Liturgy

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world,
who destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ,

who has forgiven our sins according to the riches of his grace,
and has made known to us the mystery of his will.

This is our God.
This is our story through our Risen Savior.
This is why we worship him as a community,

and why we give thanks and pray in the name
of the Father,
of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Community Confession

During this Easter season, let us pray to our God as a community.

When we keep our faults and failures locked safely away,
we have no need to confess.
But God engages our hearts when we least expect,
so we can be filled with forgiveness, with hope, with peace.

God of empty tombs and empty people:
when we hesitate to speak of your hope,
forgive us, and give us voice.

When we find it difficult to love another,
forgive us, and give us new compassion.

When we want to stand with the high and mighty,
forgive us, and put us next to the poor and oppressed.

When we stay locked behind our doubts and sense of safety,
forgive us, and send us out to share your grace.

When we can not believe your Word of new life,
forgive us, and fill us with your joy.

Christ inhabits every shadowed corner of our lives
with the light of Easter.
Christ comes into the locked rooms of our faults,
and gifts us with grace and hope.

Christ lives, to fill us with peace,
that we may proclaim the good news of mercy
and forgiveness.

Thanks be to you, oh God.
We praise the name of the Father,
of the Resurrected Son
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Reflection

How does your story and God’s story intersect?
What does resurrection mean for your life?

Benediction

Go from here as witnesses of what you have seen and heard.
Share God’s love with those you meet.
Bring hope to those who are in despair.

Live lives of gratitude and praise.
And may the love of God,
the peace of Jesus Christ,
and the ongoing presence of the Holy Spirit
be within you and among you until we meet again.

Go, proclaiming the name of the Father,
of the Risen Son,
and of the Holy Spirit,
amen.

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

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

[Photo by t.h.murphy @ Flickr]