Patience and Practice
Seekers Church
A Christian Community
In the Tradition of the Church of the Saviour
Epiphany 2006
Patience and Practice
CIRCLE TIME
ENTRANCE
REFLECTION
Today I am reminding myself to breathe, to live in my place and time as best I can, in search of the next right thing to do. … Yet each day that I stay as a guest on this green earth suddenly seems outrageous good fortune. Between the routine crying jags and ecstatic moments, I plan for the future, which will arrive whether or not I hold my breath. This coming weekend, for instance, I plan–Insha a Allah, the Muslims say, God willing– to bike several more laps around the park, fast enough to forget my fear, breath ragged, flying past mile after mile of wonder.
Kelly Murphy Mason is a second-year seminarian at Union Theological Seminary and a survivor of the World Trade Center attacks.
http://www.beliefnet.com/dailyinspiration/1091105.htm
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Breathing in, breathing out,
the Spirit of God calls us to this time and place.
People: Breathing in, breathing out,
we practice living in the presence of God.
Leader: Breathing in, breathing out,
we practice loving as God loves the world.
All: Breathing in, breathing out,
God patiently shapes our fragile, earthen vessels
into members of the eternal, grace-filled
Body of Christ.
INVOCATION
HYMN
WORD FOR THE CHILDREN
SILENCE
RESPONSIVE READING
Leader: For God alone our souls wait in silence.
People: We pour out our hearts before God.
Leader: For God alone our souls wait in silence.
All: We long to reply like Samuel,
“Here I am, God”.
SILENCE
PRAYERS
CONFESSION
Leader: We know that our strength comes from you,
O Holy One,
and yet we find it hard
to wait for you to come among us.
Voice 1: Sometimes we want to make the world
a better place.
Voice 2: Sometimes we want to take a nap
and let someone else worry about the world.
Leader: Waiting, reflecting, praying seems so slow.
Voice 1: We want things to happen
when we want things to happen,
not too soon and never too late.
Voice 2: It is so hard for us to admit
that this is your Creation,
that we are not in charge.
All: O Holy Maker of every thought and thing,
forgive us when we lose the patience that it takes
to practice being in your presence.
INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE
Leader: Arise, shine, for our light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon us.
God delivers the needy when they call:
We are forgiven.
All: Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE COMMUNITY
JESUS PRAYER
All: Eternal Spirit, 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
GOSPEL
SERMON
SILENT REFLECTION
OFFERING
The first Sunday of each month we switch to a Communion Liturgy here.
SHARED REFLECTIONS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
HYMN
BENEDICTION
Leader: Breathing in, breathing out,
God sends us to practice the love of Christ
in a world that yearns for love.
All: Amen.
