Call to Worship

We gather today to remember and proclaim that we are God’s people.
We are God’s people! God’s presence is among us!

Like Moses, we seek an encounter with God’s goodness.
God, show us your goodness that we may glorify you in all that we do.

God’s goodness passes by us every day in the gracious gifts of creation and in the faces of our neighbors.
God, help us notice your goodness in everything and everyone that we meet.

When we notice God’s goodness all around us, we recognize this truth: all things are God’s.
Let us give to God the things that are God’s! Amen.

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

Prayer for the Day

Loving, living God,
be among us now.
Show us your ways.
Guide our steps.
Live in us,
that we may be people of steadfast hope
and powerful giving.
Help us hear your words,
challenging us to give you
all the things that are yours.
Help us remember
that all we are and all we have
are gifts from you,
gifts to be shared in service and love.
Holy One among us,
help us be a holy people
who receive your word with joy
and live your message with love. Amen.

Written by Mary Scifres, on the Ministry Matters website, http://www.ministrymatters.com/all/blog/entry/1779/worship-elements-october-16-2011. Reposted on the re:Worship blog, https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/10/call-to-worship-prayer-proper-24a.html.

Prayer of Confession

Let us now come before God together to confess the ways we have missed the mark, seeking forgiveness and reconciliation with God and one another.

Merciful God, we confess that we have not given you the things that are yours. We quibble over technicalities and argue over questions that do not lead us to love you, ourselves, or our neighbors well. We ignore your goodness that is all around us, and we do not allow ourselves to be filled with the Spirit who empowers us to live as people who glorify you. We do not recognize your holy touch in the world around us, and we neglect our responsibility to treat all things and all people as sacred. Forgive us, we pray, and free us to live in love and peace with you, with ourselves, with our neighbors, and with all creation. Amen.

As forgiven and reconciled people, let us greet one another with signs of peace and thanksgiving saying, “Thank you for being the presence of God today.”

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

Benediction

Go now as those who have found favour in the sight of God.
Be imitators of Jesus Christ
and an example to all of the life of faith.
To the world in which you live, give your love and service,
and to God, give all that you are and all that you shall be.

And may the glory of God’s goodness be revealed to you;
May the grace and peace of Jesus Christ take root in you;
And may the inspiration of the Holy Spirit fill you with joy.

We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
........In the name of Christ. Amen.

© 2002 Nathan Nettleton, LaughingBird.net. Reposted on the re:Worship blog, https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/10/commission-benediction-proper-24a.html.