Binding Up the Brokenhearted
Seekers Church
A Christian Community
In the Tradition of the Church of the Saviour
Advent 2005
Binding Up the Brokenhearted
CIRCLE TIME
ENTRANCE
REFLECTION
"… To feel abandoned is to deny
the intimacy of your surroundings. Surely,
even you, at times, have felt the grand array;
the swelling presence, and the chorus crowding
out your solo voice.
…
"Put down the weight of your aloneness and ease into
the conversation. The kettle is singing
even as it pours you a drink, the cooking pots
have left their arrogant aloofness and
seen the good in you at last. All the birds
and creatures of the world are unutterably
themselves. Everything is waiting for you."
"Everything Is Waiting for You." David Whyte, pg 6.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Greetings, favored ones! The Holy One is with you.
People: What sort of greeting is this?
Leader: Do not be afraid, for you have found favor with God.
People: The Holy Spirit has come upon us,
and the power of the Most High overshadows us.
Leader: The One who calls us is coming towards us:
Jesus, the Christ, the Child of God.
All: Here we are, the servants of the Holy One;
let it be with us according to God's word.
INVOCATION
HYMN
WORD FOR THE CHILDREN
SILENCE
RESPONSIVE READING
Leader: A voice says "Shout!"
And I said: "What shall I shout?"
Voice 1: Raise your voice, people of God.
Make it good and loud.
Voice 2: Tell all the cities of this land:
"Look! Your God is coming!"
All: Like a shepherd God will gather up the lambs,
and lead the nursing ewes to good pasture.
SILENCE
PRAYERS
CONFESSION
Leader: O God, tear open the heavens and come down.
Voice 1: We tremble in your presence.
Voice 2: We sorrow for our transgression.
Leader: No ear has heard, no eye has seen
any God besides you.
Voice 1: You work for those who wait for you.
Voice 2: Our sins take us away from you.
All: We can not see you.
We fear you have abandoned us.
INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE
Leader: "Comfort, comfort my people," says our God.
Like a shepherd,
God gathers us in loving arms
like a mother to her breast.
PRAYERS OF THE COMMUNITY
JESUS PRAYER
All: Eternal One, Father and Mother of us all,
Holy is your name.
Let justice and mercy fill all Creation
and let us recognize
that every thought and thing belongs to you.
Feed us with the bread we need for today.
Forgive our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Stand with us in trial and temptation.
Free us from the grip of all that is evil.
For you alone are creating our universe,
now and forever.
Amen.
HYMN
THE WORD
FIRST LESSON
SILENCE
EPISTLE
SILENCE
GOSPEL
SERMON
SILENT REFLECTION
OFFERING
The first Sunday of each month we switch to a Communion Liturgy here.
SHARED REFLECTIONS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
HYMN
BENEDICTION
Leader: Let us go forth, bringing good news to the oppressed,
binding up the brokenhearted,
and giving thanks in all things.
May the God of peace hold us in grace;
and may our spirit and soul and body
be kept sound and blameless
at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
All: Amen.
Worship Resources
Call to Worship adapted from Luke 1:26-38
Confession adapted from Isaiah 64:1-9
Assurance adapted from Isaiah 40:1-2
Responsive reading adapted from Isaiah 40:3-11
Benediction adapted from Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11
