2024 Recommitment Liturgy: Be Opened

GATHERING

ENTRANCE

REFLECTION

That day I saw beneath dark clouds
the passing light over the water
and I heard the voice of the world speak out,
I knew then, as I had before
life is no passing memory of what has been
nor the remaining pages in a great book
waiting to be read.

It is the opening of eyes long closed.
It is the vision of far off things
seen for the silence they hold.
It is the heart after years
of secret conversing
speaking out loud in the clear air.

It is Moses in the desert
fallen to his knees before the lit bush.
It is the man throwing away his shoes
as if to enter heaven
and finding himself astonished,
opened at last,
fallen in love with solid ground.

David Whyte, “The Opening of Eyes,” River Flow, p.31

LIGHTING THE ALTAR CANDLE

CALL TO WORSHIP         

Leader:     We come together into space
that is sacred and safe.

People:    We come together into the presence
of the living God.

Leader:     We lay aside our thoughts
about things that have happened
or stories we’ve heard.

People:    We lay aside our thoughts
for the dreams and schemes
we have for the days ahead.

Leader:     We come hungry to hear a true word
in a time of falseness and fakery.

All:            We come thirsting to know what’s real
in a time of illusion and delusion,
longing to be opened fully
to the astounding glory
of the sacred, real world all around us.

OPENING PRAYER

HYMN

SILENCE

PRAYERS

CONFESSION

Leader:     Holy One, you open our eyes to visions,
our ears to the voice of the world,
calling us to commitment,
to walk in faith even when the way is hard.

People:    We do not know
whether to stick with what we have
or if it is time to let it go.

Leader:     You call us to freedom,
to see what new thing is growing
in the secret conversation of the heart.

People:    We close our eyes and cover our ears,
unwilling to be opened to your call.

Leader:     You call us to fall in love
with the solid ground of your presence.

All             Forgive us when we are afraid
of what you might call us to do.

INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

ASSURANCE

Leader:     The Holy One forgives and opens us
to the healing presence of divine love.

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 Voice calling forth creation,
we give you thanks
for the vision of far off things,
for the opening of eyes and hearts.

People:    We give you thanks for Jesus,
your Chosen One,
who came opening eyes,
ears, and hearts long closed.

Leader 2: We give you thanks for your Holy Spirit,
in the burning bush,
in the impulse to throw away shoes
as we stand, astonished,
on solid ground.

All:            We give you thanks for your Church,
your Body on earth,
hearing your call to be opened,
to speak out loud
your love for the world.

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:            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

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:     Now, roused by our faith
to face an uncertain future,
let us leave this place
with renewed vision
and strengthened will,
opened at last
to the bush that burns within
and falling in love with solid ground.

All:            Amen.