Ascension Day Prayer

Here’s a thoughtful prayer inspired by the events of Acts 1:9-11, the ascension of Jesus Christ. It comes from the Weekly Worship page of the Christian Aid website.

Prayer for Ascension

(inspired by Acts 1:9-11)

Lord of life, 
We do not know the face of the future,

any more than your disciples did. 
Like them, we have many questions:
how to live 
how to bear witness. 
Like them, we thirst for the spring waters of the Spirit 
to inspire us in our living 
to give us a heart language in our testimony.

You have been raised in glory

that we might rise with dignity 
You live in power that we might live in peace 
You are present everywhere

that we might be fully present in our own lives 
This we believe 
This we step out on. 

~ originally posted on the Monthly Prayers page (now Weekly Worship) of the Christian Aid website. https://www.christianaid.org.uk/churches/weekly-worship

Affirmation of Faith: Psalm 20

Here’s an affirmation of faith inspired by Psalm 20.  It was written by Bruce Prewer.

Almost a Creed

(inspired by Psalm 20)

Do we believe?

Yes, in spite of ourselves, we do believe!

While some follow fad and fashion,

changing with the seasons in Paris, London and New York,

we follow the man from Nazareth.

While some put their hope in a big lotto win,

or chase profits at no matter what cost to family,

we put our hope in loving one another as our Christ has loved us.

While some may give in to a sophisticated cynicism,

or some fall into apathy or despair,

we put out faith in the God who has given us his only true son.

While some may boast of their superior education,

culture, race, or living standard,

we boast in the self-giving of that Son on a Cross.

While some try to justify themselves by prizing fame or power,

or by claiming superior morals,

we allow the grace of our Lord to Jesus to be our best prize.

Because of Jesus,

yes, we believe in the living God

by whose Holy Spirit all things are open to change and renewal.

And that includes us and the church,

thanks be to God!

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

Affirmation of Faith: Matthew

Here’s a simple affirmation of faith inspired by Matthew 25:16-20 and Matthew 9:35-38. It was written by Tim Tate, Lead Pastor at Warrenton United Methodist Church.

Affirmation of Faith

(inspired by Matthew 25:16-20, Matthew 9:35-38)

I believe in a God

who created all things

and seeks for all to be in communion as God’s people.

I believe in Jesus Christ

who showed us how to share love,

and who commissioned us to go out into the highways and byways

inviting all to be a part of God’s work in the world.

I believe in the Holy Spirit

who leads and guides us into the world,

then touches the lives of those around us

in ways that make them receptive to love.

I believe in the harvest

and the call for laborers to receive and respond,

sharing light and life with the world.  Amen. 

~ submitted by Tim Tate, Lead Pastor, Warrenton UMC. Posted on www.warrentonumc.org

Congregational Affirmation during Pandemic

May we who are merely inconvenienced

remember those whose lives are at stake.

May we who have no risk factors

remember those most vulnerable.

May we who have the luxury to work from home

remember those who must choose

between preserving their health or making their rent.

May we who have the flexibility to care

for our children when their schools close

remember those who have no options.

May we who have to cancel our trips

remember those that have no place to go.

May we who are losing our margin money

in the tumult of the economic market

remember those who have no margin at all.

May we who settle in for a quarantine at home

remember those who have no home.

During this time

when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other,

let us yet find ways

to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbours.

~ written by Cameron Wiggins Bell and posted on Faith at Marquette. https://www.marquette.edu/faith/prayer-for-a-pandemic.php

Affirmation: The Church Has Left the Building

The following affirmation was written by Rev. Margaret Weis, and posted on the Unitarian Universalist Association website. Rev. Weis suggests that you might replace "church" with "congregation" or "fellowship" if that feels most appropriate for your community.

The Church Has Left the Building

The church is not a place; it is a people.

The church is not only a steeple above the treeline, streets, and cars.
Rather, it is a people proclaiming to the world that
we are here for the work of healing and of justice.

The church is not walls built stone upon stone, held together by mortar
but rather person, linked with person, linked with person:
all ages and genders and abilities—
a community built on the foundation of reason, faith, and love.

The church is not just a set of doors open on Sunday morning,
but the commitment day after day, and moment after moment,
of our hearts creaking open the doors of welcome

to the possibility of new experience and radical welcome.

The church is not simply a building, a steeple, a pew.

The church is the gathering together of all the people, and experiences,
and fear, and love, and hope in our resilient hearts;
gathering, however we can, to say to the world:
welcome, come in, lay down your heartache, and pick up hope and love.

For the church is us—each and every one of us—together,
a beacon of hope to this world that so sorely needs it.

~ written by Rev. Margaret Weis and posted on the Unitarian Universalist Association website.

https://www.uua.org/worship/words/affirmation/church-has-left-building

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/

Affirmation: You Call Us to Service

Here is an affirmation or statement of commitment from John Birch. It was posted on his Faith and Worship website.

Affirmation: You Call Us to Service

You call us to service;
to be your eyes and ears,
hands and voice in this, your world.

To open our eyes not only
to the beauty and love which you create,
but the injustice,
hate and suffering that humankind generates.

To open our ears not only
to the chattering of this coming week,
but the searching,
fears and questioning of all whom we shall meet.

To open our hands not only
to those we choose our lives to share,
but in welcome,
love and fellowship to all who you draw near.

To open our mouths not only
to speak platitudes and simple words,
but the truths you lay upon our hearts.
Your Word for this, your world.

You call us to service,
to be your eyes and ears,
hands and voice in this, your world.

~ written by John Birch and posted on his Faith and Worship website. http://www.faithandworship.com/liturgy_Lent_3.htm#ixzz1lkU9wBx2

Affirmation of Faith: I Believe in Jesus

Here is a two-voice “re-reading of the traditional words about Jesus in the creed with some possible alternatives.” It was posted on the New Kilpatrick Parish Church website.

I Believe in Jesus

I believe
      I awaken to
Jesus Christ
      the one who walked our earth

      and whose God-light shone through
God’s only son
      the one whose life came from the very life of God
our Lord
      our guide, our teacher, our friend
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
      whose life was an intent of God’s creative imagination
born of the Virgin Mary
      who sang love’s song at his beginning and was blessed
suffered under Pontius Pilate
      rejected by the powers of the world
was crucified
      executed by those same powers
died
      sharing the same death of us all
and was buried
      love had been killed
he descended to the dead
      and they thought this the end
but on the third day
      nothing could contain, bind or hold the life Jesus began
he rose again
      and the story continues to be believed

      of renewal, transformation and life again.
I believe in
      I awaken to
Jesus
 

~ copyright © 2016 New Kilpatrick Parish Church. Posted on the New Kilpatrick Parish Church website. https://www.nkchurch.org.uk/

Invitation: At the Dawn of a New Year

Here’s are gathering words (or possibly a statement of affirmation) for a New Year service. It was written by Susan Durber, and posted on the Christian Aid website.

At the Dawn of a New Year

At the dawn of a new year, 
we come to welcome hope for a new world.

Let the darkness lift, 
to welcome a dawn of plenty, 
with enough for everyone 
and people ready to share.

Let the day begin, 
with new energy for the struggle 
to protect our children 
and to care for the vulnerable.

Let the light shine, 
to open a path to safety 
for all who are seeking home 
and longing for life.

Let the sun rise 
on new talks and new resolve 
to end the bombing and the terror 
and to find solutions that will last.

At the dawn of a new year 
we come to declare our hope 
and to welcome a new world. 

~ written by Susan Durber, and posted on the Monthly Prayers page of the Christian Aid website. http://www.christianaid.org.uk/

Advent Creed

Here’s a Trinitarian affirmation of faith for Advent, “drawing on advent themes of waiting, quiet and silence.” It was written by Dave Hopwood, and posted on Area 52/Engage Worship.

Advent Creed

We believe in God the Father, creator of heaven and earth.

The one who is full of patience,

who is not afraid of silence,

who does not need to fill each moment with activity and noise.

The one who is beyond bluster and flurry,

and who does not jostle for attention.

We believe in God the Son, Saviour of creation,

who slipped into Bethlehem one night, mostly unnoticed,

who lived thirty years without headlines or hurry,

who frequently took time alone with his patient Father,

who waited for the right time to become the suffering servant,

who stood quietly before the noise of his accusers,

whose silence overpowered their words,

who died, then rose again on a quiet Sunday morning.

We believe in God the Holy Spirit,

who strengthens, empowers, renews and refreshes,

sometimes arriving with obvious power,

sometimes with the quiet breath of a whisper.

We believe in one God

who patiently waits for us,

and who longs for us to do the same.

~ copyright © Dave Hopwood/engageworship.org. Posted on Area 52/Engage Worship. https://engageworship.org/

Statement of Faith: Silence is Not Enough

Here’s a responsive statement of faith for Remembrance Day. It was written by Roddy Hamilton, and posted on the New Kilpatrick Parish Church website.

Statement of Faith:

Silence is Not Enough

In our remembrance we know
silence is not enough
to change the world

I have come that you may have life and life to the full

In our remembrance we know
silence is not enough
to bring peace to the world

Behold I make all things new

In our remembrance we know
silence is not enough
to change the minds of leaders

Your light must shine before people

In our remembrance we know
silence is not enough
to change the way we do things

This is what I command you: love one another

In our remembrance we know
silence is not enough
to convey the truth of war

Every tree is known by the fruit is bears.

The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

In our remembrance we know
silence is not enough
but your words are

Come and follow me 

~ written by Roddy Hamilton, and posted on the New Kilpatrick Parish Church website. https://www.nkchurch.org.uk/original-liturgy 

Affirmation of Unity

Here’s an affirmation of faith, suitable for use anytime, but especially on Reformation Day (October 31), World Communion Sunday (first Sunday in October), and Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (January 18-25). It was written by Nolan Palsma.

Affirmation of Unity

We share one faith,

have one calling,

are of one soul and one mind;

have one God and Father,

are filled with one Spirit,

are baptized with one baptism,

eat of one bread and drink of one cup,

confess one Name,

are obedient to one Lord,

work for one cause,

and share one hope.

Together we come to know

the height and the breadth and the depth of the love of Christ;

are built up to the stature of Christ, to the new humanity;

know and bear one another’s burdens,

thereby fulfilling the law of Christ

that we need one another and up build one another,

admonishing and comforting one another;

that we suffer with one another for the sake of righteousness.

Together we pray; together we serve God in this world. 

~ written by Nolan Palsma, and printed in “Prayerful Preparation: Living God, Renew Us.” Published by the World Communion of Reformed Churches, and posted at http://wcrc.ch/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GC2017-PrayerfulPreparation-English.pdf.