These liturgies are based on the readings from the 3-year RCL schedule. PLEASE NOTE: if you are following a link from another blog or site, you may end up at a past post. Current liturgies can be found by clicking on the 'Lectionary Liturgies' title. I post these for folks to use in worship, as they deem appropriate. If you use these posted liturgies on a regular basis, lease, will you consider making a modest donation to my writing ministry. @Thom-Shuman on Venmo
Texts: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 46; Romans 3:19-28; John 8:31-36
Call
to Worship Be still! We
come to quiet ourselves in this haven of holiness. Be still and
know . . . we
come to discern the Word that can set us free. Be still and
know that God is . . . our
Hope, our Help, our Refuge, and our Redeemer.
Prayer
of the Day You break the
cycle of wars, so we may be enriched by your peace; you shatter
the grip of violence, so we may be freed from our fears; you plant your
words of hope deep within us, carving on our
hearts: 'you
are mine.' You give us
the word we need, so we might live in your grace, God of
Creation.
You freely
become one of us, so we could be liberated from our addiction to sin; you take us by
the hand to lead us out of our doubts; you give us
the words we need, so we can continue to share your good news of life, Friend of the
needy. You pull us to
safety when sin's waters swirl around our feet; you surround
us with serenity when doubts rattle our souls; you give us
words we need, whenever we wander onto the paths of trouble, Spirit of
Holiness. God in
Community, Holy in One, you give us
the words we need to pray as
Jesus has taught us, saying, (The Lord's Prayer)
Call
to Reconciliation We can no
longer flatter ourselves about how good we are. We do not need to make
grandstand plays to get God's attention. We only need to confess our lives, as
God makes good on the promises of grace and mercy. Join me as we ask God to
reform us into God's children, praying together,
Unison
Prayer for Forgiveness Heart of the Covenant: we have known your
hopes for us, and disappointed every one of them; we have heard your words of
faithfulness, and forgotten every one of them; we have seen your dreams for us,
and turned every one of them into ashes. Forgive us, Hope's Heart. Silence every
blustering word, so we may hear your mercy; still every feeble attempt to
justify ourselves, so we may be made right with you; melt every frozen heart,
so we might be drenched in your river of joy. May Jesus Christ continue to live
in us, so we might be free to live forever with you. Silence is
kept
Assurance
of Pardon Be still and
know the good news: God has not forsaken nor forgotten us, but redeems us. Why should
we be afraid? God is in our midst - forgiving, restoring, sending. Thanks be to
God! Amen. Prayer of Dedication/Offering They are all around us - the lonely, the fearful, the forgotten, the hurting. We dare not forget them, or forsake them as so many have. Rather, with these gifts we offer, and the lives we will lead, we will go to be in their midst, bringing healing and hope. This we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving May God our
refuge be with you! And also with you! People of God,
lift your hearts to the One who created you. We offer them to God, who writes words of hope
upon our hearts.
God's
children, come to the Table of grace. We will feast on the wonders of the God who
loves us.
You took
creation by the hand, leading it out
of chaos, as the first morning dawned, mountains trembling in the mist, running rivers which gladdened your heart,
God of our lives.
You created
all this for us, giving us
peace and righteousness to be our
playmates in the fields of grace. But when we beheld the works of temptation, sin, and death, we became their slaves, writing their lies on our hearts. Longing to be
our God, you sent the
prophets to call us to
be your people, but we refused to listen. Finally, Jesus
came, the bearer of truth and
freedom for all. With those
whose hearts are broken, and those who
long for your days of peace, we sing our
thanksgiving to you: Holy, holy, holy are you, God who forms our
hearts. All creation finds refuge in your tender care. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is the One who sets us free by your
truth! Hosanna in the highest! You are our
strength, God of holiness, and Jesus
Christ is your Son, our Savior. When our lives
are filled with despair, he is our Hope; when we are
lost and cannot find our way, he is our Help; when the world
closes its doors and heart to us, he is our Refuge; when sin and
death hunger for us, he is our Redeemer, present with
us in this life and in the one
to come. As we remember
his life, death, and resurrection, as he
continues to re-form us into your people, we proclaim
that mystery called faith: Christ died, his heart broken for us; Christ is risen, resurrection written upon his
heart; Christ is ever with us, in every moment, until
your days come. Pour out your
Spirit upon the gifts
of this Table, and upon the
gathered people who seek to be
your faithful people. The bread
symbolizes that Life, though given, which can
reshape our brokenness into the peace
which a warring world needs, the hope which
can bring healing to others. The cup which
is filled with your grace can strengthen
us to be new people, who go forth
to speak truth to power, who bring
freedom to all the oppressed. And when your
days of eternity finally come, when we gather
as your children around the Table of
wonder and life, we will sing
your praises forever and ever, God in
Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending Because God has not forsaken us, we will go to be with all rejected by our world. Because Jesus has not left us alone, we will be sisters and brothers to all who are lonely. Because the Spirit has not forgotten us, we will remember those who are oppressed and work to bring them justice. (c) 2016 Thom M. Shuman
Texts: Joel 2:23-32; Psalm 65; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; Luke 18:9-14 Call to Worship
This is the day the Lord has made: a day for praise and prayer;
a day for gratitude and generosity.
This is the time God has given us: a time for singing and silence;
a time for speaking and listening.
This is the life to which God calls us: a life of humility and service;
a life of faith and trust.
Prayer of the Day
Pour out your Spirit
upon us as we gather,
God of our salvation:
so your grace might strengthen us for service;
so your peace might calm our troubled souls;
so your hope might mend our broken hearts.
You poured out your life that we might be filled with the gift of salvation.
You humbled yourself that we might be raised to eternal life.
Take hold of our hands,
Servant of the world, so we might cross the finish line together.
You are in our midst,
Spirit of wholeness.
You enabled us
to cling to faith, when hope runs through our fingers like sand.
You open the gateways
of our hearts
morning and evening, that we might sing our praises with all creation.
God in Community, Holy in One,
we pour out our hearts to you,
as we pray as Jesus taught us,
(The Lord's Prayer) Call to Reconciliation
When we pray to God, do we do so with pride in what wonderful people we are, or
with that humble hope which recognizes how we have not lived as God’s children,
and how we need God’s forgiveness and grace in our lives? Join me as we pray to
our God, saying,
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness Watching God, like the Pharisee, we
think we can stick our thumbs into life, pull out a prayer, and congratulate
ourselves for being such good Christians. Then, we remember the harsh words we
have spoken this week, the hurt we have inflicted on someone we loved, the lack
of compassion we failed to offer to someone who needed our help. Forgive us, God of Grace, and deal
gently with us. May we become more like the tax collector - humble, penitent,
acknowledging our faulty lives to you. Then, may we receive the mercy promised
to us through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
Forgiven and healed, we open ourselves to the grace, the peace, the hope
offered to us through our loving God. This is the good news we have received! Graced and blessed, we are able to live our lives for others, taking them by
the hand to reach that finish line called the Kingdom. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication/Offering If our lives, our love, our gifts are not shared with others, the words we offer in prayer and praise are hollow. So receive what we offer, Holy God, and bless them in the work of that kingdom which values the people we ridicule, lifts up those we have stepped over, and brings hope and healing to all. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the Lord our God be with you! And also with you!
Rejoice, O children of God, and open your hearts to our God. Our hearts are overflow with the hope God has poured into them.
Rejoice, O children of God, and be glad! We sing to the One who has dealt wondrously with us.
Your heart opened, Amazing God,
and abundant rain flowed forth
on that early morning of creation.
Caring and loving beyond all hope, the earth's floors were filled with grain and the plenty of every good
thing; valleys overflowed with oil and
wine.
Ever ready to crown us with your blessings,
your heart broke as we allowed sin
to cut out your hopes for us, as we welcomed death, who came destroying your intended life for
us.
You sent the prophets into our midst,
to bring us back to live in your courts, but we preferred the hollow promises of temptation and seduction.
So you sent Jesus into our lives,
pouring your Spirit on his flesh,
so we might see you face to face.
So, with those who have finished the race,
with those who are only at the starting line,
we sing our praises to you:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of all.
The gateways of morning and evening shout your joy.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who stands by us, giving us strength.
Hosanna in the highest! Praise is due to you, Holy One,
for there is no other god like you,
and no Lord and Savior like Jesus Christ, who ran the race when we stumbled, who kept the faith when it slipped
through our fingers.
When sin’s unceasing passions
created a drought in our lives, he opened the channels of your river
of life to flow through us, washing us clean and giving us new hopes and dreams.
When death held the deeds of our sins,
threatening to foreclose on our lives, he came to purchase them back, so we might live free and clear
forever.
As we remember how he poured himself out for us,
as we celebrate the new hopes which fill our hearts,
we proclaim that mystery we call faith:
Christ died, rescuing us from every evil;
Christ was raised, saving us for your kingdom;
Christ will come again, to pour your spirit into us.
Pour out your Spirit upon all people gathered
around your Table, filled with the gifts of creation.
From the plenty of the Bread of life, we will be fed until we are hungry to serve your children in every
need;
from the sweet river which flows from the Cup, we will be humbled into your people, that we might exalt all who have
been cast aside by the world around
us.
For here at this Table of grace and joy, little boys and girls will tell
stories of peace and hope; young women and men will envision lands where oppression has been destroyed; old women will recall dreams of justice, and work to turn them into
reality; old men will prepare meals and serve
them to all who hunger in every
place.
And when the time of our departure
comes,
and all who have longed for your appearing
are gathered around your river of life,
we will join our hearts and voices
in praising you forever and ever,
God in Community, Holy in One, Amen. Sending We have offered praise and prayer to our God, who sends us out to offer peace and hope to others. We have heard the call of Jesus in the silence and singing, and we will join him is speaking for the voiceless. Filled by the Spirit with faith and trust, we go to serve others, humbly and lovingly. (c) 2016 Thom M. Shuman
Texts: Jeremiah 31:27-34; Psalm 119:97-104;
2 Timothy 3:14-4:5; Luke 18:1-8
Call to Worship
We have gathered in God's holy presence,
the One who etches grace on our hearts. This is the place where God
will transform us into disciples. We glorify our God,
who yearns for justice,
not just for a favored few, but for the least of our world. This is the place where God
will write compassion on our souls. We give thanks to God for unceasing grace;
we remember God's persistence in saving us. This is the place where God
will breathe the Word into our lives.
Prayer of the Day
Holy God:
with the precious jewel
of holy scripture, you share with us the treasure of your heart.
Engrave your covenant - your hopes, your dreams, your vision, your peace - upon our hearts,
that they might beat
as one with yours.
Holy Word:
ever clear, you keep us from wandering down the wrong paths;
ever longed for, you make us persistent in bringing justice to the lost and to the least;
ever practical, you show us how not to misplace our hearts.
Holy Wisdom:
as you breathe the Word
into our hearts, tutor us in faithfulness
so we are trained in using the tools of justice and hope;
so we are equipped to share the good news with all;
so we become skilled in compassion and grace.
God in Community, Holy in One,
we lift our hearts to you
as we pray as Jesus teaches us, saying,
(The Lord’s Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
Seeking to follow Jesus, we often wander down the wrong roads. Impatient with
God's schedule, we rush off to do things our way. Let us confess our
foolishness, that we might receive God's hope for our lives.
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness Your words are given to us, Author
of Life, so we might be reformed, but we are intent on changing others.Your words are offered to us so we might be
transformed, but we are focused on conforming to our culture. Your words are
spoken to lead us into new life, but we hold our old ways tight to our chests. Forgive us, God of Wonder. Do not
remember our sins, but continue to touch us with your steadfast mercy. Show us
how to be persistent in living out our faith, even as you were so tenacious in
offering us your grace and life in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
Jesus reminds us that we are to be resolute in our lives of faithfulness and
service.The good news is that God is
steadfast in filling us with love and grace. We are forgiven people. May we live as
sisters and brothers in Christ, God's children in word and deed, in hope and
joy. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication/Offering Like your words, O God, the tangible
gifts with which we are blessed are not to be hoarded or hidden away for rainy
days.Rather we offer them so they might
bring healing, hope, grace, and peace to all around us, your children.In Jesus’ name, we pray.Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving May the God of this day and all the
days to come be with you! May God be with you as well! Children of the new covenant, offer
your hearts to God. We open them to the One who writes the good news on them. People of God, join in praising the One
whose Word is within you. Glad songs are sung to the One we know in our deepest souls.
'The days are surely coming,'
you announced to chaos, God of power,
dividing it into morning and night, sowing seeds of humanity and other life into the rich loam of your creation.
You took us by the hand to show us
the place where we might have life, ever feasting on your bounty of
love.
But we drank deeply of sin's sour wine, our teeth set on edge by the sound
of death scraping its fingernails across our
souls.
You sent the prophets to us,
your hopes written on their hearts, but since we did not fear you, we had no respect for them.
So you took Jesus by the hand,
asking him to proclaim the good news
that you would forget our sins,
you would forgive our foolishness.
With all who have wandered from your path,
with all who have the new covenant on their hearts,
we sing our songs of praise to you:
Holy, holy, holy are you, God of
incredible patience.
All creation cries out for your justice.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes to teach your ways.
Hosanna in the highest!
He did not shrink from your command, God of hope,
but obediently, Jesus became one of us
so we might know you face-to-face.
When the law no longer
wanted to be seen with us, he became our constant companion.
Wiser than our enemies, sin and death, he defeated them at the cross, the empty tomb the sign of his
victory.
As we remember his persistence in offering grace to us,
as we celebrate the joy of life with him,
we speak of the mystery we know as faith:
Christ died, for all our sins;
Christ was raised, for all our sakes;
Christ comes, to take us by the hand to lead us into your presence.
As for us, we pray you
to send your Holy Spirit to us,
to bless the gifts of your love
and to transform your gathered people.
What we know, what we believe, we have learned at your knee, gathered up into your lap,
your call to wholeness a taste so wondrous we share it with all who are
broken;
your cup of grace sweeter than the honey of our hopes.
And when we are gathered together
into the kingdom you have built in eternity,
we will join our voices with our sisters and brothers,
crying out to you day and night forever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Texts: Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7; Psalm 66:1-12;2 Timothy 2:8-15; Luke 17:11-19 Call to Worship
Whether we live in an apartment or a house;
if we reside in the suburbs or the city: God tells us to pray for the places where we live. Whether we are exiles or prisoners for the gospel;
if we are young, old, insider, outcast: God says, 'when you search for me, you will find me.' Whether we have been wandering and lost;
or if we have lived in the same place all our lives: God says, 'I will gather you from all your places
and bring you home.
Prayer of the Day
Awesome Creator:
you bring us together in this sanctuary,
calling us from all those places
where we live and work and play,
so we can recognize you in faces lined with wisdom;
so we can hear you in the questions of the smallest
child;
so we can sit up and notice all that you do in our midst.
Cradler of Grace:
you speak your words, so we might hear the sighs of the outsiders of our world. You walk the borderlands
of our joys and sorrows, so we might embrace your healing.
You enter our hearts, despite our best efforts to close them to your presence.
Enduring Spirit:
when we are tempted
to imprison the good news with our politics, our fears, our prejudices, our doubts -
whisper that Word which shatters all chains, and sets us free to be God's people.
God in Community, Holy in One,
we pray as Jesus, our Brother and Savior,
has taught us, saying,
(The Lord's Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
Despite our foolish and angry words, God continues to speak of mercy to us.
Despite our best efforts to be faithless in our living, God remains faithful in
keeping the promise to forgive us and restore us to wholeness.Let us confess our sins to God, so that God's
hope and grace might endure in our brokenness.
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness God beyond borders, we know that on
our way to worship, we may not have noticed the exiles in our neighborhoods. We
admit how easy it is for us to wander down the streets of temptation, pausing
at the corner of easy choices. We fall silent in the presence of those who
speak words of anger and hate. We tolerate a culture that suspects all who are
different from us. Have mercy on us, O God, for surely
you take the side of justice. Open our hearts to all the wonders you are
performing in our lives. You gift us with those of other cultures, that our
lives might be blessed.You send us
friends out of places we least expect, that our community might be enriched.
You call us to be generous with our blessings, so others might be graces with
the gift of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Silence is kept Assurance of Pardon
God challenges us, God encourages us. God confronts us, and God accepts us. God
works wonders in our midst and gives us the eyes, the hearts, the souls to see
such miracles. God forgives us, God guides us through the wilderness of the world, God leads
us home.Thanks be to God. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication/Offering May our gratitude be offered with these gifts in these moments, praying that what we share with others will bring them healing, hope, grace, and peace. We pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of joy be with you. And also with you.
People of God, open your hearts to the One who does wonders for you. We offer our hearts to God, who plants gardens of peace within us.
Children of God, sing praises to the One who leads us to this place. We join all creation in singing our thanks God, our Creator.
On that first glad morning, Architect of glory,
you built the house of creation for us to dwell in with peace as our
neighbor;
you planted gardens in the valleys and meadows that we might be fed by your
goodness.
But we chose to live in death's dim exile,
believing sin would provide a better home.
You sent the prophets to us,
carrying words of promise and hope, but we refused to return to you.
So, seeking the welfare of all creation,
and longing to restore us to wholeness,
you sent Jesus of your heart to us.
With all the earth that worships you,
with all brought to spacious places,
we sing your glory forever:
Holy, holy, holy are you, God of wondrous acts.
All creation rejoices in you.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blesses is the One who remains faithful to you.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, God of peace and hope,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, our Healer.
Your Word sent from glory, he came that we might see what you are doing for us. Your Freedom for all your people, he set free the gospel which shatters the chains of our
oppression.
Your Hope from the foundation of creation, he went through the regions of sin and death that we might enter the wonders of your
kingdom,
singing praises to you as we travel your Way.
As we celebrate our redemption,
as we remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead,
we sing that mystery we call faith:
Christ died, his faith making us well;
Christ was raised, that we might live with him;
Christ will come again, to present us before God. On this glad morning, Loving God,
pour out your Spirit on the gifts of the Table,
and on those who gather at your feast.
As we are strengthened by the Bread of life, send us forth to plant gardens, sharing the harvest with those
who hunger.
As we are nourished by the Cup of hope, give us the tools to build homes for those who live in poverty's
grip.
As we are filled with the Spirit of service, may we have the courage to use our hearts and voices to break the chains of those who live in oppression's exile.
And when that glad morning of resurrection comes,
when we gather with the exiles of every time and place,
our sisters and brothers who were ever faithful,
we will rejoice in you forever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen. Sending Having prayed for the places where we live, we go forth. God sends us into the apartments and homes, into the streets and playgrounds to bring hope. Having gathered with God's people of every age, we go forth. We will join Jesus in serving folks whose birthdays are celebrated in decades, and newborns who are facing poverty and fear. Having shared prayers and songs with friends and strangers, we go forth. We will welcome those who the world forgets but who God loves, as surely as we have been embraced by the Spirit. (c) 2016 Thom M. Shuman
Texts: Lamentations 1:1-6; Lamentations
3:19-26; 2 Timothy 1:1-14; Luke 17:5-10
Call
to Worship In cities like Charlotte and
Tulsa, where lives are lost and voices
are not heard, we
call to mind that faith which is passed on to us, that
justice will speak out for all people. In cities like Aleppo and New
York, where explosions destroy families
and scatter neighbors, we
call to mind that hope which is passed on to us, that
peace and reconciliation will rebuild communities. In neighborhoods not known, in
places never mentioned, where bitter tears are shed and
the lonely walk the streets, we
call to mind that love which we can pass on to
those forgotten by the world, including us.
Prayer of the Day It is not in the hollowness of our fears, but there in the depths of your heart, Singer of Songs, that the notes are written that can reshape our lives, that the melody of hope is
composed.
Seed Planter,
you only did
what you ought to have done:
traveling our lonely cities, listening to the weeping of parents; reaching out to share our burdens.
You enter our hearts to heal them, Spirit of love; you enter our fears to open us to possibilities; you enter our communities to create families; you empty yourself, so we may share the good treasure of hope with all
God in Community, Holy in One,
we lift our prayers as Jesus taught us, (The Lord’s Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
Faith, hope, love have all been passed on to us, not so we can hoard these
gifts for ourselves, but so we might share them with others.Let us lift our prayers to the One who is
always ready to place forgiveness in our hearts, as we tell how we have not
done this in our lives.
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness We think if we turn off the media,
we will not need to listen to the voices of our neighbors, God of all the
world.We are blessed with family and
friends, and so do not know the lonely.We are at ease in a world which is troubled, and so do not notice the
bitter tears of others.Because we are
people of affluence and privilege, we cannot understand those who are broken by
the anger and brutality of the world. Yet, you know, God of the sufferers.You hear the cries of those living in
oppression, and call us to listen.Your
tears mingle with those whose children lie mangled or dead in war zones, and
would have us be peacemakers.Your
faithfulness is great, when ours seems so futile, yet you would have us serve
the world alongside your Child, Jesus, even as he served us with his life and
gifts.Amen. Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
Call this to mind: God is ever faithful; hope is the gift passed on to us, love
is the gift we can share with others; God’s mercies never come to an end. Great
is God’s faithfulness to all people, in all places. Thanks be to God, who has
given us the promise of life in Christ Jesus our Lord! Amen.
Prayer
of Dedication/Offering We are here, because of those
who passed on their faith to us.We are
generous, because God has blessed us with gifts beyond imagination.We would pass on these gifts, as well as hope
and love, as we offer them to our God, in the name of Jesus.Amen.
Great
Prayer of Thanksgiving
May God be with you. And also with you.
People of God, lift up your hearts. We lift them to the One who cradles our
hearts in loving hands. People of God, let us give thanks to the God who sets a Table for us. We praise the Lord our God who welcomes
us with open arms.
How lonely was chaos, Gardener
of the Universe, until you spoke a Word, and
your Spirit created: leaves that burnish gold and red in autumn, snow that drifts lazily in winter skies, frozen brooks that burst in spring, ponds splashing with children in summer. You planted the seeds of joy in
our ancestors hoping they would pass them
onto us, but they walked sin’s lonely streets and drank the bitter tears death offered. Though the prophets came to remind us of your great
faithfulness, we continued to feast on the wormwood and gall offered by the world.
But you would not forget us, and so sent Jesus to bring us
home to you. Therefore we join our voices, as we sing of your mercies made fresh in every moment
Sung: (tune: Bunessan 5.5.5.4D) God of Creation, Lord of all beauty,
All creatures join in singing your love;
Holy Compassion, Joy of our mornings,
Fill us with grace which comes from above.
You alone are holy, heart
Speaker, and we are blessed through
Jesus, life’s Promise. When we would wander the lonely
streets of the world, he would take us by the hand, to lead us into your joy.
When others would pass on bitterness and hate to us, he fills us with the gifts of hope and love. Splashing in sin's puddles, he washed our feet and dried them with his love, leading us into the kingdom.
Daughters of despair, sons of sadness,
orphans of woe - he gathers us all up in his arms of mercy wiping out death, and sits us down at the family Table.
As we remember his grace and love,
as we dare not forget his sacrifice for us,
we sing of that mystery we call faith:
Sung: Christ of the outcast, Comfort of
mourners,
Neighbor to strangers, Love without end;
Bearer of burdens, Grace ever with us,
Blessing our children, Brother and Friend.
Holy Spirit,
as we offer the gifts
of the bread and the cup
for your blessing,
so we present ourselves: our accomplishments, our failings, our hopes, our realities.
Make us weak, so we might rely on your strength.
As we have heard the Word, may we listen to the cries of the poor.
As we are family
with those sitting beside us today, may we love our sisters and brothers in every corner of creation.
As you hold out
the bread and the cup to us, may we reach out to enemies to clasp hands as friends.
God in Community, Holy in One,
all honor and glory are yours,
as we sing our praises through all eternity:
Sung: Spirit of kindness, Breath of
forgiveness,
Faithful Companion, just as Christ said;
God's little children gathered together,
Drink of salvation, feast on your Bread.
Call to Worship
The word has come for us from God: who promises to shelter us under the wings of hope and grace.
The word has come to us from Jesus: who encourages us to remember the good news we have received.
The word flows to us from the Spirit: who reminds us to place our hope and trust in God.
Prayer of the Day
When we fall into the traps
of groundless fears, you deliver us.
When an epidemic of worry
threatens to overcome us, you protect us.
When harmful words
are flung at us, you answer our cries for help. Gracious God,
we worship you.
When our lives crumble, you urge us to buy hope's fields.
When we are tempted by wealth, you point us to those who have nothing but share
everything.
When we are eager
to grasp senseless lies, you wrap our hands around God's promises.
Servant of the poor,
we follow you.
When the world silences our hope, you give us the words to make the good confession of faith.
When we have lost our way
and can no longer endure
the emptiness of our lives, you satisfy us from the abundance of God's grace and joy.
Sheltering Spirit,
we seek your peace.
God in Community, Holy in One,
our Refuge, our Trust, our Hope,
we lift our prayer to you
as Jesus has taught us, saying, (The Lord's Prayer)
Call to Reconciliation
In God's presence, our lives are exposed, our words are shown for their
hollowness, our need is revealed.Let us
confess who we are, as we ask God to embrace us with grace and hope.
Unison Prayer for Forgiveness We need to confess, God of Abraham
and Lazarus, how often we are not content with the simple gifts and lives you
offer. Tempted by everything, we can become insensitive to those who have
nothing. Encouraged by the world to accumulate more, we may miss the chance to
gather your goodness and godliness. Chasing after all which has no value, we
may not have the energy to pursue the faith, the love, the gentleness you have
for us. Forgive us, God of Reversals. You have sent the One who speaks the words
we need to listen to in order to have life.Help us to remember how you have redeemed us, and in remembering, may we
make that good confession that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior, now and
forever. Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
This is the good news that comes from God: I will hear your prayers, I will
answer with hope and peace, I will deliver you from your sins. God has covered us with grace; under God's hope we will find shelter. Thanks be
to God. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication/Offering May our gifts this day go to serve those who need healing, those who are hungry, those who need a friend or community, and those who are on the other side of that chasm we call indifference. We may not always notice them, but you do, and so we pray that they might be touched by your grace and hope. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May God our refuge be with you! And also with you! Open your hearts to the One who watches
over you. We lift our hearts to God, who covers
us with grace. Sing to the One whose faithfulness wraps
around you like a warm shawl. Our voices unite in praise to God, in
whom we trust.
In your presence, life-shaping God,
your heart besieged chaos, planting hope and joy where there was only despair, bringing forth fields of flowers where there was only emptiness.
You created us in your image,
signing the deed for all creation,
and sealing it for us, the Word
and Spirit witnesses to your generosity. But we sought shelter in sin, choosing to live in the shadow of
death.
You called to us through the prophets,
but we did not answer.
Determined to rescue us,
you sent Jesus to us,
bring hope and grace and mercy
to us once again.
So, with those who have trusted you
in every time and place, we join
our voices with our sisters and brothers, singing your glad praises:
Holy, holy, holy are you, God of faithfulness.
All creation takes hold of your life.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who dwells in unapproachable light.
Hosanna in the highest!
King of Kings,
Jesus humbled himself as our servant, bringing everything we need into our
world.
Lord of Lords,
he set aside eternal glory with you, to take on our fleeting life.
Brother to the poor,
he turned from the riches of heaven, to offer the wealth of your mercy to
all.
Bearer of your good news,
he bore witness to Pilate
and all who rejected him, of your grace which is stronger than
death, your love with defeats evil, your redemption that gives new life.
As we remember Jesus' faithfulness in life,
as we celebrate his victory over death,
we would speak of that mystery we know as faith:
Christ died, enduring the cross;
Christ was raised, taking hold of eternal life;
Christ will come, giving new life to all things.
Here, in the shelter of your grace,
surrounded by the gifts of the bread and the cup;
here, in the shadow of your love
which stretches through all creation
and touches your children everywhere,
we pray that you would pour out
your Spirit of peace, of hope, of joy.
As we are strengthened by the life
shared with us by the Broken One, we would go forth to live out our
faith, satisfying the hunger of the world for reconciliation and for
freedom. As we take hold of the Cup of life,
we will not fear the terrors that besiege us, but journey on in trust and
obedience, pursuing righteousness and
justice for all.
And when all life has ended and your Word calls to us,
at that time we will gather with our sisters and brothers
around the Table of wonder and mercy you have prepared,
forever singing our praises to you,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
Sending God sends us from this place with a word of hope. We will offer the shelter of grace to all in need. Jesus sends us out with the word of life. We will seek to share community with those we will meet. The Spirit sends us into a world which longs for justice. We will trust that God's freedom will be offered to all people.
