Easter 3- A Liturgy with communion for a time of pandemic (April 26, 2020)

Texts:  Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19; 1 Peter 1:17-23; Luke 24:13-35

Call to Worship

In these moments of isolation

and wondering what tomorrow might bring,

let us lift our voices to God.

We will call on the One who promises to hear us,

and better – to listen to our hearts and souls.

In days of uncertainty, when the future seems unclear,

in life, in death, in every moment, God deals graciously with us.

We will rejoice in the One who is with us

walking with us, opening our eyes, touching our heart.

As God’s people, we know that the Bread of life is for us,

even as we hunger for hope, life, joy, healing for our brokenness.

Just as we do with the cup of salvation,

we will lift our hearts in thanksgiving to our God.

Prayer of the Day

When every day seems the same,

with no one listening to our dreams,

our hopes, our fears, and worries,

you pause, God our Baker,

turning your head

so that you can read our lips.

When every road seems the same,

filled with despair's potholes,

littered with pain's detritus,

you come alongside us, God our Lover,

pointing out that side road

that will take us to Abba's Fine Eats.

When every step trips us,

when every loss weighs us down,

when every grief breaks our heart,

you come, God our Keeper,

with your book of grace

filled with easy words

and lots of pictures

to teach us hope.

When everyone ignores us,

when everything disappoints us,

you walk with us, you talk with us,

you refuse to abandon us,

God in Community, Holy in One,

so hear us as we pray as we are taught,

(The Lord's Prayer)

Call to Reconciliation

When we confess our lives, we are calling on God who promises, not only to hear us, but to heal us with forgiveness and hope.  Join me, as we pray together saying,

Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
     We cut you to the heart, Loving God, with the silly choices we make.  Given the chance to reflect your love and grace in our lives, do those around us see these gifts? We can offer words of healing and hope but tend to hold them close to us in these times. We had hoped to find Jesus but often never notice him in the folks driving trucks, stocking shelves, and others we overlook.
     Oh, how foolish we are to think we can go on without your mercy, Lord God.  Through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, you judge us impartially from the depths of your heart, so we may be born anew by your grace, to continue the journey into your future.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon

This we know for certain - we are forgiven by our gracious God.  This good news never ceases to astound us!

This promise is passed on to us, so we may share it with everyone we meet.  Thanks be to God.  Amen.

Prayer of Dedication/Offering

As we offer our treasure and hearts to you, O God, may they be used to pass on the promise of hope, of peace, of life, of community to all in need of your gifts and presence in their lives.  Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving

May the God of Emmaus roads be with you.

And also with you.

Fellow pilgrims, give your hearts to God.

We offer our cold hearts to the One who will set them on fire.

Alleluia!  Sing songs of glad praise.

Alleluia!  We will sing of the risen Lord.

Before the foundation of creation

was poured out of your heart,

God of astounding imagination,

your Word whispered and

     elephants trumpeted in the veldt,

     whales sang in the ocean deeps,

     gases whirled and swirled into galaxies.

The Spirit moved upon those shaped

in your image, breathing life into us

so we might live within your grace,

     but we put out our hands,

     letting death handcuff us

     and lead us away from you.

Prophets came, interpreting your love

and hope for us with words and deeds,

     but we did not recognize them,

     going on our way without them.

So you sent Jesus to us,

to astound us with the news

that you would never give up on us.

With those who are far away,

with those who are right next to us,

we offer our thanksgivings to you:

Holy, holy, holy are you, God our listener.
All creation is made new by your Word.
Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the Bread of heaven who opens our eyes.
Hosanna in the highest!

Because you are holy, you are gracious,

God of our every moment,

and being Grace itself, your Child

was willing to become one of us.

He took on our humanity,

     so your love might be seen

     face-to-face.

He blessed us, when the rest

     of the world cursed us

     and tossed us aside.

He broke the power of sin

     by dying on the cross,

and he gave death its notice,

     as he walked out of the tomb

     from which you raised

     him to new life.

Baptized at the font as your beloved children,

sustained by the feast of the Lamb of life,

we speak of that faith which seems so familiar,

     yet is still a mystery:

Christ died, suffering those things for us;
Christ was raised by God, walking side by side;
Christ will come, and our eyes will be opened so we can recognize him.

We act as if we are going on,

but you urge us to stay,

inviting us to this Table

where your Spirit blesses

the bread and the cup,

and your children gathered together.

We take the bread you have blessed

and in its breaking, our eyes are opened

     to see the despair around us,

     to glimpse the grief of our friends,

     to witness to the suffering in our midst.

We take the cup you give us,

and as we drink from it, our hearts burn

     for the oppressed in our world,

     for those we walk past,

     for the hungry and homeless.

And at the same hour when all time ends,

we will return to your heart,

finding our sisters and brothers gathered

together around the Table of glory,

and join forever in singing your praises,

God in Community, Holy in One.  Amen.

Sending

The stone has been rolled away!

We will go to share this good news!

Jesus walks with us on our journey.

We will go with him wherever the road takes us.

Jesus has opened our eyes.

We will go to serve everyone we see.

(c) 2020 Thom M. Shuman