Liturgy

Lent calls us to journey, this and every day,
following Jesus wherever he leads us.
Lent calls us to journey:
to the place where God covenants with us,
to receive the new names we are given.

Lent calls us to worship together,
to tell future generations the good news.
Lent calls us to practice justice,
to bring God’s hope to all people.

Lent calls us to faithful living,
to trust the One who gives us life.
Lent calls each of us to take up our cross,
and trust the One who bears it with us.

Lent calls us to journey with God.
Let us worship God, who walks with us,
this and every day.

We begin now,
in the name of the Father,
of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit,
amen.
by Thom Shuman

Community Confession

Because temptation is woven into the fabric
of our lives, and we know the weariness of forty
days in the desert, and the beckoning power of
sweet fruit, and the vain promises of the world,
we need you, God. Hear our prayer.

Because we see the broken before the whole,
and the half empty cup, and the unfinished task,
and the thirst in freedom’s quest,
we need you, God. Hear our prayer.

Because we trust in what we can see,
and we are blinded by our prejudices,
and we do not know what we do not know,
we need you, God. Hear our prayer.

Because our need for correctness exceeds
our need for truth, and our excuses preempt
the cry of the wounded, and our celebration
of blessing is mindless of those displaced,
we need you, God. Hear our prayer.

Because you came among us, and
breathed into our sinewy souls, and
healed our pain and let us wound you,
and loved us to the end, and triumphed
over all our hatred, we need you, God.
Hear our prayer.

We pray in the name
of the Father,
of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit,
Amen.

Sermon and Reflection

Sermon Podcast 03.05.17 – Kindness to the Other

What in my life needs kindness today?
How can I extend compassion to the people who are difficult for me to love?

Benediction

Jesus Christ, we want always to remember that you
love us, died for us, and rose from the dead for us.

In these next weeks, help us to remember,
and help us trust in you more and more.

May God the Father, who does not despise
the broken spirit, give us contrite hearts.

May Christ, who bore our sins in his body
on the tree, heal us by his wounds.

May the Holy Spirit, who leads us into all truth,
speak to us words of pardon and peace.

So go forth from here, serving in the name
of the Father,
of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Go in peace and live the church.
See you throughout the week.

[Photo by Evan Helfrich @ Flickr]