Welcome and Centering Words

Opening Hymn

How Long?

How long? How Long?
How much longer must we wait?

Call to Worship

One: This is the day the Lord has made!
Many: We come rejoicing and giving thanks.
One: This is the day God invites us to love and to live.
Many: We seek to dwell in God’s love as we turn our hearts toward God.
One: This is the day to worship our creator and redeemer.
Many: We worship the God of life.

Hymn of Preparation

Holy Spirit

There’s nothing worth more
That could ever come close
No thing can compare
You’re our living hope
Your presence, Lord

I’ve tasted and seen
Of the sweetest of loves
Where my heart becomes free
And my shame is undone
Your presence, Lord

Holy Spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord
Your presence, Lord

There’s nothing worth more
That could ever come close
No thing can compare
You’re our living hope
Your presence, Lord

I’ve tasted and seen
Of the sweetest of loves
Where my heart becomes free
And my shame is undone
Your presence, Lord

Holy Spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord
Your presence, Lord

Let us become more aware of Your presence
Let us experience the glory of Your goodness (repeat 4x)

Holy Spirit, You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere
Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by Your presence, Lord
(repeat 2x)

Contemplative Meditation

Scripture Passage

Deuteronomy 30:15-20
30:15 See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity.
30:16 If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the LORD your God, walking in God’s ways, and observing God’s commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess.
30:17 But if your heart turns away and you do not hear, but are led astray to bow down to other gods and serve them,
30:18 I declare to you today that you shall perish; you shall not live long in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.
30:19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live,
30:20 loving the LORD your God, obeying God, and holding fast to the Lord; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the LORD swore to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

Liturgical Artwork

Sung Response

Confession

Refrain: We humbly ask the mercy of your love.

Leader: For words we’ve said and haven’t said,
Refrain: We humbly ask the mercy of your love.

Leader: For what we’ve done and left undone,
Refrain: We humbly ask the mercy of your love.

Leader: For harm we’ve planned and scars we’ve left,
Refrain: We humbly ask the mercy of your love.

Leader: For promises we haven’t kept,
Refrain: We humbly ask the mercy of your love.

Leader: For holy wars, oppressive missions,
Refrain: We humbly ask the mercy of your love.

Leader: For masquerade and superstition,
Refrain: We humbly ask the mercy of your love.

Leader: For taking sides and laying blame,
Refrain: We humbly ask the mercy of your love.

Leader: For when we taught but failed in listen,
Refrain: We humbly ask the mercy of your love.

Leader: For words we’ve said and haven’t said,
Refrain: We humbly ask the mercy of your love.

Table Liturgy

Prayer of Confession

Gracious God, there are so many times when our hearts turn away from you: when we become angry or judgmental; when we speak falsehoods; when we squander your blessings; and when we covet the things that are not ours. Forgive us. Help us speak words of encouragement and love; and help us follow your ways, that we may be faithful followers. In your holy name, we pray. Amen.

One: The Lord be with you.
Many: And also with you.
One: Lift up your hearts.
Many: We lift them up to the Lord.
One: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
Many: It is right to give our thanks and praise.

One: It is right, and a good and joyful thing, always and everywhere to give thanks to you, almighty God, creator of heaven and earth. Before the mountains were brought forth, or you had formed the earth, from everlasting to everlasting, you alone are God. You created light out of darkness and brought forth life on the earth. You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life. When we turned away, and our love failed, your love remained steadfast. You delivered us from captivity, made covenant to be our sovereign God, and spoke to us through your prophets.

And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

Many: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

One: Holy are you, and blessed is your Son Jesus Christ, in whom you have revealed yourself, our light and our salvation. You sent a star to guide wise men to where the Christ was born; and in your signs and witnesses, in every age and through all the world, you have led your people from far places to Christ’s light. By the baptism of his suffering death, and resurrection you gave birth to your Church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

When the supper was over he took the cup, gave thanks to you, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

Many: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

One: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and cup. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood. By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at God’s heavenly banquet. Through your Son Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, almighty God, now and forever. Amen.

Music During Communion

Be With Us, Lord

Be with us, Lord
Be with us, Lord
Be with us, Lord
We pray…

Hymn of Sending

For Everyone Born

For everyone born, a place at the table,
For everyone born, clean water and bread,
A shelter, a space, a safe place for growing,
For everyone born, a star overhead,

Refrain: And God will delight when we are creators of justice
And joy, compassion and peace:
Yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice,
Justice and joy!

Wherever you are on the gender spectrum,
Revising the roles, deciding the share,
With wisdom and grace, dividing the power,
For all gender roles a system that’s fair

Refrain: And God will delight when we are creators of justice
And joy, compassion and peace:
Yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice,
Justice and joy!

For young and for old, a place at the table,
A voice to be heard, a part in the song,
The hands of a child in hands that are wrinkled,
For young and for old, the right to belong,

Refrain: And God will delight when we are creators of justice
And joy, compassion and peace:
Yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice,
Justice and joy!

For everyone born, a place at the table,
To live without fear, and simply to be,
To work, to speak out, to witness and worship,
For everyone born, the right to be free,

Refrain: And God will delight when we are creators of justice
And joy, compassion and peace:
Yes, God will delight when we are creators of justice,
Justice and joy!

Benediction