February 7, 2010

Liturgy Reflection & Benediction 02.07.10

Liturgy
We believe in God whose goodness
Is more than enough for all:

Filling the universe with gifts of love
And resounding through our lives in praise,
We will take hold of all that God gives
With reverence and joy.

We will make God known in the breaking of bread,
We will share the life-giving wine,
So that all may see and experience God’s love.

We believe in Christ Jesus,
God’s greatest gift of all:
Who takes the smallest of seeds,
A mere whisper of faith,
And brings forth a harvest of good things.

We will take all that Christ has given us;
Our gifts, our talents, our very selves,
So that Christ can walk ours streets once more.

We believe in God’s Spirit of truth,
Bringing to fruition all that has been given:

Gentle as a breeze or shocking as a storm,
We will allow God’s gifts to be stirred to life in us;

Breathing, laughing, living in our community and world,
So all may know of God’s harvest of love.

We believe in God, the Father,
the Son,
and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Congregational Prayer
We pray to you, Lord Christ.

For the holy Church of God,
that we may be filled with truth and love, and be found
without fault at the day of your coming, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For all who fear God and believe in you,
Lord Christ, that our divisions may cease
and that all may be one as you and the Father are one
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For the mission of the Church,
that in faithful witness we may embody
your hands and feet to the ends of the earth, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For the peace of the world,
that a spirit of respect and forbearance
may grow among nations and peoples, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For a blessing upon all human labor,
and for the right use of the riches of creation,
that the world may be freed from poverty, famine and disaster.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For the poor, the persecuted, the sick, and all who suffer;
for refugees, prisoners, victims and all who are in danger;
that they may be relieved and protected, we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.

For ourselves; for the forgiveness of our sins,
and for the grace of the Holy Spirit to amend our lives,
we pray to you, O Lord.
Lord, hear our prayer.

We pray to you, O God of faith and hope, and we ask
in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Reflection
How are your gifts and talents serving the weak?

Is the song of your life in harmony with the global and historical church?

Who do you find hard to accept?

What can you do this week to invite them into your life?

Benediction
We pray.
Send us out;
In the name of God, the Father of the poor;
In the name of Jesus, the Son of justice;
In the name of the Spirit, the spirit of mercy;

To live out God’s promise,
A promise that transforms and makes us new;

providing signs of hope
to all who struggle for a new world of justice and peace.

May we be steadfast in faith,
untiring in love and joyful in hope,
bringing peace into every corner of our city.

We ask of the Father, the Son
and of the Holy Spirt, amen.

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

[Photo by markhaldane @ Flickr]

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