OPENING
PRAYER
God
of the global community of faith,
we
gather here in this place, but we also gather with Christians around
the globe to sing, to pray, to break bread together.
God
of life and hope,
we
gather here to embrace life, to be filled with hope, and to be sent
back out into the world.
God
of the table,
as
we break the loaf and share the cup may we feel united with the
global community with whom we share the task of spreading your love
and hope with the world. Amen
PRAYER
FOR AND ASSURANCE OF GRACE
God,
you call us to bloom where we are planted,
but
there are times when we would rather have been planted somewhere
else.
You
call us to live in the present and hope for the future,
but,
to be honest, there are times we long for things to be like they once
were.
You
challenge us to sing the songs of faith in a place that has become
different and sometimes feels hostile,
and
we wonder how we can do that, we wonder if the song will resonate
anymore.
God
of grace,
free
us from our fear, release us from our anxiety, open us up to live
fully in the present and with hope for the future.
...time
of silent prayer...
In
the words of Jeremiah God proclaims: “Build
houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they
produce...seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into
exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you
will find your welfare” God promises to be with us as we sing the
songs of faith and live the life of hope.
Thanks
be to God! Amen.
COMMISSIONING:
As
people who have come to be worship together,
we
prepare to leave this space of worship
As
people who have come to be fed,
we
go out to feed the hungers of the world.
As
people who are called to sing faith's songs,
we
go out to sing of hope, of promise, of the God who is with us always
and everywhere.
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