the Light of your love
will shine for us forever.

And when we sit down
at the Feast of the Lamb,
receiving grace from those we loved,
and passing it on to those we feared
until all people are served,
we will sing with one heart and voice:
"Glory to the One
who makes all things new -
even us;
Glory to the One
who comes in the name of the Lord -
for us;
Glory to the One
who makes no distinction -
among us!'
Glory to God in Three Persons,
now and forever. Amen.

(c) 2007 Thom M. Shuman

Easter 4-C

Call to Worship
We gather in the presence of God,
where grieving people
and children with skinned knees
have their tears wiped away.
We gather with the people of God,
to worship the One
who provides what we need,
not just what we want.
We gather at the Table of God,
to feast on the goodness of God,
to drink from the cup of mercy.

Prayer of the Day
Lead us, God of Goodness:
lead us into those places
where we discover your mercy
waiting to nourish and restore
our famished souls.

Lead us, Gentle Shepherd:
lead us to those places
where we have the joy
of filling the emptiness of others,
because the table you have prepared
is to be shared with all.

Lead us, Mercy's Mother:
lead us on the right paths,
and down the streets
where we can do justice
for all wronged by the world;
lead us to the living waters,
where we can fill our selves
and then empty them for those
parched by pain and loss.

Lead us, God in Community, Holy in One,
as we pray as Jesus has taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliation
We know the wrong turns we have taken, the poor choices that shape our lives, the mistakes that have hurt God and others. Let us confess our sins to the One who leads us into life, praying,

Unison Prayer of Confession
Taught by our culture to want everything, Comfort of the righteous, we confess that emptiness that sends us searching for still more. Our constant desire for greener pastures fills us with every lust and envy. Our belief that still waters are stagnant sends us thirsting for whitewater thrills and adventures. Our trust in the promises of the world turns us away from the shelter you offer.

Forgive us, Source of goodness and mercy. Call us back from our wayward lives, that we might find rest in your heart, healing from your hands, and unity in life together as disciples of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
Hear God's voice: I will walk with you in every moment; I fill you with my grace and hope; I know you and love you.
Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might belong to our God forever and ever! Amen.

(c) 2007 Thom M. Shuman

Easter 3-C

Call to Worship
Sing, all people of God!
Sing the good news:
We cry ourselves to sleep
and God comes in with the dawn,
to awaken us with Joy's embrace.
Sing, in every land, in every tongue!
Sing the good news:
when our lives bottom out,
God takes us by the hand
to lead us into the light.
Sing, in heaven and on earth!
Sing the good news:
Broken, hopeless, lost -
we cry out to God,
who hears our hearts.
Sing, all people of God!
We will sing the good news of Easter!

Prayer of the Day
You take away
the drab gray dress
of our despair
and clothe us
with hope and joy.
You fill our empty souls
with the resurrection feast
of peace and life.
You are worthy, Healing God,
and so we worship you.

You come to us,
not as a ravenous lion,
but the Lamb
who leads us into God's heart.
When we long
to keep you
in our pockets
like a good luck charm,
you challenge us to live
a love which goes beyond
mere friendship
You are worthy, Heaven's Light,
and so we follow you.

You make us speechless
with your mercy,
yet choose us to tell
God's story of new life
to all the world.
When our secret wounds
would sap our energy,
you pour your peace into us,
so we may be agents of healing.
You are worthy, Love's Spirit,
and we will praise you.

God in Community, Holy in One,
you alone are worthy
of all that we have, and all that we are,
and so we lift our prayers to you,
saying as Jesus has taught us,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliation
We can carry our grudges around with us for years, just waiting for the right time for our hurt to erupt. But God gets angry for but a moment, while surrounding us with grace and mercy all the days of our lives. Join me as we pray to God, saying,

Unison Prayer of Confession
We sing loud songs to you, Morning Joy, trusting they will drown out our mean-spirited murmurs about those around us. We hope you will turn a blind eye to our behaviors, while we imprison our families and friends with impossible expectations. We pull a muscle stretching to pat our selves on the back, but our attitudes and actions towards the poor and outcast of the world reveal we are not worthy to be called your children.

You never give up on us, Healing God. You are quick to forgive us, and quicker to offer us ways to share your name with everyone we meet. As you continue to be loving and affirming towards us, let us go to share the good news of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
Do not cry. The Lamb of God has come, to lead
us into the kingdom, where we may praise our God,
and serve our sisters and brothers.
Songs of blessing, glad shouts of joy;
hearts for others, hands for service.
All these we offer, and more, to the One
who forgives us and makes us whole.
Thanks be to God, we are forgiven. Amen.

(c) 2007 Thom M. Shuman

Easter 2-C

Call to Worship
Praise God with clapping hands;
praise God with hands comforting a child.
Praise God with silent hearts;
praise God with hearts broken by the world.
Praise God with electric guitars;
praise God with soft piano chords.
Praise God with be-bop and hip-hop;
praise God with rhythms that don't stop.
Praise God with a Hallelujah chorus;
praise God with a Gregorian chant.
Praise God with dancing steps;
praise God with feet walking for justice.

Prayer of the Day
Holy God,
Lover of your children:
the tomb has been opened,
and we dance into your future.
Your life has dawned upon us,
and we surround you with our praise.
You reach out your hand,
and lead us into your joy.

Jesus Christ,
Faithful Witness:
you pick open
the locked doors
of our hearts
and come in
to be with us forever.
You breathe peace
into our souls,
so we may bring healing
to a troubled world.

Holy Spirit,
Breath of peace:
you show us our hearts,
so we may give love to others;
you show us our hands,
and send us to serve the needy;
you show us your hope,
so we may live in joy.

God in Community, Holy in One,
who is, who was, and who is to come,
hear us as we pray as Jesus teaches us,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliation
When we keep our faults and failures locked
safely away, we have no need to confess. But
God comes into our hearts when we least expect,
so we can be filled with forgiveness, with hope,
with peace. Please join me as we pray, saying,

Unison Prayer of Confession

God of empty tombs and empty people:
when we hesitate to speak of your hope,
forgive us, and give us voice.
When we find it difficult to love another,
forgive us, and give us new compassion.
When we want to stand with the high and mighty,
forgive us, and put us next to the poor and oppressed.
When we stay locked behind our fears and doubts,
forgive us, and send us out to share your grace.
When we cannot believe your Word of new life,
forgive us, and fill us with your joy.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
Christ comes into every shadowed corner of our
lives with the light of Easter. Christ comes into
the locked rooms of our faults, and gifts us with
grace and hope. Christ comes, to fill us with peace,
that we may proclaim the good news of mercy
and forgiveness.
Thanks be to God. Christ has come to us. Amen.

(c) 2007 Thom M. Shuman

Palm/Passion Sunday - C

Call to Worship
On this day of palms and celebration,
Jesus continues his journey with God.
We will go with him, for a while,
until he turns towards Calvary.
From the top of Olive Mountain,
Jesus prepares to travel through
the valley of heartache and loss.
We will follow Jesus, for a while,
cradling hope in our hearts.
In the streets of Jerusalem,
Jesus hears the cries of those
who adore him.
We will shout Jesus' name, for a while,
until we cry out, "Crucify him!"

Prayer of the Day
Holy God,
Architect of our grace:
from your house
we praise you.
Your love is never taken from us;
your goodness is the constant in our lives.
We worship you.

Jesus Christ,
Sorrow of our salvation:
you dared to listen to God
instead of the cheers
of the crowd
and the jeers
of your enemies.
We walk with you.

Holy Spirit,
Glory of God:
you give us light
so we might see
the One who comes;
you open our ears,
so we might hear
the whispers of hope;
you sustain the weary,
so we might journey
through this week.
We welcome you.

God in Community, Holy in One,
hear us as we pray as Jesus taught,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliation
Petty squabbles don't belong in such a story of high drama and sacrifice, but they are there,
just as in our lvies, along with the other ways we fail to be the disciples of Christ. Please join
me as we pray.

Unison Prayer of Confesssion

Sustainer of the weary, we know how we sang for joy when Christ came into our lives, and how we have not followed him when he leads us on this journey. We have hidden our faces from the pain and suffering of our world. We have turned a deaf ear to the cries of the poor, the hungry, the oppressed. We trust in the slick promotions of the world, and not in your words that can transform our lives.

Forgive us, Steadfast God, and shine your face upon us. Help us to have the same mind as Christ, so we would know your promises; help us to have the same heart as Christ, so we might serve your children; help us to have the same Spirit as Christ, so we might go wherever you lead us.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
God does not turn away when we fail to be faithful. God does not reject us when we do not trust fully. God continues to love us, to forgive us, to restore us.
It is God who helps us; it is God who saves us. It is all we need or ever will need. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
The Lord is coming to be with you.
and also with you.
People of God, lay down your coats
and lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the One
who comes in God's name.
Let us praise God for the
mighty works we have witnessed.
It is right that we praise our God.

It is our highest joy to praise you,
God of enduring love.
All that is good and beautiful,
all this is just and true,
is your doing.
Morning by morning,
you whispered your dreams
and hopes into our hearts.
But we chose to listen
to different voices,
turning our backs on you
in rebellion and sin.
You sent the prophets
to waken our ears
to your songs of grace,
but we rejected them
as adversaries to our desires.
But you would not turn your face from us,
and sent the One who is named Salvation.

Therefore, we join ourvoices in thanksgiving,
with those in this place, and in every place,
with those in every moment, and in this moment,
singing with all creation to your glory:

Sanctus

Holy are you, God of goodness,
and blessed is Jesus Christ,
who comes in your name.
When he could have remained with you,
he poured himself into
the emptiness of our souls;
casting aside his unity with you,
he gathered up our brokenness
to make us whole;
proclaimed by the choirs of heaven,
he humbled himself as a servant,
so we might be raised to glory;
faithful to the point of death,
even shameful death,
you exalted him to new life
so we might stand with him
in eternity with you.

Remembering the One who came for us,
remembering the words he taught,
remembering his passion and his resurrection,
we proclaim the One who is the Bread of Life:

Memorial Acclamation

Holy Spirit,
as we come to this Table,
bless the gifts of the bread and the cup
that they might be the sustenance of grace.
Strengthen us with the Bread of life,
so we would not turn our backs
on those who hunger;
nourish us with the Cup of hope,
so we might sustain the weary;
so fill us with the good news,
that we dare not remain silent,
but must shout out God's desire
of justice and peace for all people.

Through Jesus Christ,
all glory and honor are yours, God our Father,
with the Holy Spirit, in your holy church,
this day and forevermore. Amen.

(c) 2007 Thom M. Shuman

Lent 5-C

Call to Worship
Whatever God did in the past,
the future is that much better!
(even in Jerusalem)
We will not stop looking
for the newness God has for us!
Whatever we have achieved to this point,
we have not completed our journey.
(even into the unknown)
We will quicken our pace
to follow Jesus wherever he leads.
Whatever obstacles we put in the path,
God will make a way to our hearts.
(even in the desert of death)
We will move onward,
through our doubts and fears.

Prayer of the Day
Holy God,
Water Tamer:
you humble our pride,
so we might open
our hearts
to your healing;
you restrain our fears,
so we might reach
for your joy.

Jesus Christ,
Living Water:
you gather up our tears
and wash away
the dust of our despair;
you sit at our feet
and anoint us
with your costly love;
you wipe away our sin
and make us new.

Holy Spirit,
Impudent Joy:
you grace us
with gifts so abundant
they become a river
bursting its banks
in our lives.

God in Community, Holy in One,
we lift our prayers and our joy
as we pray as Jesus has taught us,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliation
Even now, God makes a way for us to be made whole. God wants to bring us out of despair and to fill our hearts with laughter. Please join me as we pray to the One who forgets our past to offer us a new future,

Unison Prayer of Confession
God, whose name is Grace: we confess that all too often we asume we have it made and there is no need to advance in our faith. Because the poor are always with us, we believe we can ignore them. We want Jesus to be with us, but not if it means a lot of struggle and pain.

Forgive us, God of Mercy, and repair our broken lives. You have rearranged the price tags on everything we value, so we might set down all that holds us back, to push ahead in following Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
God comes to us to give living water to
thirsty people; God comes to us to anoint
us with the grace that wipes away our sin;
God comes to fill us with joy.
Our tears are turned into rivers of grace;
our weeping becomes glad cries of praise.
Thanks be to God. Amen.

(c) 2007 Thom M. Shuman

Lent 4-C

Call to Worship
Do you feel it?
's kingdom is beneath our feet.
We live in the new creation
shaped by God out of our brokenness.
Do you know it?
God's reconciling love in Christ
has shattered our ways of viewing people.
No longer do we label our sisters and brothers,
we welcome them with open arms.
Do you believe it?
God has made everything, including us, new,
and sends us forth
to share this good news with everyone!

Prayer of the Day
Holy God,
Word Shaper:
you are not our accountant,
but our lover;
you are not angry at us,
but you forgive us;
you are not our enemy,
but the One who runs towards us
with wide open arms,
throwing steaks on the grill
to celebrate our newness!

Jesus Christ,
Shaper of our story:
you travel to that distant country
called our sin
to bring us home once again;
you share your inheritance with us
so we might be blessed;
you know the famine of our spirits
and fill it with your hope.

Holy Spirit,
Life Shaper:
surrounded by your grace,
we offer glad cries of salvation;
encircled by your constant love,
we shout for joy;
enclosed in your comforting arms,
nothing can overwhelm us.

God in Community, Holy in One,
from no on we will remember our life in you,
even as we pray as Jesus taught us,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliation
We know our faults -- the way we have treated others, our alenation from God, our unwillingness to be faithful people. We will not hide our sin or remain silent, but confess them to the One who surrounds us with steadfast love. Please join me as we pray, saying,

Unison Prayer of Confession
We admit, Waiting God, how we have sinned against you. We treat others as strangers, not as our brothers and sisters. Like the elder son, we become green-eyed with jealousy, when you throw your arms around those who are different
from us. We are quick to see the faults of others, but do not recognize our own brokenness. We are not

You interrupt our confession, Tender God, to run and embrace us. There are no limitations on your love, there is nothing you will not give to us. You fill us with your compassion, and treat us as you do your own Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
L: God rolls away everything that stands in our way - our past, our sin, our pain, our hesitation,
and reshapes us into new people living in the new creation. What wonderful grace. We
are forgiven!
P: Broken, we are made whole;
lost, we are brought home;
empty, we are filled with songs of gladness.
We rejoice and give thanks to God who has
graced us with mercy. Amen.

(c) 2007 Thom M. Shuman

Lent 3-C

Call to Worship
When our pockets are empty,
God allows us to purchase what we need,
charging it to grace's account.
God thinks differently than we do.
When our souls are parched,
God hands us a glass of living water.
God's ways are different from ours.
When we grow weary of searching,
God takes our hand and leads us home.
God's love is different from ours.

Prayer of the Day
God of Grace:
we would max out every credit card
and empty our bank accounts
if we thought we could buy
that peace, that hope,
that mercy, that joy
which always seem to elude us.
Yet you wrap them up
and hand them to us,
with no price tag attached.
We hold our empty lives
out to the world,
begging to be filled to the brim
with all that will only disappoint us.
Yet you would grace us with living waters,
which never run dry.
We lie awake at night
from the insomnia of our stress,
whispering of our fears.
Yet you would lullaby us
with your love which never ends.

We would lift our hearts to you,
God in Community, Holy in One,
trusting that you will listen to us,
even as we pray as Jesus has taught us,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliation
Gifted beyond measure, we grumble that we don't have enough. Seeking to get our own way, we do not see the ways God wants to forgive us and restore us to new life. In this season of reflection and repentance, let us turn to the One who waits for us with hope.

Unison Prayer of Confession
We continue to be tempted, Faithful God. We are blessed with gifts to use for others, but we want to keep them for ourselves. We easily notice the mistakes of those around us, but do not want to look in the mirror at our lives. We turn our desires into idols, so we do not have to recognize how they can damage us.

Forgive us, Steadfast God. Fill the poverty of our spirits with the richness of your grace; feed our selfish hunger with the bread of compassion for the world; pour the living waters of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, into our hearts until they overflow with love.

Silence is kept.

Assurance of Pardon
God is faithful. God's love is an eternal bargain
which will not be broken, God's grace is the gift
which will not be taken back.
Such abundant mercy, such extravagant grace!
Thanks be to God, we are forgiven. Amen.

(c) 2007 Thom M. Shuman

Lent 2-C

Call to Worship
How am I to know that God loves me
as God loved Abraham and Sarah?
At the center of the covenant
is God's promise, and honor.
How are you to know that if you cry out
God will listen to you?
At the center of our relationship with God
is love.
How are we to trust what people
like Paul and Jesus tell us is true?
At the center of Scripture
is the God of mercy and grace.

Prayer of the Day
Sheltering God:
when we are afraid,
you bring us into your heart;
when we have lost our way,
you give us gentle guides;
when we cry out to you,
you grace us with your presence.

Jesus Christ:
like a mother hen,
you gather up our doubts
and transform them into confidence;
you surround our fears
and transform them into faithfulness;
you pick up our brokenness
and transform us into your Body.

Holy Spirit:
you hold fast to us,
so we might stand firm in the Lord;
you are with us
in the long hours of the night,
so we might wait for the Lord;
you fill us with your gifts,
so we might bless the One
who comes in God's name.

God in Community, Holy in One,
hear us as we pray as Jesus teaches,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliation
God's face is not hidden from us, but turns to us full of grace and mercy. God does not turn away from us in horror, but reaches out to gather us together as brothers and sisters. Let us trust such a God with our prayers of confession, saying,

Unison Prayer of Confession
Refuge of our hearts, we must speak of how we have not made you the center of our lives. We look for shelter in the false security of the world, not in your promises. Our fears are driven by our emotions and decisions, not by our trust
in you. We look to the powerful, the beautiful, the athletic to be our role models, instead of the One who comes in your name.

Have mercy on us, our Light and our Hope, and touch us with your forgiving grace. Fill our hearts with your presence, so we might recognize the One who has come to gather us up and lead us into your Kingdom, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
God does not give us up to the temptations and ways of the world, but shelters us with
love, with hope, with grace.
We are forgiven people. Our songs of joy are lifted to the One who forgives us and
saves us. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to God.
It is right to give both thanks and praise.

It is indeed right to give you praise,
Star Maker.
From the depths of the terror of chaos,
you created all that is beautiful and good.
Our grandparents in the faith
could have contemplated the heavens,
but gazed instead
into the shadowed corners of the world,
choosing rebellion, sin, and death.
You sent prophets to call us back
into your glory and grace,
but we ignored their witness,
scoffing at their words.
Yet, you would not let us remain broken,
but sent the Bread which could make us whole.

Therefore we gladly join our voices
with the songs of your people
in heaven and on earth:

Sanctus

Holy are you, God of Grace,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.
Choosing to leave the shelter of heaven,
he comes to gather us into your kingdom;
sharing our life in every way,
he knows our struggles and our doubts;
taking the weight of sin on his shoulders,
he carries us into the joy of your grace;
broken and dying for our sake,
he delivers us from sin and death,
creating the new covenant of your heart.

As we remember his life, his death, his rising,
we would proclaim that mystery we call faith:

Memorial Acclamation

God of mystery:
pour out your Holy Spirit upon us
and on the bread we break
and the cup we share.
Make us one with the Risen Christ,
and send us forth to be
sisters and brothers to the world.
Calm the worries and fears of our hearts,
so we might be bearers of your peace;
fill our emptiness with the Bread of Life,
so we might feed the hungry around us;
cool our thirst with the cup of grace,
so we might reach out to all
who travel through the desert of life;
walk with us through the streets of the kingdom,
until we reach our journey's end,
seated around the Table you have prepared
for the redeemed of every time and place.

Then we will merge our shouts of joy
with those who have modeled for us
trust and obedience in you,
singing our praise to you, God of the Covenant,
through Jesus Christ, our joy and crown,
and in the oneness of the Holy Spirit,
now and forever. Amen.

(c) 2007 Thom M. Shuman

Lent 1-C

Call to Worship
Jesus began his ministry to the world,
led by the Spirit into the wilderness.
As we begin our Lenten journey,
let us be led by the Spirit,
even into the uncomfortable places.
In those forty days, and in that place,
Jesus was faced with hunger, doubt
and temptation.
As we seek to follow Jesus,
we would be led,
even into the uncomfortable choices.
Jesus left the wilderness,
faithful and obedient to God,
rejoicing in the One in whom he trusted.
As we continue on our path to faithfulness,
we will be led by our Christ,
rejoicing in the Lord our God.

Prayer of the Day
Holy God,
Refuge of desert wanderers:
as the seeds of grace
you have planted within us
bear an abundant harvest,
we would offer the first fruits
in thanksgiving to you
and in service to others.

Jesus Christ,
Companion of Lenten pilgrims:
you understood
that God alone feeds us,
and so became the broken Bread;
you knew that the power
to transform our lives
comes from God alone,
and so became our Servant;
you did not ignore
the warning not to test God,
and so became our Hope.

Holy Spirit,
Leader of Christ's apprentices:
you fill the hungry
with the Bread of life;
you fill the arrogant
with the Servant's humility;
yoou fill the hopeless
with that trust which endures.

God in Commnity, Holy in One,
in our hearts and with our lips,
we pray as Jesus has taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliation
God makes no distinction between us. We are all sinners, we are all children of God, we are
all precious to God, and we are all saved by God. Because God makes no distinction, let us confess our common humanity to the One who is generous to all.

Unison Prayer of Confession
God of our ancestors and God of our children, we come knowing we have preferred to test you, rather than to trust you. The famine in our souls makes us
long to be filled with the empty promises of the world. We listen to the soothing words of the advertisers, rather than to the uncomfortable words of discipleship.

Forgive us, God of our lives. Bring us out of that dependence on ourselves, and bring us into the presence of the One we seek to follow, not only to Jerusalem,
but beyond - into life with you forever, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
God has listened to our prayers and to our
silence. God reaches out, with signs and
wonders, with grace and forgiveness, and
makes us whole.
On our lips and in our hearts, we give thanks
to the One who loves us and heals us. Amen.

(c) 2007 Thom M. Shuman

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time - C

Call to Worship
Blessed are those who trust -
in God.
We come in trust,
to be grounded in God's love.
Blessed are those who hope -
in God.
We come in hope,
trusting in the One who gives us life.
Blessed are those who delight -
in God's Word.
We come to hear God's Word,
and to be healed of our brokenness.

Prayer of the Day
God of our hearts,
Heart of creation:
we are blessed
when we feast on your Word:
that Word which embraces us;
that Word which teaches us;
that Word which transfigures us;
that Word which grounds us.
Give us your Word.

Jesus Christ,
Heart of God's children:
we are blessed
when we have your heart:
a heart for the poor;
for the hungry;
for those who weep;
for the rejected.
Give us your Heart.

Holy Delight,
Grace's Heartbeat:
we bear fruit
when we are filled with your spirit,
the spirit of generosity,
the spirit of emptying ourselves for others;
the spirit of bearing one another's burdens.
Give us your Spirit.

God in Community, Holy in One,
may our hearts beat as one with your heart,
even as we pray as one as Jesus has taught us,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliation
Now if what we have heard from the world is true, we would have no need to come before our God. But in fact, the witness of scripture, and of the faithful, is true: God is to be trusted with the secrets of our hearts, as well as our brokenness. Join me as we pray to the One who is waiting to forgive us,

Unison Prayer of Confession
We confess what we are afraid to confront, Blessing God, that the seductions of the world nibble away at our hearts. We have more and more to pick from at the supermarket, and so we forget those whose only choice is hunger. Our sense that we are your favorites causes us to make fun of those we believe are not. We are so consumed with saving enough for the future, we ignore those who have so little today.

Forgive us, Heartbroken God, for thinking we are the center of your world. Pour your living water into us, so we might send down roots into your heart, and so become those people who are blessings to others, as we have received new life from Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Silence is observed

Assurance of Pardon
Blessed are you: for God forgives you and restores you to new life. Rejoice in this day and dance for joy.
Thanks be to God. Our faith is true and our hope is grounded in the promises of One we can trust, not only on this day, but in all the days to come. Amen.

(c) 2007 Thom M. Shuman

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time - C

Call to Worship
By God's grace, we are who we are:
People who are called,
but afraid to follow.
By God's grace, we are who we are:
People who are called,
and gifted wih courage.
By God's grace, we are who we are:
People who are called,
and given good news to share.

Prayer of the Day
Holy God,
by your grace:
you touch our fears
with the fire of your compassion;
you touch our brokenness
with the fire of your forgiveness;
you touch our hearts
with the fire of your love.

Jesus Christ,
by your grace:
you step into our lives
and an unpredictable journey begins;
you challenge us to new thinking,
with overflowing results;
you so confront our doubts
that we can cast out our fears.

Holy Spirit,
by your grace:
you give us eyes
to see the emptiness of our world;
you give us ears
to hear the good news;
you give us words
to bring hope to all people.

God in Community, Holy in One,
by your grace
we are who we are:
your children, your people, your church,
praying together as Jesus taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliation
Do not be afraid! Whatever you fear, God is ready to take away from you; whatever you have said, God is ready to speak mercy to you; whatever you have done, God is ready to forgive you. Please join me as we pray to the One whose steadfast love endures forever.

Unison Prayer of Confession
God enthroned in heaven: most of us would not consider ourselves to be holy. We think of others as inconveniences or intrusions, not as sisters or brothers. We look at others with pride or spite, not through the eyes of compassion. We are so
busy listening to ourselves, we cannot hear the anguish and loneliness of our neighbors.

Forgive us, God enthroned in our hearts. You have set us apart so we might be a partner with hurting people. We belong to your Kingdom so we might bring others in to live with us. We would risk following Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior,
who first risked calling us as disciples.

Silence is observed.

Assurance of Pardon
The Holy One become wholly human so we might
know love. The One enthroned on high endured
the Cross so we might have life. Believe this good
news: we are forgiven!
By God's grace, we are who we are: forgiven and
restored people. Thanks be to God.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May God be with you.
And also with you.
Beloved of God, lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the One who knows us and loves us.
Beloved of God, give thanks to the Lord our God.
Our praise is continually offered to our Hope, our Trust, our God.

In that time when there was only You,
you walked in the midst of chaos,
shaping all that is good and beautiful.
In that place where there was only your Love,
You stretched out your hands
scooping up the dirt off earth's floors,
shaping us in your image,
breathing Spirit into our lungs.
In that silence where there was only your Hope,
you called us to be your people,
God of Glory.
But the world sang of its seduction,
sin called us to follow its despair,
death blinded us to the life you offered.
And so, we turned away,
pouting and stamping our feet
wanting our own way.
But you would not pay attention
to our foolish tantrums,
nor would you leave us
in the grasp of death and sin,
trusting that if we encountered
the grace wrapped in your holiness,
we would turn to you in joy.

And so, believing that you have reached out
and called us to service with you,
and touched our lips with songs of hope,
we join our voices with those who,
in every time and in every place,
sing of your ways forever.

Sanctus

Holy are you, Sanctuary of our Hearts,
and blessed is Jesus Christ,
Word of joyous grace.
In that time when we had lost our way,
he called to us,
so we could follow him
into your joy;
in that time when all hope had died,
he touched our souls with the fire of your love;
in that time when death's cold grip
wrapped tightly around our hearts,
he came to surround us with your life.

While we cannot understand the mysteries
of your holiness and grace,
when we are called to Christ's side
we can only cry, "Here we are; we will follow"
even as we hope for that faith which was his.

Memorial Acclamation

In this time of silence,
Spirit of God,
may this bread which is broken,
become our wholeness.
In this time of grace,
may this cup which is poured
touch our lips with healing.
In this time when we feel the brush
of your fingertips caressing us,
may we believe that your justice and peace
are to be shared with all people;
that our hearts can bear the burdens of others;
that we may bring joy to the lonely and hurting.

Then, when our journey is ended,
and we have followed you into eternity,
we will gather around your Table,
in that silence, which is only your grace,
in that place, which is only your heart,
in that time, which is only your love:
God in Community, Holy in One.
Amen.

(c) 2007 Thom M. Shuman

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time - C

Call to Worship
Today, the words of God come to us:
inviting us to not be afraid,
but to place our faith in God.
Today, the words of God come to us:
inviting us to trust in the One who knows us,
to place our hope in the One who saves us.
Today, the Word of God comes to us:
inviting us to be gracious in our love
and in our service to others.

Prayer of the Day
Gracious God:
your wall of hope
surrounds us in our despair;
your haven of faith
welcomes us in our unbelief;
your citadel of love
protects us from our anger.

Gracious Word:
you reach out to those
we would not touch;
you greet those
we would ignore;
you welcome those
we would exclude.

Holy Spirit:
rest gently upon us
so we might be kinder people;
touch us with your humility,
so we would let go of our pride;
show us your Way,
so we would not insist on our own.

God in Community, Holy in One,
our hope and our trust,
hear us as we pray as Jesus taught us,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliation
The One who knew us before we were born knows our secret failings. The One who saw us in our mothers' wombs sees into our shadowed hearts. The One who bends down to listen to our words will speak grace and hope to us.

Unison Prayer of Confession
Patient God, we must confess that our love is not what we would hope. We are so focused on ourselves, the needs of others dim in our eyes. We secretly rejoice in the miseries of those around us, knowing that they must have done something to deserve such lives. We push our families and friends away by insisting they do everything our way.

Forgive us, Faithful Deliverer. Rescue us from our selves, so we might become your people. Touch us with the faith, the hope, the love of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, so we might be made whole.

Silence is observed.

Assurance of Pardon
God's love never ends! Now, we know
we are forgiven; now, we know we are
healed.
Now, we can bear all things, believe
all things, hope all things, endure all
things. Thanks be to God. Amen.

(c) 2007 Thom M. Shuman

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - C

Call to Worship
On this first day, which is holy,
we gather . . .
not alone, but as Christ's Body;
as ones who would suffer together,
we gather . . .
On this day of celebration,
we gather . . .
not in isolation, but in community;
as those who would care for one another,
we gather . . .
On this day of joy, not mourning,
we gather . . .
not with empty hands, or emptier hearts;
but as those baptized in grace's tears,
we gather . . .

Prayer of the Day
Holy God, Word-Giver:
in soft-falling snow,
we hear your joy;
in the whisper of the wind,
we overhear your dreams for us;
in the silence of a frozen night,
we eavesdrop on your grace;
in the prayers of the poor,
we take notice of your compassion.

Jesus Christ, Perfect Word:
overcome our obsession
of focusing on ourselves,
so we might serve;
make us simple enough
to hear your good news
and wise enough
to live it;
enchant our hearts
with your grace,
so we might weep
with those around us.

Holy Spirit, Cup Holder of Living Water:
as we suffer together,
may we drink deeply
from your tenderness;
as we rejoice together,
may we taste your strength;
as we pray together,
may our hearts feast on your love;
as we worship together,
may we hear the Word you have for us.

God in Community, Holy in One,
in these moments, in every moment,
be with us,
even as we pray as Jesus taught us,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliation
We are baptized as individuals, yet called
to live and serve together. We know, and
need to confess, how we have sought to
live for ourselves, not reaching out to others,
and seeing them as parts of Christ's Body.
Join me as we pray, saying,

Unison Prayer of Confession
Rock of our salvation, we know the faults
try to hide from you and others. We have
not cared for all people in the same way.
We do think some are more gifted, or
better, or prettier. We are more willing
to rejoice with someone, than to suffer
with another. We are not sure the prisoners
should be set free, or the poor given hope.

Redeemer of all people, forgive us.
Anoint us with your Spirit's power so our
eyes might be opened and our ears freed
to listen to what Jesus Christ, our Lord and
Savior, teaches us about your love and grace
for our lives.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
God's Spirit is upon us: the Spirit of
forgiveness, the Spirit of grace, the
Spirit of oneness.
Today, and in all the days to come,
God's Spirit is with us. Thanks be
to the One who is our joy and our
strength. Amen.

(c) 2007 Thom M. Shuman

Second Sunday of Ordinary Time - C

Call to Worship
We come this day, Precious God,
as people in need of your steadfast love:
with you is the fountain of life;
in your Light we see light.
We gather this day, Water-changing God,
as people looking for signs:
with you is the fountain of life;
in your Light we see light.
We worship this day, Gifting God,
as people who confess Jesus as our Lord:
with you is the fountain of life;
in your Light we see light.

Prayer of the Day
With you, Enduring Joy,
we find our refuge.
In the shelter of your compassion,
we are made whole;
in the abundance of your grace,
we are fed;
in the depths of your living waters,
we are transfigured into new people.

With you, Revealer of Glory,
we are filled to the brim.
Our lips cannot contain your praise;
our hearts overflow with your spirit;
our lives are poured out for others.

With you,
Activating Spirit,
we find our common life
in this community of faith.
United by a common confession,
we take our uncommon gifts
and share them
in serving all people.

Same in love, same in grace,
God in Community, Holy in One,
hear us as we pray as Jesus taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliarion
We cannot claim ignorance of our sins, for we know how we have not lived as God's people. But God refuses to forsake us, waiting to forgive us and call us as God's children. Please join me as we pray, saying,

Unison Prayer of Confession
Delight of the Ages, we cannot remain silent, but must speak of the ways we misuse your gifts. In our desire to have more and more, we cause more damage to your good creation. In our obsession with ourselves, we have desolated the lives of those around us. When we hoard what you have given us, we cannot be a blessing
to other people.

Forgive us, Restless God, so we might be restored to life. May your steadfast love save and strengthen us to share our gifts with others, even as you have shared the Gift of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
God delights in you. So much, that God
will not rest until you are at peace. God
will not remain silent, but will call you
by name: 'My Delight.'
God's steadfast love extends to the heavens,
and reaches down to touch our hearts.
Thanks be to God who forgives and saves
us! Amen.

(c) 2007 Thom M. Shuman

Baptism of the Lord - C

Call to Worship
God's voice speaks to our chaos,
echoing in our empty hearts.
gathering us together
to remember our baptism
and to feast at the Table.
God's voice flows like
the living waters of grace,
our new name, 'Beloved,'
resounding in our souls.
God's voice stirs
the waters of baptismal hope,
calling us to be bearers of peace
to a world of broken hopes.

Prayer of the Day
You speak, Holy God,
and your voice
silences the chorus of chaos;
you whisper,
toppling the giant redwoods,
and shattering our hardened hearts;
you laugh,
and little children
play hopscotch in the kingdom.
And we cry, "Glory!"

You speak, Word of Life,
and the waters of the Jordan
embrace you in grace;
you call to us,
your hope shimmering
like stars in our darkness;
you sing,
and we join hands with you
in the dance of resurrection.
And we cry, "Glory!"

You speak, Spirit of Wonder,
and we are given
a new name;
you cry out to us
that we have nothing to fear,
and we are filled with peace;
you shout your joy for us,
and we know we are loved.
And we cry, "Glory!"

Speak to us,
God in Community, Holy in One,
as we lift our voices to you, praying,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliation
To a world of brokenness, God speaks of healing. To a time of confusion, God tells of that future grounded in love. To a people longing for redemption, God comes to bring us home. Let us confess how we have not heard God speaking to us, as we pray, saying,

Unison Prayer of Confession
God of Spirit and fire: baptized, we have not done a god job as your people. We are drawn to the shadows of sin, hoping you will not see our foolishness. We fall into the arms of temptation, letting it spin us until we are out of control. We selfishly cling to your hope and grace, convinced that others will misuse
these gifts.

Forgive us, Bearer of Grace. Touch us with your Spirit, so we may be restored to new life; touch us with your grace, so we may offer forgiveness to all people; touch us with your peace, so we might be healers to our world. This we pray in the name of the One who went into the waters of baptism to cleanse us of sin, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
We expect the fire of judgment,
but are given the Spirit of grace;
we expect God to yell at us,
but we are called by a new name;
we expect God to stay angry,
but we are handed the dove of peace.
This is the good news for us!
Thanks be to God. Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of glory be with you!
And also with you!
People of God, offer your hearts to God.
We give them to the One
who comes to redeem us.
Sing songs of praise and joy,
Children of God.
We lift our voices to the One
who journeys with us through
the waters of baptism and who feeds
us at the Table of hope.

With the waters of baptism
reminding us of your love for us,
Heaven's Voce,
we lift our praises to you.
Before you breathed the Word
which tamed chaos,
you named us your children,
heirs of all the goodness
you desired for us.
You sang to us in Eden's fields,
inviting us to glorify you forever.
Yet, we walked into the shadows
of the world,
leaving the songs behind.
You persisted in your hopes for us,
knowing that where
no life is anticipated,
no hope is expected,
no future is seen,
there you gather us up
to carry us into your kingdom.

So, with angel choirs in every region,
with shepherds who caroled a homeless family,
with those who came home singing from exile,
we lift our voices in joy and hope:

Sanctus

Holy are you, God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Bearer of grace and Singer of truth.
When we lost our voice to sin,
you sent your Word
to teach us new hymns of joy and praise.
When our feet were muddy
from playing in life's puddles,
he stepped into the Jordan,
to make us clean.
When our ears were filled
with the lies of the world,
he spoke the truth
of your hopes for us.
When we were about to die,
he came running to us,
defeating sin and death,
marking us as your own
with the kiss of the Holy Spirit.

As we remember Christ's baptism,
as we recall his life and ministry,
as we follow him through death
into the resurrection of new life,
we proclaim that mystery called faith:

Memorial Acclamation

Holy Spirit,
fill us with the Bread of forgiveness
and the Cup of hope.
Flow through us with baptismal waters,
so we might become
a river of reconciliation;
grant us your peace,
so we might carry it to others;
set our hope on Christ,
so we might build such hop
in our neighborhoods and communities.

And then, when the river of time
stops flowing,
and we gather around your Table,
we will join our voices as one people,
singing "Glory!"
to God, Child, and Spirit,
God in Community, Holy in One.
Amen.

(c) 2006 Thom M. Shuman

Christmas 1-C

Call to Worship
Praise God! Praise the Lord,, all creation!
Stars glittering with grace,
humpback whales singing of hope:
all praise our God!
Praise God! Praise the Lord, all you people!
12 year-olds, and 80 plus,
wise and those learning to walk:
all will praise our God!
Praise God! Praise the Lord,
in every moment, in every place!
Here in church, and relaxing at home;
in a classroom, and at the doctor's office:
we will praise our God!

Prayer of the Day
Wonder of wonders,
God of creation:
you choose us
to be your people,
continuing to clothe
us in holiness,
even when we drag
the garment through
the mud of our lives;
you call us 'Beloved',
even while
we speak words about others,
that would make
the Evil One blush.

Wonder of wonders,
Humble Jesus:
you ask questions
about our so-called wisdom,
revealing how foolish we are;
you wear your heart
on your sleeve
as you reach out
to embrace us
with you compassion.

Wonder of wonders,
Spirit of the old and the new:
every year
you take the old, stained clothes
of our silly lives,
and dress us in
kindness, humility,
patience, and meekness,
that we might be grow
in your love and grace.

May everything we do,
and everything we say,
be in your name,
God in Community, Holy in One,
even as we pray as we have been taught,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliation
We like to think we are wise beyond our years,
but when we look at our lives as God's people,
we discover we still act too often like little
children. Let us confess how we always want
our way, rather than following God's.

Unison Prayer of Confession
You set boundaries for us, Holy God, yet we
continue to cross over them into sin. Believing
we are wiser than you, we are amazed that you
would question our actions and lives. Offering
us the warm sweater of love, we would rather
slip our lives into the sleeves of bitterness and
anger. Challenging us to carry one's another's
burdens, we complain about how heavy and
uncomfortable they are.

Forgive us, Searching God, and clothe us
with your gifts of compassion, humility,
patience, and hope. Then, dressed as your
graceful people, may we go forth to live as
sisters and brothers of Jesus Christ, our Lord
and Savior.

Silence is kept.

Assurance of Pardon
The good news is simple: God loves us
so much, we are forgiven and granted new life.
Praise God! As forgiven people, we will
go to forgive others, and share God's
grace with them. Amen.

(c) 2006 Thom M. Shuman