Call to Worship

Family of God, what is our story?
We are part of God’s good creation, created and sustained by the Triune God.

Family of God, what is our story?
Though created by our loving God, we have sinned and harmed ourselves, one another, and creation.

Family of God, what is our story?
While we were yet sinners, God sent Jesus to show us how to turn away from sin and toward the love of God.

Family of God, what is our story?
We carry the weight of the Word in our hearts, our hands, and our voices, proclaiming with our lives the good news of God’s love and the mercy of God’s grace.

Family of God, this is our story and our song!
Thanks be to God! Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, May 2024.

Prayer for the Day

One body, one Spirit, one hope,
one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
one God and Father of all,
who is above all and through all and in all,
take this patchwork collection of persons
and quilt together your church.
Like old pieces of cloth,
take these words and songs and prayers,
take our thoughts and inner hungers,
and join them all together into a new and living fabric—
the purpose of which is to cover and color your world
(or at least our corner of it)
with grace and love. In Christ. Amen.

Posted on the Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren website. Re-posted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/07/opening-prayer-one-in-christ.html.

Prayer of Confession

(in unison)

Continue, O Lord, to extend your grace and mercy to us, your unworthy servants.

We have failed you because you depended on us to be your witnesses, but we were too embarrassed to testify about your faithfulness. We were too busy to speak a word in your name. We are neither anxious nor ready to sit and reflect deeply on Holy Scriptures. Good Lord, extend your grace and mercy as we ask your forgiveness. In order to receive your forgiveness, we know that we need to forgive everyone who has offended us. Help us to hold nothing against anyone, for that may jeopardize our gift of forgiveness from you. Set us free to live fully in you, and to love all unreservedly. We pray in the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Written by T. Anne Daniel, The Africana Worship Book, Year B (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2007), 158.

Benediction

Beloved, may God bless you as you go from this place carrying the Word in your hearts, living the story we share with the saints of old and the saints of now as we break down barriers to community and build up the kin-dom of God on earth as it is in heaven.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, April 2024.