OUR CALL TO WORSHIP:
The Creator God formed us in a holy image, breathed into us the breath of the Spirit, and thus gave us the gift of living. We come together at this time to give thanks to our Lord and to ponder our calling in the world as followers of Jesus Christ. May this time be sacred to us and may our fellowship together in worship be truly blessed.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION:
Eternal God, we come here as we are, often trying our best, but still falling short of your intentions for us. We ask you to walk with us as we sort through the tangles of life and the problems of living. Give us the strength we need to change destructive habits and negative attitudes. During this time of worship together, make us receptive to new inspiration, new influence, and new understanding. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ we ask it, Amen.
AN ASSURANCE OF PARDON:
The amazing thing about our Faith is that through grace and forgiveness, God constantly frees us, and presents us each day with new opportunities for change. We thank God for this kind of forgiveness, for the promise of new beginnings, and for the outpouring of unconditional love that is always ours to share.
AN AFFIRMATION OF WHAT WE BELIEVE:
“In a broken and fearful world, God’s Spirit gives us the courage to pray without ceasing, the ability to witness among all peoples about Jesus as Lord and Savior, the strength to unmask idolatries in the church and in our culture, the compassion to hear the voices of peoples long silenced, and the commitment to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace.”
(Adapted from our Brief Statement of Faith, 1991)
A BENEDICTION TO TAKE WITH YOU THIS WEEK:
And now, let us go out into the world in peace, having courage and holding on to what is good. Let us strengthen the faint-hearted, support the weak, help the suffering, and honor all persons. Let us return no one evil for evil. Let us love and serve the Lord our God, as we rejoice together in the power of the Holy Spirit.
