Summer 2011 – Catching Our Breath

GATHERING

 

ENTRANCE

 

REFLECTION

When I come and bow humbly before you,

I see how your wisdom breathes in everything.

In these sacred seeing moments

I learn and relearn truths that free me.

Joyce Rupp, Prayers to Sophia, pg 78

 

CANDLE LIGHTING

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader: Come, all who are searching for sabbath.

             Rest and rejoice; the Word is near.

 

People: We come, breathless,

            longing for rest in the arms of God.

 

Leader: The Holy One offers you the breath of life.

              Let your body be filled with the Holy Spirit.

 

All:         We come to be restored by God’s grace,

              offering our selves to the Holy One who calls us.

INVOCATION

 

HYMN

 

WORD FOR THE CHILDREN

 

SILENCE

 

PRAYERS

COMMON CONFESSION

Leader: Holy Maker, Holy Lover, Holy Spirit,

              you call us to pray for our enemies,

              to catch your breath of grace in the midst of our fear.

 

People: We want to repay evil with evil,

             to hold our breath in anger,

             instead of breathing out your love.

 

Leader: You call us to deny our selves,

              to take up our cross and follow you.

 

People: We want to ignore the pain of the world,

             to hold on to our habits,

             instead of breathing out your compassion.

 

Leader: You call us to live in your realm of love,

              to let your grace-filled breath

              flow through us for the good of all.

 

All: Forgive us for our selfish ways.

 

INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

 

ASSURANCE

Leader: The Holy One

             breathes out endless love and compassion,

             forgiving us even before we ask.

             Thanks be to God.

 

All: Amen

 

PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION

 

PRAYER OF COMMITMENT

All: O Holy One, we come today

to claim our relationship with you.

We pray for the commitment to grow together,

sharing the gifts you give us with others

here and in the wider world.

Forgive us for the hurt we have inflicted,

and help us forgive those who have hurt us.

Give us strength and discipline

to nurture our relationship with you;

to care for every part of your creation;

to foster justice and be in solidarity with those in need;

to work to end all war, and violence, and discord;

and to respond joyfully when you call,

freely giving our selves as you have shown the way.

We open our hearts to you and your creation

in the name of Jesus, who is the Christ. Amen.

 

HYMN

 

THE WORD

SCRIPTURE

 

SERMON

 

SILENT REFLECTION

 

OFFERING

 

COMMUNION

GREAT THANKSGIVING

Leader 1: Holy God of all creation,

                we give thanks

                that your gifts to us

                and your call on our lives

                endure forever.

 

People:    We thank you

                that your beloved child Jesus,

                came into the world

                to challenge our certainties,

                shatter our illusions,

                and show us the way to abundant life.

 

Leader 2: We thank you that your Holy Spirit

                breathes into our lives,

                quieting our busy minds

                and drawing us into your great heart.

 

All:           We thank you for our brothers and sisters

                in this community and throughout the earth,

                who, in seeking to hear your voice

                and do your will,

                bring your good news to the world.

BLESSING THE ELEMENTS

Leader 1: Christ invites everyone to eat the bread of life,

                 to drink the cup of the new covenant.

 

Leader 2: Jesus said, I am the bread of life.

                You who come to me shall never hunger,

                You who believe in me shall never thirst.

 

Leader 1: On the night of his arrest, Jesus took bread,

                and after giving thanks to God, broke it and said,

                This is my body,

                broken for the healing of the world.

                Whenever you eat it, do so remembering me.

 

Leader 2: After supper, Jesus took the cup and said,

                This is the  cup of the new covenant,

                poured out for you and for all.

                Whenever you drink it, do so remembering me.

 

SHARE THE ELEMENTS

 

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND DEDICATION

All:           God of abundance and mercy,

                we give joyful thanks

                for your eternal love and healing presence

                in our celebration of bread and cup.

                Bless this body of Christ

                that we may attend faithfully

                to our call to be your servants,

                with each other and throughout the world.

                Amen.

 

SHARED REFLECTIONS

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

HYMN

 

BENEDICTION

Leader: Refreshed by God’s grace,

             rejoicing in the good news,

             we go out to love and serve,

             following our brother Jesus.

 

             May the living Spirit of God

             breathe through us and sustain us,

             now and forever.

 

All: Amen.