Liturgy

Call to Worship

Based on Psalm 12

Leader: “Because the needy are oppressed, and the poor cry out in misery,

People: I will rise up,” says the Lord,

“and give them the help they long for.”

The words of the Lord are pure words,

like silver refined from ore and purified seven times in the fire.

O Lord, watch over us

and save us from this generation for ever.

Confession

Leader: We hunt for those links which offer life, but they are all broken. We keep searching for hope, only to be sent from one false site to another. But God, freely and faithfully, offers us the access to grace we need, through Jesus Christ.Let us join in offering our prayers to the One who is our hope, our life, as we pray together, saying,

People: Of course, we will do everything you ask, Faithfulness of creation, even as we cross our souls behind our backs.

Yes, we could go to where people are suffering,

but we like the comfort of our homes.

Yes, we could be with others as they seek to endure life,

but compassion is often hard to receive and to give.

Yes, we could share hope to the hungry and homeless,

but we barely have enough for ourselves.

Forgive us, Steadfast Love,

and have mercy on us.

Remind us that it was when we were most foolish, that you became fallible;

it was when we were vile, that you became so vulnerable;

when the world would not welcome us, that Jesus came –

to listen to our emptiness, to comfort our grieving hearts, and to cast out death’s power over us.

Assurance of Pardon

God as done it! God has carried away our foolishness. God has brought us out of despair and to hope, and made us God’s precious treasure.

We give thanks to our God, whose love is fresh and new in every moment, whose faithfulness is forever. Amen.

Call to Offering

As a forgiven and Eastered people,

let us offer ourselves and our gifts to God.

Doxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God, all creatures here below;

Praise God above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Benediction

Let’s go forth from this place knowing that God has filled us with the Holy Spirit.  

May we rejoice in the power of the Spirit within and among us.

Andy may we take the Good News everywhere we go, trusting that God will translate where needed.

Amen.