Thanksgiving 2001: Keeping the Vigil

 

Seekers Church

A Christian Community

In the Tradition of the Church of the Saviour

 

Thanksgiving 2001

Keeping the Vigil

 

REFLECTION

 

Neither virgin nor wise

I fill foolishly

my lamp, lest surprise

take me unprepared.  Mulishly

at mid-morning sun-time

I pour the oil. 

(I’m anticipating as usual.) 

Toil is my lot,

my daily drink and meat. 

The bridegroom will find me workworn and rough. 

But my lamp is ready, and even as I am,

I’ll gladly greet Him who comes. 

And that is joy enough.

 

“The Preparation of Mary, mother of Jesus.” 

Madeline L’Engle, A Cry Like a Bell, pg. 7

 

PRELUDE

 

CALL TO WORSHIP    (Unison)

One:           We come here looking,

all of us carrying

our small lamps of hope.

 

Many:         We come here calling out,

hearing each other,

retelling the story of promise.

 

All:              Here, we reach out to God,

and become the one Body of Christ,

breathing together with the Holy Spirit.

 

INVOCATION

 

HYMN

 

WORD FOR THE CHILDREN

 

SILENCE

 

LITANY

One:           Leaves turn yellow and crimson

and drop from the trees.

 

Voice 1:      We pull on boots and sweaters

As cold, wet wind

Steals summer from our memory.

 

Voice 2:      It feels like time to close the windows,

 build a fire and hibernate,

 comforting ourselves with dreams of spring,

 

One:          But sometimes we are called outside into the cold

to hunt for what we have not clearly seen,

and then we feel alive.

 

All:              We live in the tension

of this waiting, searching time.

 

SILENCE

 

PRAYERS

 

CONFESSION

One:          Giver of New Life,

although you call us from our comfort into newness,

too often we want to stay within our habits,

and we refuse the adventure that you offer.

 

All:              Forgive us, Holy Source of Hope,

for our unwillingness to watch and wait;

for our reluctance to look for you.

 

INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

 

ASSURANCE

One:           The Good News of salvation in Christ is this:

Our human failings are forgiven

so that we might truly be

the eyes and ears and hands and feet of God.

 

All:              Amen.

 

PRAYERS OF THE COMMUNITY

 

HYMN

 

THE WORD

SCRIPTURE

SERMON

SILENT REFLECTION

 

OFFERING

 

SHARED REFLECTIONS

 

 ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

HYMN

 

BENEDICTION       

One:           Whichever gift each of you has received,

Give thanks!

Use your gift in service

to one another and the wider world,

like good stewards

dispensing the grace of God in all its various forms.

 

Go forth to love and serve God

where you live and work.

 

All:              Amen.