Liturgy

Holy One, we gather today in prayer
for a multitude of needs in our world.

Yet, we can not merely pray
to you, O God, to end war;
For we know that you have made the world
in a way that people must find their own path
to peace within themselves and with their neighbors.

We can not merely pray to you,
O God, to end starvation;
For you have already given us the resources
with which to feed the entire world, if we would
only use them wisely.

We can not merely pray to you,
O God, to root out prejudice;
For you have already given us eyes
with which to see the good in all people,
if we would only use them rightly.

We can not merely pray to you,
O God, to end disease;
For you have already given us great minds
with which to search out cures and healing,
if we would only use them constructively.

Therefore we pray to you instead, O God,
for strength, determination, and will power,
to do instead of just pray, to become
instead of merely to wish.

May we do all this in the name
of God, our Creator,
Jesus, our Savior,
and the Holy Spirit, our Breath of Life.
Amen.

(Jack Reimer)

Scripture Reading

We invite you to hear from a reading in Psalm 85:8-13.

I can’t wait to hear what he’ll say.
God’s about to pronounce his people well,
The holy people he loves so much,
so they’ll never again live like fools.
See how close his salvation is to those who fear him?
Our country is home base for Glory!

Love and Truth meet in the street,
Right Living and Whole Living embrace and kiss!
Truth sprouts green from the ground,
Right Living pours down from the skies!
Oh yes! God gives Goodness and Beauty;
our land responds with Bounty and Blessing.
Right Living strides out before him,
and clears a path for his passage.

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 8.9.20 – Good Trouble

What is God calling you to in this moment?

How can you show up in a meaningful way to be a purveyor of #goodtrouble?

Benediction

May we go, committed to care for one another
as you have cradled us in your love.

We leave, confident in your mercy
and courageous in our role within our city and world,
inspiring human souls to do good trouble,

that at the dawn of your grace,
our youthful and well-lived lives
will be spent to love and serve you,

so go forth, in the love
of the Father,
of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit,
Amen.

Go in peace and live the church.
May you find safety and rest throughout the week.

[Photo by Brad McMurray @ Flickr]