May 6, 2018

Liturgy, Reflection and Benediction 2018.05.06

Liturgy

Here today there is love, freely available to all.
Not our human loving, fragile and intermittent,
but God’s supreme love.

May a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth,
break forth into joyous songs of praise.

Here today is love, higher than our loftiest hopes,
deeper than the immensities of time and space,
God’s inclusive love.

Let the seas roar their praise,
and everything in them.
Let the rivers clap their hands
and the hills sing together their happiness.

Make we praise the name
of our Creator, God
of our Risen Savior, Jesus,
and of the Holy Spirit, our breath of Life.
Amen.

Community Confession

How deeply you have loved us, Jesus;
how willingly you stepped into our experience,
how completely you empathized with all that we endure.
Teach us to love as you have loved us.

How sacrificially you have loved us, Jesus;
how completely you gave yourself for us,
how courageously you suffered for our sakes.
Teach us to love as you have loved us.

How restoratively you have loved us, Jesus;
how generously you share your life,
how extravagantly you make yourself available to us.
Teach us to love as you have loved us.

May we praise you for your love which
is given so freely and so unconditionally.

Help us believe that we are worthy
of love for ourselves and for others.

We pray to our God in community,
Holy in One,
Amen.

(written by John van de Laar)

Sermon and Reflection

Sermon Podcast 5.06.18 – Abiding Love

With whom am I currently practicing abiding in love?

What do I want to remember the next time I lose joy in that relationship?

Benediction

Go freely from here as your true selves and
as witnesses of what you have seen and
heard. Share God’s love with all you meet.
Bring hope to those who are in despair.

Live lives of gratitude and praise. And may the
love of God, the peace of Jesus Christ, and the
ongoing presence of the Holy Spirit be within
you and among you until we meet again.

Go forth, resting and serving
in the love of the Father,
of the Risen Son,
and of the Holy Spirit,
Amen.

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

[Photo by Sayaka Minemura @ Flickr]

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