Liturgy

God of hosts, you invite us to a banquet
where the last may be first,
and the humble and the mighty trade places.

Let us share your abundance with no fear of scarcity;
let us greet strangers as angels you have sent.

Send your Spirit now
so that we may find a place at your table
and welcome others with radical hospitality.

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

~ written by Rev. Christopher Ney

Community Confession

In prayer, let us confess to God as a community.
Let us continue our worship by praying to God as a community.
Our response will be highlighted in yellow.

We will listen to Christ Jesus, who is Genuine Love.
Love hates what is evil and holds fast to what is good.

We will love our brothers and sisters with selfless love,
striving to live with one another in community to build and serve
together the kingdom of God, here on Earth.

We will not lack in zeal, but will press on in the Spirit, serving our Lord.
We will rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering and persevere in prayer.

We will contribute to the needs of one another.
We will extend hospitality to all we meet.

We will bless those who do harm to us.
We will bless them, and will not curse them.

We will rejoice with those who rejoice,
and weep with those who weep.
We will live in harmony with our neighbors.

We will not be proud or arrogant, and will associate with the lowly.
What we know, we will share, no more, no less.

We will live in peace as one body,
devoted in following the Holy Spirit,
and love as Christ first loved us.

All this we ask and do, in the name of the Father,
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Benediction

Christ asks if we love him.
If we say yes, he says; “Then care for one another.”

This is our opportunity to make a difference,
to live lovingly on the frontiers of his bright new world.

We can not promise to do it perfectly, but we can strive,
relying on his abundant wisdom to take our small love,
and fit it into the larger pattern of good for all creation.

May God bless the world in which you move,
and bless your home and your friends.

May God bless the eyes with which you see,
and bless the ears with which you listen.

May God bless the way you use your hands,
and bless the way you employ your tongues,
for our God has invited us into his story.

So go this week, proclaiming
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 Mark Reimer @ Flickr]