Liturgy

In the stillness, in the silence,
we attend to your presence, our God.

And we feel your Spirit
illuminating our minds,
warming our hearts,
stirring our spirits,
strengthening our hands outstretched,
transforming our lives,
energizing our souls,,

Until every fiber of our being
is filled with your presence and we leap up crying,

Blessed are you, God of all life!
Blessed are you who rejoices in our worship!

Blessed are you who attends to the cry of the poor!
Blessed are you who offers hope in the hard times.

Blessed is your Son, Jesus Christ,
whose name is love
whose blood is grace
whose presence is light
whose heart is justice
whose life is hope.

Let our whole being resonate in praise to you
Let every aspect of our lives show that we live for you.

We pray 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.

Great and Holy God,
we confess that often-times we miss the mark.
We mess up. We fall short.

We disappoint ourselves or others around us.
Most of all, we have not done all that you would have us do.

This is why we are here today:
for community that corrects and inspires us,
for worship that lifts our spirits and above all, you,

for the urgent reminder of your grace that abounds in our lives,
for the peace that enables us to embody your Spirit of peace.

In this time of worship, O Living Lord, remake us.
In this time of worship, O Holy Spirit, dwell within us.

Remind us of our calling to love and serve.
Grant us the courage to be your people
through the Risen Christ,
the only One who sets us free.

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

Reflection

How does Christ’s blood affect your daily living?
What does drawing near to God look like for you?
When we meet together, in what ways can you contribute?

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 Lauren Treece @ Flickr]