a community creating for the relentless return of Sunday
submitted by Mike Trautman, First Presbyterian Church of Ferguson, MO
L: Our world offers many wide avenues
and beautiful boulevards to walk;
P: Our God invites us to walk the road
of service and sacrifice.
L: Our society suggests we put down our roots
in the shallow soil of pleasure and greed.
P: Our God seeks to plant us on the banks of hope,
watered by the rivers of joy and grace.
L: Our culture promotes achievement, success,
climbing to the top, ringing the bell.
P: Our God tells us if we want to be first
we need to go to the end of the line.
Submitted by Rev. Thom Shuman, author of Lectionary Liturgies.
People often ask how to define sin. Sin is simply anything that harms relationships – our relationships with each other, our relationships with our true selves, and our relationship with God. We sin in many ways. Sometimes we sin with our actions, and sometimes we sin with our inaction. Let us pray for all the times we failed to stand up for what is right, failed to protect those who Jesus calls the least of these.
(prayer of confession)
Submitted by Rev. Jeff Lukens, St. John’s United Church of Christ, Chambersburg, PA
All-encompassing God
This hour is devoted to worshipping you
Though it is our whole lives that you require.
Set your spirit loose among us today
That we might be free from all which binds us
And all which divides our focus:
The lure of football games,
The rush to get on to lunch,
The chores and responsibilities awaiting us at home.
Let our worship be unhindered,
We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Dan Mayes, First Christian Church of Spencer, IA
Triune God,
you are three and yet one,
the image we are born to resemble.
We gather as the body of Christ
many and yet one
through the mysterious power of your Spirit.
In this time of worship
pick the locks which hold our hearts shut
that we may love you
that we may love each other
with the same totality of love which you love us.
Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Dan Mayes, First Christian Church of Spencer, IA.
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