The journey continues, and now we turn to the idea of Sabbath, to the renewal that comes when we turn our attention toward God and the gift that God offers us as the body of Christ, restoring, renewing presence of the Spirit that sustains.

This Is Sabbath

A Gathering Meditation inspired by Mark 2:23—3:6

Today, in this hour, at this moment, we are in a regular rhythm of letting God work in us. Here we rest from daily work. This is the moment our souls have been waiting for, even if some of us didn’t know we needed it.

As we sit and hear God’s word—whether preached, sung, prayed, or otherwise—let’s remember to ask ourselves, “Am I listening?” God is informing and guiding our time together. This is not just a party, a celebration, a special service, or a concert. This is Sabbath. This is God’s time. Let’s lift praise, give thanks, glorify God’s name, and pause from every unessential mission so that we experience and spread the news. God is good, Jesus is the Way, and the Holy Spirit is ready to renew all who believe in the Resurrection and healing power of Jesus Christ.

Linda Furtado, Pentecost Liturgical Resources from Africana Writers 1, edited by Safiya Fosua, 2020.

Contemporary Gathering Words

(inspired by 1 Samuel 8, 11; 2 Corinthians 4–5; Mark 3)

We look to the rulers of this earth
for leadership, wisdom, and strength.
We look to these bodies of ours
for stability, fulfillment, and joy.
We look to families and friends
for love, compassion, and hope.
When rulers betray, when bodies fail,
and when families disappoint,
God offers another look.
God will guide us.
God’s Spirit will sustain us.
Christ will welcome us home.
Come, my sisters and brothers,
we are all God’s family now.

Prayer of Approach and Confession

(inspired by Mark 3:20-35)

Heavenly Father, you call us like a good parent to you to guide and protect us, to nourish and lead us.

Brother Jesus, you call us like a caring elder brother to serve us and help us, to cheer us and invite us.

Healing Spirit, you call us and move us ever closer into fellowship with you and each other.

Yet like unruly children we strain at your guidance, we try to break away and do it ourselves. We feel our strength and imagine to be all powerful. We rejoice in our life and imagine ourselves to be immortal. We know our talents and want to be independent rather than depend on you. Before we know it we are in the grip of other powers, leading us away from your loving ways into the slavery of selfish greed, adoring false gods of youth-fulness, materialism and power.

Lord, forgive us and free us. Open our eyes to how your wisdom knows true leadership to be service. Open our hearts that we may learn that neither race or tribe, culture or religion are barriers to separate us but that we are all one family in your love.

So open our hearts and minds to learn again to live your love as we celebrate and worship you here together.

Written by Rev. Andrea Price, and posted on the Church of Scotland’s Starters for Sunday website. http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/. Reposted: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/05/prayer-of-confession-proper-5-b_30.html.

Our Time under God

A Prayer for the Second Sunday after Pentecost

Thank you, God, for being our God.
We know that our God is always on time.
Our God doesn’t waste time.
Our God makes time and teaches us what it looks like to make good use of our time on this earth.
Our time is limited.
Our time must be managed.
Our time is out of our hands to the point that we must pause for our spiritual health’s sake to remember who our time falls under.
Our time under God is time well spent.
Under God we recognize how God is helping us through our weakness.
Our time under God puts rest and self-care into perspective.

Without God, our time is underwhelming in impact.
Our time is underwater with the world’s problems.
Our time is under arrest, easily kept from God’s promises.
Thank you God for allowing our time to be under you and not limited to our ways of doing things.
Amen.

Linda Furtado, Pentecost Liturgical Resources from Africana Writers 1, edited by Safiya Fosua, 2020.

Commissioning

(inspired by 2 Corinthians 4:13-14 and Mark 3:33-35)

Sisters and brothers of Christ, go into all the world!
Go forth with forgiveness and grace.
Go forth with compassion and love.
We go as Christ’s family
for all the world to see.