2023 Trinity Liturgy: Live in Peace

GATHERING

ENTRANCE

REFLECTION

Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone’s face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come.

Attributed to Henry Nouwen

LIGHTING THE ALTAR CANDLE

CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Holy Creator, the earth is full of your steadfast love.

People: We see your handiwork in a baby’s laughter,
in words of love and forgiveness,
given and received.

Leader: Comforting Spirit,
you are always around us,
among us, and within us.

People: You bring us comfort
in the midst of our tears,
and peace to our troubled hearts.

Leader: Great Shepherd,
you call us to follow you in paths of peace.

All: We come yearning to follow you,
for you are the hope of the world.

OPENING PRAYER

HYMN

WORD FOR THE CHILDREN

SILENCE

PRAYERS
CONFESSION
Leader: We are called to live in peace,
as much as it is up to us.

People: Too often, we prefer to hold on
to anger and resentment,
telling ourselves that it is our right to be upset.

Leader: We are called to love one another,
to bring smiles and laughter
into a sad, hurting world.

People: Too often, we refuse to say
the words that would restore
joy and gladness to aching hearts.

Leader: Forgive us when we withold
seeds of compassion and care.

All: Forgive us when we fail to live in peace.

INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

ASSURANCE
Leader: The Holy One offers peace and laughter,
healing and forgiveness,
even before we ask.

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
Whether you are here in person or attending on Zoom, offerings may be made by sending a check to the church or through PayPal by clicking on the Donate button on the Seekers website or at PayPal.Me/SeekersChurch. Those in the sanctuary are welcome to place their offerings in the plate on the altar.

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 Maker of all that is,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
You have given life to the very cells of being.

People: We give you thanks for your Holy Spirit,
giving voice to sighing prayers,
rejoicing with us as we celebrate your gifts,
offering love and healing in our broken world.
.
Leader 2: We give you thanks for your Holy Child, Jesus,
source of hope in times of despair,
bringer of peace even as the storm rages.

People: We give you thanks for your Holy Church,
a lamp for our path,
a vessel of healing love in the raging tempest,
a channel for your healing grace.

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
As a sign of gathering in spirit while scattered, you may want to lift your bread and cup toward your camera.

Leader 1: The body of Christ, broken for all of us.
Feed on Christ in your hearts with thanksgiving.

Leader 2: The cup of the new covenant, poured out for the healing of the world.
Drink deeply of it.

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: Finally, brothers and sisters,
put things in order,
agree with one another, live in peace;
and the God of love and peace will be with you.
Greet one another with signs of peace.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

All: Amen.