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.