Liturgy

What does the Lord require of us?
To do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with our God.

What does God command of us?
To love God with all our heart,
and all our soul,
and all our mind,
and all our strength
and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

God does not call us to ease or to comfort,
But to presence, and abundance,
and grace in our struggle.

Let us worship the God who believes in us,
and trusts in us, and abides with us.

Let us worship the God who will ask much of us,
but will be beside us every step of the way.

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

(written by Eliza Buchakjian-Tweedy)

Community Confession

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

Gracious and merciful God, we confess to you
our reluctance to enter the places where we
are confronted with our true selves.

The places where we are tempted to put
worldly values before our desire for you,
and when our hunger for power and wealth is greater
than our hunger for seeking and doing your will:
Forgive us, O God, and increase our trust in you.

When we are tempted to use the gifts you give us
to benefit ourselves at the expense of serving others:
Forgive us, O God, and increase our trust in you.

When we are tempted to use
sensational means to increase people’s faith,
rather than being guided by the humility of Christ:
Forgive us, O God, and increase our trust in you.

When we are tempted to use bribery
to influence and control people:
Forgive us, O God, and increase our trust in you.

When we are tempted to manipulate you,
O God, to satisfy our own needs:
Forgive us, O God, and increase our trust in you.

Merciful God,
save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
Forgive us our sins and fill us
with the joy and peace of your salvation.

Strengthen us with your Spirit
that we may put our whole trust
in you as confidently as Jesus did.

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

Reflection

1. Find some time to examine your heart this week. How is your heart?
2. What can you trust God with this week?

Benediction

Go now, with your trust in Christ
who quenches your soul’s thirst
with the wine of God’s love.

Do not be silent about God’s faithfulness,
when in need, take shelter in God’s provisions
and keep your hearts honest.

And may God rejoice over you and call you “My Delight”;
May Christ Jesus bring out the best in you, to his glory;
And may the Spirit equip you all with gifts for the common good.

We leave here to love and serve
in 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 finnegan_eins @ Flickr]