a community creating for the relentless return of Sunday
We sing because God does marvelous things!
He opened salvation to all and revealed his righteousness to the world.
Make joyful noise the Lord, all the earth!
We join in joyous song and sing God’s praises!
It’s not only us, but the sea, the rivers, even the mountains rejoice out loud.
The whole cosmos sings because the Lord is coming to establish justice on earth!
Faith is something that grows,
from a nearly invisible beginning,
through the nurture that is prayer.
Whether you feel you believe today or not,
let the faith of this congregation uphold you
as we share our joys and concerns with each other…
Invite joys and concerns
O Lord, we put our trust in you,
for you have provided every good thing for your people.
We are confident despite our own brokenness
and the brokenness of this world,
because we know that you are redeeming all things
and bringing your reign to completion in us.
We confess our sin and welcome your forgiveness now…
silence
We take delight in you, because you have answered our prayers.
We praise you for new beginnings,
for restored health and new life,
and for your steadfast promises every day.
We name our joys and hopes now…
silence
We commit our way to you,
and we trust in you to complete what you have begun in our lives.
Make your church righteous and holy in Jesus’ name,
and let our shared life bear witness
to the light of your love.
We offer ourselves to you now…
silence
O Lord, we have stilled ourselves before you,
and we wait patiently for your work.
We pray for those who suffer from oppression or violence,
especially for those in lands far from our own,
and most of all for those whose suffering benefits us…
We pray for those who are our enemies,
and we declare our intent to forgive and reconcile…
We pray for those who wait upon your healing,
and those who long to know your salvation.
We pray for your people in every kind of need…
silence
We await the fullness of your reign, O God,
and we choose to participate in your will.
We pray in the name of the one who taught us to pray, saying:
The Lord’s Prayer
Submitted by Rev. Nathan Williams, Echo Hill Presbyterian Church, Cedar Rapids, IA
God our strength, you give us so very much, and your blessings grow and multiply in our lives. You call us to share your gifts with others, and so we obey. We thank you for the opportunity to give, and we dedicate these offerings to your work in the world. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Nathan Williams, Echo Hill Presbyterian Church, Cedar Rapids, IA
Creator God, you paint the world with your vision, you whisper through our voices, you write on our hearts. Yet we turn our eyes away, close our ears, and harden our hearts. Where you have created, we have destroyed. Where you have brought together, we have divided. Where you have loved, we have ignored, and feared, and hated—often in your name. Forgive our lack of vision, and help us to see as you see, in order that we might love as you love.
~silence~
Assurance of Forgiveness
One: God’s promise is sure: in Christ we are forgiven. Rejoice in God’s strength and live in Christ’s light.
All: God is with us! We will love as we have been loved. Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, the Presbyterian Church of Palatine, IL.
Submitted by Rev. Lucus Keppel, Ancho Community Presbyterian Church & Corona United Presbyterian Church, New Mexico
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