Liturgy

We believe in God whose goodness
Is more than enough for all:

Filling the universe with gifts of love
And resounding through our lives in praise,
We will take hold of all that God gives
With reverence and joy.

We will make God known in the breaking of bread,
We will share the life-giving wine,
So that all may see and experience God’s love.

We believe in Christ Jesus,
God’s greatest gift of all:
Who takes the smallest of seeds,
A mere whisper of faith,
And brings forth a harvest of good things.

We will take all that Christ has given us;
Our gifts, our talents, our very selves,
So that Christ can walk ours streets once more.

We believe in God’s Spirit of truth,
Bringing to fruition all that has been given:

Gentle as a breeze or shocking as a storm,
We will allow God’s gifts to be stirred to life in us;

Breathing, laughing, living in our community and world,
So all may know of God’s harvest of love.

We believe in God, the Father,
the Son,
and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Congregational Prayer

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

Father, you invite us in your divine word to rest
and trust in your sovereign care.
But we cling to control, we trust our worries more than your word
and we fill our minds, homes and relationships with stress.
Father, forgive us, and help our unbelief.

Lord Jesus,
you invite us in the gospel to find rest for our souls in following you,
but we prefer being tied to our burdens, our ideologies,
refusing the easy load you promise.
Christ, forgive us, and help our unbelief.

Spirit of God, you have filled our hearts with divine grace.
You open our eyes to the glory of the gospel,
and offer us the peace of Christ.
Spirit of God, have mercy on us.

Help us in our unbelief and fill us with faith in God’s word
and the peace of Christ.

We pray in the name of the Father,
of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Benediction

The Lord, God almighty is our Father:
let us be thankful this week
for he loves us and tenderly cares for us.

The Lord, Jesus Christ is our Saviour:
may we serve him with grace and courage
for he has redeemed us and will defend us to the end.

The Lord, the Holy Spirit is among us:
may we rely and continually seek his presence
for he will lead us in God’s holy way.

To God almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
be praise and glory today and for ever.
Amen.

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

[Photo by Jocelyn Catterson @ Flickr]