Liturgy
Faith necessitates a choice,
and by the grace of Christ, we can choose.
And so, Father, we choose to believe
that your light is better than darkness,
sharing is better than hoarding,
your truth is better than deceit,
your mercy is better than revenge,
your love is better than indifference,
to dream with you is better than to fear,
and that you, oh God, is stronger than chaos.
We choose to believe in your abilities over our own,
and lean on your understanding
on the long and narrow road of life.
By grace, we choose to have faith,
and we worship in 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.
O God,
We believe this: there is something within us right now—
so small that we might not know it is there;
but it has the power to grow into something our world needs.
We trust that you are never done with us.
With you, there is always a new beginning,
a new possibility to make something different of ourselves,
and to make a difference in the lives of others.
O God, surprise us with a strength we did not know we had,
with creative possibilities we never dreamed of.
We will open ourselves to the Spirit’s quiet prompting.
We will trust that you nurture within us
the gifts, talents, and character we need
to be Christ Jesus’s instrument of transformation and loving service.
O God, instill in us the confidence to
serve you in ways both great and small,
and to joyfully follow wherever you may lead.
We ask and pray in the name of you, the Father,
of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Reflection
What is our burning bush that God is dreaming for us?
How can we turn away from our everyday routines in order to embrace God’s dream and for him to show up?
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 Carmen Marchena @ Flickr]