Liturgy
We are here by God’s invitation,
to be fully present, to be here and now,
to bring all parts of our heart to the table.
Invite your joy and your grief.
Invite your peace and your fear.
Invite your confidence and your insecurity.
God has invited all of who we are here today.
This is a safe space and a sacred time
Where our complex and competing feelings
Meet with a confident and faithful God.
Our God believes us, even when others don’t.
Our God hopes in us, even when we don’t ourselves.
Bring all parts of yourself, bring all your stories,
for God is here to be present with us.
We pray in the name of our faithful God,
of our loving Savior,
and the Holy Spirit, our Advocate and Guide.
Amen.
(Sean Williams)
Community Confession
Holy one of pure love, we yearn
to return to you our true home and love.
We’re gathered to grow in our capacity
to receive the love we actually need.
Grant us the softening we need
around our tense and tight spaces.
Like seeing ourselves in a fogged mirror,
we often misperceive who we truly are.
Clear our sense of perception with your
love that we might see our true self.
In our confusion of our own true nature,
we often misperceive others in the same way.
Allow your love to mature us
into seeing others as they truly are.
We ask in the name of
God, our Creator,
Christ, our Savior,
And the Holy Spirit, our Guide.
Amen.
(Sean Williams)
Sermon and Reflection
Sermon Podcast 4.7.19 – Embracing Needs
What emotion has been dominant in your life? What personal need might be at the root of those feelings?
What do you tend to put ahead of your own needs?
In what ways can we respond empathetically to our own needs this week?
Benediction
As you go into your week,
take time to notice your breathing
take time to notice your emotions that ties to a yearning and need.
May it serve as a reminder to soften and receive
the love you need. Be particularly mindful of the
young places within you that are opening to you,
and let love clear the fog that distorts who you truly are.
Let us go in the name of
God, the divine source of love,
Christ, love incarnate,
and Spirit, the breath of love.
Amen.
(Sean Williams)
Go in peace and live the church.
See you throughout the week.
[Photo by Nikki Lake @ Flickr]