Liturgy

God is eternal,
From year’s beginning to its end.

God is faithful,
In each day, he is present,
In each action, he comes close
Through all eternity.

God is trustworthy,
Yesterday, today and forever,
Sustaining, enlivening, making all things new,
God is eternal

We give thanks 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.

Praise be to you, O God the Father:
You created all things by your power and wisdom
and so loved the world that you gave your Son to be our Savior.

Praise be to you, O God the Son:
You became human like us in all things, except sin,
died for our offenses, and rose again for our justification.

Praise be to you, O God the Holy Spirit:
You lead us into all truth and spread the love of God in our hearts.

and yet, we often don’t see you and accept you for who you are.
We forget you, neglect your word or mold you into something less than you are.
Forgive us Lord. Help us to see you and to know you more fully.

Fill us with the vision of your glory,
that we may always serve and praise you.

In the name of the Father,
of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit,
amen.

Reflection

What does it look like to be reconciled to God?
What does it look like to be reconciled with others?

Benediction

We hasten toward an hour
when earthly pursuits and possessions will appear vain,

when it will make no difference whether we have been rich or poor,
successful or disappointed, admired or despised.

But it will be of eternal importance that we have
mourned for sin,
hungered and thirsted after righteousness,
loved the Lord Jesus in sincerity,
and served our world in grace and love.

May these objects form our chief desire.

In the name of the Father,
of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit,
amen.

(adapted from a prayer in Arthur Beneet’s book The Valley of Vision)

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

[Photo by m i e s @ Flickr]