Liturgy
O God of our hearts,
You yearn to be so close to us
that we can know you in every breath,
in every hope, in every relationship.
Meet us this week and
teach us to recognize
the covenant of justice, peace and love
you have written on our hearts.
May your desires become our desires,
your work become our work,
and our community
the place where you are sought and found.
We ask and pray in the name
of the Father, of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Congregational Prayer
In this season of Lent, let us pray and confess to God as a community.
Lord, we have come to see that our lives fall far short of your glory.
Have mercy and forgive us.
You have given your life for us, and poured out your Spirit,
yet we fail to return your love to others with all our heart.
Have mercy and change us.
Too often we are selfish and proud,
ignoring you, Lord, and neglecting others for our own causes.
Have mercy and cleanse us.
Lord, when we do not truly trust and obey you,
we are overwhelmed by self-pity, fear and worry.
Have mercy and deliver us.
In Christ we are given a sure hope and secure love,
yet we follow the false hopes and desires of this world.
Have mercy and forgive us.
Father, through the redeeming death of your Son on the cross,
by your Spirit and through your word,
transform and renew us to follow you with joy.
All this we ask, confident in your unchanging faithfulness,
God in community, holy in One.
Amen.
Reflection
What are the things that occupy our gaze in life? What images are we obsessed with in our minds and hearts?
How do we look up at the person and redemption of Christ in our lives?
Benediction
Just as God’s Word was sent into the world
to heal and redeem,
so God sends you into the world this day
to be light and love, healing and hope.
Go now to be light for the world,
And may the grace and peace of God the Creator,
the Redeemer, and the Sustainer
be with you this week
and remain with you always.
Go 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 Brenton Salo @ Flickr – www.brentonsalo.com]