Texts: Genesis 11:1-9; Psalm 104:24-34, 35b; Acts 2:1-21; John
14:8-27
Call to Worship
L: The Day of Pentecost is here! God's children have gathered in this place:
P: we are transformed into God's
family by God's Spirit joining with ours.
L: Come, Spirit of
adoption, and open our hearts to our sisters and brothers:
P: Come,
Holy Spirit!
L: Come, Spirit of peace, and calm our trembling hearts:
P:
Come, Holy Spirit!
L: Come, Breath of God, and overturn our conventional
lives:
P: Come, Holy Spirit!
Prayer of the Day
Holy God,
Keeper
of promises:
you fill the empty aching of our lives
with the comfort
of your presence;
you rejoice in us as your children
even when we
throw temper tantrums;
you re-energize us with your grace
when we
become most settled.
Jesus Christ,
Giver of peace:
we are not
orphans of this world,
but claimed as your sisters and brothers;
you
do not give up on us,
but give yourself for our sakes;
you show us
the path to God,
when we have lost our way.
Holy
Spirit,
Gentle Teacher:
you go to bat for us
when we are in a
slump;
you whisper the language of faith
when we have forgotten the
words;
you re-member us
when we are most fragmented.
Heart of
our hearts,
Flesh of our flesh,
Spirit of our spirits:
hear us as we
pray as one people, saying,
Our Father...
Call to Reconciliation
It
is easy to assume we are on our own; Jesus has left us behind to take care
of things. But if we rely only on ourselves, we quickly fall into lives that
do not reflect faithfulness. Like the first believers, we can join our
voices, praying that God's Spirit will come to us, bringing grace and hope. Join me as we pray,
Unison Prayer of Confession
It is never
easy for us to enter this time of confession, Abba God, for we have trouble
believing our failures, our lives, our sins compare in any way to the evil
and violence of our world. Yet our hearts are troubled when we think of how
we feast on the pain of others; we are dismayed when we remember how we turn
away from those in need; we are afraid to be totally dependent on
you.
Forgive us, Gracious God. In your mercy, gather us up and embrace
us with your love. Open our hearts to receive your Spirit that we might live
more faithful lives. Fill us with the peace of Jesus Christ, our Lord and
Savior, in whose name we pray.
Silence is kept
Assurance of
Pardon
L: God's Spirit prays with us and for us; God's hope strengthens us
in times of weakness; God's grace heals our brokenness.
P: God's
forgiveness restores us to new life and new service. Thanks be to God, to
whom we sing our praises for ever and ever. Amen.
Great Prayer of
Thanksgiving
L: May the Lord of Pentecost be with you!
P: And also with
you.
L: People of Pentecost, lift your hearts to the Spirit moving in your
midst.
P: We open our hearts to the Breath of God who fills us with hope
and grace.
L: Daughters and sons of the Holy One, lift your joy to our
God.
P: We sing the song of Pentecost in the language of every heart -
praise and thanksgiving to our God on every tongue!
In the shadows of
chaos you breathed,
Creator God,
your Spirit moving over the waters of
life.
You opened your hands,
filling all creation with goodness and
beauty.
You gathered up earth's dust,
shaping us in your
image,
filling our lungs with Spirit's life.
But drunk on the new
wine
of human arrogance and desire,
we listened to the competing
voices
of evil, sin and death,
believing they alone spoke
the truth.
With sighs too deep for words,
you continued to call us
home,
speaking through teachers and prophets.
When we hid our
faces,
you looked upon us in compassion,
sending Jesus Christ to restore
us to life.
And so, with your people here on earth,
with the great
company of heaven,
in every language, and in every heart,
we glorify your
name, praising you:
P: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of wondrous
works.
All creation is full of your love and grace.
Hosanna in
the highest!
Blessed is the One who sends the Advocate to
us.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, God beginnings and
endings,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, our Lord.
At his baptism,
Spirit named him your Beloved;
in the wilderness,
Spirit strengthened
him to withstand
the seductive words of the Evil
One;
Spirit-anointed for ministry,
Jesus sang good news to the
poor,
set free those imprisoned in despair,
gave sight
to the blind, fed the hungry,
blessed the little
children,
and ate with sinners.
When his service of tender
mercies was finished,
he went to the Cross,
suffering and dying for
all humanity,
and was raised to new life,
as a promise to all your
children.
As we come to this Table,
we remember his promise to always
be with us.
Baptized by the Holy Spirit,
and purified in the fire of
obedience,
we sing of that faith which is ours:
P: Christ died,
crying "Abba! Father!"
Christ is risen, giving us peace.
Christ
will return, glorifying God.
As Christ promised,
you have poured out
your Holy Spirit
upon your daughters and sons,
and upon the
gifts of this blessed Table.
As we offer our thanks to you
for the gift of
the Spirit
in our lives and in the world,
may the flames of
Pentecost
kindle compassion in our hearts;
may the tongues of
fire
ignite our calls for justice for all people;
may the good news
which is shared
in every place and in every tongue
unite us in
service to others,
and to lives of faith in you.
Then, when
the groaning of creation
turns into glad songs of praise,
and all people
gather around your Table
on that great and glorious Day,
we will sing our
joy to you through all eternity,
God in Community, Holy in One.
Amen.
© Thom M. Shuman
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Sunday, May 05, 2013
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
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
Ascension Day
Call to Worship
We gather in this place,
some empty, some filled, some whole, some broken:
yearning for the Holy Spirit to fill us.
We come, with these ordinary people, who have shown us the way:
trusting that God will continue to illumine our hearts.
We surround the Table of grace, so we might be fed by the Bread of life:
that graced, we may serve others;
that healed, we may bring hope to the world.
Prayer of the Day
Exalted God,
you are the constant lover
who never forsakes us;
you are the mother
who cradles her children,
you are the teacher
patiently repeating your words for us.
We worship you.
Jesus Christ:
in you
we are convinced
God loves us;
through you,
we are formed
into your people;
with you,
we serve those
the world has forgotten.
We follow you.
Holy Spirit:
you are the power
that gives us peace;
you are the wisdom
that reveals the broken
in our midst;
you are the spokesperson
of the voiceless
to whom we are deaf.
We welcome you.
God in Community, Holy in One,
we lift our prayers to you
as Jesus taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
Called to proclaim repentance, we are reluctant to look at our own failings. Invited to witness to God's loving forgiveness of sins, we would rather not speak aloud of our own. Let us trust in the One who offers us hope and healing, as we pray together, saying,
Unison Prayer of Confession
You call us to proclaim a gospel we find difficult to practice, God Most High. We watch our clocks to make sure we spend more time with ourselves than with you. We are hesitant to witness to your power from on high, as we are uncertain of your presence in our lives.
Forgive us, God of Light. Fill us with the healing presence of your Spirit, that we may proclaim your good news, as we participate in the life and suffering of our world, as did your Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
Choosing to set aside judgment, God gives us justice; choosing to let go of punishment, God fills us with peace; choosing to release anger, God's steadfast love rests upon us.
Forgiven, redeemed, restored - we will tell everyone, through the lives we lead, what God has done for us. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
The Ascended Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts to the One who gives us a spirit of wisdom.
We offer our hearts to Jesus who opens God's words to us.
Clap your hands, God's people! Sing songs of praise to our God!
We sing praises to the One who blesses and blesses us!
We do indeed lift loud songs of joy to you,
Awesome God!
Everything in heaven, and on earth,
provides all the proof we need
of your goodness and mercy.
But closing our hearts to such evidence,
we looked to our own wisdom,
devising foolish ways to save ourselves.
Patiently you waited, hoping
we would return to you,
but when you could no longer wait,
you came to us
in your Word made flesh and blood.
Therefore, with all your people
of every time and every place,
we sing our glad songs to you:
Holy, holy, holy, Sovereign over all the earth.
The riches of your glorious creation forever praise you.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who will return to us.
Hosanna in the highest!
All glory is due to you, God on High,
and blessings on your Son,
our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Stripping himself of glory
he came that we might be clothed
in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Wearing the thorny crown of death,
he is the Head of all the Church,
his Body made whole for the world.
As we remember his life, his service,
his death, his resurrection, his ascension,
we speak of that mystery called faith:
Christ died to reveal salvation for us;
Christ arose to reveal resurrection life for us;
Christ ascended and will return to reveal glory to us.
We will not stop giving thanks to you,
Generous and Wonderful God,
as we pray that you
would pour out your Holy Spirit
upon your children gathered at the Table,
and upon the gifts of the bread and the cup.
We are filled with Christ's presence,
so we may go to empty ourselves:
telling your story of grace and hope,
carrying your mercy to those
who cannot forgive themselves,
pouring cups of cold water,
embracing the untouchables of our time.
Then, when we gather at your feast in glory,
seated with our sisters and brothers from all time,
we will clap our hands, shouting our joy to you,
God in Community, Holy in One,
now and forevermore. Amen.
(c) Thom M. Shuman
Sunday, April 28, 2013
6th Sunday of Easter - C
Texts: Acts 16:9-15; Psalm 67; Revelation 21:10, 22 - 22:5; John
14:23-39
Call to Worship
L: God calls us to this place, a haven for healing and hope.
P: We come, with the pain of our burdens,
we come to hear God's Word of hope for us.
L: Together, we will sing songs of joy;
each of us will hear God whisper our name,
'Beloved of my heart.'
P: We join our voices in prayer and praise;
we sing of our longing for new lives.
L: Here, our shadowed corners are filled with Light;
here we discover that God dwells in us.
P: And not just us, for God would teach all to love;
God's Spirit would lead all peoples in peace.
Prayer of the Day
Lord God the Almighty,
you bless us with all
that you have created:
you teach us to swim
in the bright crystal water of life;
you cook breakfast for us
in that eternal city;
you open your heart to us
and will never close its door.
We worship you.
Jesus Christ, Lamb of God:
you stand at the door,
your hand on the knob,
your coat over your arm,
ready to go away.
Yet you do not leave us
trouble-hearted,
but fill our emptiness with your peace.
We praise you.
Holy Spirit, God-sent Gift:
you come to our defense
when we are falsely accused;
you rescue us
from the school yard bully
who always picks on us;
you sit by our beds
and comfort us
when the nightmares of life
keep us awake.
We open our hearts to you.
God in Community, Holy in One,
we sing for joy to you, even as we pray with all people
as Jesus taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
How easy we can learn of God's love - but how hard it is to live it! The
world distracts us with its easy choices, while we know how intentional we
must be to love one another. Join me as we confess our failures to love and
we open our hearts to God, saying,
Unison Prayer of Confession
Because you dwell in our hearts, Eternal God, you know how the anger,
the pain, the bitterness of our lives try to crowd you out. The noise of the
world deafens us to that Word which can heal us. We want our children to be
good, kind, and gentle to others, and then they hear us call others names,
and speak of them with demeaning words. Our desire for revenge towards those
who have hurt us shows that your peace, indeed, is not in us.
You promise a new heaven and a new earth, so create new spirits and new
lives within us, Healing God. Shattered by our sin, your heart can still
heal our brokenness. Your Spirit, living deep within our souls, can teach us
faithful ways. Your Word, Jesus Christ our Lord, whispers to us of your
mercy, your hope, your love.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: The Word which can transform us is not some idle gossip, but good news
for us. It fills us with forgiveness, equips us for service, and sends us
forth to love others as God loves us.
P: In our midst, the Holy Spirit teaches us all we need to know, gives us
what we need in order to be faithful, and fills us with peace. Thanks be to
God. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: May God be gracious to you.
P: And also to you.
L: Children of God, offer your hearts to the One who saves you.
P: We open our hearts to the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end of hope, life, grace.
L: As God's people, sing for joy to the One who is with you.
P: We join all creation in lifting our praises to our God.
God of all beginnings,
you spoke a Word, your Spirit acted,
calling forth the first heaven and the first earth.
Rivers teeming with life flowed to the seas,
holiness roamed the hills and valleys,
peace was planted deep in the heart of creation.
To your children created in your image,
you made the promise to be our God,
but we heard sin and death calling to us
and crossed the boundary into their power.
You did not turn your face away from us
but longing to be gracious to us,
you sent your messengers to invite us
back to your heart, where we might live.
When we continued in our foolish ways,
you sent Jesus to us, in your name,
to remind us of all the promises you have made.
So, with those who have been called home to you,
and with those who continue to journey your way,
we join the peoples in praising you:
P: Holy, holy, holy, God whose face shines upon us.
All the ends of the earth bless your name.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes to give us peace.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, God who makes all things new,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, our Joy, our Savior.
Hearing our cries for help in the dark nights of the soul,
he came bringing the light of your love;
finding us living in sin's squalor,
he came to make a home for us;
Going to the cross for us,
he went into death's cold tomb,
so we might not be afraid,
but cradled in the warmth
of the power of the resurrection.
As we remember his promise to always be with us,
as we celebrate his saving power among all nations,
we speak of that mystery we call faith:
P: Christ died, so death would be no more;
Christ rose, so the first things might pass away;
Christ went away, and will come to us to take us back to you.
Here at this table of grace and wonder,
where the simple gifts you have prepared
are set aside for sacred use,
your Spirit is poured out upon them
and your children gathered in this place of prayer.
As we eat of the bread broken for us,
we feast on the promises that one day pain will be no more,
that our tears will mingle with the waters of life.
As we drink deeply from the cup of peace,
we are filled with the joy of your grace,
and hearing the cries of those around us,
we go forth to serve them with your hope and justice.
And when the first things have passed away,
when we wander down the streets of the new Jerusalem,
we will find you waiting for us,
our sisters and brothers gathered together
around the Table of glory and wonder,
where we will sing our praises to you forever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
© Thom M. Shuman
Call to Worship
L: God calls us to this place, a haven for healing and hope.
P: We come, with the pain of our burdens,
we come to hear God's Word of hope for us.
L: Together, we will sing songs of joy;
each of us will hear God whisper our name,
'Beloved of my heart.'
P: We join our voices in prayer and praise;
we sing of our longing for new lives.
L: Here, our shadowed corners are filled with Light;
here we discover that God dwells in us.
P: And not just us, for God would teach all to love;
God's Spirit would lead all peoples in peace.
Prayer of the Day
Lord God the Almighty,
you bless us with all
that you have created:
you teach us to swim
in the bright crystal water of life;
you cook breakfast for us
in that eternal city;
you open your heart to us
and will never close its door.
We worship you.
Jesus Christ, Lamb of God:
you stand at the door,
your hand on the knob,
your coat over your arm,
ready to go away.
Yet you do not leave us
trouble-hearted,
but fill our emptiness with your peace.
We praise you.
Holy Spirit, God-sent Gift:
you come to our defense
when we are falsely accused;
you rescue us
from the school yard bully
who always picks on us;
you sit by our beds
and comfort us
when the nightmares of life
keep us awake.
We open our hearts to you.
God in Community, Holy in One,
we sing for joy to you, even as we pray with all people
as Jesus taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
How easy we can learn of God's love - but how hard it is to live it! The
world distracts us with its easy choices, while we know how intentional we
must be to love one another. Join me as we confess our failures to love and
we open our hearts to God, saying,
Unison Prayer of Confession
Because you dwell in our hearts, Eternal God, you know how the anger,
the pain, the bitterness of our lives try to crowd you out. The noise of the
world deafens us to that Word which can heal us. We want our children to be
good, kind, and gentle to others, and then they hear us call others names,
and speak of them with demeaning words. Our desire for revenge towards those
who have hurt us shows that your peace, indeed, is not in us.
You promise a new heaven and a new earth, so create new spirits and new
lives within us, Healing God. Shattered by our sin, your heart can still
heal our brokenness. Your Spirit, living deep within our souls, can teach us
faithful ways. Your Word, Jesus Christ our Lord, whispers to us of your
mercy, your hope, your love.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: The Word which can transform us is not some idle gossip, but good news
for us. It fills us with forgiveness, equips us for service, and sends us
forth to love others as God loves us.
P: In our midst, the Holy Spirit teaches us all we need to know, gives us
what we need in order to be faithful, and fills us with peace. Thanks be to
God. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
L: May God be gracious to you.
P: And also to you.
L: Children of God, offer your hearts to the One who saves you.
P: We open our hearts to the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end of hope, life, grace.
L: As God's people, sing for joy to the One who is with you.
P: We join all creation in lifting our praises to our God.
God of all beginnings,
you spoke a Word, your Spirit acted,
calling forth the first heaven and the first earth.
Rivers teeming with life flowed to the seas,
holiness roamed the hills and valleys,
peace was planted deep in the heart of creation.
To your children created in your image,
you made the promise to be our God,
but we heard sin and death calling to us
and crossed the boundary into their power.
You did not turn your face away from us
but longing to be gracious to us,
you sent your messengers to invite us
back to your heart, where we might live.
When we continued in our foolish ways,
you sent Jesus to us, in your name,
to remind us of all the promises you have made.
So, with those who have been called home to you,
and with those who continue to journey your way,
we join the peoples in praising you:
P: Holy, holy, holy, God whose face shines upon us.
All the ends of the earth bless your name.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes to give us peace.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, God who makes all things new,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, our Joy, our Savior.
Hearing our cries for help in the dark nights of the soul,
he came bringing the light of your love;
finding us living in sin's squalor,
he came to make a home for us;
Going to the cross for us,
he went into death's cold tomb,
so we might not be afraid,
but cradled in the warmth
of the power of the resurrection.
As we remember his promise to always be with us,
as we celebrate his saving power among all nations,
we speak of that mystery we call faith:
P: Christ died, so death would be no more;
Christ rose, so the first things might pass away;
Christ went away, and will come to us to take us back to you.
Here at this table of grace and wonder,
where the simple gifts you have prepared
are set aside for sacred use,
your Spirit is poured out upon them
and your children gathered in this place of prayer.
As we eat of the bread broken for us,
we feast on the promises that one day pain will be no more,
that our tears will mingle with the waters of life.
As we drink deeply from the cup of peace,
we are filled with the joy of your grace,
and hearing the cries of those around us,
we go forth to serve them with your hope and justice.
And when the first things have passed away,
when we wander down the streets of the new Jerusalem,
we will find you waiting for us,
our sisters and brothers gathered together
around the Table of glory and wonder,
where we will sing our praises to you forever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
© Thom M. Shuman
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Fifth Sunday of Easter - C
Texts: Acts 11:1-18; Psalm 148; Revelation 21:1-6; John 13:31-35
Call to Worship
Praise God, all people!
Praise the Lord, all creation!
whales doing backflips in the air,
squid and octopi dancing on the ocean floor;
giant redwoods stretching to the sky,
tomato vines cuddling around a stake.
Mountains blocking the sunrise,
moles tunneling through our front lawns;
5-year-olds sitting in a story-time circle,
grandparents singing 'their song.'
Redbuds decorating our backyard,
grass growing faster than our children;
seals getting a suntan on the rocks,
teenagers knotted together at church.
Praise the Lord, all creation!
Praise God, all people!
Prayer of the Day
Vision-Giving God,
when you put bandages
on skinned knees;
when you hold the hand
of a teenager
grieving unrequited love;
when you wipe away the tears
of parents at graduation day:
you show us
your new creation.
Brother to little children,
when you hang out
with the world's outcasts;
when you stay a little longer
with those we rush past;
when you will not take sides
in our petty little games:
you show us
the new earth.
Holy Spirit,
when you turn on the
'no vacancy' sign
as death comes our way;
when mourning becomes
a distant memory;
when pain is found
only in dusty history books:
you show us
the new heaven.
God in Community, Holy in One,
make us new,
as we pray as Jesus teaches, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
We show others who we are by the lives we lead, the words we speak, the actions we undertake. Let us confess how we have not been God's little children, when we fail to love as we have been loved.
Unison Prayer of Confession
Who are we to get in your way, Holy God? We put people into neat, little boxes, but you rip them open, so folks can dance in your joy. We imprison others with our unmet expectations, and you set them free with a Word. We build walls around those we don't know, and you tear them down, so they can run wild in the kingdom.
Who are we to get in your way, Saving Power, especially in the way of your forgiveness offered to all! Give us your vision that sees everyone as equal - forgiven, graced, loved - even as we seek to follow our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: We know who God is by the love shown to us in Christ Jesus.
P: We will show others who we are - and Whose we are - by the loved poured
out by our lives. Thanks be to God, we are forgiven! Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May God be with you.
And also with you.
Little children, lift your hearts to God.
We lift them to the One who loves us forever.
Let us glorify the One who has raised Jesus to new life.
We sing praises to God, who makes all things new.
You commanded, Holy God,
and chaos yielded to your Word,
so all that is beautiful and good
might be created by your grace.
The sun and moon were shaped
so we would have days and nights
in which to praise you,
but we spent our time
denying your dreams for us,
living each moment for ourselves.
You fixed the boundaries for your Garden,
where we could have life and joy with you,
but we chose to play
on the garbage dumps of sin.
You told the prophets to 'Go!'
to bring your vision
of healing and restoration,
but we thought them to be fools,
standing on the edges of our lives.
When we had decided
to have nothing to do with you,
you chose to become one of us,
living, calling, creating once again
through Jesus the Christ.
Therefore, with those around the Throne,
and with those in every time and place,
we sing our praises to you:
Holy, holy, holy, God who makes all things new.
The height, the depth, the breadth, the width of creation praises you.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes, the Alpha and Omega.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, Creator of the Universe,
and blessed is Jesus, your Son, our Lord.
When he could have left us
to deal with sin and death on our own,
he came to live with us;
when he could have chosen
the path to power and fame,
he walked the deadly road to Calvary;
when he could have called down
the angels to save him,
he cried out for forgiveness
for all your children.
When you could have left him
alone and forsaken in the grave,
you graced him with new life.
So as we sing our Easter Alleluias,
we echo that mystery we call faith:
Christ died, that death would be defeated.
Christ is risen, that God would be glorified.
Christ will come again, that we would be led to life.
Pour out your Spirit
upon this Bread and this Cup, O God,
that they might become
your grace and peace for us,
so we might become your servants
of hope and joy to our world.
As we come to your Table,
remind us of your promises
that when the sea is no more,
you will flood us with your grace;
that when the earth is a hollow husk,
you will walk with us
through the streets
of the New Jerusalem;
that when the sun, moon, and stars
have burned out in space,
the Light of your love
will shine for us forever.
And when we sit down
at the Feast of the Lamb,
receiving grace from those we loved,
and passing it on to those we feared
until all people are served,
we will sing with one heart and voice:
"Glory to the One who makes all things new - even us;
Glory to the One who comes in the name of the Lord - for us;
Glory to the One who makes no distinction - among us!'
Glory to God in Three Persons, now and forever. Amen.
© Thom M. Shuman
Call to Worship
Praise God, all people!
Praise the Lord, all creation!
whales doing backflips in the air,
squid and octopi dancing on the ocean floor;
giant redwoods stretching to the sky,
tomato vines cuddling around a stake.
Mountains blocking the sunrise,
moles tunneling through our front lawns;
5-year-olds sitting in a story-time circle,
grandparents singing 'their song.'
Redbuds decorating our backyard,
grass growing faster than our children;
seals getting a suntan on the rocks,
teenagers knotted together at church.
Praise the Lord, all creation!
Praise God, all people!
Prayer of the Day
Vision-Giving God,
when you put bandages
on skinned knees;
when you hold the hand
of a teenager
grieving unrequited love;
when you wipe away the tears
of parents at graduation day:
you show us
your new creation.
Brother to little children,
when you hang out
with the world's outcasts;
when you stay a little longer
with those we rush past;
when you will not take sides
in our petty little games:
you show us
the new earth.
Holy Spirit,
when you turn on the
'no vacancy' sign
as death comes our way;
when mourning becomes
a distant memory;
when pain is found
only in dusty history books:
you show us
the new heaven.
God in Community, Holy in One,
make us new,
as we pray as Jesus teaches, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
We show others who we are by the lives we lead, the words we speak, the actions we undertake. Let us confess how we have not been God's little children, when we fail to love as we have been loved.
Unison Prayer of Confession
Who are we to get in your way, Holy God? We put people into neat, little boxes, but you rip them open, so folks can dance in your joy. We imprison others with our unmet expectations, and you set them free with a Word. We build walls around those we don't know, and you tear them down, so they can run wild in the kingdom.
Who are we to get in your way, Saving Power, especially in the way of your forgiveness offered to all! Give us your vision that sees everyone as equal - forgiven, graced, loved - even as we seek to follow our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
L: We know who God is by the love shown to us in Christ Jesus.
P: We will show others who we are - and Whose we are - by the loved poured
out by our lives. Thanks be to God, we are forgiven! Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May God be with you.
And also with you.
Little children, lift your hearts to God.
We lift them to the One who loves us forever.
Let us glorify the One who has raised Jesus to new life.
We sing praises to God, who makes all things new.
You commanded, Holy God,
and chaos yielded to your Word,
so all that is beautiful and good
might be created by your grace.
The sun and moon were shaped
so we would have days and nights
in which to praise you,
but we spent our time
denying your dreams for us,
living each moment for ourselves.
You fixed the boundaries for your Garden,
where we could have life and joy with you,
but we chose to play
on the garbage dumps of sin.
You told the prophets to 'Go!'
to bring your vision
of healing and restoration,
but we thought them to be fools,
standing on the edges of our lives.
When we had decided
to have nothing to do with you,
you chose to become one of us,
living, calling, creating once again
through Jesus the Christ.
Therefore, with those around the Throne,
and with those in every time and place,
we sing our praises to you:
Holy, holy, holy, God who makes all things new.
The height, the depth, the breadth, the width of creation praises you.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who comes, the Alpha and Omega.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, Creator of the Universe,
and blessed is Jesus, your Son, our Lord.
When he could have left us
to deal with sin and death on our own,
he came to live with us;
when he could have chosen
the path to power and fame,
he walked the deadly road to Calvary;
when he could have called down
the angels to save him,
he cried out for forgiveness
for all your children.
When you could have left him
alone and forsaken in the grave,
you graced him with new life.
So as we sing our Easter Alleluias,
we echo that mystery we call faith:
Christ died, that death would be defeated.
Christ is risen, that God would be glorified.
Christ will come again, that we would be led to life.
Pour out your Spirit
upon this Bread and this Cup, O God,
that they might become
your grace and peace for us,
so we might become your servants
of hope and joy to our world.
As we come to your Table,
remind us of your promises
that when the sea is no more,
you will flood us with your grace;
that when the earth is a hollow husk,
you will walk with us
through the streets
of the New Jerusalem;
that when the sun, moon, and stars
have burned out in space,
the Light of your love
will shine for us forever.
And when we sit down
at the Feast of the Lamb,
receiving grace from those we loved,
and passing it on to those we feared
until all people are served,
we will sing with one heart and voice:
"Glory to the One who makes all things new - even us;
Glory to the One who comes in the name of the Lord - for us;
Glory to the One who makes no distinction - among us!'
Glory to God in Three Persons, now and forever. Amen.
© Thom M. Shuman
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Fourth Sunday of Easter - C
Texts:
Acts 9:36-43; Psalm 23; Revelation 7:9-17; John 10:22-30
Call to Worship
We gather in the presence of God,
where grieving people and children with skinned knees
have their tears wiped away.
We gather with the people of God,
who worship the One who provides what we need, not just what we want.
We gather around the Font and Table of God,
where God feeds us with grace and wonder,
where God pours the living waters upon us.
Prayer of the Day
Lead us, God of goodness:
lead us into those places
where your mercy waits
to nourish our weary souls,
where your grace feeds
our famished hearts.
Lead us, Gentle Shepherd:
lead us to those sanctuaries of hope,
where we have the joy
of filling the emptiness of others,
because the table you have set
has room enough for everyone.
Lead us, Mercy's Mother:
place our feet on your right paths,
walking us down the streets
where we can do justice
for all who are wronged in the world;
lead us to those gentle pools
where we can fill our selves,
then go to empty them
for those parched by loss.
Lead us, God in Community, Holy in One,
as we pray as Jesus has taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
We know the wrong turns we have taken, those poor choices which shape our lives, those mistakes which hurt God and those around us. Let us confess our sins to the One who leads us into life, as we pray together saying,
Unison Prayer of Confession
Taught by our culture to want every thing, Comfort of the righteous, we confess an emptiness which sends us scurrying for more and more. We look and see folks whose lives seem richer and fuller than ours, and so are filled with lust and envy. We are convinced that peaceful waters offer us nothing, and so thirst for whitewater adventures in our lives. We listen to the silly promises of the world, turning away from the shelter you offer to us.
Forgive us, Source of wonder and joy. Your goodness follows us around, so we can share it with everyone we meet along the journey. Your mercy shadows our every step, so we can find the way which you would have us live. We find rest in your heart, healing at your hands, and life together in Jesus Christ, our Lord, our Savior, our gentle Shepherd.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
Listen to God's voice: I walk with you in every moment; I fill you with grace and hope; I know you and love you.
Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might belong to our God forever! Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of all time be with you!
And also with you.
In these moments, people of God, turn your hearts to the One
who leads you to this Table of refreshment.
Our hearts are filled to overflowing by our Shepherd.
In every moment, offer praise to God, beloved of the Lord.
Surely goodness and mercy are on our lips as we come to this Feast.
Gentle God:
into that place where there was no time,
you crafted day and night,
bathing green pastures in their light.
Into that dark valley called chaos,
you flung the sparkling stars,
you pooled still waters for nourishment,
you prepared a feast for your children created in your divine image.
We chose to journey down the wrong paths,
sin and death tagging along behind us,
pointing out where temptation built a home for us.
You sent prophets to call to us,
hoping we would hear your voice in them,
but we preferred the presence of your enemies.
So, you sent the good shepherd, Jesus,
to us to call us back to you.
So with that multitude no one can count,
with those of every nation and language,
we lift our voices to you in glad praise:
Holy, holy, holy, God who is seated on the throne.
All creation praises you forever and ever.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the Lamb who is our shepherd.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, God of green pastures,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, our Shepherd, our Savior.
He would not keep us in suspense,
but came proclaiming the good news
that we are held forever in your hands.
He came to people who hungered for hope,
who thirsted for healing in their brokenness,
feeding them on goodness and mercy,
nourishing them with peace and reconciliation.
He did not fear the power of death,
but walked into its shadowed valley,
emerging into the bright light of resurrection.
As we celebrate the good news of his resurrection,
as we remember his gentle life and affirming spirit,
we witness to that mystery we can faith:
Christ died, to restore us to life;
Christ is risen, to anoint us with hope;
Christ will come again, to lead us on the path to God.
You prepare a feast for us,
your Spirit taking the simple gifts of the bread and cup,
filling them with your goodness and mercy.
You gather us around the Table,
strangers now become family,
enemies now our sisters and brothers,
handing us the broken bread
which heals us of every hurt and division,
so we can go to bring hope to the world.
Your cup of peace and reconciliation
overflows and makes us one in your grace,
so we can offer our hands to all who
have been cast aside, helping them up
so they might know your love for them.
And when we gather with that multitude no one can count,
when we are with our sisters and brothers
from every nation, tribe, people, and language,
we will fall down on our faces, lifting our voices to you,
God in Community, Holy in One,
singing our praises to you forever and ever. Amen.
Call to Worship
We gather in the presence of God,
where grieving people and children with skinned knees
have their tears wiped away.
We gather with the people of God,
who worship the One who provides what we need, not just what we want.
We gather around the Font and Table of God,
where God feeds us with grace and wonder,
where God pours the living waters upon us.
Prayer of the Day
Lead us, God of goodness:
lead us into those places
where your mercy waits
to nourish our weary souls,
where your grace feeds
our famished hearts.
Lead us, Gentle Shepherd:
lead us to those sanctuaries of hope,
where we have the joy
of filling the emptiness of others,
because the table you have set
has room enough for everyone.
Lead us, Mercy's Mother:
place our feet on your right paths,
walking us down the streets
where we can do justice
for all who are wronged in the world;
lead us to those gentle pools
where we can fill our selves,
then go to empty them
for those parched by loss.
Lead us, God in Community, Holy in One,
as we pray as Jesus has taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
We know the wrong turns we have taken, those poor choices which shape our lives, those mistakes which hurt God and those around us. Let us confess our sins to the One who leads us into life, as we pray together saying,
Unison Prayer of Confession
Taught by our culture to want every thing, Comfort of the righteous, we confess an emptiness which sends us scurrying for more and more. We look and see folks whose lives seem richer and fuller than ours, and so are filled with lust and envy. We are convinced that peaceful waters offer us nothing, and so thirst for whitewater adventures in our lives. We listen to the silly promises of the world, turning away from the shelter you offer to us.
Forgive us, Source of wonder and joy. Your goodness follows us around, so we can share it with everyone we meet along the journey. Your mercy shadows our every step, so we can find the way which you would have us live. We find rest in your heart, healing at your hands, and life together in Jesus Christ, our Lord, our Savior, our gentle Shepherd.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
Listen to God's voice: I walk with you in every moment; I fill you with grace and hope; I know you and love you.
Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might belong to our God forever! Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of all time be with you!
And also with you.
In these moments, people of God, turn your hearts to the One
who leads you to this Table of refreshment.
Our hearts are filled to overflowing by our Shepherd.
In every moment, offer praise to God, beloved of the Lord.
Surely goodness and mercy are on our lips as we come to this Feast.
Gentle God:
into that place where there was no time,
you crafted day and night,
bathing green pastures in their light.
Into that dark valley called chaos,
you flung the sparkling stars,
you pooled still waters for nourishment,
you prepared a feast for your children created in your divine image.
We chose to journey down the wrong paths,
sin and death tagging along behind us,
pointing out where temptation built a home for us.
You sent prophets to call to us,
hoping we would hear your voice in them,
but we preferred the presence of your enemies.
So, you sent the good shepherd, Jesus,
to us to call us back to you.
So with that multitude no one can count,
with those of every nation and language,
we lift our voices to you in glad praise:
Holy, holy, holy, God who is seated on the throne.
All creation praises you forever and ever.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the Lamb who is our shepherd.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, God of green pastures,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, our Shepherd, our Savior.
He would not keep us in suspense,
but came proclaiming the good news
that we are held forever in your hands.
He came to people who hungered for hope,
who thirsted for healing in their brokenness,
feeding them on goodness and mercy,
nourishing them with peace and reconciliation.
He did not fear the power of death,
but walked into its shadowed valley,
emerging into the bright light of resurrection.
As we celebrate the good news of his resurrection,
as we remember his gentle life and affirming spirit,
we witness to that mystery we can faith:
Christ died, to restore us to life;
Christ is risen, to anoint us with hope;
Christ will come again, to lead us on the path to God.
You prepare a feast for us,
your Spirit taking the simple gifts of the bread and cup,
filling them with your goodness and mercy.
You gather us around the Table,
strangers now become family,
enemies now our sisters and brothers,
handing us the broken bread
which heals us of every hurt and division,
so we can go to bring hope to the world.
Your cup of peace and reconciliation
overflows and makes us one in your grace,
so we can offer our hands to all who
have been cast aside, helping them up
so they might know your love for them.
And when we gather with that multitude no one can count,
when we are with our sisters and brothers
from every nation, tribe, people, and language,
we will fall down on our faces, lifting our voices to you,
God in Community, Holy in One,
singing our praises to you forever and ever. Amen.
© Thom M. Shuman
Sunday, April 07, 2013
Third Sunday of Easter - C
Texts: Acts 9:1-20; Psalm 30; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19
Call to Worship
Sing, all people of God! Sing the good news:
We cry ourselves to sleep and God comes in with the dawn,
to awaken us with Joy's embrace.
Sing, in every land, in every tongue! Sing the good news:
when our lives bottom out, God takes us by the hand to lead us into the light.
Sing, in heaven and on earth! Sing the good news:
broken, hopeless, lost - we cry out to God, who hears our hearts.
Sing, all people of God!
We will sing the good news of Easter!
Prayer of the Day
You take away
the drab gray dress
of our despair
and clothe us
with hope and joy.
You fill our empty souls
with the resurrection feast
of peace and life.
You are worthy, Healing God,
and so we worship you.
You come to us,
not as a ravenous lion,
but the Lamb
who leads us into God's heart.
When we long to keep you
in our pockets
like a good luck charm,
you challenge us to live
a love which goes beyond
mere friendship
You are worthy, Heaven's Light,
and so we follow you.
You make us speechless
with your mercy,
yet choose us
to tell God's story of new life
to all the world.
When our secret wounds
would sap our energy,
you pour your peace into us,
so we may be agents of healing.
You are worthy, Love's Spirit,
and we will praise you.
God in Community, Holy in One,
you alone are worthy
of all that we have, and all that we are,
and so we lift our prayers to you,
saying as Jesus has taught us,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
We can carry our grudges around with us for years, just waiting for the right time for our hurt to erupt. But God gets angry for but a moment, while surrounding us with grace and mercy all the days of our lives. Join me as we pray to God, saying,
Unison Prayer of Confession
We sing loud songs to you, Morning Joy, trusting they will drown out our mean-spirited murmurs about those around us. We hope you will turn a blind eye to our behaviors, while we imprison our families and friends with impossible expectations. We pull a muscle stretching to pat our selves on the back, but our attitudes and actions towards the poor and outcast of the world reveal we are not worthy to be called your children.
You never give up on us, Healing God. You are quick to forgive us, and quicker to offer us ways to share your name with everyone we meet. As you continue to be loving and affirming towards us, let us go to share the good news of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
Do not cry. The Lamb of God has come, to lead us into the kingdom, where we may praise our God, and serve our sisters and brothers.
Songs of blessing, glad shouts of joy; hearts for others, hands for service. All these we offer, and more, to the One who forgives us and makes us whole. Thanks be to God, we are forgiven. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God who turns our mourning into dancing be with you!
May God teach you new dance steps as well!
May the God who hears our hearts listen to yours!
In those depths, we speak of that for which we long – hope and grace.
May the God who loves us fill your with abundant blessings.
We sing glad songs of joy to the One who comes to us.
You are worthy, God of power and splendor,
for you gathered up all the treasures
of your imagination, flinging them into
the emptiness that would never be again,
so that as bees buzzed from flower to flower,
as butterflies played chase across meadows,
as deer stood still as silence among the trees,
all creation might sing with full voice.
When we should have fallen down
to worship you with praise-filled hearts,
we became blinded by the bright lights
of temptation and its companion, death,
choosing to live on that street named sin.
You cried out to us, over and over,
offering healing and hope through the prophets,
but we hid our faces from them,
refusing to listen to your anguished voice.
So, you sent Jesus to us,
not to breathe threats against us,
but to bring the good news of your salvation.
With those who weep with the mourning
and all those who dance in your wonder,
we lift our songs of praise to you this morning:
Holy, holy, holy, God who restores us to life.
All creation falls down to worship you with praise.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who tells of your faithfulness.
Hosanna in the highest!
Glory and might are yours, God of Holiness,
blessing and honor are the songs we sing
to Jesus Christ, the Lamb who died for us.
When we were wandering down
the crooked paths of seduction,
he showed us that street called Straight.
When we could not make our way
through the shadows of sin,
he took our hand to bring us to you.
When the world heaped
threats and murder on him,
he silently picked up his cross,
going to his death, breathing his last,
so that resurrection's Spirit might
fill us with new life in you.
As we gather at this Table of remembrance,
as we celebrate the feast of resurrection,
we proclaim the mystery we know as faith:
Christ died, to turn death into life;
Christ is risen, to turn mourning into laughter;
Christ will come, to teach us resurrection's dance.
When we are ready to return
to our old lives, trying to do
the good news our way,
you break the bread, hand it to us,
so that as we eat of your life,
we may hear your call
to feed those who hunger for
your justice, your peace, your hope.
When we are adrift, getting nowhere,
you bless the cup, offering it to us,
so that as we drink of your spirit,
we might hear afresh your voice,
asking if we love our sisters and brothers,
and sending us forth to serve them.
And when our life has come to an end,
when we gather at glory's seashore
feasting on the meal you have prepared,
we will not be silent, but praise you forever,
God in Community, Holy in One. Amen.
© Thom M. Shuman
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Second Sunday of Easter - C
Texts: Acts 5:27-32; Psalm 150; Revelation 1:4-8; John 20:19-31
Call to Worship
Praise God with clapping hands;
praise God with hands comforting a child.
Praise God with silent hearts;
praise God with hearts broken for the world.
Praise God with electric guitars;
praise God with soft piano chords.
Praise God with be-bop and hip-hop;
praise God with rhythms that don't stop.
Praise God with a hallelujah chorus;
praise God with a Gregorian chant.
Praise God with dancing steps;
praise God with feet walking for justice.
Prayer of the Day
Holy God, Lover of your children:
the tomb has been opened,
and we dance into your future.
Your life has dawned on us,
and we surround you with our praise.
You reach out your hand,
and lead us into joy.
Jesus Christ, Faithful Witness:
you pick open the locked doors
of our hearts
and come in to be with us forever.
You breathe peace into our souls,
so we may bring healing
to a troubled world.
Holy Spirit, Breath of Peace:
you show us our hearts,
so we may give love to others.
You show us our hands,
sending us to serve the needy.
You show us your hope,
so we may live in your joy.
God in Community, Holy in One,
who is, who was, and who is to come,
hear us as we pray as you have taught us,
Our Father . . .
Call to Reconciliation
When we keep our faults and failures locked safely away, we have no need to confess. But God comes into our hearts when we least expect, so we can be filled with forgiveness, with hope, with peace. Please join me as we pray together, saying,
Unison Prayer of Confession
God of empty tombs and emptier people:
when we hesitate to speak of your hope,
forgive us, and give us a voice.
When we find it difficult to love one another,
forgive us, and give us fresh compassion.
When we want to stand with the high and mighty,
forgive us, and seat us next to the poor and oppressed.
When we stay locked behind our fears and doubts,
forgive us, and send us out to share you grace.
When we cannot believe your Word of new life,
forgive us, and fill us with your joy.
Silence is kept
Assurance of Pardon
Christ comes into every shadowed corner of our lives with the light of Easter. Christ comes into the locked rooms of our faults and gifts us with grace and hope.
Christ comes to fill us with peace, so we may proclaim the good news of mercy and forgiveness for all. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
May the God of resounding joy be with you!
And also with you!
Easter people, may your hearts be filled with joy!
May God fill our emptiness with the carols of angels!
Children of the resurrection, lift your praises to God!
We join with all creation in shouting our praise to the One who loves us!
From the rubble of chaos,
you shaped a sanctuary for creation,
Surpassing God:
trumpeter swans glided gracefully across lakes,
tall trees waltzed across green fields,
stars piped choruses of joy in the night.
Having formed us in your image,
your Spirit breathed peace into us,
inviting us to wander the gardens of wander.
But we chose to hide ourselves behind
the locked doors of sin and death.
Prophets came, to witness about your
willingness to forgive us and
to take our fears away from us.
When we would not respond
to your gracious invitations,
Jesus came, to free us from all sin.
With our ancestors in the faith,
with our children and grandchildren,
with everyone who sees you coming,
we sing our glad praise to you:
Holy, holy, holy, God of surpassing greatness.
Everything that breathes praises you.
Hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is the One who you exalt.
Hosanna in the highest!
Holy are you, God of our ancestors,
and blessed is Jesus Christ, the first and last.
Co-creator of all that is around us,
he came to bear witness of your promises.
Our Lord as well as our God,
he blesses all who believe in him
whether or not they have seen him.
Serving you in life as well as death,
he became the first-born of the dead,
so we might be your children through eternity.
As we remember all he did and taught,
as we celebrate the wonder of his resurrection,
we sing of that mystery we call faith:
Christ was the One who died for us;
Christ is the One who is risen for us;
Christ is the One who will come for us.
Send your Spirit of holiness
to transform these simple gifts
into your grace surpassing all fear,
and to bear witness of your enduring love.
Through the bread which is broken,
we are made whole once again,
so we might minister to those
who live behind the locked doors of oppression.
By the cup which is shared,
we are able to believe,
even when we cannot see,
that your peace is coming to everyone.
And when our lives have ended,
when we are gathered in grace and peace
with our sisters and brothers from all time,
we will join our hearts in praising you,
God in Community, Holy in One,
who was. who is, and who is to come. Amen.
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