Hear the invitation of Jesus: "Come to me, all those whose work is hard, whose load is heavy; and I will give you relief. Bend your necks to my yoke, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble-hearted; and your souls will find relief. For my yoke is good to bear, my load is light."
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Creative Spirit, you have made us in your likeness male/female and have made marriage one of the covenants through which you make families and nations. We have broken such covenants with impunity and failed to practice the true mutuality that is the grace of a good marriage. Forgive such dishonor and the abuse of family ties. Teach us to find our place in your scheme of things whether in marriage or celibacy like your Son, Jesus of Nazareth. Amen.
DECLARATION OF GOD'S FORGIVENESS
Hear the Good News! God alone frees us from the rule of sin in our own natures, through Jesus Christ. Friends, believe the Good News! In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
EXHORTATION
Learn from Jesus, who is gentle and humble-hearted, and you will find that working with him is comfortable and not too difficult.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Ruler of heaven and earth, disclose to us in our simplicity all we need to know of your judgment, that we may not carry loads of guilt too much for us to bear, but, experiencing your forgiveness and relief, may serve easily in the light yoke with Jesus Christ. Amen.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
You are our Creator and helper, O God. When illness or accident have endangered our lives, we have been spared and life seems more precious to us. When our lives have been extended and we sense their value, we have committed ourselves to your service with new sincerity and energy. We are grateful that we do not serve you alone, but may enjoy the company and support of others, and especially the nearness of our yokefellow, Jesus Christ. Amen.
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
Master Worker, we bend our necks to your yoke and will learn to serve with you as you teach us. Use us and all that is ours to accomplish, with humility and good humor, the high purposes of your church, to the glory of your name. Amen.
PSALM 45:10-17
Hear, O daughter, consider and incline your ear;
forget your people and your father's house,
and the king will desire your beauty.
Since he is your lord, bow to him;
the people of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts,
the richest of the people with all kinds of wealth.
The princess is decked in her chamber with gold-woven robes;
in many-colored robes she is led to the king;
behind her the virgins, her companions, follow.
With joy and gladness they are led along as they enter the palace of the king.
In the place of ancestors you, O king, shall have sons;
you will make them princes in all the earth.
I will cause your name to be celebrated in all generations;
therefore the peoples will praise you forever and ever.
SONG OF SOLOMON 2:8-13
The voice of my beloved! Look, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills.
My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag.
Look, there he stands behind our wall, gazing in at the windows,
looking through the lattice.
My beloved speaks and says to me: "Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away;
for now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.
The flowers appear on the earth;
the time of singing has come,
and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
The fig tree puts forth its figs,
and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance.
Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
