Liturgy

Loving God, let there be:
A way of walking that harms not the earth,
A way of having that leaves plenty for others,
A time for tears that dissolves grief,

A time for kindness that heals many wounds,
A path of peacemaking that settles strife,
A path of justice-seeking that creates hope.

Loving God, let there be:
A season of faithfulness,
A promise of eternity,
A way to be living,
A song for singing.

To follow your Son as he so lived,
to listen as he so humbly listened,
and give as he so generously gave.

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

Community Confession

We read in scripture that what is most essential in
our conduct as Christians is not knowledge, but love.
And that what we know is less important than
our being known by God. So, we confess…

The times when we pridefully use knowledge in ways
which put people down rather than build them up.
God, source of all knowledge,
forgive and have mercy on us.

When we see people being exploited because
of lack of knowledge, and do nothing.
God, source of all goodness,
forgive and have mercy on us.

When we have idolized knowledge at the
expense of loving and caring for others.
God, source of all love,
forgive and have mercy on us.

When we show disregard toward others, because
we can not seem to find common ground.
God, source of all wisdom,
forgive and have mercy on us.

Forgive us, O God, for seeing good only in what
we understand, and accept as your truths.

Remind us of Paul’s words, ‘If I have all knowledge,
but do not have love, I am nothing.’

Teach us, heal us and make us newly
aware of your love and forgiveness.
We pray to our God in community, holy in One.
Amen.

Sermon & Reflection

Sermon Podcast 2.1.15 – Conflict Well

Do you have a tendency to choose knowledge or love when it comes to conflict? How do we seek to be right instead of being kind?
How can we serve others in our conflict?
How do we invite people into our community in the midst of conflict?

Benediction

Loving God, anger is seductive and our self-defense mechanisms lead
us frequently to ignore inconvenient facts and truths. And, when people
confront us, sometimes we become rude and obnoxious. Parts of the
mass media feed off this tendency.

Yet reality is objective, and no amount of repetition of mantras, doctrines,
and dogmas can change this fact. Furthermore, nobody is entirely correct
or incorrect all the time. So may we have enough humility to recognize
when we are objectively wrong and others are objectively right.

May we embrace love, empathy, and
compassion, seeking active virtue.
May our lives become prayers pleasing to you.
May we become Jesus to each other.

May we value people more than objects, and the intangible more
than the tangible. May we reject all phobias and isms which
denigrate people. May we have what Martin Luther King, Jr.,
called a “revolution of values.”

May we go forth worshipping
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 heartbeeps @ Flickr]