GATHERING
ENTRANCE
REFLECTION
The empires of the world depend on force. They have come and gone; and the ones that now exist will follow in their turn. … Jesus, at his ascension, was given by the creator God an empire built on love. As we ourselves open our lives to the warmth of that love, we begin to lose our fear; and as we begin to lose our fear, we begin to become people through whom the power of that love can flow out into the world around that so badly needs it. And as the power of that love replaces the love of power, so in a measure, anticipating the last great day, God’s kingdom comes, and God’s will is done, on earth as it is in heaven. N.T. Wright, Following Jesus, p. 111
LIGHTING THE ALTAR CANDLE
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Come, all you who seek
to be rooted and grounded in love.
People: We come, hoping to feel
the power of that love flowing through us.
Leader: Come, let us open our lives
to the warmth of love, melting our fear.
People: Filled with that love, we can relax,
stretch, and find ease in its flow.
Leader: Let the power of love replace all love of power,
that God’s kindom may come,
God’s will be done.
All: Grounded in God’s love,
we become channels
for that love to flow through us
into the world that so badly needs it.
OPENING PRAYER
HYMN
SILENCE
PRAYERS
CONFESSION
Leader: The Holy One invites us to join with them
to bring forth the kindom of God.
People: In our hearts we yearn for the divine kindom to come,
God’s will to be done on earth as in heaven,
but fear causes us to resist and hinders our actions.
Leader: The Holy One invites us to reimagine
a world based on love rather than fear,
where their love replaces power and control.
People: We have only known love
of power, force, and control
and cannot imagine a world
that acts through love’s warm embrace.
Leader: Holy One, you invite us
to feel the warmth of your love,
so that, through us, it can flow into
a world that so badly needs it.
People: Our resistance keeps us trapped,
unable to feel the warmth of your love.
Forgive us for the ways
we allow fear and lack of imagination
to keep us from following your path of love.
INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE
Leader: The Holy One forgives us and invites us
to open ourselves
to the warmth of their love,
which casts away fear,
so that we can become the people
through whom love
can flow out into a world
that so badly needs it.
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 light and life and love,
we give thanks that your creative energy
flows in us and around us and through us.
People: We give you thanks for Jesus, our redeemer,
who shows us the way of love
through times of fear and hatred.
Leader 2: We give you thanks for your Holy Spirit,
who comforts and sustains us
as we search for ways to love our neighbors.
All: We give you thanks for your Holy Church,
where we learn to open our hearts
and help your love flow out into the wounded 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: 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
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: As the warmth of divine love
takes away our fear,
let us become a people
through whom the power of love flows out,
filling the world around us
with the peace of Christ.
All: Amen
