Liturgy
God, our shaper
thank you for calling us into community in this city.
Thank you for its color and vibrancy, its texture and life.
Thank you that we can’t do
all that you’ve asked of us on our own,
But it’s together with all the people here
that we’re asked to build your commonwealth of justice, peace and fullness of life.
We offer to you our hopes for this community
and place them before you now.
We pray for partners in this community
with whom those hopes could be made real
before you now.
We pray that you will take from us any pride,
any assumption that we know best,
and that you will give hearts open to
receive your word and life
from the friend and stranger we will meet today.
In all our work, keep us humble,
conscious that without you we are nothing
and without our neighbors we are but a clique.
Bless our partnerships and our dreams
and may your kingdom come.
In the name of the Father, the Son
and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Reflection
What does the Holy Spirit as helper mean to you?
How can you participate with the Spirit in killing patterns of sin?
Remember that you are more sinful than you realize and paradoxically more loved than you can ever imagine.
In silence allow the Spirit to pray on your behalf.
Benediction
Go forth with this truth lodged firmly in your heart:
There is nothing you can do or say that will separate you from the love of God.
In Christ we see the power of God’s transforming love;
The love that was in Christ is the same love that is in us today.
In every moment of our lives, God knows who we are,
And with patience and love, offers us what we need.
Like Christ, we will open ourselves to God’s presence;
We will place our lives in God’s care;
We will follow Christ in the pursuit of compassion,
justice, and peace.
Go and live the church in the name of the Father, the Son
and the Holy Spirit.