Liturgy

The Spirit of God calls us from many places;
some of us come from busy homes with many people,
some of us live alone.
We are a part of the family.

This week has been different for each of us;
some of us have happy news we want to celebrate,
some of us face grief and need comforting.
We are members of God’s family.

Yet we all come to this same place;
all of us seeking God’s presence in our lives,
all of us seeking God’s presence with each other.

Together, we become God’s family
and worship in the name
of the Father,
of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Congregational Confession

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

Holy, Perfect God,
We admit that we put other things above you in our lives.
We say we long for you, but we actually long for more stability
and more comfort.

Lord, you will come with darkness for us
if our hearts remain captive to anything but you.
We confess that we are openly rebellious against you.
We are fallen, never to rise again unless you lift us up.

Lord, we fail to worship you with our hearts.
Our spiritual gatherings are hollow
when our hearts are slaves to lesser things.

We pay you a visit on Sunday, but we long to go home to other gods.
Lord God, we confess that we break your heart.
Forgive us when we gather before you half-heartedly,
waiting to go back to worshipping ourselves.

When we truly worship you, we will seek good and not evil.
We will seek justice and grace.

Lord God, have mercy.
Renew our hearts within us.
Make us long for you, our Creator and Savior,
God in community, holy in One,
Amen.

Reflection

Why do you work where you work?
Why do you live where you live?
What does it look like for you to perpetuate grace, a new form of injustice?

Benediction

We go, committed to care for one another
as you have cradled us in your love.

We leave, confident in your mercy
and courageous in our role within the city,
inspiring human souls,

that at the dawn of your grace,
our youthful lives
will be spent to love and serve you,

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 Gideon Tsang @ Flickr]