____________________________________________________
 

Call to Worship (based on Psalm 149)

L: Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful.
P: Let Israel be glad in its Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King. Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre.
L: For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory.
P: Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy.
L: Come, let us worship the LORD!

Call to Worship
by Rev. F. Schaefer

L: Dear Father, you have given us grace to gather together as sisters and brothers in unity.
P: We come together in remembrance of your mighty deeds through
Jesus, our Lord,
L: You have promised to be in our midst when two or three are gathered in his mighty Name.
P: We welcome you with great joy and anticipation in our midst as we draw near to you.
L: Come, let us worship the Lord!

 

Litany for Christian Unity

Across all our barriers of language, race, and nationality:
Unite us, Jesus.

Across all our mutual ignorance, prejudice and hostility:
Unite us, Jesus.

Across all our differences of thought, outlook, and religious allegiance:
Unite us, Jesus.

O God, for your greater glory:
Gather together your separated people.

O God, for the triumph of goodness and truth:
Gather together your separated people.

O God, that there may be one flock and one shepherd:
Gather together your separated people.

O God, that peace may reign in the world at last:
Gather together your separated people.

Amen.

 

Prayer of Confession (for use with Matthew 18:15-20)

Gracious God, we thank you that despite our brokenness and sins,
You forgive us and continue to love us unconditionally.

We confess that, although we are grateful to you for forgiving our sins, we find it very difficult to forgive others.

We confess that we have not loved our neighbor as ourselves and granted them the same grace we have received.

Forgive us, o Lord, and empower us to break forth from the fetters self-righteousness.  Help us to view the offender as your child…

May we care for others as you have cared for us.
We pray this through the Christ who told us to forgive seven times seventy. Amen.

 

Prayer for Love  (works with Romans 13:8-14) --by Don Miguel Ruiz, from "The Four Agreements," pp. 134-138

Thank you, Creator of the Universe, for the gift of life you have given me. Than you for giving me everything that I have ever truly needed. Thank you for the opportunity to experience this beautiful body and this wonderful mind. Thank you for living inside me with all your love, with your pure and boundless spirit, with your warm and radiant light.

Thank you for using my words, for using my eyes, for using my heart to share your love wherever I go. I love you just the way you are, and because I am your creation, I love myself just the way I am. Help me to keep the love and peace in my heart and to make that love a new way of life, that I may live in love the rest of my life. Amen.

 

A Variation of the Great Thanksgiving Prayer  (for Exodus 12:1-14)

We give you thanks, Eternal God, for your mighty acts of Salvation:

At the beginning of time, in your infinite wisdom, you made all things and sustain them by your power. You formed us in your image, setting us in this world to love and serve you and to live in peace with your whole creation.

When we rebelled against you, refusing to trust and obey you, you did not reject us, but still claimed us as your own. You sent prophets to call us back to your way.

You led Israel out of slavery through the waters of the sea into the freedom of the promised land.

In Christ you opened your arms for us on the cross, birthing us into a new life through water and the Spirit.

Therefore with the small and great, with women and men of faith through all the ages we recount your glorious deeds and bless your holy name forever!  Amen.

Closing Prayer

For a New Heart:

Thou who art over us,
Thou who art one of us,
Thou who art:
     Give me a pure heart, that I may see thee;
     a heart of love, that I may serve thee;
     a heart of faith, that I may abide in thee.
Amen.