Liturgy

We are called by God to be the church of Jesus Christ,
a sign in the world today of what God intends for all time.

To bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,

and to comfort all who mourn;
to give a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.

The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance,
that now is the acceptable time,
now is the day of salvation.

We worship now and join together in community
to praise the name of the Father,
of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Community Confession

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

Lord of our hearts, God of our lives, hear our prayers:
the sighs, the cries, the joys of our deepest thoughts.

We share all our thoughts with you, O God,
knowing that you hear and answer us,
providing us with what is best.
Come, O God, and hear us now.

Lord of all, source of health and healing,
we come to you with worries, concerns, fears, wrongs, and sins.

We seek your compassion,
turning over to you all that separates us from you,
God of our hectic busyness and petty obsessions,
God of our secrecies and our defeats.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from your presence,
and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and sustain in me a willing spirit.

We pray to you, our God in community, holy in One.
Amen.

Reflection

What words or phrases stand out to you in this text [Mark 14:32-42]?
How can we live out this text in our current context and 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.

Leave here 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 Katherine Squier @ Flickr]