Liturgy
Friends, lift you eyes up from the ground,
and see those who stand around you.
Your help will come from the Lord, but
it will look like your friends, your family,
strangers, and your enemy.
Our God, who knew you before there was time,
the Creator of all that is and was and will be,
will not let you fall so far you can’t get back up.
Our God, who loved you before you took your
first breath, watches your chest rise and fall as
you sleep, and this is a God that doesn’t sleep.
Our God, who wants you to live in the freedom
of perfect love, watches when you wander in
the wilderness, and waits always patiently
and generously for you to come home.
And so, we gather now,
worshiping in the name
of the Creator God,
of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit,
Amen.
Community Confession
Lord God, we come today in good faith
that you are who you say you are,
and you love us just as we are.
Forgive us for times when shame creeps in,
and our vision clouds with self-doubt.
Jesus, you were born to show us a new
image of God, to help us create a new
relationship with God. You were not born
into this world to bring condemnation, but
you instead gave us freedom in your death.
Jesus, give us the energy to
bear witness to what is good
in humankind, and to seek
to do those things.
Holy Spirit, be like a cool breeze on the
back of the neck on a hot day. Remind us
of small blessings, of our presence in this
life and in this world. Give us a renewed
spirit to live in our baptism.
We bring our attention now, to this time and
place, where we bring our spirits to the Lord,
and center ourselves on God’s goodness.
We pray in the name
of the Father,
of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit,
Amen.
Sermon and Reflection
Sermon Podcast 03.12.17 – Learning to See
What does it look like to create space in this lent season?
How can you live out of your worthiness this week?
Benediction
Go now from this place, looking at those
around you as reminders of your own salvation.
In faithfulness, treat everyone you meet with
kindness, as though they had something to teach
you about yourself, because they probably do.
Welcome these lessons, as best you can,
with open hands, receptive to the work
God is continually doing in your heart.
Explore the wilderness and know you will
never be lost; you are tethered irrevocably
to the One who loves you, gave you breath,
and watches over you at every moment.
So go this week, praising
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 emil rocha @ Flickr]