Fall 1992: Lifelong Learning: Back to Basics

 

Church of the Saviour

SEEKERS CHURCH

Fall, 1992

Lifelong Learning: Back to Basics

 

REFLECTION

"In each of us the amazing and dangerous seed of Christ is present… It is very small, like the grain of mustard seed… But if we take this awakened seed of Christ into the midst of the world's suffering, it will grow."

 Thomas Kelly, The Eternal Promise, pg 42.

 

PRELUDE

 

OPENING HYMN

 

The church's one foundation

                  is Christ, God's one true child,

                In whom the whole creation

                  is freed and reconciled.

                To bring the church together,

                  Christ lived and freely died;

                Raised up by God forever,

                  Christ lives to be our guide.

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

 

Leader:    Make your paths known to us, O God;

  teach us your ways.

 

People:    Unto you we open our hearts.

 

Leader:    Lead us in your truth, and teach us.

 

People:    Unto you we open our minds.

 

Unison:O God, you confide life's purpose

                         to all of us who listen,

                         and your wisdom is ours to know.

 

INVOCATION

 

HYMN

 

WORD FOR THE CHILDREN

 

CHILDREN LEAVE FOR CLASSES

               

SILENCE

 

LITANY

 

Leader:We are here not because we have found God,

                                  but because God our Creator

                                  has called us here.

 

People:Challenging us

                                  to accept the cost and joy of discipleship,

                                  and to be servants

                                  of the whole human family.

 

Leader:But the call is also God's promise:

 

People:A promise of forgiveness of sins

                                  and fullness of grace,

                                  courage in the struggle for justice and peace,

                                  and eternal life in God's realm

                                  which has no end.

 

Unison:Blessing and honor, glory and power

                                  be unto God!  AMEN.

 

SILENCE

 

PRAYERS

 

CONFESSION  (Unison)

 

God of light, who shines in deepest darkness,

  we hear you calling us out of hopelessness into hope.

But we are frightened by your call.

We are afraid of taking chances;

We are afraid of following your light,

  because it leads into places where you need us.

We don't want to see your light

  shining in the eyes of those we do not trust.

Yet, we know that in those places

  your grace also shines.

 

Forgive us for our fears and hesitation.

 

INDIVIDUAL CONFESSIONS

 

ASSURANCE  (Leader)

 

Through Christ, life has been given to us

  as a new gift for today.

We are a new and different people from this moment on.

Arise, then, and walk in the light of Christ.

 

CONTINUING PRAYERS

 

HYMN

 

THE WORD

 

Scripture

Sermon

Silent Reflection

 

OFFERING

 

Offertory Music

Prayer of Dedication

 

SHARED REFLECTIONS

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

HYMN

 

BENEDICTION  (Leader)

 

Glory to God, whose power working in us

  can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.

Glory to God from generation to generation in the church,

  and in Jesus Christ forever.  AMEN.