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Submit Your Own! February 14, 2010 By David von Schlichten February 14, 2010 Transfiguration of Our Lord, Year C
Call to Worship Leader: God lifts the veil, revealing Christ’s Theo-luminescent love. People: The radiant love of our Savior transfigures us. Alleluia! Leader: We worship in the name of the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, People: eager to listen to the Son, the Chosen One. Alleluia! Invocation Lord, you are Spirit, and where you are, there is freedom. We praise you for the liberating power of your epiphanies. Lead us with the Light to the Shadow of the Cross. In the name of the Transfigured Messiah we pray. Amen. Prayer of Confession Shining Yahweh, we praise you for saving us, the baptized. We continue to sin. We try to hide on the mountaintop of your glory instead of venturing to the cross. We hide from your light. We embrace the shameful things that we hide. We practice cunning and falsify your word. We are faithless and perverse. For the sake of the Crucified One, forgive us. Exorcise us of sin. Lighten our burden. Make us glow with your agape. Yes. Please. Words of Assurance Leader: The One who stands on the mountaintop with Moses and Elijah while surpassing them has forgiven us all our sins. The light has revealed our iniquity and transforms us. Alleluia! People: Alleluia! Leader: Alleluia! People: Alleluia! Leader: Alleluia! ALL: Alleluia! Prayer of Inspiration Spirit, wake us up to listen to Word. Prayers of the People Mountaintop-Messiah, you have filled the Church with your glory, even in the darkness. Bless us as we journey into Lent, that this season may be a soul’s spring-cleaning that glorifies you, including by feeding the poor. Beautiful Savior, (congregational response: in your light we see light.). God of Sinai, we exalt you for our nation. Grant us the tenacity to continue to help people in Haiti, the Darfur, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Beautiful Savior, . . . Lord, you are dazzling. Amazing! As we prepare for Lent, guide us to take on disciplines that celebrate you, especially by helping others. Beautiful Savior, . . . Agapic God, we praise you for love. Teach us to love others, not just with words and feelings, but with actions. Beautiful Savior, . . . Agapic Adonai, many are lonely, without love. Inspire us to think of new ways to care for them, so that they know that other people do love them. Beautiful Savior, . . . Heavenly Father-Mother, we glorify you for taking care of the sick. Help us to be your healing agents, including by caring for those we mention now. [Add names.] Beautiful Savior, . . . You may add other praises and petitions here. These prayers are love-letters from us to you. We know you will respond with even greater love. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Yes. Offertory Prayer Accept these valentines, O Lord. May they also be valentines toward all in need. Alleluia! Benediction Leader: The Three-in-One, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, has transfigured us. People: How good, Lord Jesus, to be here, yet we may not remain; Leader: But since you bid us leave the mount, People: come with us to the plain.
David von Schlichten, poedifier February 7, 2010 By David von Schlichten February 7, 2010 Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, Year C
Call to Worship Leader: From now on, you will be catching people. People: Here we are, Lord; send us! Leader: We follow you, Christ, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; People: we leave everything and follow you. Invocation Spirit who makes the seraphim blaze, ignite in us the fire to follow you, especially when the message you give us to proclaim is dangerous. In the name of the Teacher-Leader we pray. Amen. Prayer of Confession Your greatness fills our worship-house, overwhelms us. We do not deserve your presence. We have unclean lips. We often lie, use foul language, belittle others, and verbally abuse each other. We frequently refrain to speak up when we should. We make excuses not to follow you, placing work and other responsibilities above serving you. We fail to care for the lowly. We turn a deaf ear and blind eye to you as a result of ignorance or ignore-ance. For the sake of the Fisher, forgive us. Touch our lips with mercy. Please, Lord, please. Words of Assurance Leader: The seraph sent from Christ swoops down and touches your lips with God’s burning, refining mercy. In the name of Jesus, who nets us with liberating love, all your sins are forgiven. People: Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of God’s glory. Yes! Prayer of Inspiration Here we are, Ruach; send us! Make us listen and comprehend; make us comprehend with our minds. In the name of the Word we pray. Amen. Prayers of the People We give thanks to you, O LORD, with our whole heart; before the gods we will sing your praise. We exalt you for the Church in all its swimming, swishing diversity. You have led us through monks such as Cyril, bishops such as Methodius, and many bold yet humble missionaries. Teach us to cast the net that sets people free. Lord, when we call, (congregational response: you answer us.). We give thanks to you, O LORD, with our whole heart. You have enriched our nation with a sea of diversity and other blessings. Watch over us, including our leaders, that we may care for the people of Haiti and others in need according to your will. Lord, when we call, . . . We give thanks to you, O LORD, with our made-holy heart. Sometimes we defy you by closing our ears, eyes, mouths, hands – hearts. Open us up. Touch us with your blazing seraphim. Embolden us to drop the nets to follow you. Lord, when we call, . . . We give thanks to you, O LORD, with our made-whole heart. You amaze us with your healing might. Heal us now, including those we mention in our hearts or out loud with our mouths [Add names]. Compel us to do our part in the healing process. Lord, when we call, . . . We give thanks to you, O LORD, with our whole heart. You turned Paul around. You can turn us around, too. It’s not too late. Help us not to give up on each other, including ourselves. Lord, when we call, . . . You may add other praises and petitions here. Thank you for hearing us. We entrust our deepest concerns to you, knowing that you catch us, free us, lead us. In Jesus’ name we praise. Alleluia. Offertory Prayer May our gifts celebrate Your Highness by bringing aid to the lowly. Benediction Leader: Liberating Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Three-in-One, People: you have brought our boats to shore. Leader: Be with us as we leave to fish for people. People: Here we are; send us!
David von Schlichten, poedifier January 31, 2010 By David von Schlichten January 31, 2010 Fourth Sunday after Epiphany, Year C
Call to Worship Leader: God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, knew us before forming us in the womb. People: The LORD puts his words in our mouths, fills us with holy love. Leader: We hear the Good News, including the teaching that the news is for outsiders, too. People: The LORD puts his words in our mouth, fills us with holy love. Invocation Unifying Spirit, you have surrounded us with God’s love. Embolden us to share that love with all, including the excluded. In the name of Christ the Nazarene we pray. Amen. Prayer of Confession In you, O LORD, we take refuge. Save us from our shameful sin. We rank others and ourselves according to talents, wealth, fame, and looks, ignoring your love, even while paying lip-service to it. You challenge us with the Good News, and we want to throw you off a cliff. We are stubborn about taking refuge in you. We doubt that you can use us despite our supposed shortcomings. For the sake of the Radical Rabbi, forgive us. In your righteousness, deliver us from the hand of our wickedness, from the clutches of our self-made evil and oppression. So be it. Incline your ear to us and save us. Yes. Words of Assurance Love never ends! Through Jesus Christ we have forgiveness of every single one of our sins. God has sustained us since the womb and continues, full of mercy. Praise the Lord! Prayer of Inspiration Holy Spirit, put out your hand and touch my mouth, that the gracious words of the Word may come forth. So be it. Prayers of the People Lord of Light, we thank you for the Church, including bishops and missionaries such as Ansgar, and martyrs such as the martyrs of Japan. Teach us to value your love above all else. Agapic God, (congregational response: build us up.). Lord of Light, we exalt you for our nation and for the beautiful spectrum of humanity. Direct our president and other leaders. Bring peace to Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Darfur. We thank you for the miracles that you have worked in Haiti, and we ask you to continue to heal that nation. Use us as your healing assistants. Agapic God, . . . Lord of Light, we are grateful for you getting us through winter so far. Be with us in the second half. Empower us to care adequately for those lacking heat, clothing, shelter, food, and medical care this winter. Agapic God, . . . Lord of Light, you have shined healing on us. Shine on those in need, including all we mention now in our hearts or with our mouths [Add names]. Agapic God, . . . Lord of Light, sometimes we react to your radical message by wanting to throw you off a cliff. Humble us to embrace you instead. Agapic God, . . . You may add other praises and petitions here. These prayers we send to you with confidence in your supreme love. In the name of Christ we pray. Amen. Offertory Prayer May this offering express our love for you and one another. Yes. Benediction Leader: The Triune Lord, People: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Leader: fill you with faith, hope, and love, People: and the greatest of these is love.
David von Schlichten, poedifier January 24, 2010 By David von Schlichten January 24, 2010 Third Sunday after Epiphany, Year C
Call to Worship Leader: Today the scripture is being fulfilled in our hearing. People: The Spirit of the Lord is upon us, God’s baptized children. Leader: The Lord has anointed us to imitate Christ by bringing good news to the poor. People: In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Trinity, we hear the Word. Leader: We proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. Invocation Unifying Spirit, you have taught us through Scripture that we each have a manifestation for the common good. Grant us courage to share those manifestations with others in accord with the Good News. In Jesus’ name we pray. So be it. Prayer of Confession We are attentive to the book of the law, hearing how we have sinned. We have a habit of ignoring the Word. We compete with each other over who has the greater gifts. We are divided, forgetting that we are one body. We neglect the poor, proclaim condemnation to the captives, perpetuate blindness and oppression, ignore that it is the year of the Lord’s favor. For the sake of the Anointed Teacher, forgive us. Revive our souls with the teachings. Amen. Words of Assurance Go your way. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. We cannot adequately detect our offenses, but God cleanses us from our faults. All your sins are gone. Alleluia! Prayer of Inspiration Let the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, our strength and redeemer. Prayers of the People Rabbi, you have blessed us with many gifts, all from the same Spirit. You praise you for the gifts of the many great members of the Church, including missionaries such as Timothy, Titus, and Silas; witnesses to the faith such as Lydia, Dorcas, and Phoebe; and doctors of the Church such as Thomas Aquinas. We are in awe of the abundance with which you have filled us. Your joy, O Lord, (congregational response: is your strength.). Rabbi, we exalt you for the United States and humanity’s magnificent diversity. Bless our leaders with wisdom and purity. Push us to continue to care for Haiti and other people in need. Help us not to forget the need as time passes. Your joy, O Lord, . . . Teacher, we thank you for Christian Unity, for making us one body. Lead us to live like the one body that you have made us to be. Your joy, O Lord, . . . Teacher, repeatedly have you healed us. Heal people in need. Heal Haiti. Heal those we mention now. [Add names]. Tutor us to be your healing assistants. Your joy, O Lord, . . . You may add other praises and petitions here. Receive these prayers, Anointed Adonai, in a way that glorifies God and serves all in need. So be it. Yes. Offertory Prayer We present to you these gifts, striving for the greater gifts with which to praise you, including by helping others. Benediction Leader: Three-in-One, People: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Leader: has made us wiser this hour. People: We leave to share the Lord’s favor.
David von Schlichten, poedifier
January 17, 2010 By January 17, 2010 Second Sunday after Epiphany, Year C Call to Worship Leader: In John, Jesus Christ begins his ministry by helping people celebrate. People: We behold God’s glory through Christ’s signs. Leader: We worship in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, People: thankful for the wine-abundance of the Bridegroom. Invocation Holy Spirit, you enable us to pray to you. You empower us to declare, “Jesus is Lord.” Lead us to behold the signs of God’s glory all around us. Make us into the wine of celebration for a world thirsty for the Good News. In the name of the Lord Jesus we pray. Yes. Prayer of Confession Our cup overflows because of you, O God, yet we insist on hurting you and others with sin. We abuse alcohol instead of using it for your glory. You are at the wedding and the reception, but we ignore you, not having sent you and invitation. We doubt the Holy Spirit, not believing that the Spirit has blessed us with gifts that benefit others. We compete with each other and end up divided. You propose to us, but we cheat on you. We betray you by being cruel to people different from ourselves, ignoring the dream, perpetuating the nightmare. For the sake of your Son, our Spouse, forgive us. Purify us. Transform us, the baptized, into celebration. Amen. Words of Assurance Leader: No more are we named “Forsaken” or “Desolate.” Because of Christ’s transforming power, our bridegroom says of us, “My Delight Is in Her.” Because of Christ, we are married to God. The Lord forgives us all our sins, changes them into sweet, bright festival. Alleluia! People: Thank God Almighty we are free at last. Alleluia! Prayer of Inspiration Word-Made-Flesh, in your light we see light. Let your light shine through this sermon. Yes. Prayers of the People Loving Spouse, you have taken tender care of the Church, and you continue to do so even when we cheat on you. Teach us to live according to our baptism, to be manifestations of God’s glory for a world in the dark. Wedding-Lord, (congregational response: we celebrate you.). Lord of the Mountaintop, we thank you for your servant the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who gave his life in the name of using nonviolence to advance freedom and equality for all people. Racism is still a demon possessing us. Grant us the courage to exorcise the demon and embrace the Spirit of loving equality. Wedding-Lord, . . . Steadfast Love-Word, you have led our nation to many improvements. Continue to lead us, and give us the humility to follow. Bless the state of our union. May we be a people who judge our own citizens and other nations, not according to skin-color, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or culture, but according to character-content. Wedding-Lord, . . . God of purifying metamorphosis, countless times have you healed us. Heal those in need at this time, including all we mention in our hearts or aloud [Add names]. Compel us to use our Spirit-given gifts as tools of healing. Wedding-Lord, . . . You may add other praises and petitions here. Lord of the Bread-and-Wine-Party, we rejoice because we know you hear us, and we are ready to do whatever you tell us. So be it. Alleluia. Offertory Prayer Leader: We present to you these jars of water. People: Transform them into wine. Benediction Leader: God, who has the strong name in which we baptize, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, People: recreates us, saves us, transforms us, feeds us, and blesses us with gifts for the good of others. Alleluia!
David von Schlichten, poedifier
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