2019 Recommitment liturgy: “Persistence in Adversity”

GATHERING

ENTRANCE

REFLECTION

Joy abandons me. There is no cure for my grief. My heart is sick….
The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved….
O that my head were a spring of water and my eyes a fountain of tears,
so that I might weep day and night for my poor people….
The Holy One says, Build houses to live in; plant gardens and eat what they grow….
Seek the welfare of the city….
Pray to the Holy One on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find yours.

Jeremiah 8:18,20, 9:10 and 29:5,7

CANDLE LIGHTING

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth!
Sing the glory of God’s many names.

People: Joy abandons me.
There is no cure for my grief. My heart is sick.

Leader: Come and see what God has done,
turning sea into dry land,
letting people pass through the river on foot.

People: The harvest is past, the summer is ended,
and we are not saved.

Leader: Bless the Holy One.

All: Let us bless the Holy One
of whom, through whom, and in whom
we live as the Body of Christ.

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: The Holy One calls us
to pursue righteousness and godliness,

People: We are foolish and have no understanding
and do not know how to do good.

Leader: The Holy One calls us to pursue faith and love.

People: We are trapped by many senseless desires
that plunge us into ruin and destruction.

Leader: The Holy One calls us to be rich in good works, generous and ready to share.

People: We are seduced by wealth and riches
and struggle to be satisfied with what we have.

Leader: Help us, O God of our salvation,
let your compassion come speedily to meet us,

All: For the glory of your name,
deliver us and forgive our sins.

INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

ASSURANCE
Leader: Thus says the Most High:
Those who love me I will deliver.
I will protect those who know my name
and show them my salvation.

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: O God of many names,
we give you thanks for your love that never ceases,
your mercies that never come to an end.

People: We give you thanks for your child Jesus,
whom you sent as one human like us,
our brother, teacher, and savior.

Leader 2: We give you thanks for your Spirit of power and love,
living in us and helping us to follow your holy calling.

All: We give you thanks for your Holy Church,
your people in all times and places,
and in this house,
where we learn to carry the cross
and become disciples of Christ.

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 grain and grape,
and work of human hands
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.

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: Let us recommit our lives
to seek the welfare of the places
where God has sent us in this time of adversity,
greeting one another with signs of peace.

All: Amen.