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Ordinary Time

POP–not our way, but your way

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Loving God,

we come this day with gratitude for the gift of life,

for the beauty of your world and your people around us.

We also come this day with hurt, with grief, with confusion—

and we lift up to you those who are in pain,

those who suffer, those who live with illness.

We ask for your comfort to surround your people who sorrow,

your peace to surround your people who live with violence,

your hope to surround your people in despair.

There are many things we do not understand,

and so we pray for your wisdom.

Even as we watch news

of riots and typhoons and shooting in our streets,

we call out for your kingdom of justice and peace and love.

And yet we do not always act as if your kingdom is at hand.

Remind us, Lord, to keep our attention on you.

Set our minds on divine things, that we may be agents of your healing.

Focus our eyes on you, that we may not be seduced by other gods.

When our hearts turn to other ways, call us back to your way.

Help us, O God, to follow you, to live like you, to seek your will,

that the world may know your grace.

Speak, Lord, for your servants are listening.

(silence)

You have called us to let go of our own vision to follow yours,

and have promised to be with us on the way.

Walk with us and help us to be faithful.

We pray these, and all things, in the name of our Risen Lord Jesus,

who taught us to pray together…

 

Submitted by Rev. Teri Peterson, Ridgefield Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church, Crystal Lake IL.

confession: we long for wisdom

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We long for wisdom, O Lord, but prefer that it be our own.
We turn away from the ideas of others
and ignore the possibility and promise that come from life together with you.
Most of all, we drown out your gift of Wisdom as she seeks to get our attention,
for we believe that we know better
or would prefer to decide where we make her welcome.

Forgive us, loving God.
Bring an end to the self-righteousness that ignores you,
and awaken us anew to the Wisdom that comes only from you.
Show us how to walk in your ways and listen to your promise each and every day.

Submitted by Rev. Andy James, First Presbyterian Church, Whitestone, Queens, New York.

Invocation: set your spirit loose

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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

Sunday’s Coming: working toward September 16

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This week we have lots of hard teaching…have you ever wondered why wisdom can’t just be easy?

alas.

Wisdom calls out–standing on street corners, hawking her wares…and yet, few seem to be listening.

Even the creation–from sky to sea–is trying to offer us God’s way of wisdom.

But still we have trouble taming our tongue.

And so we come to the path of wisdom: take up your cross and follow me.

 

So…how will you approach these hard words this week? Anyone want to work on a confession using that proverbs text? a call to discipleship or a charge-and-benediction based on the gospel story? A call to worship expanding on the psalmist’s imagery?

Leave your ideas–big or small, fully formed or just a seed–in the comments, so we can create together!

invocation: pick the locks that hold our hearts shut

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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.