Liturgy

You, who are gathered here in this place,
consider for a moment. Why are you here?
What do you desire in this place?
What are you looking for?

To get here, you got up and got dressed instead of
sleeping in, you passed places that serve great food
and varietal coffees, and you kept coming toward this
place instead. Why? What do you desire in this place?

It feels easier to desire things more than
relationship with God when things
often seem more attainable.
But still, you are here, in this place,
standing in the presence of God.

You, who are gathered in this place,
why are you here?
What do you desire in this place?
Who are you looking for?

We gather in this place in the name
of our invitational God,
of the sacrificed Son,
and of the relational 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.

Help us let go of what blocks our connection
to you, to our families and friends,
and help us desire relationship.

Jesus, you walk around us all the time, and are
always willing to have us tag along. You showed
us what it means to delight in a genuine
relationship with God and with your friends.

Give us the energy to follow you, to desire
what is good in ourselves and in humankind.

Holy Spirit, hone our desires so that
in fulfilling them, we breathe life into
ourselves and others, and in this way,
do our good work here in this place.

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 06.25.17 – What Do You Want?

What am I being invited to let go of and return to a relationship of enjoying?
What desires am I being invited to carry with compassion this week?
What does it mean that God is delighting in me today, as I am?

Benediction

Go now from this place, trusting that your
desires will show you your own path to
deep relationship with God and others.

Trust that this is the good work you are
called to do, and do it with faithfulness.
You will not be perfect, you will learn
lessons the hard way.

Welcome these lessons, as best you can,
with open hands, receptive to the work
God is doing in your heart.

Explore the wilderness of desire and know you’ll
never be lost; you’re tethered irrevocably to the
One who loves you, gave you breath, and
watches over you at every moment.

Remember this as
you go 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 Pavlo Danilevych @ Flickr]