GATHERING
REFLECTION
The Crucified and Risen Christ uses the mistakes of the past to create a positive future, a future of redemption instead of retribution. He does not eliminate or punish the mistakes. He uses them for transformative purposes. People formed by such love are indestructible. Forgiveness might just be the very best description of what God’s goodness engenders in humanity.
Richard Rohr, The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For and Believe
LIGHTING THE ALTAR CANDLE
CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: The Divine Lover calls us to gather,
to sing and pray,
and remember all that has come before.
People: We are here to be transformed,
to be renewed and redeemed,
to renew and redeem the world.
Leader: The Holy Beloved calls us to forgiveness,
to recycle mistakes into miracles,
and find abundance in kinship with all of creation.
People: We are here to be recycled,
to become new beings in Christ,
to be remade by God’s infinite love.
Leader: The Spirit of Love calls us to change the world,
to become agents of justice and kindness,
to become channels of God’s peace.
All: Holy One, Holy Three,
help us to become more fully your Holy Body,
transforming the world through your love.
OPENING PRAYER
HYMN
SILENCE
PRAYERS
CONFESSION
Leader: Holy, Divine Maker of every thought and thing,
you call us to let ourselves be transformed,
to become fresh healing parts of your reality.
People: Transformation is painful.
We want to defend what we know is right,
to strike out in righteous anger
instead of being melded into your healing love.
Leader: You call us to accept our imperfect selves,
to explore and learn,
to join together in new kinds of caring.
People: Divine recycling is hard work.
We want to ignore the pain of the world,
to hold on to our habits,
instead of letting your good news transform us.
Leader: You call us to live in your realm of love,
to let your grace-filled breath
flow through us for the good of all.
All: As we resist the divine recycling
to which you call us,
forgive us for our selfish ways,
INDIVIDUAL PRAYERS OF CONFESSION
ASSURANCE
Leader: The Holy One
leads us in a creative dance of divine recycling,
finding miracles in our mistakes,
forgiving us even before we ask.
Thanks be to God.
All: 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 Lover of all creation,
we give you thanks
for offering redemption
instead of retribution
People: Holy Wisdom,
we give you thanks for Jesus,
who touches all
with cleansing, healing power.
Leader 2: Holy Breath of Life,
we give you thanks for your Spirit,
moving in, around, and through us
with renewing energy.
All: Holy faithful and loving God
we give you thanks for your Church,
where together we join the dance
of divine recycling.
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: Life is short.
We don’t have much time to gladden the hearts
of those who walk this way with us.
So, be swift to love and make haste to be kind.
May the Holy One bless us, keep us
and make the divine face shine upon us
and give us peace as we go forth from this place.
All: Amen.