Liturgy

In our season of Lent,
when the world is no longer a paradise,
and creation shows its full power over us still,
and we are brought down to size on this small planet of ours…
let us worship our Lord.

When memories linger of the past,
and pain shapes us beyond our knowing,
and conflict becomes a story of life,
let us worship our Lord.

When the way is more barren than beautiful,
when the path is more a climb than a stroll,
when the desert expands and the horizon stretches,
let us worship our Lord.

We worship because we can,
we worship because we hope,
we worship because we know our vulnerability
when things shift, and we need to hold on.

We worship, for it is the only strength we have for the journey.
A strength that is given through believing
in the name of the Father,
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
amen.

— Roddy Hamilton

Community Confession

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

Most holy and merciful Father,
We confess to you and to the whole communion of saints in heaven and on earth.

We have not loved you with our whole heart, and mind, and strength.
We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.
We have not forgiven others, as we have been forgiven.
Have mercy on us, Lord.

We have been deaf to your call to serve, as Christ served us.
We have not been true to the mind of Christ, and
we have grieved your Holy Spirit.
Have mercy on us, Lord.

We confess to you, Lord, all our past unfaithfulness:
the pride, hypocrisy, and impatience in our lives.
We confess to you, Lord.

Our self-indulgent appetites and ways,
and our exploitation of other people,
We confess to you, Lord.

Our intemperate love of worldly goods and comforts,
and our dishonesty in daily life and work,
We confess to you, Lord.

Our negligence in prayer and worship,
and our failure to commend the faith that is in us,
We confess to you, Lord.

Accept our repentance, Lord, for the wrongs we have done:
for our blindness to human need and suffering,
and our indifference to injustice and cruelty,
Accept our repentance, Lord.

Restore us and let your anger depart from 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 in the world,
God in community, holy in One, we pray.
Amen.

Reflection

How have we overextended ourselves even in good things?
How can we look for ways to practice self-care?

Benediction

Love the Lord your God with all of your heart,
your mind and your soul.

We will love God knowing
no other substitute will suffice,
the very mention of God’s name will be precious
as we cleave to our time of communion with the sacred.

Love your neighbor as yourself.
We will respect the wisdom of our elders.
We will protect the lives and the reputations of those around us.
We will cherish the relationships entrusted to us.

We will not take what is not ours.
We will learn the value of enough.

Love the Lord your God, and serve him this week

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

[Photo by Owls & Bears @ Flickr]