Learning Compassion
Seekers Church
A Christian Community
In the Tradition of the Church of the Saviour
Lent 2005
Learning Compassion
CIRCLE TIME
ENTRANCE
REFLECTION
“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” (Martin Luther King, Jr.)
"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive." (Dalai Lama)
"When you reach out in compassion to the broken, you become part of God’s healing purpose for a broken world, and God promises to sustain such work." (Peter Storey)
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Holy fount of care that does not count the cost,
we come again to worship you.
Voice 1: We know our help comes from you
because you love us.
Voice 2: We come to learn from you the loving way,
the way that cuts the chain of hate.
All: Lift our hearts, Spirit of Love,
as we gather here to learn compassion. Amen.
INVOCATION
HYMN
WORD FOR THE CHILDREN
SILENCE
CHANT
More than those who watch for the morning,
my soul waits for God.
SILENCE
PRAYERS
CONFESSION
Leader: Facing temptation,
Jesus refused to turn stones into bread.
People: Facing temptation,
we too often turn bread into stones.
Leader: Facing temptation,
Jesus refused to use power for its own sake.
People: Facing temptation,
we too often take power
that belongs to someone else.
Leader: Facing temptation,
Jesus refused to test the promises of God.
All: Facing temptation,
we too often want God to do
what we should do ourselves.
INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE
Leader: When we face the things that tempt us,
the Holy One teaches us compassion.
All: Amen.
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
GOSPEL
SERMON
SILENT REFLECTION
OFFERING
The first Sunday of each month we switch to a Communion Liturgy here.
SHARED REFLECTIONS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
HYMN
BENEDICTION
Leader: Go into the wide world.
Be tender of heart to yourself,
to those you know and love,
to the stranger and to those who are in need.
Learning from Jesus,
let compassion guide you.
Unison: Amen.
WORSHIP RESOURCES
Chant by Billy Amoss, Seekers Church
