Proper 19
Worship
Lectionary Worship Aids, Cradled in God's Heart
Series VIII, Cycle A
Object:
Call To Worship
One: When we have been overwhelmed by the flood of fears,
when our wheels got stuck in the mud,
All: you were with us, O God,
helping us to find solid ground.
One: When we clung to our old securities,
when we relied on the ways of the world,
All: you went before us,
leading us into the kingdom of grace.
One: When we cling to everything that would hold us back,
when we are hesitant to cut the ties to our past,
All: you show us the future you have prepared for us;
you open our hearts to your love.
Prayer Of The Day
This is the place to which you have led us,
Cloud of Grace,
this sacred space
of memories and dreams,
of stories told to children,
of songs sung to you,
of gifts offered to others;
this home we call the church.
Christ of Tenderness,
when the foundation of our faith was being dug,
you used a shovel by our side;
when we stumble seeking to follow you,
you pick us up;
when the end of the journey seems uncertain,
you point us to the right path;
whatever we may face today or in the future,
you are with us.
Companion Spirit,
bless the people who are with us today:
those who inspire us, and those who irritate us;
those who make us laugh, and those who make us weep;
those whom we have known forever,
and those we have just met;
all who gather to be in this place with you.
God in Community, Holy in One,
hear us as we pray as Jesus has taught us, saying,
Our Father ...
Call To Reconciliation
As we gather to praise God, we need to remember that we are people who often resist God's way for us. But God is eager to forgive us, and to strengthen us for discipleship. Let us confess our sins to God, saying,
Unison Prayer Of Confession
We admit how difficult it is for us to trust you, Living God. The temptations, the desires, the calls of the world flood into our lives, but we do not believe you can part them and lead us into faithfulness. Our bitterness toward those who have hurt us is like a feast we cannot leave, despite your invitation to the table of grace and healing. Our grudges fit comfortably into our hands, and if we let them go, we wonder if you will fill that emptiness with hope.
Forgive us and have mercy on us. You are the God who brought our ancestors into freedom -- set us free from our pain. You are the God who is with us in every moment -- open our eyes to your presence. You are the God of our future. In life, in death, you are with us, in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance Of Pardon
One: God has claimed us and will not let us go. There is no one, there is no thing that can keep God from forgiving us, loving us, and healing us.
All: Loved, we can love the unlovable;
graced, we can be a blessing to others;
forgiven, we can forgive those who have hurt us.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
One: When we have been overwhelmed by the flood of fears,
when our wheels got stuck in the mud,
All: you were with us, O God,
helping us to find solid ground.
One: When we clung to our old securities,
when we relied on the ways of the world,
All: you went before us,
leading us into the kingdom of grace.
One: When we cling to everything that would hold us back,
when we are hesitant to cut the ties to our past,
All: you show us the future you have prepared for us;
you open our hearts to your love.
Prayer Of The Day
This is the place to which you have led us,
Cloud of Grace,
this sacred space
of memories and dreams,
of stories told to children,
of songs sung to you,
of gifts offered to others;
this home we call the church.
Christ of Tenderness,
when the foundation of our faith was being dug,
you used a shovel by our side;
when we stumble seeking to follow you,
you pick us up;
when the end of the journey seems uncertain,
you point us to the right path;
whatever we may face today or in the future,
you are with us.
Companion Spirit,
bless the people who are with us today:
those who inspire us, and those who irritate us;
those who make us laugh, and those who make us weep;
those whom we have known forever,
and those we have just met;
all who gather to be in this place with you.
God in Community, Holy in One,
hear us as we pray as Jesus has taught us, saying,
Our Father ...
Call To Reconciliation
As we gather to praise God, we need to remember that we are people who often resist God's way for us. But God is eager to forgive us, and to strengthen us for discipleship. Let us confess our sins to God, saying,
Unison Prayer Of Confession
We admit how difficult it is for us to trust you, Living God. The temptations, the desires, the calls of the world flood into our lives, but we do not believe you can part them and lead us into faithfulness. Our bitterness toward those who have hurt us is like a feast we cannot leave, despite your invitation to the table of grace and healing. Our grudges fit comfortably into our hands, and if we let them go, we wonder if you will fill that emptiness with hope.
Forgive us and have mercy on us. You are the God who brought our ancestors into freedom -- set us free from our pain. You are the God who is with us in every moment -- open our eyes to your presence. You are the God of our future. In life, in death, you are with us, in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
Silence is kept
Assurance Of Pardon
One: God has claimed us and will not let us go. There is no one, there is no thing that can keep God from forgiving us, loving us, and healing us.
All: Loved, we can love the unlovable;
graced, we can be a blessing to others;
forgiven, we can forgive those who have hurt us.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
