Liturgy
On this day, All Saints Day, we remember and honor all the saints, known and unknown, those that have paved the way before us, and those that walk within our midst
O Lord our God,
We thank you for the many people throughout the ages
Who have followed your way of life joyfully:
For the many saints and martyrs, men and women,
Who have offered up their very lives, so that your life abundant may become manifest.
For your love and faithfulness we will at all times praise you.
O Lord, we thank you for those who chose the way of Jesus Christ.
In the midst of trial, they held out hope,
In the midst of hatred, they kindled love;
In the midst of persecutions, they witnessed to your power;
In the midst of despair, they clung to your promise.
For your love and faithfulness we will at all times praise you.
O Lord, we thank you for the truth they passed on to us:
That it is by giving that we receive;
It is by becoming weak that we shall be strong;
It is by loving others that we shall be loved;
It is by offering ourselves that your kingdom shall unfold;
It is by dying that we shall inherit life everlasting.
Lord, give us courage to follow your way of life.
For your love and faithfulness we will at all times praise you
We ask and pray in the name
of the Father,
of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Community Confession
If we have placed our only hope
in the things we can see and touch,
and have denied ourselves, or those close to us,
that greater hope in the glory of things unseen.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
If we have chosen to nurse our pain
with bitterness and contempt for ourselves and others
without hope or faith in your saving love,
Christ have mercy.
Christ have mercy.
If we put the saints, or any one man or woman on pious pedestals,
and restrict ourselves to a diminished respect
for our own capacity to grow in the knowledge and love of God,
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy.
God of love,
we thank you for your patience.
You have given us many guides and helpers to inspire us,
and have given us the word
that one day we shall be as Christ Jesus is;
yet we have been slow to hear,
reluctant to learn
and sluggish in our efforts.
We repent this our lack of faith and love,
and ask that the love of Jesus Christ
which so healed and uplifted the saints,
may show us mercy and grace
We ask in the name
of the Father,
of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Sermon and Reflection
Sermon Podcast 11.01.15 -All Saints Day
How can we still show faith in the midst of our broken stories?
How can we change who we are now and fix our eyes on Jesus?
How do we live out messy faith in community?
Benediction
As people of faith we have gathered for worship.
As people of faith we now return to our city.
We go out to live and share the story of faith,
the story of life, with the world around us.
We share the faith in word and in deed,
in speech and in action.
As we go out to give a living witness,
as we go out to testify to God’s love active in the world,
go knowing that God goes with us,
sharing the laughter and the hope, the fears and the tears.
We go 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.