GATHERING
REFLECTION
The relationship between commitment and doubt is by no means an antagonistic one. Commitment is healthiest when it is not without doubt, but in spite of doubt.
― Rollo May, The Courage to Create, p. 1
LIGHTING THE ALTAR CANDLE
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Come, let us seek
and worship the Holy One,
who calls us to commitment.
People: We come with our doubts and fears,
listening for the call
that resounds with truth and love.
Leader: We are called to commit ourselves,
each one to their own journey,
and all to our journey together.
People: As we share the faith and courage
we find with one another, we dare
to commit to the One who calls
each of us and all of us together.
Leader: The Holy One calls us
to act justly, love mercy,
and walk humbly with our God.
All: May we commit ourselves
to the Way of Christ,
holding nothing back,
as the Spirit of truth and love
breathes the faith and courage
we seek for the Way ahead.
OPENING PRAYER
HYMN
SILENCE
PRAYERS
CONFESSION
Leader: The Holy One calls us to be faithful,
even in doubt and confusion.
People: We understand that call,
but agonize about daring to answer it.
Leader: The Holy One calls us
to go deeper into our motivations,
to uncover our hidden
compromises and deceits.
People: We are trapped by our weakness
and by the hostility and indifference
of the world around us
Leader: The Holy One calls us
to be rich in good works,
generous and ready to share.
All: We keep asking, “How much is enough?”
choosing our selfishness
over God’s love.
INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE
Leader: The Holy One loves and forgives us,
protects and strengthens us.
People: Amen.
THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE
INTERCESSION AND PETITION
COMMITMENT
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.
Forgive us for the hurt we have inflicted
and help us forgive those who have hurt us.
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
COMMUNION
PREPARATION
Leader 1: This is the table of the heavenly feast,
the joyful celebration of the people of God.
Leader 2: We gather now as one body, joined around the table.
Here we celebrate God’s presence among us,
united in Christ’s spirit, broken and whole all at once.
All: Nourished and hungry, loved and loving,
sinner and forgiven, we make one circle
of knowing, believing, rejoicing, being,
as God lights and rests among us.
GREAT THANKSGIVING
Leader 1: Holy Maker of all Creation,
we are grateful that you take
atoms and molecules,
minerals and gases,
and create life and all that sustains it.
People: We give thanks for Jesus,
who dared to trust and commit his life to you,
showing us how we can become your people.
Leader 2: We give thanks
for the wind and fire of your Holy Spirit,
fanning the flames of courage within us
as we dare to commit
to follow your call on our lives.
All: We give thanks for your Holy Church,
which comforts us,
encourages us,
and holds us accountable
as we live into
the commitments we have made.
BLESSING THE ELEMENTS
Leader 1: Christ invites everyone to eat the bread of life,
to drink the cup of the new covenant.
Leader 2: Jesus said, I am the bread of life.
You who come to me shall never hunger;
you who believe in me shall never thirst.
Leader 1: On the night he gave himself up, Jesus took bread,
and after giving thanks to God, broke it and said,
This is my body,
broken for the healing of the world.
Whenever you eat it, do so remembering me.
Leader 2: After supper, Jesus took the cup and said,
This is the cup of the new covenant,
poured out for you and for all.
Whenever you drink it, do so remembering me.
All: O Holy One, send down your Spirit
that these gifts of grain and grape,
and work of human hands
may be for us the body and blood of Christ.
Unite us with Christ forever
and bring us with the whole creation
to your eternal realm.
SHARE THE ELEMENTS
Leader 1: The body of Christ, broken for all of us.
Feed on Christ in your hearts with thanksgiving.
Leader 2: The cup of the new covenant, poured out for the healing of the world.
Drink deeply of it.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND DEDICATION
All: God of abundance and mercy,
we give joyful thanks
for your eternal love and healing presence
in our celebration of bread and cup.
Bless this Body of Christ
that we may attend faithfully to our call to be your servants,
with each other and throughout the world. Amen.
SHARED REFLECTIONS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
HYMN
BENEDICTION
Leader: In necessary things, unity;
in doubtful things, liberty;
in all things, charity.
Now we ask you, Holy One, to bless us
as we go forth
to love and serve you
and your beloved creation.
All: Amen.
The first lines of the benediction are by
Rev. Richard Baxter (1615-1691) as quoted in
The Scandalous Gospel of Jesus—
What’s So Good About the Good News?,
by Peter J. Gomes, Harper Collins, 2007, p. 5