Liturgy for the '90s
HYMN [Hymn of Praise lifting creation imagery, for example, 242, 266, 527, 546, 551, 554, 557, 558, 561 or 563.]
GREETING
P: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion
of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And also with you.
DIALOG
[The dialog might also use a psalm which highlights creation, for example,
Psalms 8, 24, 95, 98, 104, 136, or 148. A responsive reading based on Genesis
1 or 2 could also be used.]
P: People of faith, we are gently shaped in the womb of God's creative
power. The seed of Christ's new life is sown, and we are made a new creation.
As God's new creation, we are nursed and sustained by the Holy Spirit. Together
with rattling leaves, blooming flowers, squealing hogs and chugging combines,
we add our shouts of praise to God who gives life in creation, who gives new
life in Jesus Christ, and who nourishes life by the gift of the Holy Spirit.
A: We believe God creates.
C: God spoke. Light and darkness; heaven and earth; land, sea and plants;
sun, moon and stars; fish and birds; and animals came to be God spoke and
made us. God gave us responsibility to care for creation. God spoke and all
life God created is good.
A: We believe God recreates.
C: God spoke in the living word, Jesus Christ. At the cross, Christ spent
himself to reclaim us from our human brokenness, to shower renewing forgiveness
into our lives, and to place us before new horizons of life, lived in harmony
with God, and people, and creation.
A: We believe God caresses.
C: The Holy Spirit delivers us into a family of faith. The Spirit cultivates
in our lives the fruit of holy living: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The Spirit harvests
us into the glory of resurrection.
SALUTATION
P: The Lord
be with you.
C: And also with you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
FIRST LESSON
PSALMODY
SECOND LESSON
HOLY
GOSPEL
P: The Holy
Gospel according to __________________.
C: Glory to you, O Lord.
P: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON/HOMILY [Perhaps a dialog or "directed" Bible study encouraging congregational participation.]
HYMN OF THE DAY
APOSTLES'
CREED
C: I believe
in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven
and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord.
He was conceived
by the power of the Holy Spirit
and
born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under
Pontius Pilate,
was
crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into
hell.
On the third day
he rose again.
He ascended into
heaven,
and
is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again
to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic
Church,
the communion
of saints,
the forgiveness
of sins,
the resurrection
of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
PROCESSION [A procession including a processional cross and torches may lead worshippers to the fellowship area for a congregational dinner. The processional cross and torches are positioned at the serving table.]
OFFERING [Food for the meal, bread and wine made by members, and monetary gifts are presented. Seasonal gifts can also be presented, for example, seeds in the springtime; harvest festival gifts or grain at harvest; hay to be saved for the crèche; food pantry items at Thanksgiving; gifts for care center residents at Christmas.]
OFFERTORY
PRAYER
A: Loving God,
we are surrounded by the beauty of creation. We are supported by the abundance
of creation. We gratefully receive your gifts of love and life - gifts which
fill our lives with joy and satisfaction. In thankful response to your generosity,
we place before you pieces of ourselves and of your creation - food from
the earth we till, energy from the moments of our life, money from the skills
you give, bread from the seeds that were sown and wine from the grapes that
grow, and our abundance to share with others. Receive them as signs of our
love and gratitude.
C: Amen.
MEAL [Tables should seat six to ten persons to facilitate conversations and to encourage fellowship. Each table will be asked to prepare one or two petitions for the prayers.]
THE PRAYERS
GREETING OF PEACE
HYMN [A communion hymn can be used to introduce the liturgy of the Table, for example, 204, 209, 210, 214, 226.]
EUCHARISTIC
PRAYER
P: We give
you thanks for your gifts that tumble into and saturate our lives: for family
and friends who enrich us; for the sunrise that energizes the day, and darkness
that gives quiet and rest at day's end; for rains that quench the thirsts
of life and sun that warms the soil and germinates the seed; for winter snows
that blanket the sleeping world.
C: All of creation unveils your glory.
P: As your fingerprint is upon all creation, your love is embossed on the
human family. You called Abraham and Sarah to parent the nation of your holy
people so all people could be drawn into your loving embrace. You sent the
prophets to speak your comforting and cleansing word. You sent your Son, Jesus
the Christ, to proclaim your kingdom. Jesus carried our sins to the cross
in order that we might be forgiven, and died our death so we might live fully
now, and in God's future.
C: In the life, ministry and death of Jesus we are invited to be a part
of your new creation.
P: In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave
thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this
is my body, given for you. DO this for the remembrance of me.
Again,
after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink,
saying : This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all
people for the forgiveness of sins. Do this for the remembrance of me.
In this
bread and cup, the seed of your kingdom is planted in us, and we are made
new. The bread and wine we share draws us into the Body of Christ.
C: Christ lives in us. We live in Christ. We look forward to our future
in your new creation.
LORD'S
PRAYER
C: Our Father,
who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive
us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us
not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and
the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
THE DISTRIBUTION [One person from each table will come forward to receive the sacramental elements for that table. People at the tables will commune one another.]
POST-COMMUNION
PRAYER
A: We give
you thanks that in this holy meal you take the common things of life, bread
and wine, and fill them with your uncommon love and life. Take our lives,
common as they are, and fill them with the love and life of Christ, that we
might be a blessing to others.
C: Amen.
THE BENEDICTION
P: The Lord
bless you and keep you. The Lord's face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.
C: Amen.
THE DISMISSAL
[People leave taking "care packages" for shut-ins; gifts for residents
at the care center; hospital calling responsibilities; seeds to plant.]
A: Go in peace.
Serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God!