2020 Jubilee Liturgy: Witnesses to God With Us

Click here for a printable copy of the 2020 Jubilee Liturgy

ENTRANCE

REFLECTION

That is what Jesus did: he did not return the negative energy directed at him—not during his life nor when he hung on the cross. He held it inside and made it into something much better. That is how “he took away the sin of the world.” He refused to pass it on!

Richard Rohr, “Transforming Our Pain,” at https://cac.org/transforming-our-pain-2020-09-18/

CANDLE LIGHTING

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader:      The presence of God’s spirit is all around us,
within us, and among us.

People:      Look at the animals roaming the forest,
the birds flying across the sky:
God’s spirit dwells within them.

Leader:      Look at the tiny insects crawling in the grass,
the fish in the river and sea:
God’s spirit dwells within them.

People:      Look at the people who heal each other’s wounds,
and forgive each other’s offenses:
God’s spirit dwells within them.

Leader:      Look at the people who share their possessions,
and foster the spirit of community:
God’s spirit dwells within them.

People:      Let us celebrate the gifts that we have received,
and worship the One whose spirit dwells within us.

OPENING PRAYER

HYMN

SILENCE 

PRAYERS
CONFESSION

Leader:      Holy One, often we feel the urge to retaliate,
to scratch an eye for an eye and break a tooth for a tooth.

People:      We feel the negative energy
surrounding us and welling up within.

Leader:      We see Jesus containing and transforming
evil into good.

People:      We fail to follow Jesus.

Leader:      We fail to contain and transform
evil into good.

People:      Forgive us, Holy One, for we lack the strength to be faithful.

INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

ASSURANCE

Leader:      The Holy One knows both our will and our weakness
and offers strength and forgiveness when we falter.

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:   Holy Fountain of all reality,
we give you thanks and praise
for the strength you channel through us
as we stand up in the face of uncertainty.

People:      We give you thanks for Jesus the Christ,
who did not return the evil directed at him
but held it deep within and turned it into good.

Leader 2:   We give you thanks for your Holy Spirit,
teaching us to transform fear and hate
into love and acceptance deep within.

People:      We give you thanks for your Holy Church,
the gossamer web of community,
holding us together in the Spirit of reconciling love.

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
Please use what you have at home as you eat the bread and drink from the cup today.
If you do not have grape juice, use whatever is convenient.
As a sign of gathering in spirit while scattered, you may want to lift your bread toward your camera as we break bread together.

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:    As we live and love in our families,
our communities, and the world,
let us be witnesses to God with us,
to Jesus beside us,
and to the Holy Spirit all around us,
within us, and among us.

Let us greet one another with peace and grace.

All:        Amen.