Liturgy w/communion for Octobeer 20, 2024 (Pentecost 22/Trinity 21/Prop 24/Ordinary 29 - B

 Texts:  Job 38:1-7 (34-41); Psalm 104:1-9, 24, 35c; Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:35-45

Call to Worship
Welcome! There are many places you could be this morning,
but you have chosen to be here:
where we learn how to live in God's Kingdom.
Welcome to this place - full of music, of words, of prayer –
yet also filled with danger:
where we encounter a Wisdom we cannot always understand.
Welcome to God's House, the most dangerous place in town:
where we talk about and with God, and are reduced to silence
so we may hear the call to discipleship.

Prayer of the Day
Wind-riding God,
the blue skies, the sunshine,
the cool breezes cradling falling leaves:
all creation reminds us
of the delicate Artist
who has shaped us
and all that is around us.
We lift our songs
of gratitude and awe to you.

Servant-calling Jesus:
you humble our arrogance
with your acts of mercy;
you tip over our pretensions
with your modest nature;
you laugh at our hunger for power
with your words of grace.

Heart-keeping Spirit:
you bear our prayers
to the throne of grace
when they are only whispers
in our souls;
you unfold the road map
to show us the way to the Kingdom;
you transform our stuttering words
into praise and wonder to our God.

God in Community, Holy in One,
be with us in this and every moment,
even as we pray as Jesus teaches us,
(The Lord’s Prayer)

Call to Reconciliation
We do not pray in order to alleviate our guilt, but to express our gratitude to God. For we know all the things we have said and done that we shouldn't, and all those words we could have spoken, all those actions we could have undertaken, but did not. Despite such lives, God still loves us, surrounding us with mercy and hope, waiting to restore us to new life. Please join me, as we pray together saying,

Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
     Creation's Heart, we look around and see how we fall short in our attempts at faithfulness. We often do things, not because it is what you call us to do, but in hopes of earning points with you. We can become so self-absorbed, we cannot see the suffering and struggles of friends, family, strangers.  We are so desperate to get to the front of the line, we push aside the very ones you seek to honor.
     Forgive us, Holy One. Remind us that the cup we are offered overflows with grace, that the waters of baptism cleanse and make us new, and that Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, is the One who calls us to service, standing by our side, as we seek to be faithful disciples.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
The One who poured the foundations of creation fills us with grace and hope. The One who numbered the clouds, tips over rain barrels of living water into our parched souls.
The One who writes anthems for the early morning stars, fills us with songs of joy. The One who provides food for all living things, feeds us with mercies which come fresh and new each day.  Thanks be to God, we are forgiven. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication/Offering
May our gifts lay a foundation of hope for all in despair; may the brighten the shadows of those who wander alone; may they cause the voiceless to join the morning stars in singing your praises.  This we pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May God bless your soul!
And also bless yours!
Lift up your hearts to God, beloved of the Lord.
We offer them to the One who clothes them with grace.
Bless God's name with songs of joy.
We praise the Lord with our hearts and with our lips.

You donned your Word-clothes,
calling the whirling Spirit to action,
Ingenious God,
and you laid the foundation of creation:
stretching a line of mountains across the fields,
sinking the seas into the hollows of the earth,
teaching harmonies to the morning stars.
You shaped humanity in your image,
calling us to life with you,
but we sulked at your invitation,
preferring the shadowy words
offered to us by sin and death.
You sent the prophets as your messengers,
their words of fire, as well as faithfulness,
ministering to us, but we ignored them
in our hunger for power and recognition.
So you sent Jesus to us,
to baptize us in your mercy,
to offer us the cup of salvation.

So, with those who surround you, shouting with joy,
with all, in every time and place, who seek to serve,
we lift our songs of thanksgiving to you:

Holy, holy, holy, God who is clothed with honor and majesty.
All creation overflows with your life.
Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who comes with loud cries and tears.
Hosanna in the highest!

You alone are holy, God of questions,

and blessed is Jesus Christ, the only answer we need.
He did not glorify himself here on earth,
but became your Servant of mercy and grace.
He stretched out his hands, not to grasp power,
but to lead us to the back of the line,
where we can minister to your people.
He suffered, learning obedience to you;
he became obedient, so death might be mastered;
dying, he discovered the wonder of your resurrection;
rising, we finally grasp the truth
of your love and sacrifice for us.

As we remember his life, his death, his resurrection,
as we would comprehend your promises to us,
we would proclaim that mystery we call faith:

Dying, Christ became the Servant of all;
rising, Christ became the source of salvation for all;
coming again, Christ becomes your promise to all.

It is here at this Table,
your Spirit poured out upon
the gifts of the bread and the cup,
and your children gathered in this place,
that we are transformed into your servants.
As we eat of the Bread of life,
may we go from this place
to give of ourselves in service to all;
as we drink from the cup of grace,
we are filled with your peace and hope,
and become the gifts for which the broken,
the hopeless, the lost are searching.

And when our journey of faith is complete,
when we gather around your feast in glory,
we will join our hearts and hands
in loud cries and tears, singing of your great love,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.

Sending
God sends us forth as workers for justice.
To cover the oppressed with a flood of compassion.
Jesus invites us to work humbly by his side.
We would respond, 'Here we are; where do you need us?'
The Spirit hands us garments woven with strands of love and light.
We will clothe everyone we meet with these garments of grace.

(c) Thom M. Shuman

Alternative texts liturgy w/communion for October 20, 2024 (Pentecost 22/Trinity 21/Proper 24/Ordinary 29 - B)

  Texts: Isaiah 53:4-12; Psalm 91:9-16; Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:35-46

Call to Worship

Here is the place where we can bring our pain and hopes.

For our God carries them with us.

Here is the place where we can listen for our calling.

For Jesus invites us to serve with him in the world.

Here is the place where we are surrounded by grace.

For the Spirit hears our hearts and heals them.

Prayer of the Day

You reach out and lift us when we trip

   to set us back on our faith;

you shelter us in your grace

   when the storms of fear batter us;

you open your heart to welcome us,

   when all the world’s doors slam in our faces;

and we are rescued by your love,

God our Joy.

You touch us with your brokenness,

   so that we might be healed;

you serve out sin’s sentence on us,

   so that we might be set free;

you drink death’s bitter cup,

   so that we might have life;

and we are surrounded by your hope,

Jesus our Brother.

You remind us that we are not powerful,

   but weak enough to care for the vulnerable;

you whisper to us that we are not wealthy;

   but have more than enough to share with the poor;

you sing to us that we are not lost,

   but can show others the way to your heart;

and we listen and respond,

Spirit who calls us.

God in Community, Holy in One,

You offer the gift of life and grace

to all your children and so we pray as we are taught,

 (The Lord’s Prayer)

Call to Reconciliation

We think we know what Jesus wants of us, and are walking his path.  But to often we get tripped up by our longings for more, and end up falling flat on our faces, because of our foolish words and deeds.  Let us come to the One who listens, and gives us new life.  Join me, as we pray together, saying,

Unison Prayer for Forgiveness

   God of the Beloved, Jesus came for us.  He came to give those who could not see new sight, but we continue to long to live in the shadows.  He came to clear the ears of those who had no hearing, but we still listen to the lies offered to us. He came that we might serve those around us, but we want the attention, the seats of prestige. 

   We pray that as you forgive us, Loving God, we would discover that we are now your beloved.  Not because we are powerful, but we are willing to accept our weakness; not because we are wealthy, but we dare to share when others hoard; not because we want glory, but because we are willing to offer the cup of grace to those who thirst around us, even as it has been offered to us by Jesus, our Brother, our Savior.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon

Our God deals gently with those who stumble, who lose their way, and who get dazzled by wanting power and glory. That is the good news for us. We are forgiven, and graced with new life.

Thanks be to God, who is the home of our hearts, who fills us with grace and mercy in every moment. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication/Offering

We hope you will notice how generous we are in these moments, Gracious God, and pat us on the back. But instead, you challenge us to offer more, not just from our abundance, but our lives, our hearts, our hands in serving those around us. Bless these gifts, and all whose lives will be touched by them. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

May the listening God be with you.

May God be with you.

Let us offer our hearts to our God.

God will fill them with wonder and love.

We will join in glad songs of praise.

Our thanksgiving praises will echo throughout our lives.

When chaos offered a bitter cup to you,

God of amazing wonder,

you transformed it into the goodness

and beauty of your imagination, pouring

   life into every creature,

   hope into every heart,

   grace into every moment

as creation sprang forth into being.

All this was offered to us, your beloved children,

   but we wandered out of the safe places

   to walk the dangerous streets of sin and death.

Because you cared for us,

you sent helpers, women and men,

to bear witness to your grace and hope

for all that had been shaped by you,

   but we wanted a blank check

   so that we could spend it all on ourselves.

Because you loved us,

you sent your gracious Word

to bring us back to your heart.

With those who stumble along the way,

with those hoping to be faithful,

we sing our praises to you:

Holy, holy, holy are you, God who listens to us.

All creation praises your holy name.

Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who rescues those you love.

Hosanna in the highest!

In your holiness, you heard our cries, O God,

and sent Jesus for us, knowing

the bitter cup which he would be offered.

He could have been clothed in glory,

   but set it aside for human flesh;

he could have wielded power,

   but shared his weakness with us;

he deserved every honor,

   but was treated unjustly;

he should have died an old man

surrounded by family and friends,

   but he was executed on a cross,

   abandoned and alone;

he should have crumbled

   into death’s dust, but

   you raised him to new life.

As we gather to be served at his Table,

as we would seek to emulate his faithfulness,

we speak of the mystery we call faith;

Jesus carried our pain, that we might be healed;

Jesus died, that we might no longer be afraid;

Jesus was raised, that we might know life awaits us;

Jesus will come, that we might be surrounded by hope.

It is here at this Table we find

not a bitter cup, but overflowing grace;

not a last meal of the condemned

but the feast of the Lamb of Life.

Fed by the bread which restores us,

may we not seek glory,

   but serve in weakness;

may we not seek power,

   but live in humility.

Nourished by the grace which renews us,

May we not seek honor,

   but lift those knocked down by fear;

may we not seek wealth,

   but share from our abundance.

And when we are gathered at the end of time,

with all the generations that have been and will come,

we will sit at your Table of hope and life,

forever singing your praises,

God in Community, Holy in One.  Amen.

  

Sending

With the love of our God in our hearts,

we will go to welcome the stranger among us

With the brokenness of Jesus having fed us,

we will go to bring healing to others.

With the vulnerability of the Spirit as our guide,

we will serve our neighbors with humility and hope.

© Thom M. Shuman

Liturgy with communion for October 13, 2024 (Pentecost 21/Trinity 20/Proper 23/Ordinary 28 - B)

  Texts: Job 23:1-9, 16-17; Psalm 22:1-15; Hebrews 4:12-16; Mark 10:17-31

Call to Worship

We look in the mirror and what do we see?
We see people who try to be faithful,
even as questions and struggles challenge our faith.
We look in the mirror and how do we see?
We see with hearts which are open to God's love,
with lives which seek to trust when all the evidence
tells us not to be so foolish.
We look in the mirror and who do we see?
We see Jesus, the One who struggles with
the questions we raise, who models faithfulness
for all who would follow.

Prayer of the Day

Gracious God:
when we cannot see you,
you look in compassion upon us;
when we cannot speak a word,
you hear the sighs of our hearts;
when we are falling apart,
you hold us together with your grace.

Jesus, Healing Hand of God:
you reach out to take away all
which distracts us from discipleship;
you challenge us to give away everything
which keeps us from following you;
you surround us with people, even strangers,
who enfold us with your love and hope.

Loving Spirit:

when we are too weary to put
one faltering foot in front of the other,
you carry us in your strength;
as we seek to challenge
the unfairness of our world,
you stand beside us in your justice;
when we are afraid to come near,
you bear our prayers to the seat of grace.

God in Community, Holy in One,
hear us as we pray together,
using the words we have been taught by Jesus,
(The Lord’s Prayer)

Call to Reconciliation

Let us willingly embrace that which we believe is true - we can come to the seat of grace, bringing our prayers of confession to the One who is filled to overflowing with mercy and hope. Join me as we pray together,

Unison Prayer for Forgiveness

    We stand before you, Saving God, stripped of our pretensions and pride, for nothing we do or say, or do not, can be hidden from you. You hear the angry words we preach to ourselves; you sift through the rubble of hurts we have caused; you see how we stumble, weighed down by all that 'stuff' which keeps us from following Jesus.
    We stand before you, Holy Grace. As you empty our hands of that wealth of unneeded things we cling so tightly to, fill them with your grace and hope. As we let go of all which might hold us back, give us the trust to follow Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, into that life with which he offers to each of us.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon

Hear the good news! Because God loves us, we lack for nothing; because God forgives us, we have everything we need; because God surrounds us with sisters and brothers, we do not journey alone.
Committing everything to God, trusting in the One who redeems us, we decide to live as God's faithful and forgiven people. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication/Offering

When we look in the mirror, may we see our sisters and brothers in need - the lonely, the hungry, the searching, the aching.  And as we see them, we pray that these gifts we offer may be used to bring them food, hope, companionship, and healing.  This we pray in the name of Jesus.  Amen. 

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

May the God of eternal life be with you.
And also with you.
In confidence, draw close to the Table of our God.
We bring our hearts, our lives to the Feast of Grace.
Sing glad songs to the One whose goodness fills our lives.
We rejoice that we may enter the kingdom of love and hope.

You turned to your right,
and there was nothing there;
you went forward and backward,
and there was only nothingness;
and so, in your wonder and majesty,
you created all that was good and true,
God of unparalleled imagination.
Your Word crafted the living and active -
waterfalls carving the sides of mountains,
butterflies flitting from flower to flower;
your Spirit bubbled with laughter,
and the bright morning stars were reflected
in clear pools brimming with hope.
All these gifts were given to those shaped in your image,
but we chose to contend with you,
mocking you, making faces at your glory.
When it became too hard for us
to enter your kingdom on our own,
you sent Jesus among us,
to deliver us from ourselves.

So, with those who raise their questions to you,
with those who struggle with your answers,
we lift our voices to you, singing your praises:

Holy, holy, holy are you, God of mystery and hope.
All creation honors your name.
Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who calls us to faithful living.

Hosanna in the highest!

You are holy, God of grace and truth,
and blessed is Jesus, Child of wonder.
He set aside the treasures of heaven,
to become one of us,
so we might know the riches of mercy.
He let go of the power of glory,
so he might know our weaknesses.
He went to the cross on Calvary,
committing himself to your love,
and it was you who took him from the tomb,
raising him to new life.

As we proclaim his death and resurrection,
as we break the bread and fill the cup,
we would live out that mystery we call faith:

Christ has died;
Christ has been raised;
Christ will come again in glory.

Here at the Table graced with your gifts,
here, upon your children gathered in joy,
pour out your Spirit of peace and life.
As we come to taste of that Bread which,
in its brokenness, makes us whole,
we would not go backward to our old life,
but go forth to bring hope to all
who cry out for justice in the world.
As we drink deeply from that Cup which,
by its grace, fills us with compassion,
we would offer the blessings we have,
that others might know the richness of your love and hope.

And when the age to come has arrived,
when our lives are gathered up in your mercy
and we are at one with our sisters and brothers
from every time and place around your feast,
we will join our hearts and voices for you,
singing through all eternity of your love,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.

Sending
Go forth as God's people to serve those around us.
We will honor each person as if they were our family.
Go forth as sisters and brothers of Jesus.
We will share the gifts of grace and hope with everyone we meet.
Go forth as those strengthened by the Spirit.
We will stand with others searching for God's justice in their lives.

(c) Thom M. Shuman

Alternate texts liturgy w/communion for October 13, 2024 (Pentecost 21/Trinity 20/Proper 23/Ordinary 28-B)

 Texts: Amos 5:6-7, 10-15; Psalm 90:12-17; Hebrews 4:12-16; Mark 10:17-31

Call to Worship

What can we do to have life?

We can seek God, who gives us live in every moment.

What can we do to serve justice in our world?

We can set aside that which keeps us

from following Jesus – wealth, pride, power, whatever.

What can we do to share the good news with others?

We can open ourselves to the Spirit,

so people can see God at work in us.

Prayer of the Day

Each morning, at the table,

you offer a serving of love,

not so we will scarf it down

and rush out the door, but

so that we have more than enough

to share with everyone we meet,

God who cares for us.

Each day, when our courage

begins to lag and we think

we just cannot

listen to one more lie,

watch the powerful ridicule the vulnerable,

have the courage to confront evil,

you offer a serving of justice,

so that we can continue to follow,

Jesus who has given up everything for us.

Each evening, as we check

social media, turn on the news,

listen to the voices on the radio,

and are tempted to simply believe

there is nothing to do but

fall into the arms of despair for comfort,

you offer us a cup of peace,

with lots of mercy and hope stirred in,

so we can rest in you,

Spirit who is always with us.

Each moment, and every moment,

you serve us with all we need,

God in Community, Holy in One,

and so we pray as we are taught,

(The Lord’s Prayer)

Call to Reconciliation

We have failed, we have not lived as God’s people.  And while we think we should hide, God invites us to come, to confess our lives, and to be restored to wholeness.  Let us pray, using these words,

Unison Prayer for Forgiveness

   There are so many things, Wise God, which keeps us from following Jesus.  We try to turn justice into a bitter pill for others.  We push righteousness out of the way, so we can seek those who tell lies.  We know, deep down inside, that one thing which keeps us from faithful living, but just can’t loosen our grip on it.

   We can’t seem to do it, God who remembers us, but because everything is possible with you, give us the wisdom to know what that one thing might be; the grace to let go and leave it behind us; and the courage to follow Jesus wherever he might lead us, especially into that life which you offer in love and hope. 

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon

Here at the seat of grace, we are forgiven, and can climb up and find the love of God comforting and restoring us to new life.

Every moment, God offers us a serving of love and mercy, so we can continue to live as God intends.  Thanks be to God, we are forgiven!  Amen.

Prayer of Dedication/Offering

We think what we offer in these moments is not that much, or can accomplish anything of worth, but with you, Holy God, all things are possible.  So we trust you will use them, multiply them, offer them to those who need hope, healing, grace, and peace in their lives.  This we pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

May the welcoming God be with you.

And also with you.

Let us lift our hearts to our God.

We offer them to the One who shares grace with us.

Let us lift our voices to our God.

We will glad songs to the One who loves us.

In the cold, dead silence of chaos,

your Word, God of wonder,

was active and moving with the Spirit,

   breathing life into creatures,

   planting seeds of justice in hearts,

   bringing beauty and goodness into everything.

All that was wonderful, and that was gracious,

was offered to those formed in your image,

   but we chose to live in sin’s glass houses,

   and to drink the fine wines of death.

You sent prophets and psalmists

to offer your love and hope to us

and to call us back to you,

   yet we continued to pocket the bribes

   temptation offered to us over and over.

Then you sent Jesus into our lives,

so we would know that you long

to be with us in every moment.

With those who see you at work among us,

with those who try to hide from you,

we lift our voices in praise:

Holy, holy, holy are you, god who shares grace freely.

All creation shares in the wonders you have given.

Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who is our high priest.

Hosanna in the highest!

You alone are holy, God of grace,

and Jesus is our hope, our peace.

Advocate for the poor,

   he teaches us not to walk over them,

   but to lift them to their feet.

Speaker of your truth,

   he reminds us of the hope

   which is ours if we but reach out.

Challenger of our easy faith,

   he calls us to let go of the very things

   which we cannot set aside.

Trusting that you indeed can,

and will do, anything,

   he gives it all up on the cross,

   being raised to new life,

   as death and sin are defeated.

As we seek to remember his life and teachings,

as we celebrate the resurrection given to us,

we proclaim the mystery of our faith:

Jesus died, looking past evil;

Jesus was raised, your love turning death into life;

Jesus will come, to remind us God has not forgotten us.

Here at the Table we are reminded

that you alone are good, Generous God,

and so, we pray you pour out your Spirit

on your children and on the gifts of the Feast.

As we taste the bread which is broken,

may it give us the strength

   to build bridges, not walls;

   to care for the vulnerable;

   to listen to the victimized.

As we drink from cup,

may it nourish us with grace,

   so we can share hope with the broken,

   so we can plant peace in war-torn fields,

   so we can share from our abundance.

And when you gather us around

the throne of grace to feed us

at your Table with our sisters and brothers,

we sing our praises to you forever,

God in Community, Holy in One.  Amen.

Sending

Let us go with God into the world.

We will share all the wonders God has given us.

Let us go with Jesus to care for others.

We will build justice for all who need it.

Let us go with the Spirit to search for good.

We will speak truth to a world which needs it.

© Thom M. Shuman

World Communion Sunday Liturgy

Call to Worship
On this day, we are not a single congregation,
but part of all believers everywhere, every place.
On this day, we share not just a sacrament,
but a feast from every time, every place of faith.
On this day, God’s people gather in house churches and cathedrals,
and on sandy beaches and under towering trees.

Prayer of the Day
In Tagalog and Turkish,
in Mandarin and Maine drawls,
in children’s whispers
and seniors’ forgotten word,
glad songs are lifted to you, Loving God,
and we join our hearts and voices
in praising you.

In villages where water is more precious than gold,
in prisons where humanity often disappears,
in neighborhoods controlled by gangs,
in residential homes for the disabled,
your children cry out for justice, Servant of the poor,
and we commit our hearts and lives
to serving them with you.

In prayers for peace
whispered by little children;
in hope-filled comfort
offered to those who struggle;
in affirmations of unity found in neighborhoods
where folks live side-by-side,
not doctrines filled with jargon,
you continue to fill us with the words we need, Wisdom’s Heart,
and we will continue to speak them
in every moment.

In this place, and in every place,
with those we know, and with folks faraway,
we will seek to be your people
united in your heart, love, and service,
God in Community, Holy in One,
even as we pray, saying,
(The Lord’s Prayer)

Call to Reconciliation
A word of anger breaks another’s heart, a church’s silence damages a family, a nation’s anger can bring war and destruction. As individuals, as communities, as a world, we do not live as God’s people, so let us bring our lives to our God, so forgiven, we might continue to seek to become one in Christ.



Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
   We confess, God of every person, how easy it is to think that our way of being your church is the one, true way. And so, we believe we have no reason to hear your name spoken in another language. We are sure we don’t need to learn songs that have tunes which sound dissonant to us. We believe that our baptism, our communion, our beliefs are the ones closest to your heart, and so we close our hearts, eyes, and hands to those around us.
   Forgive us, Gracious God, and have mercy. Remind us that while there may be many types of bread, there is that one Love which has been broken for us. Remind us that while there might be wine or juice offered, there is one Life which has been poured out for us. Remind us that while some remain seated, some come forward, and others dance, there is one Table, offered to us by your grace, through Jesus Christ, our Brother, our Savior. Amen.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon

In little churches with wide open windows, in ancient buildings echoing with the songs and prayers of generations, in buildings that do not look like sanctuaries, the same good news is proclaimed: God is love. And that love forgives us, redeems us, restores us.
In whatever language, in every tongue and dialect, we rejoice and give thanks. We are forgiven by our God of grace and wonder. Amen.

Prayer of Dedication
As we offer our gifts here, a family is placing its tithe in another church. As we write our checks, a little child dumps coins from piggy bank into the basket passing down the row. As we, and they, and our sisters and brothers everywhere respond to your blessings in our lives, may you gather them all up and use them in acts of kindness, of goodness, of justice, and of grace. This we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Invitation to the Table
Some come from towns we have trouble pronouncing,
others have walked across the street;
some gather with strangers,
others are with old friends and family;
some hold the bread with trembling hands,
others pass the cup with a strong grip;
some need to taste hope and grace,
others long for a community which welcomes them with open arms.
And all, all of us, are welcomed to this Table
and every Table where the Holy Meal is celebrated this day.
For this is not the clergy’s table, this is not the church’s table;
this is God’s Table, and God turns no one away.
Come, people of God; come and taste the goodness of the Lord.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of all be with you!
May that God be with you, as well!
We will join our hearts with all of God’s people,
offering them to the God who loves us.
God fills our hearts, our lives, with overflowing grace.
With voices in every tongue, of every faith,
we will sing our praises to God.
We offer glory and thanksgiving to our God.

When there was nothing but your imagination,
God of Wonder, you thought,
and the Spirit began to twinkle chaos
with stars, moons, and planets.
You spoke, and the Word began to call to life
centipedes to march across the ground,
sparrows to dart across skies,
and little kittens to lap milk.
You laughed, and shaped us in your image,
to offer all these things and more to us.
But we were convinced we did not need you,
and so chose to stay wrapped in our little cocoons
spun by sin and death.
Over and over, in dusty streets and urban centers,
your prophets call us back to you,
but we were set in our ways,
not wanting to walk by your rivers of life.
So that we might finally have life with you,
you sent your Child to us,
so that all the world might be redeemed.

With those whose hearts are filled with joy,
with those whose lips tremble with questions,
we lift our praises to you:

Holy, holy, holy are you, God of all, God of each.
All creation everywhere joins in praising you.
Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who calls us to the Table of life.
Hosanna in the highest!

In your holiness, God of creation,
you could have stayed aloof,
letting the world drift back into chaos.
But you became one of us,
in a little child born in a place no one imagined,
and to a family none would have picked.
A little child,
Jesus knew the hunger and fears of poverty and despair.
A young boy,
Jesus knew the doubts and questions
of wondering about the future.
A worker,
Jesus knew the struggles to put food on the table.
A storyteller,
Jesus knew how to reach the deepest
depths of the human heart.
A servant,
Jesus was willing to take on our death for us,
so that in the power of the resurrection,
sin and death lost their power over us.

As we gather in grand churches and in open fields,
as we feast on the finest bread, and drink from crystal cups,
we join our sisters and brothers in every place, proclaiming the mystery:

Jesus died, so we might know the depths of love;
Jesus was raised, so we might know the strength of love;
Jesus will come, so we might know God’s steadfast love for us.

At altars carved from marble and tables shoved together,
with people who are at the feast every time it is served,
as well as those just stopping in,
we pray that you would pour out your Spirit
upon your children and on the gifts gathered
from the simple goodness of creation and set aside for holy use.
In the bread which is broken,
may we be reminded of those places
like the Middle East and Ukraine
by ancient and modern fears;
may we be strengthened to bring hope and help
to flooded communities;
may we become willing to listen to those
who tell stories of unspeakable horrors from decades ago.
In that cup which is filled with grace,
may we be called to welcome those
who have been forced to flee from the neighborhoods
they loved, but now fear;
may we gather up children who have been forgotten,
to be blessed by their resilience;
may we commit ourselves to ending injustice
in every place, in every person.

And when all time has ended and the world
as we know it is made complete,
we will gather around that One Table
of grace, hope, peace, and love with
our siblings of every time and place,
forever praising your name,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.

Sending
We will go now to share God’s love with all.
Whether in our neighborhoods or in other places,
we will care for others in God’s name.
We will go now to join in offering the grace of Jesus to all.
We will join the Servant of all in seeking
justice and hope for everyone.
We will go now, knowing we are one people in the gift of the Spirit.
We will bring peace to places torn apart by violence,
we will help to rebuild lives damaged by fear and hate.

© Thom M. Shuman

Liturgy w/communion for September 29, 2024 (Pentecost 19/Trinity 18/Proper 21/Ordinary 26 - B)

 Texts: Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22; Psalm 124; James 5:13-20; Mark 9:38-50

Call to Worship

We have walked with you, O God,

from many parts of the world to this time and place.

And we will walk with you, O God,
into the world to serve all people.

We leave behind our old securities;

we leave behind our reliance on worldly goods.

And we will walk with you, O God,
into the world to live with all people.

We leave behind all which holds us back;

we leave behind all which keeps us from following you.

And we will walk with you, O God,
into the world to work with all people.

We leave behind the fears which bind us;       

we leave behind the hurts which damage us.

And we will walk with you, O God,
into the peace you offer to all people.

Prayer of the Day

Wherever the stories of Jesus are told,

wherever gifts are offered in service,

wherever hope is a part of healing,

wherever songs of joy are sung,

in every land, in every heart,

in every village, and every place:

Bless to us, O God,

the tenderness of your heart.

Bless to us, Christ of Peace,

the path which people walk

seeking to follow you:

    worn smooth by the feet of pilgrims,

    yet still rocky in places;

    the destination unknown to many,

    yet the way to life and hope.

Bless to us, Salty Spirit,

the companions you give to us:

    mentors and mischief-makers,

    curmudgeons and gigglers,

    builders and believers,

    brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles;

    neighbors and strangers

who gather in dusty villages

and centers of power

to feast on the goodness of your grace.

God in Community, Holy in One,

give us your peace, as we pray

as Jesus has taught us, saying,

(The Lord's Prayer)

Call to Reconciliation

Sometimes our words and actions show how we are salt for the world.  But then come those moments when we lose our flavor and our way.  Let us confess our sins to our God, so we might be restored and forgiven.

Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
   Called to be your people, Living God - why do we find it so hard to answer?  You ask us to speak out against injustice, and we whisper because we are afraid someone might hear us.  You ask us to see the pain and poverty around us, but we close our eyes.  You tell us that everyone, and each one, is created in your image, yet we persist in noticing the differences between us and others.
   Forgive us, God of the Past and Creator of the Future.  May we be the ones who go out into the world, bearing your gifts of peace, of hope, of healing, of joy to every one who is broken, even as we have been made whole through the gift of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon

Touched by the healing hands of our Lord, filled with the grace of our God, led by the compassion of the Holy Spirit, our hearts are opened and we discover we are forgiven and at peace with God.

Those who are created to love the unlovable; those who are created to bear grace; those who are created to embrace all people: we receive our forgiveness, giving thanks to our God.  Amen.

Prayer of Dedication/Offertory

May we open our hearts and offer our gifts to others so, that as the hungry are fed, the homeless are housed, the grieving are comforted, and the lost are led home, may they bring healing to your heart which breaks at all the brokenness in our world.  In Jesus' name, we pray.  Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

My beloved sisters and brothers, may the Lord be with you.

And also with you.

My beloved brothers and sisters, lift up your hearts.

Our hearts are lifted high to God.

Beloved of God, let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

Thanksgiving is in our hearts, and praise is on our lips.

It is our hearts true longing

to praise and glorify you,

God of all glory.

You shaped us in your image,

so we might reflect your grace;

you breathed the Spirit into us,

so we might live your hope.

But we were wiser than you

and so chose another path.

You spoke to our grandparents of the faith

in a shrub burning with the cries of captives;

in the thunder of stuttering prophets;

in the still, small voice of a weeping mother.

Yet we persisted in our stubbornness,

hardening our hearts towards you.

And so, you whispered to us one morning

in the borning cries of a Child

in the dirt and grime of a stable.

Therefore, we join our voices

with our sisters and brothers in all the world,

and with those of every time,

singing songs of joy to your heart:

We adore you, Holy God,

in all the congregations of the world,

and we bless you, for by the gift of Christ,

you have redeemed all creation.

We praise you in this congregation, Holy God,

and bless your Son, Jesus our Lord.

Stamped with your image,

he walked among us

so we could see who we could become.

When he spoke your Word of peace,

he shattered the walls of war and violence.

When he was offered the easy way out

of his suffering and death,

he carried his integrity to Calvary,

where he was broken to make us whole,

where he died so we might live with you.

We remember, and in remembering,

we would tell others of your wonderful love,

and would be peacemakers for the world,

even as we live out that mystery we call faith:

Christ died, so peace might be our companion;

Christ has been raised, so life might be our eternal promise;

Christ will come again, to take us to God's glory.

Pour out the Spirit of the Prince of Peace

not only on us

and the gifts of the bread and the cup,

but on all your children throughout the world:

who gather around war-scarred tables

and at the tailgates of humvees

   to pass the Bread of Life

   from hand to hand

   until all the hungry are fed;

and who stand on both sides

of those walls built of our fears and hurts

    and dare to offer the Cup of peace

    to those known only as 'the enemy'

    unto all are graced

    and embrace one another in love.

Through your Son, Jesus, who is our peace;

through the Spirit, who empowers us to be weak;

we honor and glorify your hopes

for all people in all creation,

Great God our hope and our joy,

now and forever.  Amen.

Sending

May God walk with you this day,

as we seek to walk with the lonely and afraid.

May Jesus walk with you this day,

as we follow Jesus, leaving all our fears behind us.

May the Holy Spirit walk with you this day,

as we go to serve all who have been tossed aside by the world.

(c) Thom M. Shuman