Liturgy

Welcome, welcome, welcome.
We welcome everything that comes to us
today, because we know it’s for our healing.

We welcome all thoughts, feelings, emotions,
persons, situations, and conditions.

We let go of our desire for power and control.
We let go of our desire for affection, esteem,
approval and pleasure.

We let go of our desire for survival and security.
We let go of our desire to change any situation,
condition, person or ourselves.

We open to the love and presence
of God and God’s action within.

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

(by Father Thomas Keating)

Community Confession

Lord God, we confess that all too often,
we fear vulnerability when we feel powerless,
and times we are scared when we face change.

Forgive us, God, for abusing cheap thrills
or hurting others instead of resting back
into the palm of your hand.

Our world can be frightening, unsettling and confusing.
Jesus, your life was lived out during a frightening,
unsettling and confusing time, and you showed
over and over again that we are called to love.

Forgive us when we’re overwhelmed
by fear, and bring us back to seek love.

Holy Spirit, you plumb the depths of God,
whom we can never hope to fully comprehend.

Turn our hearts of discontent toward God’s love,
so we can see what richness he wants for us,
and so we can share it with our neighbor.

Holy Spirit, we invite you to search
the depths of our hearts to teach us
to live kindly, openly and wisely.

We pray in the name
Of the Father,
Of the Son,
And of the Holy Spirit,
Amen.

Sermon and Reflection

Sermon Podcast 02.12.17 – Changing Our Minds

When did a moment of powerlessness
change you?
What’s scares you about being vulnerable?

Benediction

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will
guide you into all the truth, because
the Spirit is with God and knows God.

Truly, no living person can comprehend
the beauty,
the joy,
the peace,
the love,
and the understanding that God
has designed for all humanity.

Take comfort in these promises, and seek the
truth of God in your life. By this you will be
made wise, and you will know God’s love.

As you go out from this place,
welcome, welcome, welcome,
welcome all that comes to 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 @m.lartigue @ Flickr]