a community creating for the relentless return of Sunday
Wipe the sleep from your tired eyes…
Stretch the gnawing apathy from your aching muscles…
Breathe in…deeply…the goodness of God…
And let your lives be renewed…now…as we worship together!
Submitted by Rev. Scott Cervas, Meadowthorpe Presbyterian Church, Lexington KY
Happy Groundhog Day, everyone! Apparently, old Phil saw his shadow, which means six more week’s of winter. (Not quite sure what to do with that information for those of us in parts of the country who haven’t experienced much “winter” to have more of). Do you find the seasons affecting your liturgy? Or is it mainly the seasons of a more liturgical nature that inspire you? Or, as Super Bowl (and Souper Bowl) Sunday is this Sunday, perhaps the sports seasons are making a rare appearance this week!
Whatever you are working on this week, feel free to share your ideas and thoughts for the rest of the service here. Do you have a children’s sermon idea to share? Or a prayer? What about some communion liturgy? We’d love to hear from you!
submitted by Rev. Rebecca Page Lesley, Suffolk Presbyterian Church, Suffolk, Virginia
inspired by Mark 1:29-39
O God, we come to you knowing that we are broken but reluctant to be made whole. We confess that we often fear your healing touch and what it might mean to be made well. We are comfortable in our brokenness because it is familiar. We are afraid that we would owe you too much if we allowed you to make us new. Yet that is what we long for, deep in our souls, for you to make our lives whole again. Heal our hearts, forgive our failings and mend our hurts. Reach out to us, O Lord, so that we might have the courage to reach back… (time for silent prayer)
Submitted by Laura Viau, Orlando, FL (MDiv student at University of Dubuque Theological Seminary)
With our whole hearts, we praise you, Lord.
We lift up our alleluias as people who gather to sing and proclaim,
As people who gather to confess and to remember Your redeeming work
As people who gather read and tell of your mighty works,
of your faithfulness and
of your grace.
All glory belongs to you, God.
You are gracious and compassionate.
You provide for us all that we need,
Remembering your promise to hear when we call,
To answer when we knock, and
To reveal yourself when we seek you.
You have revealed your power to us in so many ways:
You heal the sick
You calm the frightened
You bring peace to the grieving
You change the course of our lives
We ask that you reveal you power again today for those on our hearts and minds….
We lift these names to you. To you they are much more than names-
They are your precious children
They are parents, sisters, brothers, children, bosses, employees, aunts, uncles…
They are yours. You know every detail of their lives, far better than we do.
You know their needs.
We can trust you with our prayers,
not only because we know you have the power to answer,
but because we have seen that you are faithful and just.
The promises we claim today are the same as those your
people have claimed across the generations
Through your Son, you have redeemed your people.
You bring beauty and good from what we -in our brokenness and ignorance –
have intended for evil.
And in time, you will redeem the world,
Bringing an end to death
And the beginning of an eternity of worship
When every tribe, tongue and nation will sing songs of praise
Until then, we wait.
Help us not to spend our days looking up at the sky.
Send your Spirit that we might see the world as you do,
Fill us with your compassion for those in need
Of shelter, of a friend, or of an advocate
Send us to the brokenhearted, the discarded
and those who are hungry for the transformation only you can bring.
While our hearts cry Come Lord Jesus,
let our hands reveal your presence in the world we inhabit.
We ask these things in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray saying
Our Father, who art in heaven….
based on Isaiah 40:21-31, Common English Bible
submitted by Rev. Andy James, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Whitestone, New York
Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard?
God created all things and summons everyone by name.
Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard?
No one – nothing – can compare to God’s glory.
Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth,
and never grows tired or weary.
Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard?
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength forever and ever.
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