Call to Worship

Easter people, Jesus chose you and calls you friend!
We abide in Christ because Christ abides in us.

Jesus made a home among us to show us how to love.
We abide in Love because Love abides in us.

Jesus invites us in and beckons us to come to the Table to know the joy that comes when we love one another the way God loves us.
We abide in Joy because Joy abides with us.

Easter people, Jesus welcomes you home!
We come to make our home with God and one another, bound together by Love and enlivened by Joy. Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, January 2023.

Opening Prayer

We, who so often take the wonders of creation for granted, welcome the opportunity to make a joyful noise before you, O God. We come here this morning to worship and to praise you, glad that we live in this country filled with such diverse and beautiful examples of your creation. Yet, joyful noises are not easy for everyone to make, as we come from differing situations and lifestyles. Some are burdened down with the stresses of daily living and all that involves; some wearied from tasks of serving others; some worried over the state of the world and where that is all leading. Speak to us all, O God, in the stillness of this time and remind us of Jesus’ willingness to take our burdens upon himself and to learn from him - to experience his gentleness and steadfast love for all. Jesus also offers us his joy so that our joy might be complete. Confident in these promises, we offer this time of worship to you, O God, praying that it may reflect our praise and thanksgiving for the gifts of creation and for all that Jesus has done for us. This we pray in his name. Amen.

Written by Moira Laidlaw and posted on her Liturgies Online website, http://www.liturgiesonline.com.au/. Re-posted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/04/opening-prayer-easter-6-b.html.

Prayer of Confession

Almighty God,
you love us, but we have not loved you;
you call, but we have not listened.
We walk away from neighbors in need,
wrapped up in our own concerns.
We have gone along with evil,
with pride, quarrelling, and divisiveness.

Holy God, help us to face up to ourselves,
so that, as you move toward us in mercy,
we may repent, turn to you, and receive mercy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Posted on the Presbyterian Church (USA) website. http://www.pcusa.org/. Re-posted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2014/09/prayer-of-confession-as-you-have-loved.html.

Benediction

Beloved, may God bless you with the strength to love one another as God loves each and every one of you, that you may find the complete, total, and everlasting joy that comes when we abide together with God who is Love. Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, January 2023.