Liturgy: May 5, 2019

Call to Worship:

Inspired by Psalm 25

Our lives belong to you, God.
Wonderful God, we trust you.

We have gathered in this place to worship you, God. You have given us shelter from the harsh sun and the bitter cold. You have rained your mercy down upon us and you have warmed us with the light of your truth. 
Amazing God, our hope is in you.

We have left the world behind, with all it’s conflicting messages and all its dangers. We have gathered in this place so that we can seek your wisdom and be taught your wondrous ways. 
Loving God, you are our protection.

In this place, we will sing your praises. We will tell the stories of your boundless love. We will remember your unfailing faithfulness. We will speak of your justice. We will live into the power of resurrection.
Living God, you are the way we seek.

Our lives belong to you, God.
Wonderful God, we trust you.

Prayer of Confession

Inspired by Psalm 25

Almighty God, in the days of my youth, my sins were numerous. 
Remember me in your compassion.
Almighty God, even now, my wrongdoings are too many to count.
Remember me in your faithful love.

We have failed you, Forgiving God. We were called to do your mighty acts of justice, and we chose the easier path.
We have listened to the messages of the world which preach selfishness, isolation, and greed.
We have seen the powerful violence of the world, and we were more concerned with protecting ourselves than the sort of self-sacrificing love your Son taught us.
We have given in to messages of hate, anger, fear, and resentment.

Have mercy on us, God of life.
Turn to us, Forgiving God.
Our hearts troubles keep growing,
See our suffering, God! See our troubles!
Turn to us, Faithful God.
And forgive us all our sins!

Words of Assurance

Inspired by Psalm 25

God is good!
God does the right thing!

Walk boldly in the paths which God has set for us and know that God, for the sake of Jesus’ good name, has forgiven our many sins.
Praise the Lord!

Holy Communion

Adapted from the United Methodist Book of Worship;
Inspired by Luke 10:1-11; 17-20

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is right, and a good and joyful thing to praise God who is always good and right. 
From the stillness of the void, God called forth light and life.
God spoke our names, breathing into us the breath of life, and sent us to enjoy the beauty of God’s perfect creation.

Even when we stumbled and faltered, your love never failed.
When we fell into the depths of slavery to sin and wallowed in the wickedness of the world, you remained steadfast. 

You called us forth out of captivity and lead us to places of justice and hope.
You have shown us the life-giving ways of your love. 

And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory, Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ.
He was sent to be a light unto us in a dark world.
From the cradle to the dusty roads of Galilee, he went to teach the world a better, more perfect way of living for you. 
Sent to the cross and then sent to the grave, we are born anew through the power of his resurrection and sealed with a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

Risen from the dead, he revealed himself to his disciples and sent them to all the corners of the world with the Gospel message.

When Jesus Christ was sent back to you, he promised he would always be with us through the power of your eternal Word and the Holy Spirit.

On the night in which he was to give his life for us, Jesus took the bread from the Passover table. In the presence of his disciples, he gave thanks to you, broke the bread, and shared it with them. He said, “Take this bread and eat it. It is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

When the supper was over he took the cup from the Passover table, and with the disciples watching, gave thanks to you. He shared it with his friends and said, “Drink from this cup, every one of you. This is my blood of the new covenant and it has been poured out for each of you and for the world. May your sins be forgiven. Do this in remembrance of me.”

When he was raised from the dead his disciples saw him and recognized him when he broke the bread in their presence. May we, likewise, see Jesus when we break this bread and share this cup.

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith. 

Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.

By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet.

Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and for ever. 

Amen.