Liturgy

Restore us, O Living God, by the breath of your Spirit,
for some of us are wilted and weary. Some of us are
anxious for restoration, and wonder if it will happen at all.

Hear our voices crying out amidst the noise, where we
hide to wait for a new day. Let us not be bound to the
earth by our weariness and tears, but rather swirled
about and lifted up by the wonder of your life within us.

Revive us, O Lord. There is praise to give and work to
be done and surprising life to nurture. No matter our
tired bones, you are not finished with us. By your
goodness and grace, may we not be finished.

We ask in the name
of our God, the Creator,
of Jesus, the Christ,
and the Holy Spirit, our breath of life.
Amen.

Community Confession

There are many times we fall,
and many times we get back up.
But what are the words we scream
silently or outwardly in the process?

God, forgive us for our frustration when we
expect to be perfect only to find out we’re not.

There are many times we feel lost,
and times when we know where
we should be, but are not.

But what are the evil things we
say when we feel untethered?

Jesus, you showed us how to
have compassion for others.
Teach us to show compassion
to ourselves.

There are many times we offer grace
to others, and fail to offer it to ourselves,
so we fight and do what we think will earn
us the grace we so desperately desire.

Gracious Holy Spirit, renew in us daily the
message that we are safe in your holy love,
and free us from our burdens of self-doubt
so we can live graciously with others.

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

What does safety looks like to you?
How might you be trying to get your own needs met by offering loving-kindness to others?

Benediction

As you go from here,
remember the promise of God:

“I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue them and honor them.”

Leave here with joy, confident that the
wisdom and mercy of the eternal God
is with you wherever and whenever.

Whether in joy or suffering, you are worthy
of God’s love. He is with you always. Remember
this, take heart, and shine forth his light to all.

Let us go in the name
of our God, the Creator,
of Christ, the Risen One,
and the Holy Spirit, the Breath of Life.
Amen.

Go in peace and live the church.
See you throughout the week.

[Photo by Simon Byrne @ Flickr]