Liturgy

Gracious God,
You invite us to welcome everything
that comes to us this day because
you know it is for our healing.

We welcome all thoughts, feelings, and emotions,
all persons, situations, and conditions.

We let go of our desire for power and control.

We let go of our desire for affection and esteem,
for approval, and pleasure.

We let go of our desire for survival and security.

We let go of our desire to change any situation or condition.
We open ourselves to the love and presence of God and
God’s action within us.

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

(Adapted from The Welcoming Prayer by Thomas Keating)

Scripture Reading

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and
abounding in steadfast love. He will not always accuse,
nor will he keep his anger forever.

He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as
the heavens are high above the earth, so great is
his steadfast love towards those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,
so far he removes our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion for his children,
so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.

The Good News of the Lord.
Thanks be to God!

The grass withers and the flower fades,
but the Word of the Lord endures forever. Amen.

Sermon and Reflection

Sermon Podcast 3.2.20 – Remember Mercy

What does it look like to bring your shame into the magnitude of mercy this week?

How does it make you feel knowing God wants to satisfy your needs with goodness as long as you live?

Benediction

All things come from you, O God,
and to you we return.

All things emerge in your great river of life
and into you we vanish again.

At the beginning of this season of Lent we awaken,
not as separate streams
but as countless currents in a single flow,

the flow of this day’s dawning,
the flow of this day’s delight,
the flow of this day’s sorrows.

We awaken to your justice, mercy, and compassion
for us and all of your creation.

So from here, let us go
in the name of the Father,
of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit,
Amen.

(Adapted from a Prayer for Awareness from From Celtic Prayers from Iona by John Philip Newell)

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

[Photo by .mk @ Flickr]