Recommitment 1991: Standing Firm — Living Free

 

 

SEEKERS CHURCH

Recommitment, 1991

Standing Firm — Living Free

 

REFLECTION

 

"Christian community survives and grows by a mixture of firmness and of freedom.  Rooted in the Gospel and guided by structures and disciplines, we are held in life together to our faith in God.  Living in the fullness of God's love, we are called to reach constantly beyond our narrow boundaries to live freely in the world today and into the future."

                                                                                                    Rozanne Oliver, 1987

 

PRELUDE

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

 

Leader:  God has created us, called us from our mother's wombs and formed of us a people.

 

People:  No longer are we lonely individuals, but part of the whole human race, living and sharing with others.

 

Leader:  Life is a gift from God.  Laugh, cry, sing, be silent; in whatever way we live, let us be thankful to God.

 

Unison:  Let the worship continue!

 

INVOCATION

 

HYMN

 

WORD FOR THE CHILDREN

 

SILENCE

 

COMMUNITY AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

 

Unison:             We worship God as triune being.  We believe:

 

·         that the Creator–father and mother to us all, ground of our being–loves, sustains, and calls us;

 

·         that Jesus is the Christ, who for our sake lived, was crucified, died, rose from the dead, and now bids us to a ministry of love and justice;

 

·         that the Holy Spirit, as the empowering presence and breath of God, confronts and inspires us to do God's work in the world.

 

                        We believe that we are all ministers of the Church, which is both universal, grace-filled body of Christ and fragile, earthen vessel.

 

SILENCE

 

 

PRAYERS

 

CONFESSION

Unison:             Holy God, you have called us to respond joyfully to our lives, as your grace gives us freedom, and to be faithful witnesses.  We confess that we often fail to live up to this call.

 

Sometimes we grope painfully, searching for meaning, hurting from the awareness of our failures.  Sometimes our faithful witness is a mask showing what we would like to be, but are not.  Sometimes we fail to recognize the witness that we do bear.

 

We confess our inability to fulfill our commitment, and ask for your affirmation of our journey in faith.

 

INDIVIDUAL CONFESSIONS

 

ASSURANCE

Leader:             We have God's assurance that we are a priestly people, the body of Christ.  Rejoice in your hope.

 

CONTINUING PRAYERS

 

HYMN

 

THE WORD

 

  Scripture

  Sermon

  Silent Reflection

 

OFFERING

  Offertory Music

  Prayer of Dedication

 

SHARED REFLECTIONS

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

HYMN

 

BENEDICTION

Leader:             Let your manner of life be worthy of the Gospel of Christ.  Stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the Gospel.

 

                   Amen.

 

 

 

RECOMMITMENT FOR ALL SEEKERS

 

I am a Seeker.  The Seekers Church of the Church of the Saviour is my church.  I acknowledge that I am called by God to be part of this community.  As part of the community I have work to do.  As part of the community I have joy and pain to share, and joy and pain to hear.  As part of the community, I am a growing Christian.  I will be intentional and accountable about naming my relationship to the community and living out my intentions.