Telling Your Story

Good Morning and Welcome to Worship! Worship is often the first place that new people come into contact with this growing community of faith. And so, if you are joining us for the first time, I say to you what is said every Sunday: You are welcome here. Here is a place where all are welcome. For such is the love of God for God’s Very Good Creation.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below; praise God above, ye Heav'nly host: praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Holy God, why is it that we look, but do not see? Bring us again and again into your light, your way of seeing the world around us. May your light transform us until we are utterly transformed and your fruit is being produced through us. In your light and your way of love we pray. Amen.

Loving God, our faithful Shepherd, you have provided for us everything we need to thrive: for daily food, for guidance, and wisdom, for healing in injury and comfort in sorrow. Thank you for your abundant provision and walking with us through the wounds of this life.

Knowing your faithfulness in our lives, we bring you the lives of others and the cares of this world. Bring healing to those who are ill in body, or spirit. Bring release to those who are held captive by old hurts or new bonds that oppress and entangle. Bring freedom to those unjustly accused, relief to those burdened with debt, comfort to all who suffer abuse of any kind.

We pray for people living precariously in the midst of war. Protect, we pray, citizens and soldiers alike, and teach us to put away our weapons, taking up instead words of peace and reconciliation. By the power at work in the world through your Holy Spirit, break down the walls of hostility that we build so that we may learn to live together graciously.

We remember those living in the midst of drought and famine. We pray for rain to fall and crops to grow, and for generosity to overflow from our own hands and resources, until all your children receive their daily bread; until all your children have clean water to drink; until all your children have adequate shelter and medical care. Compel us to be better stewards of your creation so that our habitation is sustainable and responsible.

Loving God, help us to see the world as you see it; to see others as you see them; and to see ourselves rightly too. Pursue us with your goodness and faithful love until goodness and faithful love fills every heart and informs every action. We pray these things in the name of the one who came that we might see as you see loving God. Amen.

Loving God, illumine our hearts and minds as the Scriptures are read and proclaimed, so that by the power of your Holy Spirit we may see what is good and right and true. And seeing, help us to do what is pleasing to you, so that your way of love becomes visible in our words and our deeds. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

The Divine Shepherd, A Psalm of David ¹ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. ² He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; ³ he restores my soul He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. ⁴ Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. ⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

⁸ for once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Walk as children of light, ⁹ for the fruit of the lightis found in all that is good and right and true. ¹⁰ Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹ Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness; rather, expose them. ¹² For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly, ¹³ but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, ¹⁴ for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

How comfortable are you sharing your story? Are you more comfortable sharing with strangers? More comfortable sharing with close friends? Who might you share your story with, not just your past but your present and your future? Who might you be present with to hear their story? Have you already had your eyes opened by the Holy Spirit as you have shared your story with someone, or while they have shared their story with you?

Our lives overflow with the goodness of God. Sharing hat we have so abundantly received, we bring now our tithes and offerings to God, with gladness and gratitude.

Refrain:

In gratitude, O God, we come to your table, and into your pfresence. For all that you have done for us, most especially for the life and teachings of Jesus who showed us the light of your way amidst our darkness, we offer our thanks and praise. We long to establish your way of light and love, and live to bear the fruit of your way in the world. Amen.

May the love of God pursue you, the light of Christ enfold you, and the Holy Spirit keep you; as you work to bear the fruit of the kindom and shine the light of God into the darkness around us. Amen.