GATHERING
ENTRANCE
REFLECTION
God calls each person to a place of need in the world. This call to love and co-create may take root in workplace, community, family, or nature. It may appear as art, dance, advocacy, housing, childcare, music, peacemaking, storytelling. The call may seem overwhelming. But as we find support from each other in our spiritual journeys, we can dare to say “Yes!” to impossible undertakings, to fully imagining and living our unique and precious lives.
Seekers Church brochure
CANDLE LIGHTING
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: The Holy One calls us wherever we are,
inviting us to a new creation.
People: We say “yes” to the Creator,
who fills us with love and courage
for the days ahead.
Leader: The Spirit of God moves
among us and through us,
inviting us to discover who we are made to be.
People: We say “yes” to the Spirit,
who breathes hope and possibility into our dreams.
Leader: Jesus lived, died, and rose again,
inviting us to follow him into new life.
All: We say “yes” to becoming the Body of Christ,
to pouring out our lives for the healing of the world.
OPENING PRAYER
HYMN
WORD FOR THE CHILDREN
SONG AS THE CHILDREN LEAVE FOR CLASS
Jesus loves us as we grow,
meets us on the paths we go,
keeps us safe and keeps us free,
helps us learn who we should be.
Yes Jesus loves us,
Yes Jesus helps us,
Yes Jesus shows us,
the best way we can go.
SILENCE
PRAYERS
CONFESSION
Leader: Jesus, we hear your invitation
to care for hurting people.
People: We confess that we often let fear
prevent us from responding.
Leader: Holy, loving Spirit,
we feel your gentle but firm nudge
to speak and act against abuse and injustice.
People: We confess that we let commitments,
responsibilities, or anxieties
get in the way of saying “yes.”
Leader: Ground and source of all that is,
we are aware of the challenge
of creating a new world with you.
All: Forgive us for our failure
to respond to your call to fully live.
ASSURANCE
Leader: The Holy One loves, forgives, and transforms us,
so that we can dare to say “yes!”
All: 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: Holy Source of all creation,
we give you thanks for filling us with love,
and calling us to say “yes” to your emerging mystery.
People: We give you thanks for Jesus, the Christ,
who calls us to commit our lives
to being good news in the face of fear and chaos.
Leader 2: We give you thanks for the gift of the Holy Spirit,
who keeps us moving together on the way of love.
All: We give you thanks for your church,
where we are joined together in your family of faith.
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 he gave himself up, 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 crackers 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. Amen.
SHARED REFLECTIONS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
HYMN
BENEDICTION
Leader: And now, responding to our call
to love and create with God,
we dare to say “yes” to impossible undertakings,
to fully imagine and live our unique lives
for the hope of the world.
In the name of the ever-lasting,
ever-loving, ever-knowing God,
let us greet one another with signs of peace.
All: Amen.
