Liturgy

Meet us, O Christ, in the stillness of this morning.
Move us, O Spirit, to quiet our hearts.
Mend us, O Father, from yesterday’s harms.

From the discords of yesterday,
resurrect our peace.
From the discouragements of yesterday,
resurrect our hope.
From the weariness of yesterday,
resurrect our strength.

From the doubts of yesterday,
resurrect our faith.
From the wounds of yesterday,
resurrect our love.

Let us enter this new day
aware of our need
and awakened to grace.

In the name
of the Father,
of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit,
Amen.

(Jessica Goodman – Adapted from A Liturgy for the Ritual of Morning Coffee by Douglas Kaine McKelvy)

Scripture Reading

We invite you to hear from the reading of Exodus 17: 3-6.

3 But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained
against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us
and our children and livestock with thirst?”

4 So Moses cried out to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people?
They are almost ready to stone me.” 5 The Lord said to Moses, “Go on
ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you;
take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.

6 I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb.
Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people
may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.

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 4.5.20 – Places of Thirst

What are my places of thirst today?

If I had permission to complain, what would I say during this time?

Could God be a place of standing for me when the world’s on fire?

What is my honest prayer this morning?

Benediction

When you are tired, may you find rest.
When you feel burdened, may you know lightness.
When you are lonely, may you be vulnerable.

Where there is need for mercy, may you be mercy.
Where there is need for love, may you be love.
Where there is need for water, may you be water.

You who have been shown mercy, may you show mercy.
Show mercy to yourself, to your neighbor, to your community.

May you be peace, hope and joy to yourself,
to your neighbor, to our community.

May you shine the love of God.
In the name of our Holy God,
Three in One,
amen.

(Sarah Berson)

Go in peace and live the church.
Be safe.

[Photo by erica yeater @ Flickr]