Jacuzzi Days

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.

(Translated from Aramaic, the language of first-century Galilee and Judea.)

O cosmic Birther of all radiance and vibration, soften the ground of our being and carve out a space within us where your Presence can abide. Fill us with your creativity so that we may be empowered to bear the fruit of your mission. Let each of our actions bear fruit in accordance with your desire. Endow us with the wisdom to produce and share what each being needs to grow and flourish. Untie the tangled threads of destiny that bind us, as we release others from the entanglement of past mistakes. Do not let us be seduced by that which would divert us from our true purpose but illuminate the opportunities of the present moment. For you are the ground and the fruitful vision, the birth, power, and fulfillment, as all is gathered and made whole once again. And so it is!

Let us receive again the presence and power of the Holy Spirit as we pray together, saying:

We open our hearts to drink deeply of the living water that overflows and renews the face of the earth.

For the church throughout the world,

We open our hearts to drink deeply of the living water that overflows and renews the face of the earth.

Inspire the siblings who are your church to become prophetic witnesses to your love and upon young and old, give clarity of vision to acknowledge your way of love that is transforming the world.

For nations of the world and its leaders. We open our hearts to drink deeply of the living water that overflows and renews the face of the earth.

Overcome the babble of misunderstanding among the nations, and let all people hear in their own language and recognize in their own culture your unifying message of love.

For planet Earth, our home. We open our hearts to drink deeply of the living water that overflows and renews the face of the earth.

By your Spirit, renew the earth, make us good stewards of its resources, and teach us to enjoy its abundance rightly.

For those in need of healing. We open our hearts to drink deeply of the living water that overflows and renews the face of the earth.

Among those known and unknown to us but known to you, you call us to care and be your hands and feet — the resurrected body of Christ. Send your healing presence upon those who are ill in body or mind and restore them to health and our community.

For our neighbors and members of our civic community. We open our hearts to drink deeply of the living water that overflows and renews the face of the earth.

Teach us to be good neighbors, to live in peace with one another, and in friendship share the joys and burdens of daily life. For our children. We open our hearts to drink deeply of the living water that overflows and renews the face of the earth.

Bless our children, protect them from danger, and help parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and caregivers nurture them so that they may grow in wisdom and practice your way of love.

For our enemies. We open our hearts to drink deeply of the living water that overflows and renews the face of the earth.

Bless our enemies and show us how we may do good to them for the sake of Jesus who revealed your love for all of your creation.

In your way of love, Ever-Present God, receive our prayers and empower us to overflow your love into the world around us. Amen.

Loving, Ever-present God, by the power of your Holy Spirit, speak to us in the language of our hearts, that we may hear you Word with understanding and answer your call with confidence. Amen.

John 7:37-39 — Rivers of Living Water ³⁷ On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, ³⁸ and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’ ” ³⁹ Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive, for as yet there was no Spirit because Jesus was not yet glorified. John 20:19-23 — Jesus Appears to the Disciples ¹⁹ When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. ²¹ Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” ²² When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Is there a chance that the Holy Spirit has been trying to stir within you and bubble up something for you to do? How might you find your focus? When have you been stirred into action by the presence of the Holy Spirit?

With thanksgiving for all that God has given to us, let us offer ourselves and the fruits of our labor for God’s work in the world.

Ever-Present God, we have opened our hearts to you, and our hands have been filled with good things. Receive thefts we return to you in gratitude for all that you have given to us. Help us through your Holy Spirit to dedicate our lives to your way of love for your very good creation. Amen.

May the love of God stir you into action, may the teachings of Jesus shape how you see the world and may the presence of the Holy Spirit empower you to be courageous this day and forevermore. Amen.