Seeker's Church

Hope that Lies Deeper

GATHERING            

ENTRANCE

REFLECTION

All gardeners know the importance of good root development before the leaves and flowers emerge. So our life in God should be deeply rooted and grounded before we presume to expect to produce flowers and fruits; otherwise we risk shooting up into one of those lanky plants which can never do without a stick.

CALL TO WORSHIP

Leader:    We come with hope.
             
People:    We come with fear and trembling.
 
Leader:    We come with joy.
 
People:    We come with lament and sorrow.
 
Leader:    Enter the gates of repentance and grace,
            and let God write a new covenant on our hearts.
 
All:            Let us enter and give thanks.

INVOCATION

HYMN

WORD FOR THE CHILDREN

SILENCE

RESPONSIVE READING

Leader:    God promises: The time is coming
            when I will make a new covenant with you.

Voice 1:    It will not be like the covenant
            God made with our ancestors.

Voice 2:     The God of all Creation promises,
            This is the covenant I will make.

Voice 1:    I will put my law in your minds
            and write it on your hearts.

Voice 2:    I will be your God,
            and you will be my people.

Leader:    For God will forgive our wickedness,

All:            and remember our sins no more.

SILENCE

PRAYERS

COMMON CONFESSION

Leader:    Holy One, we would put our trust in you.
               
People:    But instead we trust our friends, our family, ourselves.   
 
Leader:    We would know your paths and your desires.   
 
People:    But instead we follow society's paths,
            and our own desires.  
 
Leader:     We are conflicted and distressed;
            we lack vision and energy.
 
All:            Hear our cry, Holy One,
            even as we hear only our own voices.       

INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

ASSURANCE

Leader:    Creator God hears us.
            Christ teaches us his truth.
            The Holy Spirit comforts us.
            The hope that lies deeper is our hope.   

People:    Amen  

PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING AND INTERCESSION

UNISON PRAYER

All:            O Holy One, we come today
            to claim our relationship with you.
            We pray for the commitment to grow together,
            sharing the gifts you give us with others
            here and in the wider world.  

            Give us strength and discipline
            to nurture our relationship with You;
            to care for every part of Your Creation;
            to foster justice and be in solidarity with those in need;
            to work to end all war, and violence, and discord;
            and to respond joyfully when you call,
            freely giving our selves as you have shown the way.

            We open our hearts to you and your Creation
            in the name of Jesus, who is the Christ.  
            Amen.

HYMN

THE WORD

SCRIPTURE

SERMON

SILENT REFLECTION

OFFERING

SHARED REFLECTIONS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

HYMN

BENEDICTION

Leader:    Believe in the Good News,
            the hope that lies deeper.
            Carry that hope into the world,
            knowing that we are God’s children.

People:    Amen