Epiphany 1999: In The Shadow of God

 

Seekers Church:
A Christian Community
In the Tradition of the Church of the Saviour

Epiphany 1999

In The Shadow of God

SILENT REFLECTION

When a place or time seems touched by God, it is an overshadowing, a sudden eclipsing of my priorities and plans. But even in terrible circumstances and calamities, in matters of life and death, if I sense that I am in the shadow of God, I find light…

Amazing Grace, Kathleen Norris

PRELUDE

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader:        People of faith, lift up your eyes and look around.

Community:  The faithful gather together; they come to God. Children come from afar, the little ones carried by those who love them.

Unison:        Now the Creator of the Universe shall see the multitude and rejoice, for the people of Earth have come to their God just as God has come to the people.

INVOCATION

HYMN

WORD FOR THE CHILDREN

SILENCE

LITANY

Leader:        We are in the shadow of God and we find light, so much light that our vision improves dramatically.

Voice 1:       We know that holiness is near.

Voice 2:       The holiness we sense is not robed in majesty or bewitched with power.

Voice 1:       We know that holiness is near.

Voice 2:       It waits in puzzlement, it hesitates.

Leader:        The good news comes from Galilee, that place of little hope: Holiness reveals ordinary lives to be full of mystery, and gospel.

SILENCE

PRAYERS

COMMON CONFESSION

Leader:        Where is the wise one? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of the age? Has God not made foolish the wisdom of the world?

Voice 1:       We demand signs, and go seeking after worldly knowledge.

Voice 2:       We stumble over God’s face in our streets and judge the suffering we see as right return for folly.

Voice 1:       We long for what the world gives: power, riches, ease.

Voice 2:       We turn away from God’s wisdom, and follow the call of the evening news.

Unison:         Forgive us, God, for we stand in your shadow with our eyes squeezed shut against the brightness of your holy presence.

INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

ASSURANCE

Leader:        The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. God is the source of our lives in Christ, our wisdom and redemption, our righteousness and our love. Amen.

PRAYERS OF THE COMMUNITY

HYMN

THE WORD

FIRST LESSON

SILENCE

GOSPEL LESSON

SERMON

SILENT REFLECTION

The first Sunday of each month we switch to a Communion Liturgy here.

OFFERING

SHARED REFLECTIONS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

HYMN

BENEDICTION

Leader:        You are the light of the world. Let your light so shine before others, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father and Mother who is in heaven. Amen.

LITURGY RESOURCES
Call to worship: Based on Isaiah 60:4-5
Confession: Based on 1 Corinthians 1:20
Assurance: Based on 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30
Benediction: Matthew 15:16