Lent 2005

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