Thanksgiving 2000: Stone Soup
Seekers Church
A Christian Community
In the Tradition of the Church of the Saviour
Thanksgiving 2000
Stone Soup
SILENT REFLECTION
"What are you doing?" a woman asked of the two travelers.
"Fixing stone soup. All you need is a little water and some stones," one replied.
"Of course, it would be better if we had just a bit of potatoes," said the other.
"I have some," she said, and going off, shortly returned with them.
Others passed and stopped to question the strangers. Each time the two travelers explained, and each time the towns-people volunteered to provide the necessary ingredient. At the end of the day every imaginable vegetable, herb and spice had been added to the pot. That night the two travelers fed the whole town on the most delicious soup anyone had ever tasted.
Elizabeth O’Connor, "The History of The Church of The Saviour"
in Handbook for Mission Groups, pp 42-43.
PRELUDE
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: We gather here together
in this familiar place,
hungering for mystery and miracles.
Voice 1: But who is the stranger in our midst —
the one the children follow – the one who calls to us?
Voice 2: The stranger tells of loaves and fishes –
of love and living water – of things lost and found.
All: Who is this stranger in our midst?
INVOCATION
HYMN
WORD FOR THE CHILDREN
SILENCE
LITANY
Leader: Living Rock of Abundant Life,
the poor cried out;
you heard, and saved them from all their troubles.
People: To those who have nothing,
your promise is this:
whatever is needed will be given.
Leader: Your eyes are on those who do justice,
and your ears are open to their voice.
People: To those who yearn for peace,
your promise is this:
whatever is needed will be given.
Leader: Your arms enfold the brokenhearted,
and rescue those whose spirits are crushed.
People: To those who fear the future,
your promise is this:
whatever is needed will be given.
All: O taste and see how good God is!
Happy are those who take refuge in the Living Rock.
SILENCE
PRAYERS
COMMON CONFESSION
Leader: We fill our lives with the fear of scarcity,
assuming there is not enough money,
time, patience or love.
We turn away when a stranger asks for nourishment,
claiming there isn’t enough even for ourselves.
People: Forgive us when we doubt your abundance
and ignore the possibilities in what we have been given.
Leader: We often sit with arms crossed and fists clenched,
crying out that you have turned away
and left us empty handed.
People: Forgive us when we reject your abundance
and neglect the possibilities in what we have been given.
Leader: We easily give thanks for the good things in life,
turning away from those
which lead us to deeper community
or second-guessing blessings as too good to be true.
All: Open our eyes to the wonders that surround us.
Help us surrender to the loving embrace that enfolds us.
INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE
Leader: Take comfort:
we, and the whole world with us,
are always embraced in Christ’s love.
In Christ, there is always enough.
PRAYERS OF THE COMMUNITY
HYMN
THE WORD
FIRST LESSON
SILENCE
GOSPEL LESSON
SERMON
SILENT REFLECTION
OFFERING
SHARED REFLECTIONS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
HYMN
BENEDICTION
Leader: Trust and heed the words of the stranger.
Nourish the abundance of community that feeds our lives.
Savor all that God has provided
and know that whatever is needed will be given.
