Living Stones
Worship
THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE
Liturgical Aids
Call to Worship
Jesus has gathered us here today, like living stones, to build the church with us.
Jesus, we feel more like shifting sands than the living stones you need.
Nonetheless, Jesus has gathered us here today, like living stones, to build the church with us.
Jesus, we feel too cracked, too broken, too impure to be useful in building a holy church.
Even so, Jesus has gathered us here today, like living stones, to build the church with us.
Jesus, though we be imperfect, we are yours. Use us in ways you devise to build your church. Amen.
Invocation
God, you know well our disposition. We enjoy privilege; we don't take so readily to responsibility. We're glad when church is comfortable; we're not so sure when it comes to us as challenge. We see tasks that need to be done, and we're thankful when someone takes the initiative - thankful that the person need not be us. God, you know well our disposition. You can easily see that we have more growing to do as your children and as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. May that happen this hour, we pray, as we come together as family to hear your Word, that we be energized by your Spirit, and that we commit ourselves to action in your Name. Awaken us to the joy of what we are meant to be. This we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.
Call to Confession
Do we truly wish to be awakened - awakened to things spiritual, awakened to our call that we be the church? Words of prayer are of little avail, unless we are ready to receive the prayer's answer. If we pray for freedom such that we can be ourselves, be the people God means us to be, then we should not shy away from the answer that God in love provides. Let those who are prepared to receive from God so join in prayer.
Prayer of Confession
Holy God, there are days, we confess, when we would just as soon not be your church. For being the church every day makes us weary. So we ease the challenge with many a compromise. You know well that we cannot be trusted to be faithful all the time. To put it bluntly, the responsibility of having the keys to your kingdom frightens us. Already we have too much bound the good and loosed the evil. O God, save us! Save us from wanting to throw off your gentle yoke. Save us from using as an excuse, "We're only human!" Save us from practicing weakness, when instead you offer an all--sufficient strength. Save us from part time endeavor, building long vacations into attempts at service in your name. Save us, O God, and build us every day into the church you call us to be. May the example and the love of Christ so mold us and keep us focused. Amen.
Words of Assurance
Hear the word of God to the prophet Isaiah: "But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." So does God provide for those willing to receive from this abundance of goodness and mercy.
Praise be to God, who commissions us and then provides for us, who gives us a holy task and then the resources to perform it faithfully.
Psalter Reading (from Psalm 31)
In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me.
Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily, be a rock of refuge to me, a strong fortress to save me.
You are indeed my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake lead me and guide me.
Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.
I trust in you, O Lord; I say, "You are my God."
My times are in your hand. Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.
Love the Lord, all you his saints. The Lord preserves the faithful.
Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.
Offering Sentences
Jesus so taught his disciples, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be required." Indeed, we have been given much by God. We respond to this goodness, to this extravagance of God, with lives of thanksgiving, praise, and service. This includes those tithes and offerings that we now bring forward to support the ministries of Christ's church. Let us give with joy!
Prayer of Dedication
We would be faithful to the work that you, O God, would do here in our midst. Thus do we ask that you continue to challenge us - that with compassion and with hearts burning for justice we mirror Christ's teachings and example in our daily lives, both as individuals and as that body of believers which is your church. Take what we now offer, Lord, and create from it good for many - that healing might be brought to hurt, growth to spirit, and peace to our efforts to dwell in community. All that your name be glorified. Amen.
Benediction
Each of you is a chosen instrument of God. Be that living stone, that rock--solid person of faith whom God can use to win others to life and love - so making of you and of many that community which knows God--inspired reconciliation and peace. So be it! Amen and amen!
Jesus has gathered us here today, like living stones, to build the church with us.
Jesus, we feel more like shifting sands than the living stones you need.
Nonetheless, Jesus has gathered us here today, like living stones, to build the church with us.
Jesus, we feel too cracked, too broken, too impure to be useful in building a holy church.
Even so, Jesus has gathered us here today, like living stones, to build the church with us.
Jesus, though we be imperfect, we are yours. Use us in ways you devise to build your church. Amen.
Invocation
God, you know well our disposition. We enjoy privilege; we don't take so readily to responsibility. We're glad when church is comfortable; we're not so sure when it comes to us as challenge. We see tasks that need to be done, and we're thankful when someone takes the initiative - thankful that the person need not be us. God, you know well our disposition. You can easily see that we have more growing to do as your children and as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. May that happen this hour, we pray, as we come together as family to hear your Word, that we be energized by your Spirit, and that we commit ourselves to action in your Name. Awaken us to the joy of what we are meant to be. This we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.
Call to Confession
Do we truly wish to be awakened - awakened to things spiritual, awakened to our call that we be the church? Words of prayer are of little avail, unless we are ready to receive the prayer's answer. If we pray for freedom such that we can be ourselves, be the people God means us to be, then we should not shy away from the answer that God in love provides. Let those who are prepared to receive from God so join in prayer.
Prayer of Confession
Holy God, there are days, we confess, when we would just as soon not be your church. For being the church every day makes us weary. So we ease the challenge with many a compromise. You know well that we cannot be trusted to be faithful all the time. To put it bluntly, the responsibility of having the keys to your kingdom frightens us. Already we have too much bound the good and loosed the evil. O God, save us! Save us from wanting to throw off your gentle yoke. Save us from using as an excuse, "We're only human!" Save us from practicing weakness, when instead you offer an all--sufficient strength. Save us from part time endeavor, building long vacations into attempts at service in your name. Save us, O God, and build us every day into the church you call us to be. May the example and the love of Christ so mold us and keep us focused. Amen.
Words of Assurance
Hear the word of God to the prophet Isaiah: "But those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." So does God provide for those willing to receive from this abundance of goodness and mercy.
Praise be to God, who commissions us and then provides for us, who gives us a holy task and then the resources to perform it faithfully.
Psalter Reading (from Psalm 31)
In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me.
Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily, be a rock of refuge to me, a strong fortress to save me.
You are indeed my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake lead me and guide me.
Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.
I trust in you, O Lord; I say, "You are my God."
My times are in your hand. Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.
Love the Lord, all you his saints. The Lord preserves the faithful.
Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.
Offering Sentences
Jesus so taught his disciples, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be required." Indeed, we have been given much by God. We respond to this goodness, to this extravagance of God, with lives of thanksgiving, praise, and service. This includes those tithes and offerings that we now bring forward to support the ministries of Christ's church. Let us give with joy!
Prayer of Dedication
We would be faithful to the work that you, O God, would do here in our midst. Thus do we ask that you continue to challenge us - that with compassion and with hearts burning for justice we mirror Christ's teachings and example in our daily lives, both as individuals and as that body of believers which is your church. Take what we now offer, Lord, and create from it good for many - that healing might be brought to hurt, growth to spirit, and peace to our efforts to dwell in community. All that your name be glorified. Amen.
Benediction
Each of you is a chosen instrument of God. Be that living stone, that rock--solid person of faith whom God can use to win others to life and love - so making of you and of many that community which knows God--inspired reconciliation and peace. So be it! Amen and amen!
