2017 Lent – Is God With Us? Is God Among Us?

GATHERING.                 

ENTRANCE

REFLECTION

The most amazing fact about Jesus . . . is that he found God in disorder and imperfection—and told us that we must do the same or we would never be content on this earth.

Richard Rohr,
The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See, pg 1.

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CANDLE LIGHTING

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader:
In the midst of an imperfect world,
Jesus calls us into life.

People:
We come, searching for hope.

Leader:
In the midst of our work and play and rest,
Jesus calls us into prayer.

People:
We come, searching for peace.

Leader:
In the midst of our everyday lives,
Jesus calls us to follow him.

All:
We come, searching for the One who is already here.
Let us worship the God who calls us.

OPENING PRAYER

HYMN

WORD FOR THE CHILDREN

SILENCE

PRAYERS

CONFESSION

Leader:
Holy One, you are with us, even in disorder

People:
We let chaos distract us from you.

Leader:
Holy One, you are present in the imperfection of others.

People:
We avoid people we judge as imperfect.

Leader:
We live in a state of perpetual discontent,
striving to be who we are not,
uncomfortable with who we are.

All:
Forgive us, Holy One.
Help us to find you in the imperfection of our lives.

INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

ASSURANCE

Leader:
The Holy One knows our strivings and discontent
and forgives and loves us in our imperfection.

People:            Amen

THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE

INTERCESSION AND PETITION

COMMITMENT

All:
O Holy One, we come today
to claim our relationship with you.

We pray for the commitment to grow together,
sharing the gifts you give us with others
here and in the wider world.

Forgive us for the hurt we have inflicted,
and help us forgive those who have hurt us.

Give us strength and discipline
to nurture our relationship with you;
to care for every part of your creation;
to foster justice and be in solidarity with those in need;
to work to end all war, and violence, and discord;
and to respond joyfully when you call,
freely giving our selves as you have shown the way.

We open our hearts to you and your creation
in the name of Jesus, who is the Christ.  Amen.

HYMN

THE WORD

SCRIPTURE

SERMON

SILENT REFLECTION

OFFERING

COMMUNION

PREPARATION

Leader 1:
This is the table of the Heavenly Feast,
the joyful celebration of the people of God.

Leader 2:
We gather now as one body, joined around the table.
Here we celebrate God’s presence among us
united in Christ’s spirit, broken and whole all at once;

All:
Nourished and hungry, loved and loving,
sinner and forgiven; we make one circle of knowing,
believing, rejoicing, being,
as God lights and rests among us.

GREAT THANKSGIVING

Leader 1:
Gracious loving God,we give you thanks that you are present
in every part of this creation,
even in the midst of disorder and imperfection.

People:
We give you thanks for Jesus,
who calls us into humble, loving presence
with what we do not understand.

Leader 2:
We give you thanks for your Holy Spirit,
the very breath of your being,
that carries us on wings of hope.

All:
We give you thanks for your Holy Church,
hat place where we can know that we are not alone,
that you are with us and among us.

BLESSING THE ELEMENTS

Leader 1:
Christ invites everyone to eat the bread of life,
to drink the cup of the new covenant.

Leader 2:
Jesus said, I am the bread of life.
You who come to me shall never hunger,
You who believe in me shall never thirst.

Leader 1:
On the night of his arrest, Jesus took bread,
and after giving thanks to God, broke it and said,
This is my body,  broken for the healing of the world.
Whenever you eat it, do so remembering me.

Leader 2:
After supper, Jesus took the cup and said,
This is the cup of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for all.
Whenever you drink it, do so remembering me.

All:
O Holy One, send down your Spirit
that these gifts of bread and cup
may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Unite us with Christ forever
and bring us with the whole creation to your eternal realm.

SHARE THE ELEMENTS
If you do not wish to receive the elements today you are welcome to join the circle and allow them to pass, or remain in your seat. We serve grape juice in our cups.  The wafers are gluten-free.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND DEDICATION

All:
God of abundance and mercy,
we give joyful thanks
for your eternal love and healing presence
in our celebration of bread and cup.
Bless this body of Christ
that we may attend faithfully
to our call to be your servants,
with each other and throughout the world.

All:            Amen.

SHARED REFLECTIONS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

HYMN

BENEDICTION

Leader:
As we leave the comfort of this place,
let us embrace the imperfection
in ourselves and others,
for it is there that we find God’s grace.

And now, thankful for Jesus,
who taught us to find God in unexpected places,
and with the encouragement of the Holy Comforter,
let us greet one another with signs of peace,
prepared to love and serve this broken world.

All:   Amen.