Liturgy

With friends and strangers,
with family and neighbors, we gather:

Dwell among us, Healing God,
with your love which never ends.
With faith reaching out to touch,
with hearts straining to trust, we hope:

Dwell among us, Friend of the broken,
with your compassion which makes us whole.
With word and wonder,
with silence and song, we wait:

Dwell among us, our Comforter and Guide,
to lift us to our feet to follow you.

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

Community Confession

Lord, in this season,
we look within ourselves and find that we are still far from your ways.

With sorrowful hearts,
we come before you, O God,
to confess what you already know—
we have failed to keep your laws.
Lord of mercy and of might, hear our prayer to you.

Again and again,
we have followed our own selfish desires,
rather than your holy and life-giving will for our lives.
Lord of mercy and of might, forgive us.

We have twisted your decrees and teachings
to suit our preconceptions and interests rather than your own,
and so, we limit ourselves and have failed to love our neighbors.

Have mercy and forgive us, O God,
and cleanse us from hidden faults,
that the words of our mouths,
and the meditations of all our hearts,
may be acceptable to you,
our Rock and our Redeemer.

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

Reflection

How can we be more aware of the ways we engage God through our emotions?
In our anger, fear and shame, how can we experience the gift of assertiveness, humility and compassion?

Benediction

Finally, my friends,
whatever is true, whatever is noble,
whatever is right, whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable –
if anything is excellent or praiseworthy –
think about such things.

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me,
or seen in me – put it into practice.

And the God of peace will be with you.

Let us go in the name of the Father,
of the Son
and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

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

[Photo by Linda L @ Flickr]