Liturgy

Here in this place, there are no foreigners and no strangers.
No outcasts and none rejected,
for all are welcome in the house of God.

Here in our worship, may there be only acceptance,
for Christ’s love is our language of faith.

Here in our lives, let there be no divisions,
for God dwells in each of us,
his Holy Spirit interceding and guiding us
toward a better way to live in community.

Come, let us worship in unity and love,
praising the name of the Father,
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Congregational Prayer

In prayer, let us confess to God as a community.

Lord of our hearts, God of our lives, hear our prayers:
the sighs, the cries, the joys of our deepest thoughts.

We share all our thoughts with you, O God,
knowing that you hear and answer us,
providing us with what is best.
Come, O God, and hear us now.

Lord of all, source of health and healing,
we come to you with worries, concerns, fears, wrongs, and sins.

We seek your compassion,
turning over to you all that separates us from you,
God of our hectic busyness and petty obsessions,
God of our secrecies and our defeats.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit.

We pray to you, our God in community, holy in One.
Amen.

Reflection

How do we handle and respond to the mistakes in our lives?
How can we lay down the shame in our lives?

Benediction

Take your encouragement from Christ,
that your joy may be complete.
We will share in the Spirit;
We will find consolation in love.
Practice a ministry of humility and compassion,
For God is at work in you, empowering you.
We will welcome Christ into our hearts.
We will live lives worthy of the Gospel.
We will go forth in hope and in peace,

to serve others 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 Jocelyn Catterson @ Flickr]