Liturgy

Loving God, let there be:
A way of walking that harms not the earth,
A way of having that leaves plenty for others,
A time for tears that dissolves grief,

A time for kindness that heals many wounds,
A path of peacemaking that settles strife,
A path of justice-seeking that creates hope.

Loving God, let there be:
A season of faithfulness,
A promise of eternity,
A way to be living,
A song for singing.

To follow your Son as he so lived,
to give as he so generously gave,

in 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 Jesus, you bless the poor in spirit and give them your Kingdom.
But we fatten ourselves, and we turn away from those whose poverty
reminds us of our true state, only building our own little kingdoms of self.

We pray, Lord, have mercy on us.

You bless those who mourn, and you comfort them.
But we flee grief that leads to repentance,
and we seek comfort in possessions, prestige and power.

We pray, Lord, have mercy on us.

You bless the meek, and promise them the earth,
you bless the merciful, and promise them mercy.

But we are far from meek —
we try to make the world our own through pride and self-promotion;
we forget the forgiveness that was won at such cost,
and we hold grudges at the slightest offense.

We pray, Lord, have mercy on us.

You bless those who hunger and thirst for righteousness —
you promise to satisfy their desires.
You bless the pure in heart, and promise that they shall see God.

But we hunger and thirst after everything else:
the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life;
our hearts are not pure, and so we can not see you.

We pray, Lord, have mercy on us.

You bless the peacemakers and the persecuted and the reviled —
you call them sons of your Father, and you give them the kingdom of heaven.

But we covet each other’s things, looks, jobs and successes,
and we cultivate a friendship with the world instead of with you.

We pray, Lord, have mercy on us.

Restore us and lead us in your ways, oh Lord,
that we may learn from our wrongdoings,
to better serve and love you as you first served and loved us.

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

– revised off a prayer by Reggie Kidd

Reflection

Do you recognize a need for dependence on God?
Do you recognize the poor in spirit around you?

Benediction

Go now, and live by faith in the Son of God.
Pray for God’s justice,
Never welcome evil,
pour out your love freely.

And may God hear your cries for help;
May Christ Jesus stand with you in the face of hostility;
And may the Holy Spirit fill you with faith and life

that you may go forth to proclaim the love of our Father
through your words and deeds.

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 Yosigo @ Flickr]