Call to Worship:
We come to worship our God, to listen to the One who calls us here.
We come trusting God to lead us in the coming days, as surely as were our grandparents in the faith.
We come to worship our God, to shout with joy to the God of all people.
We come to the Revealer of all things, who sends messengers with words of challenge and comfort.
We come to the Source of faithfulness, to be remade in the image of the One who never forsakes us.
We come to offer our sacrifice of praise, to sing aloud to the One who saves us.
Offering Prayer (unison):
Almighty and constant God, who sends us messengers in strangers and in friends, we come to you this day, offering ourselves, bringing our praise. Use these gifts for the glory of your kingdom. Open our eyes and our ears. Make us aware of your presence among us so that we may be remade in the image of your Son. Give us the desire to do your will, and grant that we may accomplish it through the power of your Spirit. Amen.
Benediction:
And so go:
Bring the love of God into hurting places
Bring the comfort of God into uncomfortable places
Bring the light of God into dark places
Go and be strange!
Go in the name of Jesus,
And go empowered by the Spirit.
Pastoral Prayer:
Gracious and loving God, we gather today from many places. We come not to leave our real lives outside and pretend that we're fine, but to bring all of ourselves, our problems and our doubts, our joys and our hopes, to you. To give all that we are knowing you are big enough, strong enough, merciful enough, and loving enough to handle whatever we bring. We give you thanks for your presence among us this day and every day. We know that we are never alone.
For the people mentioned today, for illness and loss, we ask that you bring comfort and healing. Guide doctors minds and hands, and give renewed strength to caregivers. Give patience and peace to family and friends.
For the joys mentioned this day, we give thanks. Thanks for answered prayer and for the ways we see you move in our lives.
For our community, we give thanks for the fellowship and success of the community fair. We give you thanks for the safety of all who worked, participated, and attended. We ask for rest for those who have worked so hard to ensure its accomplishment.
For the ministries happening in this building this week, and for the people who will come through our doors, for those who will come hungry, hurting, and questioning, may they leave fed, comforted, and knowing of your love.
For the leaders of our state and nation, may they avoid the temptations of corruption and seek wise counsel. May they have health and clear thought. May they make decisions that honor all life--plant, animal, and human.
For the family members of those killed at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal church, we give thanks for their powerful example of mercy and forgiveness. For the family and friends of Dylann Roof, and for Dylann himself, we ask your continued presence. Bring that community comfort.
For those who struggle with mental health issues and their families we ask you to provide resources for healing and the willingness to use them. And help our faith communities and our nations to continue to recognize the need for mental health services, and help us to be supportive in our language and our actions.
For people in war torn places, too many to name but on every continent of our world, bring peace and cool heads. Give us the vision to know how to help and the wisdom to know when our assistance will only make matters worse. God, in any place where your name is used to justify violence and hatred, may voices cry out and offer good news instead.
And for us, and any time where we are tempted to think that our own way is your only way, may we look at the world around us, with all of its diversity and beauty, and remember you. You created this mosaic world to reflect your image. You delight in variety and you send us strangers to remind us that we are but one tile in the picture you are creating. We give you thanks that we are free to be your unique creations.
We are also thankful that the words of John Wesley are still true: that no matter the difference in our thoughts or beliefs, we can all still be one, united in our common love of Christ and our love of each other.
And so, as a people united in love, let us now offer together the prayer that Jesus taught us saying, "Our Father..."
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