Liturgy

In the beginning God created all things,
and God saw that they were good.

At our beginning, God created us
unique and irreplaceable, loved and wanted by God,
known and treasured by God even before He created us.

In all our new beginnings, God creates something new
so we will seek God in the freshness of this morning,
in the laughter of friends,
in the colors of creation,
and in this beautiful place.

Lord God, King of Creation,
open our eyes to see your presence,
our souls to sense your presence,
and our hearts to love your presence,
ever here in your creation,
and ever beyond it in eternity.

We pray and 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.

Father, we pray to you.
For your love and goodness,
we give you thanks, O God.

You of heaven and earth,
you who made all things and called them good.
Each day you shape the earth in wonder and mystery,
surrounding us with goodness and growth.

For your creativity and goodness,
we give you thanks, O God.

Yet, we admit to you our dry and anxious spirits,
and we confess our anxiety and worry.

In your grace, Jesus Christ, nourish and renew us.
In your love and goodness, Lord, have mercy on us.

Give us healthy lives, lives reflecting your vibrance,
lives ready to bear the fruit of goodness and love toward all creation,
so that we may be living proof that you are alive and well,
flourishing in our city.

For your grace and goodness,
we give you thanks, O God.

Let us use your gifts to make new lives possible among us and beyond us.

May your Creating Spirit dwell with us, O God,
and we pray in the name of the Father,
of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Benediction

Go in peace to be part of the new creation of human community.

Go in love to take the hands of those who long for
peace and justice, and let God, the Creator,
speak through us in all formation.

Go, asking Jesus to bring all creation to his calling,
and to lead our community to the places where he is needed.

Let the Holy Spirit be your constant companion
throughout the week to guide you and protect you.

We pray 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 Christopher Jenkins @ Flickr]