Affirmation of Faith: Abundant God

Here’s an affirmation of faith which celebrates the extravagance of God.  It was written by Bruce Prewer.

Creed

We believe in the debonaire God

who clothes the wild flowers

dressing them so superbly

that they outdo Solomon in all his glory;

who is the true Friend

of all creatures great and small

who feeds magpies and laughing kookaburras,

and even doleful ravens and drongos.

We believe in the God of Christ Jesus

the Source of abundance,

full of grace and truth.

We believe in the extravagant God

who turns the other cheek,

goes the second mile,

turns water into the best wine,

brings healing with his every touch,

and who welcomes a woman’s of love

as she fills the house with unforgettable fragrance.

We believe in the faith-full God of Jesus Christ,

who sweated blood in an Olive Grove,

and kept the faith to the very end.

We believe in the redeeming God

who spared no cost,

forgave even his brutal crucifiers,

had time for a dying thief at his side,

and who on the third day

did a thing so prodigious

that even his friends were dismayed with joy.

We believe in the God of Jesus Christ,

the Source of abundance

wherever we turn

and no matter what we do.

Amen

~ written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Home Page. http://www.bruceprewer.com/

Prayer for the Offering: Love Beyond Measure

Here is a prayer of dedication from the Giving in Grace website.

Prayer for the Offering

(inspired by scripture texts like Philippians 4:19,

Matthew 6:25-34, Psalm 145:15-16)

Heavenly Father,

your love for us is beyond measure

and you provide for our every need.

Help us to offer you in worship a due proportion of our wealth,

for all we are and have is rightly yours.

We make our prayer in the precious name of Jesus,

Lord and Saviour of creation. Amen 

~ from “Giving in Grace: Liturgical Services – Matthew.” http://www.givingingrace.org/userfiles/files/Design/Matthew_liturgical_services.pdf

The Blessing of Powerlessness

May all your expectations be frustrated;

may all your plans be thwarted;

may all your desires be withered into nothingness,

that you may experience

the powerlessness and poverty of a child,

and sing, dance, and trust in the love of God

who is Father, Son, and Spirit. Amen.

~ written by Brennan Manning, author of Ragamuffin Gospel. https://www.amazon.com/Brennan-Manning/e/B000APBRR0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?qid=1473339142&sr=8-2-ent&linkCode=sl2&tag=webchyk-20&linkId=70a527801913c795a28bbc309f28800a

Prayer: Silent Flight of Eagles' Wings

In the silence 
the clarity of your voice, 
climbs high 
upon the eagle's wings. 

The chains of doubt 
that imprison my soul, 
fall away beneath my feet. 

In the freedom and majesty 
of the sentinel's gaze, 
faith is strengthened 
and hope returned 
to a weary heart, 
upon the silent flight 
of eagle's wings.

~ Chris Roe.  Posted on About.com. http://christianity.about.com/od/membersubmittedprayers/qt/Silent-Flight.htm

Prayer of Confession: Faithful Stewards

Here’s a prayer of confession and commitment from Joanna Harader.  The first line is from 1 Peter 4: 10.

Prayer

Holy One,
We long to be faithful stewards of your abundant grace.
To serve each other in love and humility.
To serve your world with wisdom and energy.

Forgive us when we stumble over pride,
when our words and actions are not guided by love.
Turn our hearts when we act in folly.
Restore our energy when it is gone.

Sometimes, many times, O God, our efforts fail.
But your abundant grace is strong and eternal,
And forgiveness is ours through Jesus Christ.
Thanks be to God.
Amen.

~ written by Joanna Harader, and posted on the Spacious Faith blog. http://spaciousfaith.com/

Call to Worship: Matthew 6: 25-27

Here’s a call to worship inspired by Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6: 25-27.  It was written by Katherine Hawker.

Call to Worship: Birds of the Air

(inspired by Matthew 6: 25-27)

Look at the birds of the air;

they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns

and yet God provides for the basic sustenance of life.

May our hearts be open to trust you.

Look at the birds of the air;

they neither study nor plan nor plot their course

and yet God writes the instinct for migration into their hearts.

May our eyes be open to see you.

Look at the birds of the air;

they neither talk nor vote nor debate their responsibility

yet God weaves them into communities which nurture and defend.

May our hands be open to serve you.

~ written by Katherine Hawker, and posted on Liturgies Outside. www.liturgyoutside.net 

Benediction: Matthew 6: 25-34

Here’s a closing commission and benediction inspired by Matthew 6: 25-34.

Blessing: Do Not Worry

“Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs,

and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him

and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” Matthew 6:32-33

Do not worry about anything in life—

what you’ll eat, or what you’ll wear.

Look at the birds of the air,

or the flowers in the field.

If God takes such good care of birds and flowers,

how much more will He care for you?

So don’t be afraid.

Instead, let your lives be marked by compassion and generosity,

sharing what you have been given with those in need,

storing up your treasure in heaven

instead of here on earth.

And may the blessing of God—Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer—

encourage and strengthen you in every good word and deed.

~ Christine Longhurst, on the Canadian Foodgrains Bank website. http://www.foodgrainsbank.ca/

Prayer of Confession: Way of Life

Here’s a prayer of confession from Alex S. Leung.

Prayer of Confession

Almighty and most merciful father,

We are thankful that your mercy is

higher than the heavens,

wider than our wanderings,

deeper than all our sin.

Forgive our frivolous attitude toward life,

our callousness toward suffering,

our envy of those who have more than we have,

our obsession with creating a life of constant pleasure,

our indifference to the treasures of heaven,

our neglect of your wise and gracious law.

Help us to change our way of life

so that we may desire what is good, love what you love,

and do what you command,

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For I know that my Redeemer lives,

and at the last he will stand upon the earth.

And after my skin has been thus destroyed,

yet in my flesh I shall see God,

whom I shall see for myself,

and my eyes shall behold, and not another.

My heart faints within me!

(Job 19:25-27 ESV)

~ written by Alex S. Leung, and posted on Six Steps. http://sixsteps.org/

Prayer Reflection: Luke 16

Here’s a brief prayer reflection on Jesus’ teaching in Luke 16.  It was written by Katherine Hawker.

Prayer Reflection

(inspired by Luke 16)

Masters,

two and more,

competing for our money

clamoring for our time

creating chaos in our lives.

Master,

one God,

quiet us and draw us near.

~ written by Katherine Hawker (1998). Posted on Liturgies Outside. http://liturgyoutside.net/

Confession: Priorities

Here’s a prayer of confession from the Center for Christian Ethics.  It was written by Bruce Gillette and Carolyn Winfrey Gillette.

Unison Prayer of Confession

(inspired by Luke 16:1-13; Matthew 6:33)

O God, we want to have our cake and eat it, too:

we want to be a friend of the world and still be your friend.

Yet, Jesus taught us: “No one can serve two masters.”

Give us strength and courage to get our priorities straight:

help us to seek your kingdom first.

Help us to live faithfully and joyfully in the world,

and to be friends with the people you call us to serve.

Help us also to remember that our best relationship

is the one we have with you,

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness

(inspired by James 3:17)

“The wisdom from above is first pure,

then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield,

full of mercy and good fruits,

without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy” (James 3:17).

In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven,

and we are given a new way to live.

Let us accept God’s grace,

and live new lives of faith, obedience, and joy.

~ from a worship service written by Bruce Gillette and Carolyn Winfrey Gillette for the Center for Christian Ethics.  Posted on http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/174967.pdf

Offering Prayer: Luke 16

Here’s a brief prayer of dedication inspired by Jesus’ teaching in Luke 16.  It was written by Katherine Hawker.

Offering Prayer

(inspired by Luke 16)

Knowing that many voices clamour and compete,

we pray that these offerings given

may become symbolic of our decision

to serve one master, one God.

~ written by Katherine Hawker. Posted on Liturgies Outside. http://liturgyoutside.net/

Prayer: Hold Lightly

Here’s a prayer of petition inspired by Jesus’ teaching about possessions.  It comes from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers (see link below).

Prayer of Petition

Generous God,

in abundance you give us things both spiritual and physical.

Help us to hold lightly the fading things of this earth

and grasp tightly the lasting things of your kingdom,

so that what we are and do and say

may be our gifts to you

through Christ, who beckons all to seek the things above,

where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

~ from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers copyright © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts admin. Augsburg Fortress.  Posted on Thematic, Intercessory and Scripture Prayers for the RCL, Vanderbilt Divinity Library. http://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/

Prayer of Invocation: Two Masters

Here’s an opening invocation from Katherine Hawker’s Liturgy Outside website.

Opening Prayer

(inspired by Luke 16: 13, Matthew 6:24 and other passages)

Masters,

two and more,

competing for our money

clamoring for our time

creating chaos in our lives.

Master,

one God,

quiet us and draw us near.

~ written by Katherine Hawker for the Evangelical United Church of Christ, 1998. Posted on Liturgy Outside. http://liturgyoutside.net/CPr13.html