Proper 13/Ordinary 18/Pentecost 11/Trinity 10 - C

Texts:  Hosea 11:1-11; Psalm 107:1-9, 43; Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 12:13-21

Call to Worship
God of the past who whispered in the prophets' ears;
who rescued us from sin's slavery:
we are here to thank you.
God of the future, who is tearing down the old world,
and building your kingdom in our midst:
we are here because we trust you.
God of the present who, in the giftedness of our diversity,
creates us to be one people:
we are here to praise you.
God of life that surprises us when we find it within us:
we celebrate your grace.

Prayer of the Day
Steadfast Love:
like a child
running down the sidewalk
to play with her best friend
on a summer's day,
you eagerly come towards us.

Child of God:
with the anxious heart of a mother
waiting at midnight,
you long for us
to come home,
your arms aching to hold us.

Fullness of Grace:
when all others
have turned away from us,
you throw open
the gates of the kingdom,
inviting us in to share
at the Table of hope
prepared just for us.
God in Community, Holy in One,
hear us as we pray as Jesus taught us,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliation
When we could be revived by God's grace, we find ourselves fearing God's judgment, doubting God's joy in us, fearing God has turned away from us. Let us come to the One who heals us and calls each of us by name. Please join me as we pray,

Unison Prayer of Confession
     You hold nothing back from us, Amazing God, yet we are determined to cling to what we have accumulated. We spend so much time dining out, we cannot feel the deep ache our hunger for you causes. You invite us to set aside our old ways, and walk with you, but unknown paths fill us with fear.
     Have mercy on us, Bread of Heaven.  We come to the Table of grace and hope, not for our personal satisfaction, but for the joy of recognizing the One who calls us to new life, and for the grace to share this joy with everyone we meet. This we pray in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
Do not be afraid. More than anything else, God would rather turn fetid swamps into pools of crystal clear water; bonds of sin into cords of compassion; sinners into servants.
God loves us. God forgives us.  God lifts us to new life. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May God be with you.
May God also be with you.
People of God, open up your hearts.
We open them to God and one another.
People of God, give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks to the One who offers us lives filled with grace.
When we were children
running footloose through grace,
you loved us, Tender God:
     dappling the night skies
          with the bright stars of morning,
teaching us to walk
          the paths of that first dawn,
     telling us of your dreams
          for all you created.
When, in our hurry to greet you,
we fell, skinning our knees,
     you lifted us up in your arms,
     holding us to your cheeks
          wet with joy.
When we missed your calling
us to wash up for dinner,
     you came and found us,
     taking us by the hand
          to feed us from Eden's abundance.
But when we grew up,
we knew more than you,
     turning to the idols of wealth and power,
          who promised to serve us
          even as they shackled us;
     giving ourselves over
          to anxiety's sweet caress.
Yet you are God,
not a foolish human.
You remain in our midst,
not to punish or destroy,
but to reach out
and bring us home to your heart.

Therefore, we joyfully lift our voices,
with those who have gone before us,
and those who stand beside us,
singing our praise for your great love;

Holy, holy, holy, God of steadfast love.
All creation thanks you for your wonderful works.
Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who comes to lead us by a straight way.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, God of infinite tenderness,
and blessed is Jesus Christ,
your Son, our Lord and Savior.
Breaking the enslaving bonds of sin,
     he binds our wounds
          with cords of compassion;
walking with us
when we had lost our way,
     he shows us the paths
          to the kingdom;
stripping himself of glory and honor,
     he clothes us in the new life of faith;
leaving aside his equality with you,
     he became one of us,
          so we might be one with you.

Remembering that you did not give up on us
or hand us over to sin and death
but showered us with your mercy in Christ Jesus,
we take the bread of life and the cup of grace
and joyfully celebrate that mystery we call faith:

Christ died, his life hidden in God.
Christ is risen, seated by God's side.
Christ will come again, that we might be revealed with him in glory.
Compassionate God,
pour out your gracious Spirit on us,
and on these, your simple gifts.
Fill us with the broken bread
     that we might be made whole;
touch our parched lips
with the cup of salvation,
     so we might proclaim your gospel.
Then send us forth:
     our hearts recoiling
          at the oppression suffered
          by our sisters and brothers;
     our hands willing to build shelter
          for those cast out by the world;
     our arms surrounding
          the lost and the least,
          in the embrace of common humanity.

And when we are clothed with our new self,
when we are united with our sisters and brothers
gathered around the Table of glory,
we will sing our praises to you forever,
God in Community, Holy in One,
as you satisfy the thirsty with your grace,
and fill the hungry with your love. Amen.

© Thom M. Shuman

Proper 12/Ordinary 17/Pentecost 10/Trinity 9 - C

Texts:  Hosea 1:2-10; Psalm 85; Colossians 2:6-15, (16-19); Luke 11:1-13

Call to Worship
It is in this place of holiness that we can come with our fears,
our doubts, all the questions of our hearts.
We come to this place, to hear the words of peace,
of hope, of joy God speaks to us.
It is in this place of discovery
that we can come searching.
We come to this place, to find
the One who has been looking for us.
It is in this place of openness
that we can come knocking.
We come to this place, to be embraced
by the One whose heart is never locked.

Prayer of the Day
Loving God of heaven and earth:
the morning breezes
     whisper your holy name,
the trees clap their hands
     in time to creation's songs of joy.
You build your community in our midst,
     despite our best efforts to tear it down.
Your simple gifts of love and peace
     are of more value than all
          the world promises us.

Jesus Christ, Teacher of our hearts:
you walk with us
through the streets of fear and failure,
     holding our hands
     so we have no need
          to reach out for the Evil One.
You give us words to speak
     when the worries of our lives
          turn us speechless.

Spirit of Grace and Hope:
your river of mercy
tumbles through us
     washing our hearts of all
     we cannot release,
          so we may reach out and embrace
               all who have hurt us.
Your peace defends the weak,
     your glory shines in the oppressed,
     your justice embraces all people.

God in Community, Holy in One,
we lift our hearts to you,
as we pray as Jesus has taught, saying,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliation
We are invited to pray - all who have hurt someone else, and all who have been hurt by another. We are called to pray: for hope, for healing, for mercy. We pray to the One who seeks to make us whole; whose will is to restore us to new life. Join me as we pray, saying,

Unison Prayer of Confession
     We do not find it easy to speak of how we do not live as your people, but you invite us to share our weaknesses and failures with you, Inviting God. Tempted to think your salvation is for a select few, we put up barriers for others.  Clinging to all you give to us, we are reluctant to share with those in need. Surrounded by evil and violence, we find it easier to close ranks with those just like us, rather than seeking peace and reconciliation for our world.
     Forgive us, Salvation's God. Open our eyes to our sisters and brothers all around us. Open our ears to the word of hope you speak to us.  Open our spirits to the presence of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who flings wide the open doors of your kingdom, that all might find life with you.
Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
Here is the good news, my friends: Christ came searching for us, calling us by name, leading us into God's kingdom.
In Christ, we become new people: broken, we are made whole; lost, we are found; forsaken, we are restored to new life. Thanks be to God.  Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of grace be with you.
And also with you.
People of God, lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the One who shares good gifts with us.
Children of the living God, give thanks to the One who loves us.
We sing our praises to the One who embraces us with righteousness and showers us with kisses of peace.
Our greatest joy is to sing
our songs of thanksgiving
to you, Lord of all eternity.
When you first spoke,
creation was conceived and brought forth:
     birds to swoop through the clear blue skies
     and butterflies to flit about
          in the gardens of Eden.
We were offered the chance
to run free in your good universe,
     but we immersed ourselves
     in the petty philosophies of pride,
          and were enticed
          by the empty lies of the world.
You sent the prophets
to knock on our hardened hearts,
asking us to turn to you,
     but we continued to dance
     in the arms of sin and death.
That is when you sent Jesus,
to put on flesh's body,
so we might throw off
the chains of our captivity.

Therefore, we join with those in every time and place,
who have searched, and found you,
who have asked, and been answered,
who have knocked and been welcomed
in your all-forgiving grace and love,
singing our praises forever:

Holy, holy, holy, God of steadfast love.
Righteousness and peace are lifelong lovers in your kingdom.
Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who comes
     to open the door to your forgiveness.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, God of restored lives,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, your Son.
In him,
you turned away from your anger,
     so we might turn to you
     to receive forgiveness.
In him,
you set down your indignation,
     to hand us the Bread of Life.
In him,
death and sin were defeated
     so we could be revived to life.

So, as we gather at this Table,
remembering how he not only lived and died,
but was raised to life by your love,
we proclaim that mystery called faith:

Christ died, that salvation might be given to us;
Christ arose, ending the search for life forever;
Christ will come again, knocking on the doors of our hearts.
Pour your Spirit of peace and hope
upon these good gifts
of the bread and the cup
and upon those who have gathered here
at your gracious invitation.
May the Bread which is broken
make us whole,
     so we may go forth
     to speak peace to a world
          which has been fed violence and death.
May the Cup which is shared
open our hearts to the pain
of those around us,
     so we may bring healing and hope.
When we leave this Feast,
may we follow your righteousness
into the streets of the world,
     taking all we meet by the hand
     to show them the path
          to your heart.

And when our wills have been subsumed into yours,
and when your kingdom has come in its glory and grace,
we will gather with our sisters and brothers
from every time and place,
embracing and kissing all children of the living God,
sitting down at the great Feast of the Lamb,
singing your glory through all time and space,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.

© Thom M. Shuman

Proper 11/Ordinary 16/Pentecost9/Trinity 8 - C

Texts: Amos 8:1-12; Psalm 52; Colossians 1:15-28; Luke 10:38-42

Call to Worship
God has called us to this place.
What do you see?
We see people who model for us
God's joyous embrace of all people.
God has brought us to this place.
What do you hear?
We hear God's hope that we are able to see each person
as our sister or brother.
God has challenged us to open our lives and hearts to others.
What will you do?
We will do only one thing:
welcome everyone in God's name!

Prayer of the Day
You open our eyes to a world
which would sell the poor
     for the price of an SUV,
or trade the needy
     for a pair of Guccis,
or haul the weak
     into Judge Judy's court.
So come, God of Justice,
to make us
     as vocal as Amos.

You watch us
as we fill our days
     with endless work;
as we keep a list
of all our worries,
     never marking any off;
as we get easily distracted
     by others' inactions.
So come, Creation's Oldest Child,
to make us
     as still as Mary.

You take notice
of how quickly
we can overlook
those who hunger
     for their empty hearts
     to be filled;
those who long
     for a family
     to welcome them;
those who thirst
     for that relationship
     which will revive
     their souls.
So come, Reconciling Love,
to make us
     as welcoming as Martha.

God in Community, Holy in One,
come to make us your people,
even as we pray as Jesus has taught us,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliation
They are there in the Bible: men and women who are as weak, as foolish, as prone to sin as we are.  Every page, every story reveals to us our brokenness. Yet every page, every story tells us of the One who longs to make us whole. Let us confess our sins, and clear the way for God's reconciling love to work within us, Please join me, as we pray,

Unison Prayer of Confession
     In the mirror we call scripture, Revealing God, we see ourselves for who we are and are not.  We whine about those who are not doing what we think they should, and ignore our failings.  We speak words which nibble away at the life in our family and friends.  We step over the poor on our way to get more and more, ignoring their needs.
     Forgive us, Reconciling Love. Sit us down at Jesus' feet, so we may learn the balanced life you intend for us. Then, and only then, we can set aside our grudges, to offer our gifts to our neighbors; we can stop licking at our hurts, to bring healing to others; we can reach out and welcome our sisters and brothers, even as we have been welcomed into your heart through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
Christ Jesus comes to reconcile us to God, so we can be reconciled to
one another.  Recreated in God's image, we are made whole.
When we are in Christ, everything becomes new. Our past is just that -
our past!
Do you really believe this - that your past is done, and your are a new
person? If so, go out and reflect it in your life.
Thanks be to God! We will go forth and live as reconciled people. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God who embraces us be with you.
And also with you.
Children of God, lift your hearts to the One
who makes you welcome in every moment.
We lift them to the Lord our God
who is our host at this meal.
People of God, offer your praise and thanksgiving
to the One who comes bringing new life to us.
The sad dirges of our lives become praise songs
for the One who makes us whole.
We will thank you forever,
God of Reconciliation.
Through your imaginative Word,
all things were created:
     summer fruit to tingle our taste buds,
          and winter's ice sculptures to delight us;
     spring's breezes to disturb our complacency,
          and autumn's rainbow leaves
          to dance across our lawns.
Offered life in your garden of joy,
     we took refuge in the world's shadows;
invited to build a home in your love,
     we grasped the blocks of betrayal
          on which to build our false lives;
chosen to make known your grace for all,
     we proclaimed the lies of the Evil One.
Yet, you would not let us wander
from sin to sin,
but sent the prophets to speak
in the presence of the unfaithful,
of your forgiveness and hope.
And when our sharp tongues
slashed their words to ribbons,
you sent the fullness of your life,
Jesus the Messiah, to bring us back to you.

And so, we join our voices
with all who have gone before us
and all who will come after us,
singing your praises forever:

Holy, Holy, Holy, God of every season.
All creation trusts in your steadfast love.
Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who comes to proclaim your name.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holiness is who you are, Reconciling God,
and salvation is the blessing we receive
through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.
He came to bear the stain of our lives,
     so we could be made squeaky clean;
he walked the streets of the world,
     so we no longer needed to shuffle our feet
          in the dust of our failed dreams;
in his life, death, and resurrection
he revealed the mystery
of your glorious hope for us,
     before we had finished
          reading the story.

As we would welcome your loving embrace,
we would proclaim that faith we for which we long:

Christ died, suffering for our sake;
Christ arose, our servant of resurrection;
Christ will come, the hope of glory.

Send your Holy Spirit
upon the gifts of the bread and the cup,
and upon those
who will receive these gifts.
May the bread which is broken
     make us one with each other;
may the cup which is shared
     be the healing we need.
Then, when we be nourished by your grace,
send us forth to be your servants:
setting aside our worries
     to welcome the weak and forsaken;
letting go of our grudges,
     so we may receive
     the grace the stranger brings to us;
releasing our fears and doubts
     so we may embrace
          your steadfast love.

Then when all time comes to an end,
and we are brought together at your Table
through him who reconciled us to you,
and who holds us together in his grace,
we will sing our praises through all eternity:
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.

© Thom M. Shuman

Proper 10/Ordinary 15/Penteocst 8/Trinity 7 - C

Texts: Amos 7:7-17; Psalm 82; Colossians 1:1-14; Luke 10:25-37

Call to Worship
Blessed is God, who created us and loves us beyond measure.
Blessed is God, who calls us to stop measuring out our love.
Blessed is God, who speaks and tells us stories about ourselves.
Blessed is God, who reveals to us who we are and who we could be.
Blessed is God, whose compassion is poured out on every single person.
Blessed is God, who gives us compassion
to share  with every single person,
even people we do not know or care about.

Prayer of the Day
Eternal God,
Rescuer of the weak:
given every reason to judge us,
     you seek justice for us.
You stand with the poor
in the ditches
     where we have discarded them.
You plant your Word of truth
in the One who gives us
     unexpected answers.

Jesus Christ,
Word of Truth:
you will not pass us by,
     but stoop to lift us up
     and carry us out of our pain.
You love the faithful enough
     to tell us stories
          which will shatter our complacency
     and send us forth
          to carry mercy to others.

Holy Spirit,
Giver of mercy:
you carry hope in your mouth
     and breathe it into our souls.
You take us by the hand,
     leading us out of the ditches
     we have dug for ourselves,
          into the brightly lit streets of the kingdom.
You pray for us in every moment,
     especially when we are unable
          to pray for ourselves.

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

Call to Reconciliation
Are you in love with God? Do you show it in your words, your thoughts, your actions? Are you in love with your neighbor? Do they know this by your presence, your grace, your friendship?  Or are you so obsessed with your self, that you have no time, no room, nor pity for others, or for God?  Let us confess the limits we place on our love, so we might be filled with God's limitless mercy.

Unison Prayer of Confession
They may not be beaten down or lying by the road,
but there are people we pass by, Watching God.
Some are family and friends
     we take so much for granted
          we cannot see how we have stripped
           them of our love and compassion.
Others are neighbors:
     who have been left half-dead by crushing work;
     who have fallen into the hands of despair;
     who have been abandoned by all those
          who walked on by them.
Many are strangers, people we don't know,
but quickly judge:
     they are weak,
         or poor,
     or the enemy
         or because they remind us of whom
          we once were, or could become.
Rescue us from the power of our sins,
Righteous One of all generations.
     Pour out your justice on us,
     rather than your judgment,
          that we would be moved with pity,
               and spurred to action;
          that we would hear of the hope that is ours,
                and share it with our sisters and brothers;
          that we would shower mercy on all we meet,
even as we have received forgiveness for our sins
through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
Children of the Most High: you are forgiven and brought into the kingdom. Be filled with spiritual wisdom, lead lives worthy of your inheritance, bear fruit in all you say and do and think.
God has rescued us and redeemed us from our sins, setting aside judgment to shower us with mercy. We will go and do likewise.  Thanks be to God.  Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of justice be with you.
And also with you.
People of God, open your hearts to the One who restores you.
We bring our hearts to God, who has rescued us.
Faithful sisters and brothers, sing songs of praise to God.
Our voices unite in a chorus of thanksgiving.
We would not cease singing
our songs of thanksgiving to you,
Innovative Creator.
You imagine a sky
as wide as eternity,
     and fluff it with billowy clouds.
You shape mountains
     and top them with snow.
You notice our uncertainty of the dark,
     and shower us with fireflies
          to twinkle our fears away.
All this, you thought and did, for us.
You would teach us your ways
of kindness, peace and compassion,
     but we filled our minds
          with the empty words of a wayward world.
You sent the prophets
to retell your story of hope,
     but we urged them to go
          and preach to someone else.
But when the world turned its back on us,
when others pass by our pain,
you sent Jesus to come and find us
and to carry us into your heart.

Therefore, we lift our songs of joy to you,
joining our voices with those in heaven and on earth,
who forever praise your name:

Holy, holy, holy are you, Rescuer of the weak and needy.
All the hope in creation gives glory to you.
Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who shows us mercy.   
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, God of Wonder,
and blessed is Jesus Christ your Son.
Your heart, your soul,
your mind, your strength,
he was willing to love you enough
to become one of us;
loving us as much as he loved himself,
     he endured the battering of the world,
          and stripped of his glory and grace,
he was left by the side of the world
     by the gang of sin, evil, and death.
Moved by his love and sacrifice,
     you came and found him,
          alone and forsaken in the tomb.
Anointing him with the waters of baptism
and the oil of hope's gladness,
     you brought him into the new life
          of your resurrection love.

As we remember his life of great love,
we praise you,
that as we break the bread of life,
and drink from the cup of grace,
we know the risen Christ is among us:

Christ was broken, that we might be made whole;
Christ was raised, that the gospel might bear fruit;
Christ will come, that we might inherit eternal life.

We come to this Table
looking for answers to our questions
and for healing for our brokenness.
So, pour out your Spirit upon your children,
and upon the gifts of the bread and the cup,
that nourished and fed by you,
     we might we strengthened
          to serve our sisters and brothers around us.
As we get up from our seats at your Table,
     may we stand up for the rights of the lowly.
As you pour out your grace upon us,
     may we wrap it around the orphans and weak;
as you whisper your dreams for us,
     may we speak out on behalf of the poor;
as you offer us the bread and the cup from your hands,
     may we reach down and lift up those
          who have fallen through the cracks of our society.

Then, when all time has come to an end,
and there is only life forever with you,
we will join hands with all your children,
singing our joy and thanks to you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.

© Thom M. Shuman

Proper 9/Ordinary 14/Pentecost 7/Trinity 6

Texts:  2 Kings 5:1-14; Psalm 30; Galatians 6:(1-6), 7-16; Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Call to Worship
L:  Sing praises to our Lord:
P:  who heals us and makes us whole.
L:  Sing praises to our Lord, faithful children of God:
P:  whose joy rises in our lives each and every day.
L:  Sing praises to our Lord, faithful children of God;
     give thanks to God's holy name:
P:  God's Kingdom is near to us; God's peace resides in our hearts.

Prayer of the Day
With songs of thanksgiving on our lips,
we come before you, Helping God.
While your anger may last only a moment,
     your grace rests upon us until the 12th of never.
When we find ourselves knee-deep
in the muck and mire of life,
     you provide a way out for us,
     if we but trust enough to serve you.

Glad choruses of praise greet you,
Jesus, Companion of pilgrims in this life.
You take us by the hand to waltz up past
     the outstretched arms of sin and death.
You send us out into the world,
teaching us not to boast about
ourselves or all that we have done,
     but to point out to others
     the path to the kingdom,
          if they but trust enough to follow you.

We offer a harvest of praise to you,
Spirit of joy and wonder.
You pour out your gentleness upon us,
     so we might be energized to do what is right.
You patiently sit down to teach us,
     using bold print so we might learn
     lives of service, gratitude and humility,
          if we but trust enough to listen to you.

God in Community, Holy in One,
may we trust always in you,
even as we pray as we have been taught, saying,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliation
Unlike ours, God's anger does not last. But God's favor, God's grace, God's
forgiveness are for us, not just in this moment, but forever. How can we not
want to confess to such a One who is ready to heal us? Please join me as we
pray, saying,

Unison Prayer of Confession
     Holy One, why is it that we can grow so weary of doing what is right,
yet always energetically do that which we know is harmful to us and others?
We sow seeds of hurt and anger, and wonder why we harvest so much
bitterness. We spend too much time comparing ourselves to those around us,
and too few moments in following Christ's example.
     Rather than letting our sins gloat over us, Healing God, we would open
ourselves to your mercy and grace. As you reach out to heal us with your
forgiveness, may we embrace your love, your mercy, your grace for our lives.
As you pour out your Spirit of gentleness, may we bring the peace of our
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to all the world.

Silence may be kept

Assurance of Pardon
L:  Sing praises to our God, faithful children. God has heard our prayers
and made us whole.
P:  We will not be silent, but will sing our joy to the One who has forgiven
us and made us a new creation. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L:  May the Lord our God be with you.
P:  And also with you.
L:  Children of God, lift our hearts.
P:  We lift them to the One who heals us at the Table of brokenness.
L:  Children of God, give thanks to the Lord our God.
P:  We will sing our praises to the One who restores us to life.

We do not bring silence to you,
Holy One of all people,
but shouts of praise and laughter
for your gracious love.
Your healing river flowed through creation,
bringing life and joy to all who drank from it.
     But we preferred to splash
     in the sewers of the world,
          rejecting all that you intended for us.
Yet, you never grew weary
of bearing the burdens of your children.
When you could have shaken
the dust of our sin from your feet,
you chose to lead us out of the Pit
of our rebellion and sin.

Joining with those who sing your praises,
lifting our voices with faithful ones of every time and place,
we sing of our thanks to you forever:

P:  Holy, holy, holy are you, God the Creator!
     the mountains sing your praises, the valleys echo your glory.
     Hosanna in the highest!

     We welcome the One who comes in your name, who calls us to life.
     Hosanna in the highest!

Holy are you, God of compassion,
     for when death threatened your children
     and sin vowed to turn the universe back to chaos,
you sent your Son, our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ, to heal the brokenness fo the world.
He did not grow weary
of doing the right things,
     but confronted the wrongs of the world;
he endured the violence of sin,
     that we might receive the gentleness
          of life with you forever;
he carried our sins to the cross,
     that we might bear the burdens
          of our sisters and brothers;
he went ahead of us into death,
     that we might walk in the Kingdom.

As we dance to the Table to be filled with hope,
we remember all that Jesus has done for us,
and all that we have been called to do in his name.
Great is the mystery of faith:

P:  Christ died, bearing our burdens.
     Christ arose, mocking death's power.
     Christ will return, for the good of all.

Flow through us, Healing Spirit,
as we drink deeply of Christ's cup.
You never grow weary of feeding us
with the Bread of Life,
     for transform our brokenness by this meal.
And as we turn from the Table,
send us forth:
     to bring healing to the sick,
          freedom to the oppressed,
     to speak peace
          to the human household,
     to carry the Kingdom with us
          wherever you would lead us.
For we will not keep silent,
but praise you forever and ever,
God in Community, Holy in One.
Amen.

Alternate Great Prayer of Thanksgiving (for Sunday when USA Independence Day might be celebrated).

L:  May the God of freedom be with you.
P:  And also with you.
L:  Children of God, lift up your hearts.
P:  We lift them to the One who sets us free for lives of service and hope.
L:  God's children: let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
P:  We will sing our songs of freedom to the One who calls us to new life.

Starry nights that stretch across the sky,
waves of every grain shimmering in the sun:
these are the gift you gave to us,
God of wonder and joy.
Mountains tower above plains
overflowing with abundant fruit;
land stretching from sea to sea
where we could live with you.
Freely, you offered the abundance
of all that is good and beautiful to us,
but we mocked your hopes,
choosing to be deceived by sin.
you appointed prophets, sending them
to every town and place we lived,
sharing your peace with us through them.
But we would not welcome them
into our homes, or into our hearts.
Then you sent Jesus to us,
to share with us that freedom
which calls us to follow in obedience.

As we sing of those who have gone before us,
as we remember how they lived as
sisters and brothers as you called them to live,
we proclaim our thanks to you:

Sanctus

The One who could heal our brokenness,
the One who could teach us self-control,
the One who could leads us out
of all the places our feet have strayed,
Jesus came to live among us,
leaving the starry band of glory behind.
Loving your mercy for us
more than his own life,
he willingly chose to go to the cross,
that we might receive your gracious gift
of life forever with you.
 
As we remember the freedom he offered to all,
as we celebrate the gift of life which comes to us
here at this Table of love, we speak of that mystery called faith:

Memorial Acclamation

As you pour out your Spirit
upon this Table abundant with the gifts
of the Bread and of the Cup,
shed your grace upon your children
gathered in this place.
Gorged on the moldy meals
offered to us by sin and death,
we forget those who hunger for freedom.
But eating the Bread of life,
we can go, carrying a harvest of hope to them.
Intoxicated on the world's sour grapes,
we forget the injustices imposed
upon our sisters and brothers.
But drinking from the Cup of grace,
we can go where you intend to go,
inviting everyone we meet to join us
in your new creation of peace, mercy, and wonder.

And when all that holds us back is gone,
when the freedom of your eternity is given to us,
we will gather with that brotherhood and sisterhood
of believers of every time and place,
who have been crowned with your goodness and love,
forever singing your praises,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.

© Thom M. Shuman

Proper 8/Ordinary 13/Pentecost 6/Trinity 5 - C

Texts: 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14; Psalm 77:1-2, 11-20; Galatians 5:1, 13-25; Luke 9:51-62

Call to Worship
L: On days when we think God has nothing to do
    with work or family or the world:
P: The Book tells us of One who was a carpenter;
    who wandered the streets;
    who upset his family.
L:  On days when we think the purpose of life
     is to make more money and fewer friends:
P:  The Book speaks of a life of giving away of ourselves
     and finding a community as we do so.
L:  On days aching with loneliness and empty of love and laughter:
P:  The Book draws us into the embrace of God's open heart.

Prayer of the Day
Inspiring God,
Giver of words:
     you speak
          and chaos is transformed
          into the starry skies of night;
     you whisper
          and the wind leaps
          to caress our cheeks on a summer's evening;
     you smile
          and all creation rejoices in delight.

Jesus Christ,
Uncomfortable Word:
you stand with society's castoffs
     outside the halls of respectability;
you break bread with sinners
     and give them the seats of honor at your Table;
you walk the darkened hallways of death,
     comforting those who are taking their last steps;
and you call to us, saying,
      "Follow me."

Holy Spirit,
Word sifter:
by your touch
     our anger can dissolve
          into gentleness;
by your presence
     our enemies
          can become lifelong friends;
by your joy,
     our envious spirits
          can become generous hearts.

God in Community, Holy in One,
set us free to be your servants,
even as we pray as Jesus taught us, saying,
Our Father...

Call to Reconciliation
Christ has set us free from everything that might detain, oppress, derail
us. But we should not confuse this with the right to do whatever we wish.
No, we are called to serve others, to share God's hope and joy with everyone
we meet. Let us confess how we have misused this wonderful gift of grace, as
we pray, saying,

Unison Prayer of Confession
     Redeeming God, how easily we say we would follow you, but how often we
live as if we don't have a clue as to what that means. We choose to gossip
about our friends, rather than surrounding them with love. Our competitive
nature wills us to win at all costs, when we could be engaged in costly
service. We expect others to do for us and rarely ask what we might do for
them.
     Forgive us, High and Holy One. Set us free to serve in love and
compassion; help us to feast on the fruit the Spirit offers to us; put us on
the path of faithful discipleship, as we walk with our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
L:  Friends, call to mind what God has done for you; think about how God's
love comes in fresh and surprising ways; reflect on the fruit of the Spirit
poured out upon you.
P:  We will remember all the wonder, all the joy, all the mercy which is
ours. From the rich abundance of the Spirit's fruit, we will serve others.
Thanks be to God! Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L:  May the wonder-working God be with you!
P:  And also with you!
L:  Children of God, lift up your hearts.
P:  We offer them to the One who gifts us with abundant fruit of the Spirit.
L:  God's children, let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
P:  We sing songs of joy, love, and peace;
     we praise God for the gifts of patience, kindness, generosity;
     we lift our thanks for faithfulness, gentleness,
     and self-control in our lives.

Your voice thundered, Holy One of Creation,
and silenced the fractious voices of chaos.
As the sun, moon, and stars
light our days and nights,
     so your love illumines our souls.
When our fears
threaten to flood our lives,
     you make a path for us
          to your heart.
All this you do,
out of your love for us,
but we forgot all your wonders,
     and stretched out our hands
          to pluck the rotten fruit of the world.
You sent the prophets to help us
to remember your great acts,
     but we dismissed their words
          as having no value for us.
Then, to keep your promise
never, never to forsake us,
you sent Jesus Christ to
put our feet back on
the Holy Way.

Therefore, trusting that you will hear us,
we join our voices with the chorus of heaven,
and with our sisters and brothers around us,
sing our glad songs to you:

P:  Holy, holy, holy are you, God the Creator!
     The mountains sing your praises, the valleys echo your glory.
     Hosanna in the highest!

     We welcome the One who comes in your name, who calls us to life.
     Hosanna in the highest!

Holy are you, God of all generations,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, your Son, our Savior.
When he could have remained safe
by your side in glory,
he took the risk to follow your call
When he could have remained safe
by your side in glory,
     he took the risk to follow your call
     to become one of us.
When he could have ignored
our cries for help,
     he opened his ears and his heart,
     to bring us words of healing and hope.
When he could have pointed
to his miracles and wonders,
     he spoke of your grace,
     and called us to service.
When he could have ignored sin
and death to return to you,
     he picked them up
     and carried them to Calvary,
          turning and renouncing them forever,
as he strode out of the empty tomb
into the new life waiting for each of us.

So, as we remember what God has done for us
in the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus,
we speak of that faith which is a mystery:

P:  Lord Jesus, you call us:
     open our eyes that we may see you,
     open our souls that we may long for your presence,
     open our hearts that we may follow you.

Pour out your Spirit
upon the gifts of the Table
and upon your children
who have come to feast.
As we tasted the Bread of life,
     may we be filled with that generosity
          which makes us servants.
As we drink from the Cup of grace,
     may we be nourished by
          the fruit of the Spirit found there.
Then, we will go forth
to follow where you lead us:
     to bring justice and mercy
          into communities crumbling by hate;
     to bring hope into those neighborhoods
          where despair sells its wares on the street corners;
     to bring peace to a broken world
          governed by violence and war.

And when all time has come to an end,
as we gather with our sisters and brothers
from every moment and every place,
we will sing our glad songs to you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.

© Thom M. Shuman

Proper 7/Ordinary 12/Pentecost 5/Trinity 4 - C

Texts:1 Kings 19:1-4, (5-7), 8-15a; Psalms 42 and 43; Galatians 3:23-29; Luke 8:26-39

Call to Worship
L: When we long for the special effects we think life should offer:
P:it is enough, for us, that God comes in a soft, summer shower.
L: When we our hearts are cracked by the drought of doubt:
P: it is enough, for us, that God opens up the fountains of faith for us.
L: When our senses are deadened by the sales pitches of our culture:
P: it is enough, for us, that God wraps us in the silence of grace.

Prayer of the Day and our Lord's Prayer
When we feel compelled
to push everything to its limits,
especially you,
it is enough, Holy One,
     that your grace
     can slow us down.

When we stand naked and exposed
to the buffeting winds
of our doubts and questions.
it is enough, Healing Servant,
     that you clothe us in your peace,
     and put our minds at ease.

When we are entangled
in that legion of worries and fears
which consume our lives,
it is enough, Spirit of Silence,
     that you untie the knots
     and set us free.

It is enough,
God in Community, Holy in One,
that you are with us
even as we pray as Jesus has taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliation
We long to be set free from those 'powers' which control our lives; to let
go of our fears of 'them;' to stop trying to build fences between us and
those who are not like us. That is why our longing brings us to the living
waters offered by our God, who allows us to fill our parched souls with a
refreshing drink of forgiveness.  Let us confess our sins, as we pray
together, saying,

Unison Prayer of Confession
     Like children, we fear that if we tell you what we have done, God of
Justice, you might not love us any more.  We can kill the dreams of those
around us with a word, spoken or withheld. We can make the lives of our
friends miserable, instead of sharing a miracle. We are filled with that
legion of temptations which only leave us empty and wanting more.
     Forgive us, Gracious Father. Remind us that we are no longer sinners,
but your children.  Baptized, we are clothed in the graciousness and
faithfulness of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who came that we might be
set free of all that imprisons us.

Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
L: God forgives us, so we might be new people. God equips us, so we might
serve others. God sends us forth, so we might be a witness to everyone we
meet.
P: No one is the same: enemies are now our friends; those we could not trust
now become our confidants; those we could not hear now speak to us of God's
hope and joy. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: May the God who makes us one in Christ be with you!
P: And also with you!
L: God speaks to us in the still, small whispers of grace.
P: May our hearts resound with the thunder of God's hope.
L: Heirs of wonder and peace, rejoice in the One who sends you out to serve.
P: Our voices echo the glad songs of those who are our sisters and brothers
in faith.

You split the emptiness of chaos,
Living God, breaking it into pieces
used to shape the foundation of creation.
Your spirit moved upon the waters,
     carving flowing streams where deer could drink,
     your words crafting those calm pools
          where your longing children could be baptized
          in your love, your joy, your grace.
But sin called to sin, catching our imagination,
the waves of death carrying us away from you.
Our help, our hope, our essence,
you continued to call to us,
     but we responded to your words
     with the sheer silence of stubbornness.
So, rather than sending great storms,
earthquakes, fires, or floods,
Jesus came, to invite us to return
and discover how much you do for us.

As we stand before the Table of grace,
as we greet our sisters and brothers in Christ,
we lift our voices in songs of thanksgiving:

P: Holy, holy, holy, God of sheer wonder and joy.
    All creation praises you, our help, our Maker!
    Hosanna in the highest!

    Blessed is the One who comes to justify us by his faithfulness.
    Hosanna in the highest!

You alone are holy, God of delight and beauty,
and your Son, our Brother Jesus Christ, is blessed.
When we felt forgotten and on our own,
     he came to stand beside us,
          so we are never alone.
When the bullies of our lives
taunted us and made us miserable,
     he came to wrap us in the mantle of compassion.
When our souls were down in the dumps,
     he lifted us up, so we might
          behold your face in glory forever.
Imprisoned in the tomb,
his guards, sin and death,
had no power over him
     as he arose from the dead
     striding forth into resurrection's dawn.

As we come to the feast he shares with friends,
as we celebrate the joy which is ours through him,
we would speak of that mystery called faith:

P: Christ died, emptying himself for all people;
    Christ rose, that we might empty ourselves for all around us;
     Christ will come again, to lead us home to you,
          where we will be filled with life forever.

You are our help and hope,
God of silence and sacrament,
so we pray that as you pour out
your Spirit upon the gifts of the Table,
that your gathered people might hear hope
     in the breaking of the bread into pieces,
that we might listen for your grace
     in the sheer silence of the cup.
And when we are transformed
in the strength of the bread and the cup,
may we go to serve your people as well as all creation,
      working for justice, peace,
     joy, and life until there is no longer
          the haves and the haven't-anything,
          the insiders and the thrown-away,
          the know-it-alls and the drop-outs,
          the legalists and the libertarians,
but only your children, equal in your sight,
clothed with the compassion and life of Jesus Christ.

And when we are gathered with the legion of the faithful,
the saints and sinners from every age, and from every place,
around the festive Table which awaits us in eternity,
we will join our voices in forever singing your grace,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.

© Thom M. Shuman

Proper 6/Ordinary 11/Pentecost 4/Trinity 3

1 Kings 21 1-10, (11-14), 15-21a; Psalm 5:1-8; Galatians 2:15-21; Luke 7:36 - 8:3

Call to Worship
In the morning, God hears our voices as we lift our prayers and songs.
In the morning, God whispers to us
in the gentle breezes stirring the world.
In the morning, we look for God alive and active around us.
In the morning, we find God playing hopscotch
with the kids on the corner.
In the morning we come together to worship our God.
In the morning, God gathers us up to lead us
down the streets of justice and faithfulness.

Prayer of the Day and our Lord's Prayer
In the morning,
Listening God,
     you break open your heart
          to pour your love upon us;
     you bathe our tired and sore souls
          with your healing tears;
     you dry our weeping
          with the caress of your gentle Spirit.

In the afternoon,
Hospitable Jesus,
even knowing we are sinners,
     you invite us to lunch,
         so we can be nourished
          with your hope and peace.
No matter how deep in debt
we are to sin,
     you pay off the entire amount.

In the evening,
Spirit of our sighs,
     you kiss us and call us
          your Beloved,
     as you tuck us into bed
          to keep watch over us
          while we sleep.

In every moment,
God in Community, Holy in One,
you are present with us,
even as we lift the prayer Jesus has taught us,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliation
Too often, we believe our identity is shaped by our job, our status, our good deeds. God would give us a new identity, grounded in Jesus Christ. Let us confess our reluctance to lose who we believe we  are, so God can shape us into who we can be, as we pray together saying,

Unison Prayer of Confession
     We must admit, God our Parent, how much we are like children. We become resentful over the fact that you do not do what we think you should do. We pout when a friend decides to spend more time with someone else. We can turn sullen when our loved ones refuse to let us have our way.
     You could bring disaster upon us, Loving God, but you choose to give us what we don't deserve - the grace and mercy of your heart. Pour out your tenderness upon us, so Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, might live in us, and we might offer our lives in service to others.
Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
God not only listens to the cries on our lips, but also pays attention to the groaning of our hearts. God restores us to wholeness, and invites us to a new way of living.
We are welcomed, we are loved, we are given new life, we are filled with peace. Thanks be to God, we are forgiven! Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of grace be with you.
And also with you.
Lift your hearts to the One who feeds you at this Table.
We bring them to God, who anoints us with grace and life.
Sing to the One who hears you in every moment.
We offer our songs, and our sighs to God, who promises to listen to us.

In the morning you rose,
Graceful and grace-shaping God,
wandering through time and space
sprinkling viriditas* throughout creation,
so that we might live in your wonder:
     stars rustling in the night,
          settling down to watch over us;
     leaves breathing in and out
          with gentle sighs to lullaby us to sleep.
You planted Eden's vineyard near your heart
so we might be close to you forever,
     but we turned our faces away,
     listening to those two scoundrels,
          sin and death, who cursed you,
          urging us not to eat of your joy.
Each morning, you heard the sighs
of those who longed for you,
so you sent the prophets ,
but we continued to sell ourselves to evil.
So, in grace and hope, you sent Jesus,
to love us and give himself for us.

As we come to your house, invited by you;
as we take are places at the Table you have set,
we sing in awe and wonder to you:

Holy, holy, holy are you, God who does not delight in wickedness.
All creation calls to you in every moment.
Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who forgives our sin.
Hosanna in the highest!

You are holy, God who spreads a feast for us,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior, our host.
When we lay on our beds,
turning our faces to the shadows around us,
     he came to throw open the shutters,
          that we might see your grace pouring in upon us.
When we were bone weary
from wandering the streets of hopelessness and fear,
     he bathed our feet with your tears.
When we had torn down
all the bridges back to you,
     he rebuilt them, using the stones of the empty tomb,
          so we might follow him home.

As we gather at this Table of grace,
as we celebrate that we are crucified with Christ,
we speak of the mystery we know as faith:

Christ died, that those two scoundrels,
     death and sin, might be defeated;
Christ arose, so he might live in us;
Christ will come, to anoint us with the abundant oil of resurrection.

Through the abundance of your Holy Spirit,
which you pour out upon us
and the gifts of the bread and cup,
we come to the feast you have prepared.
Enter our lives, that as we eat
of the Bread which makes us whole,
we might feel your kiss of grace,
     taking it out into all the world,
     never to stop in sharing it
     with everyone we meet until
          the whole creation is at peace.
Enter our hearts, that as we drink
deeply of the cup, we might be
filled with living waters of hope,
     taking them to anoint all who
          live in despair and loss.

And when that last morning comes,
when we go to your house, taking our places
at your Table, next to our sisters and brothers
from every time and from every place,
we will sing our glad songs to you,
God in Community, Holy in One, forever. Amen.

* - Hildegard of Bingen uses this word to imagine the greening power of God

© Thom M. Shuman

Proper 5/Ordinary 10/Pentecost 3/Trinity 2 - C

Texts: 1 Kings 17:8-6 (17-24); Psalm 146; Galatians 1:11-24; Luke 7:11-17

Call to Worship
You we praise, O God! You we praise!
We will sing our songs of joy this day and in all the days to come!
School is coming to a close, vacations are planned, life changes from day to day.
Yet, you keep your promises every day; you hold your faithfulness in your heart.
You shower us with your hope; you offer us help in every moment.
You we praise, O God! You we praise!

Prayer of the Day
You we praise, Fountain of Hope:
you turn our hearts
toward the outsiders
in our midst,
     so we can see you
     in them;
you take off
the sunglasses of sin
we have worn for too long,
     so we may see your kingdom
     of peace and joy.

You we praise, Friend of the poor:
when we trip
over our foolish feet
in our headstrong rush
to catch the world's whims,
     you pick us up,
     bandage our scraped knees,
     and put us back on
     the path to faithfulness.

You we praise, Spirit of blessing:
you hold the hands
of the widows and orphans
     as they wander the busy streets
     of greed and consumption,
         leading them to your
         compassion and grace.

You we praise,
God in Community, Holy in One,
as we lift our prayer as Jesus has taught us,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliation
We think life is all about us - our desires, our needs, our achievements. And, so in our pride, we ignore the gospel proclaimed to us by God's love and hope for us. Let us confess our faulty lives, as we open ourselves to God's healing grace, praying together,

Unison Prayer of Confession
     We do not want you to know how our lives do not proclaim your good news, God of all hearts. But you have heard the words we have spoken which injure those we love. You see how insistent we can be in clinging to the ways we have always lived, rather than walking your new paths. We have trouble believing that when our souls are empty and our hearts have only a small portion of love, that you can do miracles in and through us.
     So, what we need to know is that you do indeed forgive us, and still love us, God of comfort.  Let your grace shower us and end the drought of fear and doubt in our lives, so we can believe the good news which comes to us through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
Do not be sad. God feeds us with grace and hope, God watches over us, and raises us to new life.
You we praise, Holy God, for this good news of joy and peace for our lives. Thanks be to God, we are forgiven! Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
The God of prophets and widows be with you!
And also with you!
Offer your hearts to God, who prepares this Table for you.
We will trust the One who fills us with grace and hope.
Praise the Creator for all the goodness which is ours.
We will sing glad songs to God with every breath we take!
You we praise, Engendering God!
You formed the seas, their waters
     teeming with abundant creatures;
you cradled the earth, planting
     a myriad of life into its deep soil.
You shaped us in your gracious image,
imparting the Spirit's breath in us,
     but we put our trust in mortal death,
     zealous for its temptations and longings.
You sent prophets into the world,
who challenged us not to fear,
but to place our trust in you,
     yet we returned time and again to sin.
Keeping faith forever with us,
you sent Jesus into our midst,
to touch us and give us life.

So, with those whose eyes have been opened,
and with those who have been set free,
we lift our songs of glad joy to you:

Holy, holy, holy, God of all generations!
Heaven and earth, the sea, and all in them glorify you.
Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who looks with grace upon us.
Hosanna in the highest!
You we praise in your holiness, Glorious God,
and bless your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.
When we had nothing but
a handful of sin,
     he came to fill us with grace;
when there was only a little
hope left in our lives,
     he came to pour salvation
          up to the brim in us;
when we despaired in the drought of sin,
     he approached the gates of death,
     bringing its power to ruin,
his empty tomb the reminder
of the abundance of resurrection.

As we come to this Table of plenty,
as we celebrate the life he gave for us,
we speak of that mystery we call faith:

Christ died, so we would not weep;
Christ is risen, so we would not fear;
Christ will come, so we will glorify God.
You we praise, Baker of life, Vintner of grace.
Your Spirit moves upon
the gifts of this Table
and on those for whom
the feast has been prepared.
We eat,
believing that the Bread will not fail,
     but strengthen us to go forth
     to work for justice,
          even as we feed the hungry.
We drink,
trusting that the Cup will not be emptied,
     as we pour ourselves out in service
          to those crushed by oppression,
          to those held captive by fear.

And when we gather where all time has ended,
seated with your children from every time and place
around that wedding feast of joy,
we will join our voices in praising you forever,
singing to God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.

© Thom M. Shuman

Proper 4/Ordinary 9/Pentecost 2/Trinity 1 - C

Texts: 1 Kings 18:20-21, (22-29), 30-39; Psalm 96; Galatians 1:1-12; Luke 7:1-10

Call to Worship
With loud engines at the race track,
and with soft-spoken wisdom:
sing to God new songs of wonder!
With planets spinning in the galaxies,
and with jack hammers tearing up our streets:
sing to God new songs of joy!
With fireworks in summer's night skies,
and with winter's ice crunching under our boots:
sing to God new songs of grace!
With crowds at exciting sports venues,
and with children whispering dreams to their pets:
sing to God new songs of hope!

Prayer of the Day
When
we would take our
   fears, doubts, broken dreams
         and set them to death's
                mournful dirge,
you take them, rearranging the notes
          and rewriting the lyrics for
     drums, electric guitar, tambourines
                 and keyboard,
   singing a new song
                     of joy
               to us.
Composer of Creation,
we give you the glory!

When
the world considers us
                 second-rate,
     putting us out on the
          BOGO clearance table
               on the sidewalk,
   you come under the awning,
telling the proprietor
     to put us on your
                 card
          (which you will
              pay in full
              before the next billing cycle
                        begins).
Liberator of our lives,
We give you the glory!

When
day after day,
           we cannot seem
     to break the cycles of
         legalism,
            cynicism,
                 apathy,
you come, proclaiming
          the good news,
     speaking the Word
           which heals
               us.
Spirit of Peace, we give you the glory!

God in Community, Holy in One,
to you be the glory forever and ever,
as we pray, saying,
Our Father . . .

Call to Reconciliation
We go limping along, convinced we can make it on our own, that we are too busy for God.  But when we look at our mistakes, the words we wish we could take back, the hurts we long to heal, we know we must confess, so God can forgive us and wrap us in steadfast love.  Join me, as we pray together saying,

Unison Prayer of Confession
     We want you to know, Holy God, that we do try.  Between the politicians and the pundits, it is easy to become confused as to how we should live.  We spend so much time trying to win the approval of certain people, that we forget our call to serve those around us.  We are so busy telling others 'go there' or 'do this,' we cannot hear your whispers of love.
     We do not presume to come to you expecting easy grace, for we are aware of what it cost you to forgive us, Tender God.  But speak the word, and we will know your mercy; speak the word, and we will be made whole; speak the Word, Jesus Christ, and we will find that faith to trust you in every moment.
Silence is kept

Assurance of Pardon
God comes, not to punish, not to condemn, but to judge - with that righteousness which brings redemption, with that truth which sets us free.
Let it be known this day.  The Lord indeed is God, who brings forgiveness and hope to all people.  Glory to God!  Amen.

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May creation's Lord be with you!
And also with you!
Here at this Table, dear ones, draw closer to God.
We come, to offer our hearts to God.
Join the chorus of the universes in praising God.
Our voices unite with all of God's people in songs of joy.

All creation is grounded in you,
Sovereign God, who spoke the Word
and let it be known that you were coming
     so seas might roar your majesty,
     so fields might exult your glory,
     so trees might sing your joy.
You formed us in your divine image,
letting it be known that we were yours,
the people of your heart and hopes.
But sin and death called our names,
     and we chose to follow those petty gods,
     limping along, letting our dance partners
     lead us as seduction's sirens sang their songs.
You sent the prophets to intercede,
hoping that we would listen,
     but we made no answer, gave no response.
So you decided to come closer still,
sending Jesus to bring us your healing.

With those who gave you glory in every time and place,
with those from all over this wide earth,
we sing that new song which has echoed down the generations:

Holy, holy, holy are you, Sovereign of the universe.
All creation joins in singing your glory.
Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who comes in your name.
Hosanna in the highest!

You indeed are God, Holy One,
and Jesus Christ is your blessed Child.
When we limped along through the world,
     he came to strengthen us to walk in your way.
When our petty gods became too busy for us,
     he came to listen to our faltering prayers.
When we would cling to sin in every moment,
     he went to the cross
          so sin would have no voice to call us,
          so death would be left empty-handed.

As we rejoice in his coming to us,
as we remember we would have no hope without him,
we declare that mystery we know as faith:

Christ died, breaking the power of sin;
Christ is risen, breaking the cycle of death;
Christ comes, bringing the power of the gospel for all.

We sing glad songs to you,
God of honor and majesty,
for here at the Table,
you pour out your Spirit
on the gifts of your creation
set apart for sacred use.
The grain of exultant fields
is shaped into the Bread of life,
     which strengthens us to go forth
     to intercede for those who
     are not highly valued by our world,
     yet who need healing and hope.
The fruit of creation's vines
becomes the sweet nectar of grace,
which fills our emptiness until it overflows
into justice for the oppressed,
       release for all held captive,
       recovery for the addicted,
       good news for the broken-hearted.

And when all our times have come to an end,
     when the new seas roar with wonder,
     when newly planted meadows exult with laughter,
     when the trees of life sing for joy,
we will lift our voices with our sisters and brothers,
singing the new songs of eternal life with you,
God in Community, Holy in One.  Amen.

© Thom M. Shuman

Seventh Sunday of Easter - C

Texts: Acts 16:16-34; Psalm 97; Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21; John 17:20-26

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

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

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

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

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

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

Unison Prayer of Confession
   Enslaved to sin, we cannot see the lives we lead, God of Glory.  Each day, and every day, there are those times when we ignore you and your dreams for us.  Each week, and every week, we find the time to ridicule others, when we could have affirmed them.  Each moment, and every moment, though we do not want to admit it, we seek our own way rather than skipping down your path of joy and obedience.
   We come asking forgiveness for our foolish lives, Eternal Blessing.  Deliver us, and break the chains of sin and death which hold us captive.  Open us to that grace you offer, and give us the gift of the Spirit so we may live as people of the Risen Lord, Jesus Christ.

Silence is kept

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

Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of wonder be with you.
And also with you.
Lift your hearts to the One who invites you to this Table, calling, "Come, Come!"
Thirsty for life and hope, we bring our hearts to this feast.
Rejoice in the Lord, all you people!
We sing glad songs of thanks to God's holy name!

Disturbing chaos at the very beginning,
Dawn for the righteous,
you created wonder and beauty.
   Coastlands were filled with life's abundance,
   clouds scudded across the skies,
      justice became the foundation for hope.
Crafted in your image to behold your glory,
   we believed the boasts of worthless idols,
   bowing down to worship sin and death.
Prophets came, speaking your word,
   but we accused them of disturbing our peace.
When you saw your hope
of our returning on our own,
you sent Jesus, who came,
not only on behalf of those who knew him,
but also for all who would believe in him.

So with those who thirst for righteousness,
and with those who hunger for justice,
we lift our voices to you:

Holy, holy, holy, Joy of the upright in heart.
All creation beholds your glory.
Hosanna in the highest!

Blessed is the One who testifies to all things.
Hosanna in the highest!

You are most high over all Creation, Holy One,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, your Joy, our Hope.
You gave him your glory,
   which he shares with all your children.
The Bright Morning Star, he came
   to illumine the shadows of our lives.
Bringing the testimony of your salvation,
   he proclaimed the good news to all who listened.
Desiring that we might be with him wherever he is,
   he went to the cross,
      throwing open death's imprisoning doors,
      that we might have life eternal.

As we celebrate his life and love,
as we testify to his peace and hope,
we witness to that mystery called faith:

Christ died, that we may enter the holy city by the gates;
Christ arose, that we may receive the water of life as a gift;
Christ will come soon, your grace calling us home.

Come, Holy God, come,
pouring out your Spirit upon this feast,
transforming your children
with the simple gifts of the bread and cup.
As we eat of the bread,
we find you within us,
   uniting us, wherever we are divided,
   healing us, where we are broken,
   sending us, when we are reluctant,
      to throw open wide all that imprisons
      our sisters and brothers throughout the world.
As we drink from the cup,
we realize how deeply we know you,
   and will go forth to witness to all around us,
      that the love with which you have loved us
      may be in them, and we in them.

And when the end of all time has come,
when the Alpha and Omega invites us to "come,"
we will gather around your Table in the holy city,
clothed in your grace with all the saints,
we will sing your praises forever and ever,
God in Community, Holy in One.  Amen.

© Thom M. Shuman