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Call to Worship (based on Psalm 17:1-7, 15)

L: Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry; give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit.
P: If you try my heart, if you visit me by night, if you test me, you will find no wickedness in me; my mouth does not transgress.
L: My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.
P: I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me, hear my words. Wondrously show your steadfast love, O savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.
L: As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness. Let us worship the LORD!

Call to Worship (responsively):

L: Where two or three are gathered in His name, Christ promises to be in their midst. We gather together on this day to draw near to God.

C: We gather together to draw near to one another.

L: Though we are different people with different backgrounds,

C: We come together to worship our God and celebrate our common faith.

L: There is no true worship without unity among Christ's followers.

All: Let us come together in unity to worship God.

Prayer of Confession:

Dear Heavenly Father, you reveal your grace and compassion to us by your presence and provision in our lives. You  feed us when we are hungry and walk with us when we feel alone. We confess, o Lord, that we have not returned grace for grace.  We have not loved our neighbor as yourself, we have not always heard the cry of the needy, we have not fed all the hungry.  Instead, we have quarreled with our brothers and sisters, we have sought our advantage over theirs. We have not love you, o God with all our heart and we have not kept all your commandments.  Forgive us, we pray, and reconcile us to yourself. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

The Word of Grace

God has probed our hearts but Christ has compassion for us and has justified us.
Therefore, God now finds nothing wrong in us.

Sisters and Brothers,
........your sins are forgiven;
................be at peace.
 

Responsive Prayer for Christian Unity ( Romans 9:1-5)

L: Triune God, we come before you with our deep longing for true community between young and old men an women, rich and poor, between all nations. We long to overcome the many divisions within our human society. Help us to overcome the many barriers we erect. Help us to dispel our suspicions.

C: that we may see the good intentions in those we meet.

L: Help us to put aside our own uncertainty
C: that we may appreciate the dignity of others.

L: Help us to cast out our fears
C: that we may allay the fears of others.

L: Help us to conquer our own pride
C: that we may love our neighbors as ourselves.

L: Grant us the gift of true community in reconciliation with others.
C: In the Name of Jesus Christ, the Light of the world. Amen.

Communion Prayer (reflecting on Matthew 14:13-21)

How we praise you, our Father, that the holy glory of Divine communion breaks into our most commonplace circumstances and colors and transfigures them.

How we praise you, Lord Jesus, that your fellowship with us is the unfailing fountain of our joy.

Our hearts overflow with gratitude and joy as we receive the spiritual bread you provide for us.  According to your great compassion, you have filled the hunger of  the multitude by the lakeside, and you are ever so faithful to fill us with all spiritual blessings.

Most gracious God, may our table fellowship with you permeate the community of believers everywhere so completely that tongue can not tell, nor lips describe the sacred bond of love and unity we possess in Christ Jesus, our Savior.

O Holy Spirit of God, through your spiritual manna transform us. May we be found faithful to share with our brothers and sisters everywhere the blessings you have shared with us.  Amen.

A Prayer for Transformation (reflecting on Gen. 32:22-31)

Wonderful, merciful Lord,
When my eyes light up with the attractions of this world and my mind is filled with worldly thoughts, bring me back to your garden where we both can sit and talk.

When I am in the clutches of my own needs, show me you are calling me to rise above my needs and make sacrifices for the glory of your kingdom on earth.

When I am immersed in the ideas of worldly success and material possessions then let my mind be transformed by your love.

I praise your Holy Name, for it is from you and you alone my mind and heart can be made new. In you and in your teachings, I can find new ways of thinking, new ways of creating, and a whole new person being born within me.

Show me your kingdom that starts within me if I would just open my mind and heart to you.

All these things I humbly pray in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit who lives within me and touches me. Amen.

Closing Prayer: (A Prayer of Saint Patrick)

Christ be with us, Christ before us, Christ behind us,
Christ in us, Christ beneath us, Christ above us,
Christ on our right, Christ on our left,
Christ where we lie, Christ where we sit,
Christ where we arise.
Christ in the heart of every one who thinks of us,
Christ in every eye that sees us,
Christ in every ear that hears us.
Salvation is of the Lord,
Salvation is of the Christ,
May your salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.  Amen.