Liturgy
Holy God, we thank you
for your gifts of mercy and life.
We remember you are a generous God,
and want us to flourish and live life
abundantly in your service to our world.
Heavenly Father, by your
remarkable gift of grace,
You allow us, finite beings,
to bear nothing less than the
fruits of your Holy Spirit.
So help us live today, in vibrant ways,
in verdant ways, planted in the courts
of the Lord, where we experience
your glory and grace.
By your presence, may our community
be for many a little echo of Eden,
the first fruits of your coming kingdom.
This we pray 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.
Our response will be highlighted in yellow.
We are incredibly stubborn, O Lord.
We have entered the season
in which your Light has been given to the world,
your blessings have been poured out on the world,
and yet all we can think about is our own problems,
our own needs, our own desires….
Help us to desire you, Lord.
Help us to yearn for your presence.
Pour your baptismal waters over us again,
cleanse us from our self-indulgence,
self-pity and arrogance.
Nourish and heal us that we may serve you in wholly.
Wash away our jealousy, greed, and all negative thoughts
and behaviors that stand in the way of our truly being
the people you have called us to be.
Let us receive the blessings offered in creation,
in the birth of Jesus, and in the ministry
you call us to participate in.
We pray to you, our God
in community, holy in One.
Amen.
Reflection
What does spiritual health look like for you? Are the rhythms of how you live sustainable? Why or why not? How are we affected by our ideology and identity?
Benediction
May grace and peace be ours in abundance,
in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
May we be thankful for simple things, for health,
friendship, for daily bread, for good news.
May we rise above the corruption of power
and temptation and become participants
in the divine nature.
May we go from this place to pursue
goodness, wisdom, holiness and love.
God the Creator, call us to the work of the kingdom.
God the Redeemer, keep us from stumbling.
God the Sustainer, transform and inspire us
as we live as your witnesses,
in the name of the Father
and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Go in peace and live the church.
See you throughout the week.
[Photo by Chunyang LIN @ Flickr]