Liturgy

God, you raise your hand and gently begin
the concerto of creation:
birds carry the melody while stars keep the beat;

mountains dance in merriment and children clap
their hands with joy.
Love’s Composer, our new songs are lifted to you.

The old, old song is made new in our hearts:
Christ is Risen! Sing Alleluia!
You invite us to sing to a world
deafened by despair and haunted by the tunes of fear.

Lord of the all melodies, our new songs are lifted to you.

Believing we can not carry a tune,
we hesitate to join in the chorus of praise sung by all creation.
So, you softly and gently hum the melody in our hearts
until it raises into a chorus of Amazing Grace.

Music-making Spirit, our new songs are lifted to you.
Every song, old and new, is offered as praise.

Hear our worship, O Lord,
and we pray in the name of the Father,
of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

— by Thom Shuman

Community Confession

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

Eternal Lord, your grace and glory is evident if only we look closely around us.
We see them in your creation and in the redemption of all things.

Everything that has been or will be owes its
goodness and beauty to your hand.
Let everything that has breath praise you, Lord.

Yet all of creation is struggling and suffering under the weight and curse of sin.
Our hearts are in that struggle as well.
Lord, have mercy on us.

For the sins we commit against our friends, family and neighbors:
sins of pride, selfishness, and malice –
Lord, have mercy on us.

For the sins we commit against strangers:
sins of exclusion, of prejudice, of injustice and hatred of those not like us –
Lord, have mercy on us.

Lord we believe with the psalmist that our sin is ultimately against you and you alone.
For our idolatry, our lust, our love of money, status, and possessions –
Lord, have mercy on us.

Restore us and let not your anger fall on us,
Favorably turn your face to us for your mercy is great.

Accomplish in each of us and all of your church the work of your salvation,
that we may show forth your glory to the world,
and proclaim in new songs your goodness and mercy to all,

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

Reflection

What song would be written about our lives?
What song have we been singing in our lives?
What does our instrument sound like as we participate in God’s song?

Benediction

God invites us into his future,
where the one who makes all things new
has made his home among us.

We are called and chosen,
together embraced by our God in whom tears, mourning,
crying, pain and even death will be no more.

Remember God’s future, for this is our story.

So go forth this week, serving and celebrating
the love 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.

[Photo by John watson @ Flickr]