Liturgy
God, Creator and Giver of all that is good,
we thank you for our many blessings.
Mindful of your generosity,
we acknowledge that all we have is from you.
Daily, we will offer you thanks and praise for the beauty of the earth,
our work, our family and our loved ones.
In the dawning of a new day, You are with us.
In each dark hour, you are here.
Blessed by Your grace, we show gratitude by sharing what we have.
By serving our brothers and sisters, we serve you.
As You protect and guide us on our journey, we, Your stewards,
remain ever grateful for Your constant love.
We thank you and ask for your continual work in us.
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.
Again we must confess, Creator of the Universe,
our struggles to be faithful disciples.
Entrusted with all your gifts,
we become fearful once again of misusing them,
missing the chance to be a blessing to others.
Invited to dance in the light of your love,
we choose instead to stand motionless,
keeping company with our old ways and habits.
Called to be emptied for those who struggle in life,
we fill ourselves once again, with scorn
for the poor choices they may make.
Have mercy, oh God, have mercy on us.
Open our eyes to your kingdom in our midst,
so we might discover that your day of hope and grace has
already come through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
And in doing so, let us act upon your calling and
to be courageous in our service to our world.
We ask and pray to our God in community, holy in one.
Amen.
Reflection
In what ways can you excel in the grace of giving?
What is the motivation of your giving and who are you trying to please?
Benediction
Go out into the world,
and labor to bring forth new lives
of humility, of peace and of grace.
Dream dreams, pursue visions
and speak of God’s goodness and generosity
in the words of those who would hear.
And may our God who breathed life into creation be your delight.
May Christ Jesus give hope to your dreaming,
and may the Holy Spirit, your advocate and guide,
set your hearts ablaze with a passion for peace.
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]