Epiphany 7
Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids, Cradled in God's Heart
Series VIII, Cycle A
Object:
Call To Worship
One: God would teach us to love,
even the imperfect people,
All: so we can love others
as we love ourselves.
One: God would teach us to deny ourselves,
even walking the extra mile with us,
All: so we can give ourselves to others
as generously as Christ has been given to us.
One: God would teach us new ways
to journey through life,
All: so we can follow the footprints of the Word
all the way to the kingdom.
Prayer Of The Day
When we see you sharing your hope
with the poor, the immigrant, the stranger;
when we watch you build a ramp
for those in wheelchairs;
when we experience your willingness
to help us in spite of our stubbornness;
when we hear your call to love
over our yearnings to hate;
we know what holiness looks like,
God of Creation.
When you refuse to speak harshly
to those who judge you;
when you wipe away the tears
of those who would hurt you;
when you choose to respond nonviolently
to those who would crucify you;
we know what peace looks like,
Light of the World.
When we hear you whisper
of fairness and justice;
when you fill our hands with grace
to be shared with others;
when you build our lives
on the foundation of Christ's peace and love;
we know what power looks like,
Spirit alive in us.
We know what you look like,
God in Community, Holy in One,
and so we pray as Jesus has taught us,
even as we yearn to be your image here on earth,
Our Father ...
Call To Reconciliation
God would teach us all we need: to live in peace, to love others, to walk the right paths. Let us confess how foolish we are not to listen to such wisdom, as we pray together, saying,
Unison Prayer Of Confession
A friends hurts us,
we hurt back;
someone hits us,
we strike back;
a family member ridicules us,
we gossip about him or her.
That's how we have been taught to deal
with those around us.
But now, God of Mercy,
you call us to a different life:
the lift of forgiving, not revenge;
the life of peace, not anger;
the life of love, not hate.
As you forgive us of all we have done,
may we walk in your new ways of living,
as we follow Jesus, our Lord, our Savior, our Teacher.
Silence is kept
Assurance Of Pardon
One: It begins with God and ends with God -- that love can create, renew, restore. God loves you and forgives you -- now and forever.
All: As we listen to God's songs of mercy, we are cradled in grace -- now and forever. Amen.
One: God would teach us to love,
even the imperfect people,
All: so we can love others
as we love ourselves.
One: God would teach us to deny ourselves,
even walking the extra mile with us,
All: so we can give ourselves to others
as generously as Christ has been given to us.
One: God would teach us new ways
to journey through life,
All: so we can follow the footprints of the Word
all the way to the kingdom.
Prayer Of The Day
When we see you sharing your hope
with the poor, the immigrant, the stranger;
when we watch you build a ramp
for those in wheelchairs;
when we experience your willingness
to help us in spite of our stubbornness;
when we hear your call to love
over our yearnings to hate;
we know what holiness looks like,
God of Creation.
When you refuse to speak harshly
to those who judge you;
when you wipe away the tears
of those who would hurt you;
when you choose to respond nonviolently
to those who would crucify you;
we know what peace looks like,
Light of the World.
When we hear you whisper
of fairness and justice;
when you fill our hands with grace
to be shared with others;
when you build our lives
on the foundation of Christ's peace and love;
we know what power looks like,
Spirit alive in us.
We know what you look like,
God in Community, Holy in One,
and so we pray as Jesus has taught us,
even as we yearn to be your image here on earth,
Our Father ...
Call To Reconciliation
God would teach us all we need: to live in peace, to love others, to walk the right paths. Let us confess how foolish we are not to listen to such wisdom, as we pray together, saying,
Unison Prayer Of Confession
A friends hurts us,
we hurt back;
someone hits us,
we strike back;
a family member ridicules us,
we gossip about him or her.
That's how we have been taught to deal
with those around us.
But now, God of Mercy,
you call us to a different life:
the lift of forgiving, not revenge;
the life of peace, not anger;
the life of love, not hate.
As you forgive us of all we have done,
may we walk in your new ways of living,
as we follow Jesus, our Lord, our Savior, our Teacher.
Silence is kept
Assurance Of Pardon
One: It begins with God and ends with God -- that love can create, renew, restore. God loves you and forgives you -- now and forever.
All: As we listen to God's songs of mercy, we are cradled in grace -- now and forever. Amen.
