Texts: Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 23; ! Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10
Call to
Worship
In the laughter of children,
we hear the voice of the Gate
of the Way,
and find our way home.
In the lap of a parent,
God's compassion cradles us
in the still waters of love.
The
Shepherd of our lives
leads us through that door
into life with
him forever.
We are baptized with living waters
which refresh us,
restoring us
to follow Jesus all our days.
The Holy Spirit,
Keeper of truth,
is the Light which guides us
through every
shadowed moment.
The Breath of life stills our worries
and fears,
as we are lead to that
peaceful place of God's heart.
Prayer of
the Day
Buoyed by your living waters,
we are at peace in seas
of stress
and success;
detoured onto those walkways
leading to your joy,
we find
our way out of mazes
of meetings and deadlines;
nourished at your
picnic
in that garden of grace,
our shredded souls
are anointed by your
healing;
you slow us down just enough,
as we try to escape
the very
lives we think we want,
so goodness and mercy
can catch up with us
and
carry us into your heart.
God in Community, Holy in One,
may you
always be with us on our journey,
as we pray as Jesus teaches us,
saying,
(The Lord's Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
Day by day, God
would lead us to the places of hope and healing, while moment by
moment, we continue to follow sin down all the wrong paths. Let us confess
our lives, as we draw near to the One who would restore us to wholeness.
Join me as we pray together, saying,
Unison Prayer for
Forgiveness
The wrong paths to foolish lives and repeated mistakes?
We know all to well where they are, Gate of our lives. Stirring up the
waters with trouble comes all too easy to us, we confess. And locking the
doors of our hearts so we don't have to love others is second nature to
us.
Forgive us, our Goodness and Mercy. May our hearts overflow with
hope for others, as you anoint us with healing oil. May we share from our
abundance with all who hunger for life. May we follow Jesus Christ, our
Lord and Savior, to the places of service and life with you forever.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
Our Comforter
leads us to that place where God's Table is spread with forgiveness and
overflowing with grace. Here, we are called to life and love.
We will
live as God's people: forgiven to serve, blessed to share, loved so we might
care. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May
the God of gates be with you!
And also with you!
God calls us to
open our hearts to others,
for they are filled to overflowing with
grace.
Every day, let us rejoice in the Restorer of our lives.
We sing glad songs to the One who leads us.
You watched over
creation,
God of patience,
as it emerged out of nothingness:
meadows where sheep could rest,
still pools of water teeming with
tadpoles,
paths worn smooth by mountain goats.
You shaped us in your
divine likeness,
anointing us with Spirit's breath of life,
so we could
wander the garden by your side.
But that thief, sin, and that bandit,
death,
climbed into Eden by another way,
and we followed these
strangers' voices.
Day by day, you sent prophets to us,
who challenged us
to lead God-centered lives,
but we devoted ourselves to that
life
which is empty and bitter.
So then you sent Jesus,
shaped in
human likeness, to us,
so we would know you are with us.
With those
who walk your paths,
with those who long to find their way,
we offer glad
and generous hearts to you:
Holy, holy, holy are you, Guardian of our
souls.
All creation praises you day after day after day.
Hosanna
in the highest!
Blessed is the One who trusted in you alone.
Hosanna in the highest!
You alone are holy, Gate of the Way,
and Jesus
Christ, your Child, is Shepherd of life.
He kept to the path of
righteousness,
so we might learn how
to walk in his
footsteps.
Knowing our voices, he followed us
to the gate of
death,
where the keeper let him in,
locking the gate behind
him.
But you came another way
and, knowing your voice,
Jesus
followed you
out of the tomb,
receiving life, abundantly,
for
all your children.
As we gather in prayer and worship,
as we seek to
devote ourselves to following Jesus,
we sing of that mystery known as
faith:
Christ bore our sins in his body on the cross;
Christ
was raised by you out of death;
Christ will come, so we might live for
righteousness.
You lead us to this Table
where we want for
nothing,
for your Spirit transforms
everyday foods into a sacred
feast.
Your bread and cup comfort us,
nourishing us so we might be
together
in everything with our sisters and brothers.
The broken bread
strengthens us
to provide clean, still waters to all;
to build
shelter for those who sleep rough;
to feed those who are hungry.
Your
grace overflows into us so we may offer
companionship to those
who
wander shadowed valleys;
an open gate to
those
longing for a community;
voices of
compassion
and hope to the oppressed.
When we follow
goodness and mercy
to the end of time, we will find you
coming out of the
kitchen,
setting dish upon dish of peace and hope
on that great table
prepared for all your children,
and we will join our hearts and hands
as
we sing praise and wonder to you,
God in Community, Holy in One.
Amen.
Sending
Day by day, God will lead us:
to those pools
of peace where we can
gather with our friends and strangers.
Day
by day, Jesus will call us:
to give ourselves in service,
to
anoint others with hope.
Day by day, the Spirit shows us:
the
people we might be,
the community we might become.
© 2014 Thom M.
Shuman
Sunday, May 04, 2014
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Liturgy for May 4, 2014 (Easter 3 - A)
Texts: Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19; 1 Peter 1:17-23;
Luke 24:13-35
Call to Worship
Lift your voices to God.
We call on the One who promises to hear us.
In life, in death, in every moment, God deals graciously with us.
We rejoice in the One who saves us.
We will break the Bread of life in thanksgiving to God.
We will lift up the Cup of salvation, drinking deeply from it.
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 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 up,
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 every one ignores us,
when every thing 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. We had hoped our lives would reflect your presence, but those around us can see how empty we are. We had hoped our words might bring healing, but they end up hurting those we love the most. We had hoped to find Jesus, but cannot see him in all those you send to us.
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.
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.
© 2014 Thom M. Shuman
Call to Worship
Lift your voices to God.
We call on the One who promises to hear us.
In life, in death, in every moment, God deals graciously with us.
We rejoice in the One who saves us.
We will break the Bread of life in thanksgiving to God.
We will lift up the Cup of salvation, drinking deeply from it.
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 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 up,
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 every one ignores us,
when every thing 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. We had hoped our lives would reflect your presence, but those around us can see how empty we are. We had hoped our words might bring healing, but they end up hurting those we love the most. We had hoped to find Jesus, but cannot see him in all those you send to us.
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.
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.
© 2014 Thom M. Shuman
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Liturgy for April 27, 2014 (Easter 2 - A)
Texts: Acts 2:14a, 22-32; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31
Call to Worship
L: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
P: The whole creation rejoices;
the birds sing from every tree.
L: Alleluia! Christ is in our midst!
P: Babies babble with sounds of joy;
words cannot express our overflowing hearts.
L: Alleluia! Christ is our light forever!
P: Breathing peace on us in these moments;
surrounding us with grace and hope.
Prayer of the Day
All that is good and beautiful
are the generous gifts
from your heart of love.
All the grace we will ever need
is held out to us
in your hands of hope.
We have nothing apart
from you, God of Easter.
By your living example,
we can set aside our fears
to live as God's faithful children.
By your compassion,
we can stand in the midst of the broken,
and share healing with them.
We can do nothing apart
from you, Brother of our souls.
You are the Breath which gives
us the gifts and lives
to pour out for others.
You are the composer
of songs of joy which echo
throughout the universe.
We are nothing apart
from you, Spirit of wonder.
God in Community, Holy in One,
may we never be apart from you,
even as we pray as we are taught,
(The Lord's Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
Afraid that God will find out how faithless
we are, we try to lock up our hearts so God
cannot see our foolish lives and failures.
Let us confess our sins to the One who offers
us peace and healing, as we pray together,
saying,
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
Hear the echoes of our locked hearts, Path
of Life. We cross the borders into temptation
and never seem to find our way back. We multiply
the sorrows of others by our hurtful words and
the harmful deeds we do. We see the ones you
would give us to serve, but believe we do not have
the abilities to care for them.
Have mercy on us, God whose Breath gives us
life. Walk through the closed doors of our worries
and doubts to stand in our midst, offering us that
grace which can heal us, that hope which can enliven
us, and that faith which enables us to follow Jesus
Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: It is God's great mercy through the resurrection
of Jesus which gives us that hope which lives within us.
P: Thanks be to God for this precious gift by which
we are able to believe and rejoice in our inheritance.
Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: May the God of mornings be with you.
P: May the God of evenings be with you.
L: Do not fear, but open your hearts to God.
P: We offer them to the One who is our living hope.
L: Rejoice! The Lord of life is always with us.
P: We sing glad thanksgivings to our God.
In the evenings of creation,
Loving God, you looked and saw
all that was good and beautiful:
loblolly pines reaching to the sky,
lochs and glens brimming with life;
chains of islands in the warm seas.
The Holy Spirit breathed upon us,
whispering, 'receive creation,' as your gifts
were entrusted to our care,
but sin enticed us into its
closed room of fears, turning
the key of death in the lock.
Prophets came, standing among us,
speaking of your invitation to come home,
but we refused to listen
to what they had to say.
Determined never to abandon us,
you sent Jesus, to make known to us
the ways of life which your offer.
With those who saw and witnessed,
with those who have not seen, yet believe,
we sing with glad hearts to you:
P: Holy, holy, holy are you, God of are evenings.
All creation rejoices in the good news of Easter.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who stands among us.
Hosanna in the highest!
In the evenings, your holiness never rests,
and Jesus Christ, the risen One, is ever with us.
Into the closed rooms of our lives, he comes,
breathing Spirit's peace;
using grace and hope, he picks
the locked doors of our hearts
that he might be with us;
showing us his hands and side, he reminds
us that death can no more cling
to us, than it did to him,
for you will never abandon us.
As we believe, though we have not seem;
as we rejoice in that living hope which is ours;
we speak of faith, that mystery more precious than gold:
P: Christ died, believing what he could not see;
Christ was raised, becoming our living hope;
Christ will come, bringing our inheritance kept for us.
In the evenings of our lives,
you send the Spirit to fill us with peace,
as the bread and the cup
are filled with the life and grace of Jesus.
Cradling the broken bread
in his nail-scarred hands,
Jesus shows us
his grieving brothers,
his hungry sisters,
so we may go to serve them.
Handing us the cup of living hope,
we are invited to drink deeply
and then go into the world
to offer peace to those wearied by war,
to give freedom to all who are oppressed,
to share grace with those who need it most.
And when the last evening comes, you will
gather us in that upper room called your heart,
where we will feast with all your children,
forever singing our praises to you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending
L: Go forth in the love of God.
P: We will take this love into
unlovely parts of our lives.
L: Go forth in the grace of Jesus Christ.
P: We will look for him in the faces
of every person we meet.
L: Go forth in the peace of the Spirit.
P: We will share this hope
with our broken world.
© 2014 Thom M. Shuman
Call to Worship
L: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
P: The whole creation rejoices;
the birds sing from every tree.
L: Alleluia! Christ is in our midst!
P: Babies babble with sounds of joy;
words cannot express our overflowing hearts.
L: Alleluia! Christ is our light forever!
P: Breathing peace on us in these moments;
surrounding us with grace and hope.
Prayer of the Day
All that is good and beautiful
are the generous gifts
from your heart of love.
All the grace we will ever need
is held out to us
in your hands of hope.
We have nothing apart
from you, God of Easter.
By your living example,
we can set aside our fears
to live as God's faithful children.
By your compassion,
we can stand in the midst of the broken,
and share healing with them.
We can do nothing apart
from you, Brother of our souls.
You are the Breath which gives
us the gifts and lives
to pour out for others.
You are the composer
of songs of joy which echo
throughout the universe.
We are nothing apart
from you, Spirit of wonder.
God in Community, Holy in One,
may we never be apart from you,
even as we pray as we are taught,
(The Lord's Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
Afraid that God will find out how faithless
we are, we try to lock up our hearts so God
cannot see our foolish lives and failures.
Let us confess our sins to the One who offers
us peace and healing, as we pray together,
saying,
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
Hear the echoes of our locked hearts, Path
of Life. We cross the borders into temptation
and never seem to find our way back. We multiply
the sorrows of others by our hurtful words and
the harmful deeds we do. We see the ones you
would give us to serve, but believe we do not have
the abilities to care for them.
Have mercy on us, God whose Breath gives us
life. Walk through the closed doors of our worries
and doubts to stand in our midst, offering us that
grace which can heal us, that hope which can enliven
us, and that faith which enables us to follow Jesus
Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: It is God's great mercy through the resurrection
of Jesus which gives us that hope which lives within us.
P: Thanks be to God for this precious gift by which
we are able to believe and rejoice in our inheritance.
Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: May the God of mornings be with you.
P: May the God of evenings be with you.
L: Do not fear, but open your hearts to God.
P: We offer them to the One who is our living hope.
L: Rejoice! The Lord of life is always with us.
P: We sing glad thanksgivings to our God.
In the evenings of creation,
Loving God, you looked and saw
all that was good and beautiful:
loblolly pines reaching to the sky,
lochs and glens brimming with life;
chains of islands in the warm seas.
The Holy Spirit breathed upon us,
whispering, 'receive creation,' as your gifts
were entrusted to our care,
but sin enticed us into its
closed room of fears, turning
the key of death in the lock.
Prophets came, standing among us,
speaking of your invitation to come home,
but we refused to listen
to what they had to say.
Determined never to abandon us,
you sent Jesus, to make known to us
the ways of life which your offer.
With those who saw and witnessed,
with those who have not seen, yet believe,
we sing with glad hearts to you:
P: Holy, holy, holy are you, God of are evenings.
All creation rejoices in the good news of Easter.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who stands among us.
Hosanna in the highest!
In the evenings, your holiness never rests,
and Jesus Christ, the risen One, is ever with us.
Into the closed rooms of our lives, he comes,
breathing Spirit's peace;
using grace and hope, he picks
the locked doors of our hearts
that he might be with us;
showing us his hands and side, he reminds
us that death can no more cling
to us, than it did to him,
for you will never abandon us.
As we believe, though we have not seem;
as we rejoice in that living hope which is ours;
we speak of faith, that mystery more precious than gold:
P: Christ died, believing what he could not see;
Christ was raised, becoming our living hope;
Christ will come, bringing our inheritance kept for us.
In the evenings of our lives,
you send the Spirit to fill us with peace,
as the bread and the cup
are filled with the life and grace of Jesus.
Cradling the broken bread
in his nail-scarred hands,
Jesus shows us
his grieving brothers,
his hungry sisters,
so we may go to serve them.
Handing us the cup of living hope,
we are invited to drink deeply
and then go into the world
to offer peace to those wearied by war,
to give freedom to all who are oppressed,
to share grace with those who need it most.
And when the last evening comes, you will
gather us in that upper room called your heart,
where we will feast with all your children,
forever singing our praises to you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending
L: Go forth in the love of God.
P: We will take this love into
unlovely parts of our lives.
L: Go forth in the grace of Jesus Christ.
P: We will look for him in the faces
of every person we meet.
L: Go forth in the peace of the Spirit.
P: We will share this hope
with our broken world.
© 2014 Thom M. Shuman
Sunday, April 06, 2014
Two liturgies for April 13, 2014 (Passion/Palm Sunday - A)
LITURGY OF THE PASSION
Texts: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew 26:14-27:66
Litany of the Passion
L: What shall we do with you, Jesus?
P: Glad songs sung at your birth
will turn to jeers, taunts, and worse,
hurled at you from every side.
L: What shall we do with you, Jesus?
P: We will promise to stay,
but run away;
we will sleep through
the anguish of your heart.
L: What shall we do with you, Jesus?
P: The One who gave living waters
to an outsider at a well,
the One baptized in the Jordan
will thirst upon a tree.
L: What shall we do with you, Jesus?
P: Before this week runs its course,
the disciples, including even us,
will fail you in force.
Silence is kept
L: Lamb of God, you cry out in agony:
P: and the silent stars howl in grief.
L: Lamb of God, you breathe your last:
P: and the Spirit moves over the void in our hearts.
L: Lamb of God, you are place in a cold tomb:
P: and creation trembles in the deep.
Call to Reconciliation
What shall we do with our sins? Shall we continue
to try to hide them, or confess them - honestly and
without reservation - to the One who comes to
vindicate us? Join me as we pray together, saying,
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
We confess, Passionate God, how often we scheme
against you. In every moment, we look for chances
to betray you, breaking your heart. We turn our backs
those who reach out to us for help. We hide our faces
from those who are wasting away from hopelessness.
Be gracious to us, Compassionate God, and stay
with us in these moments. Morning by morning,
awaken us with your voice of mercy, and call us to
humble ourselves in service to others, even as did
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L; It is God who holds our lives, healing us when we
are broken, forgiving us when we do wrong.
P: Our tongues have confessed, now let our hearts
and lives reflect the One who humbled himself for
us. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: May the God of Holy Week be with you.
P: And also with you.
L: Join your hearts with the One whose heart
breaks in pieces this week.
P: We offer them for healing and hope.
L: With songs too painful to sing,
with sighs too deep to utter.
P: We lift our mournful souls to God.
When the hour was at hand,
you called forth creation, Holy God,
your Word teaching
the birds what to sing,
the butterflies where to flit,
the grass how to grow,
the trees how to stand straight and tall.
You did all this for us, your
children created in your image,
asking us to stay with you forever.
but we asked of sin and death
what they would give us to betray you,
and went running off, our pockets
filled with their 30 pieces of seduction.
Deeply grieved, you continued to call
through the prophets of every generation,
but they always found us sleeping,
wearied by our foolish choices.
You sent Jesus to us, to awaken us
to his voice of gentleness and grace.
With those who have spent their lives in sorrow,
with those who bow their knees to you,
we offer our prayers to you:
P: Holy, holy, holy are you, God who is gracious to us.
All creation trusts in your promises.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who will not desert us.
Hosanna in the highest!
You hearts was broken, Vindicator of our lives,
by the pain and suffering of your Son, Jesus.
Of one mind with you, he came
so we might rethink our foolish choices.
Leaving glory behind in the closet,
he became human like us,
so we might see you face-to-face.
Without the promise of any reward,
though he felt abandoned by you,
he willingly went to the cross,
his life poured out for those who
mocked him, spat on him, betrayed him.
Yet, when sin thought Jesus
was safely sealed into the tomb,
swaddled in death's tight bands,
you did not let him be put to shame,
but called him forth into the morning,
with Resurrection's kiss.
As we journey with him through this holiest of weeks,
as we betray him and abandon him,
we are sustained by that mystery called faith:
P: Christ died, the world having washed its hands of him;
Christ rose, your hands breaking death's strong grip on him;
Christ will come, to take us by the hand and lead us to you.
Here in this place, we gather
for that meal which signifies
brokenness as well as healing,
heartbreak as well as hope.
What should we do with the Bread?
We will let its life strengthen us
to go forth to serve those
whom the world has betrayed
with broken promises and hollow words.
What shall we do with the Cup?
We will drink deeply of it
so we can empty ourselves
for those who lives are
spent from grief and fear.
And when we drink of the
fruit of the vine with our
sisters and brothers in glory,
we will bow our knees in worship,
extolling you forever and ever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending
L: As you leave this place, go as God's children:
P: we will go to serve our sisters and brothers.
L: Go as followers of Christ:
P: we will find the broken around us
and bring them healing.
L: Go as those strong in the Spirit:
P: we will be willing to humble ourselves
for those wearied by life.
© 2014 Thom M. Shuman
LITURGY OF THE PALMS
Texts: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew
21:1-11
Call to Worship (Matthew 21:1-11, NRSV)
One: When they had come near Jerusalem
and had reached Bethphage,
at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,
saying to them,
Two: "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately
you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie
them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything
to you, just say this, 'The Lord needs them.' And he
will send them immediately."
One: This took place to fulfill what had been spoken
through the prophet, saying,
Choir: "Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming
to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and
on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
Two: The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them;
they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their
cloaks on them, and he sat on them.
A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road,
and others cut branches from the trees and spread
them on the road.
The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed
were shouting,
ALL: "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who
comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!"
One: When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in
turmoil, asking, "Who is this?"
The crowds were saying,
ALL: "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee."
Prayer of the Day
God of hopes and joys:
when our hearts ache from brokenness,
you nourish us with your love;
when the world's pain fatigues us,
you carry us in your arms;
when the loneliness of our souls
drains our very being,
you come and live with us.
You are our God.
Jesus Christ,
God's True Son:
you did not profit
from your oneness with God,
but emptied yourself
to become servant to all humanity.
You humbled yourself
to lift us out of sin's grave.
You are our Lord.
Holy Spirit,
Teacher from God:
humble us to be obedient,
even to the point of denying
all that keeps us from following Jesus;
teach us the words we need
to confess him as our Lord and Savior.
Your are our Helper.
God in Community, Holy in One,
we lift our prayer to you as Jesus
has taught us, saying,
Our Father,
Call to Reconciliation
One day, we are crying to God, "save us,"
the next we are turning our backs on God
and walking away. Despite our fickle
nature, God is steadfast in loving us and
constant in forgiving us. Let us confess
to our God, as we pray,
Unison Prayer of Confession
With joy in our hearts, we welcome your
servant, O God, only to reject him when he
picks up a cross instead of a crown. Like cloaks
laid on the ground before Jesus, we pick up our
faith, dust it off and put it back in the closet
until we need it. We can be as stubborn and
rebellious as the city which cheers your name.
Save us, Redeeming God, save us! May we
lay our doubts, our fears, our worries, our
weariness at your feet, trusting and believing
that you will forgive what is sinful, make whole
our brokenness, and welcome us as sisters and
brothers of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Assurance of Pardon
L: Hosanna to David's Son! Blessed is the One
who comes in God's name, not to judge us,
but to save us.
P: We humble ourselves in gratitude to God,
and in service to others, even as Christ did.
Hosanna in the highest. Amen!
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: The Lord of parades be with you.
P: And also with you.
L: People of God, open your hearts to the One who comes with hope.
P: We would receive the joy and grace
the prophet from Nazareth brings us.
L: Give thanks to God, for God's love endures forever!
P: God is our God, the One who comes to make us whole.
Joy is indeed the highest praise
we can offer to you,
Steadfast Love.
On that first morning,
you woke creation
from its slumbering sleep,
to give light to chaos' shadows.
Morning by morning,
you shaped your dreams
into everything that is true,
turning hopes into your justice.
You asked simply that we rejoice
in your gifts and glory,
but we chose to sing the choruses
of sin and rebellion,
following death as it paraded
through the world.
Prophets struggled to awaken
our dulled ears
with whispers of peace,
but we laughed at their ideas
that we should return to you.
When you could have set your face like flint,
when you could have hardened your resolve,
you sent your Child, your Joy,
Therefore, we join our voices in thanksgiving,
with those who shouted "Hosanna"
and with those who ran away from you,
with those in every moment, and in this moment,
singing with all creation to your glory:
P: Holy, holy, holy are you, Opener of our ears.
All creation proclaims, "God's steadfast love endures forever."
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who opens the gates of righteousness.
Hosanna in the highest!
You are holy, God our Creator,
and blessed is Jesus Christ,
who comes in your grace.
When he could have filled your heart,
he poured himself out for us;
when he could have remained by your side,
he came to be a servant, raising us to glory;
when he could have watched from heaven,
he came down to show us your heart;
when he could have taken the easy way,
he chose to be faithful to you,
even to the point of shameful death.
As he gathered up our brokenness
to make us whole,
you raised him to new life,
and he stands with us in eternity,
glorifying you forever.
As we remember the joy and excitement of the parade,
as we remember the gentle words he taught,
as we remember the spirit with which he died,
we proclaim the One who is the Bread of Life:
P: Christ died, emptying his life for us;
Christ rose, defeating our old adversaries sin and death;
Christ will come, to fulfill what has been promised.
Here, at this Table,
we would receive the gifts
of the bread and the cup,
and your Spirit which anoints us with peace.
Nourish us with the Bread of hope,
that we might go into
the brokenness of our world;
fill us with the cup of grace,
so the weary would discover us
standing by their side;
fill us with the overflowing joy
of the good news,
so we might sing forever
of your heart's desire
for justice and peace for all people.
Then, on that final morning,
when we gather for the Feast of the Lamb,
when we are seated with those
who shouted their hosannas,
as well as those who yelled for death,
we will join our voices in eternity's anthem,
giving our thanks to you forever and ever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending
L: The One wounded by the nails in our hearts,
sends us forth,
P: to bring healing with God's love.
L: The One who continues on the journey
invites us to follow,
P: cradling the broken hearts of the world
as we go.
L: The One whose Spirit is in the Kingdom Bearer
fills us with hope,
P: if we but trust in the promises of this day.
© Thom M. Shuman
Texts: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew 26:14-27:66
Litany of the Passion
L: What shall we do with you, Jesus?
P: Glad songs sung at your birth
will turn to jeers, taunts, and worse,
hurled at you from every side.
L: What shall we do with you, Jesus?
P: We will promise to stay,
but run away;
we will sleep through
the anguish of your heart.
L: What shall we do with you, Jesus?
P: The One who gave living waters
to an outsider at a well,
the One baptized in the Jordan
will thirst upon a tree.
L: What shall we do with you, Jesus?
P: Before this week runs its course,
the disciples, including even us,
will fail you in force.
Silence is kept
L: Lamb of God, you cry out in agony:
P: and the silent stars howl in grief.
L: Lamb of God, you breathe your last:
P: and the Spirit moves over the void in our hearts.
L: Lamb of God, you are place in a cold tomb:
P: and creation trembles in the deep.
Call to Reconciliation
What shall we do with our sins? Shall we continue
to try to hide them, or confess them - honestly and
without reservation - to the One who comes to
vindicate us? Join me as we pray together, saying,
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness
We confess, Passionate God, how often we scheme
against you. In every moment, we look for chances
to betray you, breaking your heart. We turn our backs
those who reach out to us for help. We hide our faces
from those who are wasting away from hopelessness.
Be gracious to us, Compassionate God, and stay
with us in these moments. Morning by morning,
awaken us with your voice of mercy, and call us to
humble ourselves in service to others, even as did
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L; It is God who holds our lives, healing us when we
are broken, forgiving us when we do wrong.
P: Our tongues have confessed, now let our hearts
and lives reflect the One who humbled himself for
us. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: May the God of Holy Week be with you.
P: And also with you.
L: Join your hearts with the One whose heart
breaks in pieces this week.
P: We offer them for healing and hope.
L: With songs too painful to sing,
with sighs too deep to utter.
P: We lift our mournful souls to God.
When the hour was at hand,
you called forth creation, Holy God,
your Word teaching
the birds what to sing,
the butterflies where to flit,
the grass how to grow,
the trees how to stand straight and tall.
You did all this for us, your
children created in your image,
asking us to stay with you forever.
but we asked of sin and death
what they would give us to betray you,
and went running off, our pockets
filled with their 30 pieces of seduction.
Deeply grieved, you continued to call
through the prophets of every generation,
but they always found us sleeping,
wearied by our foolish choices.
You sent Jesus to us, to awaken us
to his voice of gentleness and grace.
With those who have spent their lives in sorrow,
with those who bow their knees to you,
we offer our prayers to you:
P: Holy, holy, holy are you, God who is gracious to us.
All creation trusts in your promises.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who will not desert us.
Hosanna in the highest!
You hearts was broken, Vindicator of our lives,
by the pain and suffering of your Son, Jesus.
Of one mind with you, he came
so we might rethink our foolish choices.
Leaving glory behind in the closet,
he became human like us,
so we might see you face-to-face.
Without the promise of any reward,
though he felt abandoned by you,
he willingly went to the cross,
his life poured out for those who
mocked him, spat on him, betrayed him.
Yet, when sin thought Jesus
was safely sealed into the tomb,
swaddled in death's tight bands,
you did not let him be put to shame,
but called him forth into the morning,
with Resurrection's kiss.
As we journey with him through this holiest of weeks,
as we betray him and abandon him,
we are sustained by that mystery called faith:
P: Christ died, the world having washed its hands of him;
Christ rose, your hands breaking death's strong grip on him;
Christ will come, to take us by the hand and lead us to you.
Here in this place, we gather
for that meal which signifies
brokenness as well as healing,
heartbreak as well as hope.
What should we do with the Bread?
We will let its life strengthen us
to go forth to serve those
whom the world has betrayed
with broken promises and hollow words.
What shall we do with the Cup?
We will drink deeply of it
so we can empty ourselves
for those who lives are
spent from grief and fear.
And when we drink of the
fruit of the vine with our
sisters and brothers in glory,
we will bow our knees in worship,
extolling you forever and ever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending
L: As you leave this place, go as God's children:
P: we will go to serve our sisters and brothers.
L: Go as followers of Christ:
P: we will find the broken around us
and bring them healing.
L: Go as those strong in the Spirit:
P: we will be willing to humble ourselves
for those wearied by life.
© 2014 Thom M. Shuman
LITURGY OF THE PALMS
Texts: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew
21:1-11
Call to Worship (Matthew 21:1-11, NRSV)
One: When they had come near Jerusalem
and had reached Bethphage,
at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,
saying to them,
Two: "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately
you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie
them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything
to you, just say this, 'The Lord needs them.' And he
will send them immediately."
One: This took place to fulfill what had been spoken
through the prophet, saying,
Choir: "Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming
to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and
on a colt, the foal of a donkey."
Two: The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them;
they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their
cloaks on them, and he sat on them.
A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road,
and others cut branches from the trees and spread
them on the road.
The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed
were shouting,
ALL: "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who
comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!"
One: When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in
turmoil, asking, "Who is this?"
The crowds were saying,
ALL: "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee."
Prayer of the Day
God of hopes and joys:
when our hearts ache from brokenness,
you nourish us with your love;
when the world's pain fatigues us,
you carry us in your arms;
when the loneliness of our souls
drains our very being,
you come and live with us.
You are our God.
Jesus Christ,
God's True Son:
you did not profit
from your oneness with God,
but emptied yourself
to become servant to all humanity.
You humbled yourself
to lift us out of sin's grave.
You are our Lord.
Holy Spirit,
Teacher from God:
humble us to be obedient,
even to the point of denying
all that keeps us from following Jesus;
teach us the words we need
to confess him as our Lord and Savior.
Your are our Helper.
God in Community, Holy in One,
we lift our prayer to you as Jesus
has taught us, saying,
Our Father,
Call to Reconciliation
One day, we are crying to God, "save us,"
the next we are turning our backs on God
and walking away. Despite our fickle
nature, God is steadfast in loving us and
constant in forgiving us. Let us confess
to our God, as we pray,
Unison Prayer of Confession
With joy in our hearts, we welcome your
servant, O God, only to reject him when he
picks up a cross instead of a crown. Like cloaks
laid on the ground before Jesus, we pick up our
faith, dust it off and put it back in the closet
until we need it. We can be as stubborn and
rebellious as the city which cheers your name.
Save us, Redeeming God, save us! May we
lay our doubts, our fears, our worries, our
weariness at your feet, trusting and believing
that you will forgive what is sinful, make whole
our brokenness, and welcome us as sisters and
brothers of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Assurance of Pardon
L: Hosanna to David's Son! Blessed is the One
who comes in God's name, not to judge us,
but to save us.
P: We humble ourselves in gratitude to God,
and in service to others, even as Christ did.
Hosanna in the highest. Amen!
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: The Lord of parades be with you.
P: And also with you.
L: People of God, open your hearts to the One who comes with hope.
P: We would receive the joy and grace
the prophet from Nazareth brings us.
L: Give thanks to God, for God's love endures forever!
P: God is our God, the One who comes to make us whole.
Joy is indeed the highest praise
we can offer to you,
Steadfast Love.
On that first morning,
you woke creation
from its slumbering sleep,
to give light to chaos' shadows.
Morning by morning,
you shaped your dreams
into everything that is true,
turning hopes into your justice.
You asked simply that we rejoice
in your gifts and glory,
but we chose to sing the choruses
of sin and rebellion,
following death as it paraded
through the world.
Prophets struggled to awaken
our dulled ears
with whispers of peace,
but we laughed at their ideas
that we should return to you.
When you could have set your face like flint,
when you could have hardened your resolve,
you sent your Child, your Joy,
Therefore, we join our voices in thanksgiving,
with those who shouted "Hosanna"
and with those who ran away from you,
with those in every moment, and in this moment,
singing with all creation to your glory:
P: Holy, holy, holy are you, Opener of our ears.
All creation proclaims, "God's steadfast love endures forever."
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who opens the gates of righteousness.
Hosanna in the highest!
You are holy, God our Creator,
and blessed is Jesus Christ,
who comes in your grace.
When he could have filled your heart,
he poured himself out for us;
when he could have remained by your side,
he came to be a servant, raising us to glory;
when he could have watched from heaven,
he came down to show us your heart;
when he could have taken the easy way,
he chose to be faithful to you,
even to the point of shameful death.
As he gathered up our brokenness
to make us whole,
you raised him to new life,
and he stands with us in eternity,
glorifying you forever.
As we remember the joy and excitement of the parade,
as we remember the gentle words he taught,
as we remember the spirit with which he died,
we proclaim the One who is the Bread of Life:
P: Christ died, emptying his life for us;
Christ rose, defeating our old adversaries sin and death;
Christ will come, to fulfill what has been promised.
Here, at this Table,
we would receive the gifts
of the bread and the cup,
and your Spirit which anoints us with peace.
Nourish us with the Bread of hope,
that we might go into
the brokenness of our world;
fill us with the cup of grace,
so the weary would discover us
standing by their side;
fill us with the overflowing joy
of the good news,
so we might sing forever
of your heart's desire
for justice and peace for all people.
Then, on that final morning,
when we gather for the Feast of the Lamb,
when we are seated with those
who shouted their hosannas,
as well as those who yelled for death,
we will join our voices in eternity's anthem,
giving our thanks to you forever and ever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending
L: The One wounded by the nails in our hearts,
sends us forth,
P: to bring healing with God's love.
L: The One who continues on the journey
invites us to follow,
P: cradling the broken hearts of the world
as we go.
L: The One whose Spirit is in the Kingdom Bearer
fills us with hope,
P: if we but trust in the promises of this day.
© Thom M. Shuman
Thursday, January 02, 2014
Liturgy for Second Sunday after Christmas - A
Texts: Jeremiah 31: 7-14; Psalm 147:12-20; Ephesians 1:3-14; John 1:1-18
Call to Worship
On this day, we remember the gift of God's Word,
who gathers us together from the farthest parts of the world
to worship in joy and hope.
On this day, we remember the simple graces of the bread and the cup,
those plain gifts shaped by God's love into nourishing hope.
On this day, we remember the gifts of water and oil,
cleansing us in the baptismal pools, anointing us as God's children.
Prayer of the Day
You could let us continue to shuffle
through the world's deserts,
God of Christmas,
but you choose to walk with us
beside the rivers of life.
You could forget who we are,
but you adopt us into your family,
your children of hope and joy.
You could decide we are not worth all the love
or all the agony of caring,
but your redeem us and make us whole.
Blessed are you!
It was only the other day
the angels were singing of your birth,
Tiny One ofBethlehem
and now, here you are,
running swiftly toward us:
to melt our frozen faith,
to comfort us in our loneliness,
to lead us into life in your kingdom.
Blessed are you!
At the edge of a new year,
we wonder what life will be life,
and what do you do,
Gathering Spirit?
You water our parched souls with laughter;
you teach dance steps to those
too weary to tap their toes;
you fill our emptiness
with overflowing gladness!
Blessed are you!
Blessed are we,
God in Community, Holy in One,
as we lift the prayer Jesus has taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
Have we really been toBethlehem
Unison Prayer of Confession
God of Christmas:
we still are playing with our new toys,
the creche figures have not been put away;
we have the stacks of Christmas cards,
but we memorize the words sin has taught us;
we set limits on who we will love,
we make promises we cannot keep,
we fail to see the pain and hurt we cause.
God of the angels and shepherds, forgive us.
Your Word has come to reshape our lives;
your Light has come to show us the way home;
your Son has come to make us your family.
Have mercy and make us new people. This we pray
in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
Like the Baby of Bethlehem, we are born anew. God's forgiveness cradles us; God's love is poured out on us.
What a marvelous gift - forgiveness! Filled with hope and new life, we can sing God's praises forever. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of newness be with you.
And also with you.
People of Christmas, offer your hearts to God.
We lift them to the One who comes,
new hope and life cradled in loving hands.
People of the Holy One of Bethlehem, sing glad praises to our God.
We come, for we have received the good news,
we have believed the Word, we are given joyful songs to sing.
When chaos thought there was no end,
you began, Fullness of all time.
Your Word ran sprints through creation,
scattering the seeds which sprang forth
into fruit, flowers, mountains and molehills.
Your Spirit sang songs of wonder and hope,
that Breath which gave your children life.
We were as close to your heart
as the blood which flows through ours,
but the soft, insistent whispers of sin
grew louder and louder in our ears,
and we ran off, letting the shadows
of seduction overwhelm us.
Time and again, every time you could,
you sent your messengers to us,
crying out in love and hope, 'return!'
but we did not recognize them
nor listen to their words.
So turning to the angels,
you said, 'Watch!' as you
sent Jesus to bring us home to you.
So, with those in every place,
and with those from every time,
we join our voices, singing to you:
Holy, holy, holy, God of every blessing.
All creation lavishes praise on you.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes to live among us.
Hosanna in the highest!
You could have kept us scattered
to the limits of loneliness, God of Wonder,
but you sent Jesus, your Glory,
to become the Gatherer of those
who had wandered far from you.
Peering into the shadows of our lives,
he is the Light which overcomes
all our fears, our doubts, our worries.
Speaking into the hollows of our hearts,
he is the Word who teaches us
new songs of gratitude and awe.
Gathering the cross into his arms,
he is the Deliverer who breaks
sin's death grip on us,
walking with us by the brooks of water,
into the kingdom of life eternal.
As we begin this year with hope,
we remember his promise to be with us always,
even as we tell of that mystery we call faith:
At the beginning of time, Christ was the Word of creation;
at the right time, Christ was the Word of redemption;
at the end of time, Christ will be the Word who brings us home.
And in this time, in this place,
with these people, we come to your Table,
Gatherer of your children.
The simple gifts we take for granted,
the bread which has been a staple of life,
the cup which refreshes us when we thirst,
you transform into imaginative grace,
the Meal which is blessed by the presence
of your Spirit of power and peace.
You bring us from every point on the compass -
young and old, the mother with her son,
the grandfather balancing the girl on his knee,
those who run circles around us,
and those who point the way with their canes -
welcoming that great parade of your children
who come with outstretched hearts
to receive every blessing imaginable.
And when our beginning has come to your fullness,
when we come, our faces glowing with wonder,
our voices ringing with the songs of freedom,
we will gather around your Table in heaven,
comfort and gladness our eternal inheritance from you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
(c) Thom M. Shuman
Call to Worship
On this day, we remember the gift of God's Word,
who gathers us together from the farthest parts of the world
to worship in joy and hope.
On this day, we remember the simple graces of the bread and the cup,
those plain gifts shaped by God's love into nourishing hope.
On this day, we remember the gifts of water and oil,
cleansing us in the baptismal pools, anointing us as God's children.
Prayer of the Day
You could let us continue to shuffle
through the world's deserts,
God of Christmas,
but you choose to walk with us
beside the rivers of life.
You could forget who we are,
but you adopt us into your family,
your children of hope and joy.
You could decide we are not worth all the love
or all the agony of caring,
but your redeem us and make us whole.
Blessed are you!
It was only the other day
the angels were singing of your birth,
Tiny One of
and now, here you are,
running swiftly toward us:
to melt our frozen faith,
to comfort us in our loneliness,
to lead us into life in your kingdom.
Blessed are you!
At the edge of a new year,
we wonder what life will be life,
and what do you do,
Gathering Spirit?
You water our parched souls with laughter;
you teach dance steps to those
too weary to tap their toes;
you fill our emptiness
with overflowing gladness!
Blessed are you!
Blessed are we,
God in Community, Holy in One,
as we lift the prayer Jesus has taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
Have we really been to
God of Christmas:
we still are playing with our new toys,
the creche figures have not been put away;
we have the stacks of Christmas cards,
but we memorize the words sin has taught us;
we set limits on who we will love,
we make promises we cannot keep,
we fail to see the pain and hurt we cause.
God of the angels and shepherds, forgive us.
Your Word has come to reshape our lives;
your Light has come to show us the way home;
your Son has come to make us your family.
Have mercy and make us new people. This we pray
in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
Like the Baby of Bethlehem, we are born anew. God's forgiveness cradles us; God's love is poured out on us.
What a marvelous gift - forgiveness! Filled with hope and new life, we can sing God's praises forever. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of newness be with you.
And also with you.
People of Christmas, offer your hearts to God.
We lift them to the One who comes,
new hope and life cradled in loving hands.
People of the Holy One of Bethlehem, sing glad praises to our God.
We come, for we have received the good news,
we have believed the Word, we are given joyful songs to sing.
When chaos thought there was no end,
you began, Fullness of all time.
Your Word ran sprints through creation,
scattering the seeds which sprang forth
into fruit, flowers, mountains and molehills.
Your Spirit sang songs of wonder and hope,
that Breath which gave your children life.
We were as close to your heart
as the blood which flows through ours,
but the soft, insistent whispers of sin
grew louder and louder in our ears,
and we ran off, letting the shadows
of seduction overwhelm us.
Time and again, every time you could,
you sent your messengers to us,
crying out in love and hope, 'return!'
but we did not recognize them
nor listen to their words.
So turning to the angels,
you said, 'Watch!' as you
sent Jesus to bring us home to you.
So, with those in every place,
and with those from every time,
we join our voices, singing to you:
Holy, holy, holy, God of every blessing.
All creation lavishes praise on you.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes to live among us.
Hosanna in the highest!
You could have kept us scattered
to the limits of loneliness, God of Wonder,
but you sent Jesus, your Glory,
to become the Gatherer of those
who had wandered far from you.
Peering into the shadows of our lives,
he is the Light which overcomes
all our fears, our doubts, our worries.
Speaking into the hollows of our hearts,
he is the Word who teaches us
new songs of gratitude and awe.
Gathering the cross into his arms,
he is the Deliverer who breaks
sin's death grip on us,
walking with us by the brooks of water,
into the kingdom of life eternal.
As we begin this year with hope,
we remember his promise to be with us always,
even as we tell of that mystery we call faith:
At the beginning of time, Christ was the Word of creation;
at the right time, Christ was the Word of redemption;
at the end of time, Christ will be the Word who brings us home.
And in this time, in this place,
with these people, we come to your Table,
Gatherer of your children.
The simple gifts we take for granted,
the bread which has been a staple of life,
the cup which refreshes us when we thirst,
you transform into imaginative grace,
the Meal which is blessed by the presence
of your Spirit of power and peace.
You bring us from every point on the compass -
young and old, the mother with her son,
the grandfather balancing the girl on his knee,
those who run circles around us,
and those who point the way with their canes -
welcoming that great parade of your children
who come with outstretched hearts
to receive every blessing imaginable.
And when our beginning has come to your fullness,
when we come, our faces glowing with wonder,
our voices ringing with the songs of freedom,
we will gather around your Table in heaven,
comfort and gladness our eternal inheritance from you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
(c) Thom M. Shuman
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Liturgy for December 29, 2013 (1st Sunday after Christmas - A)
Texts: Isaiah 63:7-9; Psalm 148; Hebrews 2:10-18; Matthew 2:13-23
Call to Worship
L: All creation, all people: praise the Lord!
P: stars shooting across the sky,
sing glad songs to our God!
L: Snow clouds approaching, birds sitting on a branch:
praise the Lord!
P: Sleeping cats and braking dogs,
sing new choruses of praise!
L: Rich and poor, leaders and followers:
praise the Lord!
P: Old and young, families and singles,
we will lift our joy to our God!
Prayer of the Day
On that not so silent night,
you came to us, Mothering God,
like a night nurse
on the pediatric floor,
to gather us in your arms
and swaddle us in your hope.
On that not so silent night,
you came to us, Child of humanity,
to be cradled with the lost,
to share a stable with outsiders,
to confront the bullies who
threaten our children.
On that not so silent night,
you came to us, Spirit of joy,
to lift us up and carry us to salvation,
to help us persist in praising God,
to share our lives with us.
Be with us in all the nights and days to come,
God in Community, Holy in One,
even as we pray as you taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
We know all that God has done for us, as
well as all we could have done for others.
Let us confess to God our failures and
foibles, as we pray together, saying,
Unison Prayer of Confession
We could proclaim your name, God of
this holy season, but we spend too much
time talking about celebrities. We could
tell others about all your gracious deeds,
but are comparing notes about the exploits
of our favorite athletes. We could let your
Word guide our lives, but instead we do
what the politicians think is best.
Why? Because we forget who we are called
to be. But you remember, Faithful God. You
remember that we put our trust in others, not
you; you remember how we chase after idols,
not follow you; you remember to save us in
our distress, which is why you sent Jesus to
us, our Lord, our Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: In the silence, in the dreams, in the
wonder, in the words, God comes to save
us and have mercy on us.
P: It is fitting that we offer our thanks and
praise to the One who forgives us. Thanks
be to God! Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: May the God of Christmas be with you!
P: And also with you!
L: Put your trust in the One who has come.
P: We offer our hearts willingly to our God.
L: Join all creation in praising God.
P: We join in the chorus of glad songs to God.
In that not so silent
moment, you spoke to creation,
God of our dreams and hopes,
and birds warbled in the morning,
thunder rumbled over the waters,
cows lowed in the meadows.
For us, those shaped in your image,
were these gifts imagined and formed,
but we took up after death,
getting up to follow sin.
Prophets came to praise your name,
and to bring us back to you,
but we thought they were
trying to trick us.
Then you sent Jesus, Pioneer of salvation,
to proclaim your name to us.
With those who are shy and silent,
with those who persist in glorifying you,
we offer our thanksgiving songs:
P: Holy, holy, holy are you, ever-loving God.
All creation praises your name.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who put his trust in you.
Hosanna in the highest!
In the silence of the night,
your holiness became human, our God,
and you blessed us with Jesus, Child of grace.
When he could have stayed with you,
he came to offer us help.
When he could have remained in Nazareth,
he got up to bring us the good news.
When he could have played it safe,
he shared his flesh and blood on the cross,
so we might have life through the resurrection.
As we celebrate the gift of his life,
as we remember his death and rising to new life,
we proclaim that mystery called faith:
P: Christ died, putting his trust in you;
Christ rose, taking on the resurrection life;
Christ will come, to carry us home to you.
Into these moments of silence
and sacrament, send your Spirit
upon those gathered in this place,
and on the gifts of the Bread and Cup.
As we eat of the Bread,
send us out to serve
the hungry and the homeless,
the lost and forgotten,
the broken and battered -
all whose hopes have disappeared.
As we drink from the Cup,
may we see the
lonely and forsaken,
the hurting and ridiculed,
the oppressed and imprisoned -
all whose dreams have become nightmares.
And when we are gathered to your side,
we will proclaim your glory to
our sisters and brothers around the Table,
our praises being offered to you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
© 2013 Thom M. Shuman
Call to Worship
L: All creation, all people: praise the Lord!
P: stars shooting across the sky,
sing glad songs to our God!
L: Snow clouds approaching, birds sitting on a branch:
praise the Lord!
P: Sleeping cats and braking dogs,
sing new choruses of praise!
L: Rich and poor, leaders and followers:
praise the Lord!
P: Old and young, families and singles,
we will lift our joy to our God!
Prayer of the Day
On that not so silent night,
you came to us, Mothering God,
like a night nurse
on the pediatric floor,
to gather us in your arms
and swaddle us in your hope.
On that not so silent night,
you came to us, Child of humanity,
to be cradled with the lost,
to share a stable with outsiders,
to confront the bullies who
threaten our children.
On that not so silent night,
you came to us, Spirit of joy,
to lift us up and carry us to salvation,
to help us persist in praising God,
to share our lives with us.
Be with us in all the nights and days to come,
God in Community, Holy in One,
even as we pray as you taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
We know all that God has done for us, as
well as all we could have done for others.
Let us confess to God our failures and
foibles, as we pray together, saying,
Unison Prayer of Confession
We could proclaim your name, God of
this holy season, but we spend too much
time talking about celebrities. We could
tell others about all your gracious deeds,
but are comparing notes about the exploits
of our favorite athletes. We could let your
Word guide our lives, but instead we do
what the politicians think is best.
Why? Because we forget who we are called
to be. But you remember, Faithful God. You
remember that we put our trust in others, not
you; you remember how we chase after idols,
not follow you; you remember to save us in
our distress, which is why you sent Jesus to
us, our Lord, our Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: In the silence, in the dreams, in the
wonder, in the words, God comes to save
us and have mercy on us.
P: It is fitting that we offer our thanks and
praise to the One who forgives us. Thanks
be to God! Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: May the God of Christmas be with you!
P: And also with you!
L: Put your trust in the One who has come.
P: We offer our hearts willingly to our God.
L: Join all creation in praising God.
P: We join in the chorus of glad songs to God.
In that not so silent
moment, you spoke to creation,
God of our dreams and hopes,
and birds warbled in the morning,
thunder rumbled over the waters,
cows lowed in the meadows.
For us, those shaped in your image,
were these gifts imagined and formed,
but we took up after death,
getting up to follow sin.
Prophets came to praise your name,
and to bring us back to you,
but we thought they were
trying to trick us.
Then you sent Jesus, Pioneer of salvation,
to proclaim your name to us.
With those who are shy and silent,
with those who persist in glorifying you,
we offer our thanksgiving songs:
P: Holy, holy, holy are you, ever-loving God.
All creation praises your name.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who put his trust in you.
Hosanna in the highest!
In the silence of the night,
your holiness became human, our God,
and you blessed us with Jesus, Child of grace.
When he could have stayed with you,
he came to offer us help.
When he could have remained in Nazareth,
he got up to bring us the good news.
When he could have played it safe,
he shared his flesh and blood on the cross,
so we might have life through the resurrection.
As we celebrate the gift of his life,
as we remember his death and rising to new life,
we proclaim that mystery called faith:
P: Christ died, putting his trust in you;
Christ rose, taking on the resurrection life;
Christ will come, to carry us home to you.
Into these moments of silence
and sacrament, send your Spirit
upon those gathered in this place,
and on the gifts of the Bread and Cup.
As we eat of the Bread,
send us out to serve
the hungry and the homeless,
the lost and forgotten,
the broken and battered -
all whose hopes have disappeared.
As we drink from the Cup,
may we see the
lonely and forsaken,
the hurting and ridiculed,
the oppressed and imprisoned -
all whose dreams have become nightmares.
And when we are gathered to your side,
we will proclaim your glory to
our sisters and brothers around the Table,
our praises being offered to you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
© 2013 Thom M. Shuman
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Liturgy for November 28, 2013 (Thanksgiving Day, USA)
Texts: Deuteronomy 8:7-18; Psalm 65; 2nd Corinthians 9:6-15; Luke
17:11-19
Call to Worship
L: Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.
P: We glorify our God with songs of thanksgiving and joy.
L: God has done great things for us, filling us with grace.
P: God fed our ancestors in the wilderness,
God clothes us with hope.
L: We will offer our hearts to God, always saying, 'Thank you!'
to the One who loves us.
P: We will sing our praises, shouting of God's presence in our lives.
Prayer of the Day
Hot showers in the morning
and cool breezes in the evening;
work that provides for our families,
and abundance that makes us generous;
silly jokes told by third graders,
and the silent tears of a grandmother
lost in her childhood forever.
What blessings are ours, Creation's Joy!
Teachers who patiently help us with our math,
and mentors who keep us on the right paths;
friends who shovel snow off sidewalks before we waken,
and employers whose hearts are greater than their profits;
piano teachers who smile at our repeated mistakes,
coaches who teach us (one more time)
how to curl the ball into the goal.
What blessings are ours, Servant of Joy!
Dogs who bounce us awake early in the day
and cats who lullaby us to sleep at night;
grandfathers who teach us how to whittle
and sisters who give up a date to baby sit;
little boys who always forget to wipe their mouths
and folks who always remember to say 'thank you.'
What blessings are ours, Joyous Spirit!
God in Community, Holy in One,
thanksgiving is in every word we speak,
even as we pray as Jesus taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
We wonder what's for lunch, we worry about work tomorrow, we fret about the
test that is coming up. So much worry, so much time waster over things we
cannot control. The One who showers earth with rain, who places the stars in
the autumn sky, is the same One who wraps mercy tight around you, who feeds
us on healing and hope. Let us confess how our worries keep us from trusting
the God who hears us and restores us to new life. Please join me as we pray,
Unison Prayer of Confession
Because we live in this modern, tech-driven, twittering age, we often
forget what you have done for us, God of every blessing. We pat ourselves on
the back for our ability to learn new computer skills, but have forgotten
that life is more than a machine. We have more than we could ever use yet,
like squirrels, store up more and more. Our faith is often pushed to the
back of the closet, to make room for all the fears we wear so easily.
Forgive us, Restorer of life. As you clothe us with your grace and
mercy, may we share with those who have so little. As our hearts overflow
with your love and wonder, may we offer them as gifts to everyone we meet.
As you feed us with your joy and hope, may we welcome to the Table all those
who lives are filled with tears and pain. As we gather with family and
friends during this season, may we continue to give thanks for the gift of
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: This is the good news: as God dresses creation in wonder, so you will be
clothed in grace; as God pours out abundance upon the earth, so you will be
blessed with peace and joy.
P: We don't say it often enough, but thanks be to God for healing, for
life, for wonder, for mercy. We are blessed, for we are forgiven. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: The Lord of blessings be with you.
P: The Lord be with you, also.
L: Be glad and rejoice, God's people,
lifting your hearts to the restorer of lives.
P: We offer them to the God who clothes us in grace.
L: People of God, come to the Table where you shall eat and be satisfied.
P: With shouts of joy, we gather to praise the name of God!
Your mouth was filled with laughter,
God of our every moment,
as you sang creation into being.
The heavens rang with shouts of joy,
as fruit-bearing trees sprang up,
as green pastures rippled with wonder.
Crafted in your image, you would
satisfy us with the bounty of grace,
but we chose the destroyer, death,
hanging out with the life-cutter, sin.
Prophets and psalmists were sent by you,
longing to restore us to your side,
but we put their words to shame.
So that everyone might be saved,
Jesus came to be with us,
herald of your grace,
bringer of your truth.
With those who lifted thanks by crossed rivers,
with those who offered gratitude for simple gifts,
we join our voice in praising your name:
P: Holy, holy, holy! God of wonder and delight.
All creation is filled with your joy.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes to clothes us in grace.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, Restorer of broken lives,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, Mediator of salvation.
Seeing the nightmare of our lives,
he became one of us, so we
might see the dreams you have for us.
Knowing how our hearts overflowed
with fear, bitterness, and worries,
he came with peace and comfort.
Teaching that the body is more than sin,
that life is more than death,
he became our ransom on the cross,
our salvation by rising from the grave.
As we give thanks for his life and death,
as we shout with joy for his resurrection,
we speak of that mystery we call faith:
P: Christ died, the righteousness for all.
Christ rose, the resurrection for all.
Christ will return, the fulfillment for all.
Pour out your Spirit
doing great thing with the bred and the cup.
Empty, we will be filled
with the plenty of your grace,
the broken bread strengthening us
so we might bring healing to a world
shattered by violence and despair.
Longing for hope, we shall be satisfied
with the cup of blessing and hope,
our lives overflowing
with your love and compassion,
pouring ourselves out for the
poor and marginalized of our time.
And when all our worrying hours have ended,
when we are clothed in your mercy forever,
we will gather with our sisters and brothers,
our mouths filled with laughter,
our hearts echoing glad songs of joy to you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
© Thom M. Shuman
Call to Worship
L: Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.
P: We glorify our God with songs of thanksgiving and joy.
L: God has done great things for us, filling us with grace.
P: God fed our ancestors in the wilderness,
God clothes us with hope.
L: We will offer our hearts to God, always saying, 'Thank you!'
to the One who loves us.
P: We will sing our praises, shouting of God's presence in our lives.
Prayer of the Day
Hot showers in the morning
and cool breezes in the evening;
work that provides for our families,
and abundance that makes us generous;
silly jokes told by third graders,
and the silent tears of a grandmother
lost in her childhood forever.
What blessings are ours, Creation's Joy!
Teachers who patiently help us with our math,
and mentors who keep us on the right paths;
friends who shovel snow off sidewalks before we waken,
and employers whose hearts are greater than their profits;
piano teachers who smile at our repeated mistakes,
coaches who teach us (one more time)
how to curl the ball into the goal.
What blessings are ours, Servant of Joy!
Dogs who bounce us awake early in the day
and cats who lullaby us to sleep at night;
grandfathers who teach us how to whittle
and sisters who give up a date to baby sit;
little boys who always forget to wipe their mouths
and folks who always remember to say 'thank you.'
What blessings are ours, Joyous Spirit!
God in Community, Holy in One,
thanksgiving is in every word we speak,
even as we pray as Jesus taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
We wonder what's for lunch, we worry about work tomorrow, we fret about the
test that is coming up. So much worry, so much time waster over things we
cannot control. The One who showers earth with rain, who places the stars in
the autumn sky, is the same One who wraps mercy tight around you, who feeds
us on healing and hope. Let us confess how our worries keep us from trusting
the God who hears us and restores us to new life. Please join me as we pray,
Unison Prayer of Confession
Because we live in this modern, tech-driven, twittering age, we often
forget what you have done for us, God of every blessing. We pat ourselves on
the back for our ability to learn new computer skills, but have forgotten
that life is more than a machine. We have more than we could ever use yet,
like squirrels, store up more and more. Our faith is often pushed to the
back of the closet, to make room for all the fears we wear so easily.
Forgive us, Restorer of life. As you clothe us with your grace and
mercy, may we share with those who have so little. As our hearts overflow
with your love and wonder, may we offer them as gifts to everyone we meet.
As you feed us with your joy and hope, may we welcome to the Table all those
who lives are filled with tears and pain. As we gather with family and
friends during this season, may we continue to give thanks for the gift of
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: This is the good news: as God dresses creation in wonder, so you will be
clothed in grace; as God pours out abundance upon the earth, so you will be
blessed with peace and joy.
P: We don't say it often enough, but thanks be to God for healing, for
life, for wonder, for mercy. We are blessed, for we are forgiven. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: The Lord of blessings be with you.
P: The Lord be with you, also.
L: Be glad and rejoice, God's people,
lifting your hearts to the restorer of lives.
P: We offer them to the God who clothes us in grace.
L: People of God, come to the Table where you shall eat and be satisfied.
P: With shouts of joy, we gather to praise the name of God!
Your mouth was filled with laughter,
God of our every moment,
as you sang creation into being.
The heavens rang with shouts of joy,
as fruit-bearing trees sprang up,
as green pastures rippled with wonder.
Crafted in your image, you would
satisfy us with the bounty of grace,
but we chose the destroyer, death,
hanging out with the life-cutter, sin.
Prophets and psalmists were sent by you,
longing to restore us to your side,
but we put their words to shame.
So that everyone might be saved,
Jesus came to be with us,
herald of your grace,
bringer of your truth.
With those who lifted thanks by crossed rivers,
with those who offered gratitude for simple gifts,
we join our voice in praising your name:
P: Holy, holy, holy! God of wonder and delight.
All creation is filled with your joy.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes to clothes us in grace.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, Restorer of broken lives,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, Mediator of salvation.
Seeing the nightmare of our lives,
he became one of us, so we
might see the dreams you have for us.
Knowing how our hearts overflowed
with fear, bitterness, and worries,
he came with peace and comfort.
Teaching that the body is more than sin,
that life is more than death,
he became our ransom on the cross,
our salvation by rising from the grave.
As we give thanks for his life and death,
as we shout with joy for his resurrection,
we speak of that mystery we call faith:
P: Christ died, the righteousness for all.
Christ rose, the resurrection for all.
Christ will return, the fulfillment for all.
Pour out your Spirit
doing great thing with the bred and the cup.
Empty, we will be filled
with the plenty of your grace,
the broken bread strengthening us
so we might bring healing to a world
shattered by violence and despair.
Longing for hope, we shall be satisfied
with the cup of blessing and hope,
our lives overflowing
with your love and compassion,
pouring ourselves out for the
poor and marginalized of our time.
And when all our worrying hours have ended,
when we are clothed in your mercy forever,
we will gather with our sisters and brothers,
our mouths filled with laughter,
our hearts echoing glad songs of joy to you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
© Thom M. Shuman
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