Open Our Perspectives, Hearts, & Actions

Posted on August 30, 2019 by Tim Graves — Leave a comment

Confession of Sin Responsive

Though you model seasons of hard work and seasons of rest,
we too often favor one over the other.

Though you honor all labor that builds your kin_dom,
we too often favor the labor of some over the labor of others.

Though you teach love of neighbor and interconnectedness,
we too often fail to assure adequate pay and safety of some of our neighbors.

Though you teach sharing of our gifts,
we too often devalue the work done by parents at home, by volunteers in the church and elsewhere, and others who labor without pay.

We come before God seeking forgiveness and strength to grow as faithful people.
Open our perspectives to the work of one another. Open our hearts and actions to the needs of all who labor. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

God’s forgiveness and grace is boundless. The connecting love that binds us together on this earth never gives up on you. Each of us are the delight and hope of God’s dreams for creation. Turn to your neighbor and share the delight and hope freely given to you.

Posted in Confession of Sin & Assurance, Days of the Secular World, Genesis, Genesis 1, Genesis 1-2, Genesis 1-2:1, Labor Day, Mark, Mark 12, Mark 12:28-34, Mark 12:30-31, Matthew, Matthew 22, New Testament

We are a verb.

Posted on August 23, 2019 by Tim Graves — 1 Comment

We gather to learn, to grow, to love, and to be commissioned to take the Good News to the world.

We are church. We are a verb. We are love in action in our fragmented world.

Let us worship and then go out.

Let us become the people God dreams for this time and this place.

Posted in Call to Worship, Luke 10

Sharing the Alighted Flame

Posted on August 22, 2019 by Tim Graves — Leave a comment

Confession of Sin

When we receive the flames of love and fail to share it.

God, have mercy.

When we share our gifts with those like us forgetting the poor and oppressed and imprisoned.

God, have mercy.

When we let fear, selfishness, apathy, or anxiety close us off from our neighbors.

God, have mercy.

Assurance of Pardon

God’s gift of grace belongs to each one of you. You are forgiven and beloved. God’s arms enfold you with hope and peace. Turn to your neighbor and share the healing power of Christ’s love.

Passing of the Peace

You Are God’s Beloved

As Are You

Posted in Acts, Acts 2, Acts 2:1-4, Luke, Luke 4, Luke 4:14-19, New Testament

The Fast We Have Chosen

Posted on August 21, 2019 by Tim Graves — Leave a comment

Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house… (Acts 2:2 CEB)

A flame alighted upon and within each of them. The fire to be God’s love in the world could not be quenched.

Filled with the Holy Spirit, each with gifts unique and needed, the journey began.

But it was hard to “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:37 CEB)

The journey of being church in our fragmented world is messy. It is hard to be disciples of Jesus.

It’s not always easy to open our hearts and doors to those unlike us.

The simple act of sharing food and possessions “as any has need” can be uncomfortable. (Acts 2:45)

Our fragmented, continuously changing world coupled with the transforming church can be disorienting and confusing.

But in the midst of new dimensions, God remains.

And we trust in our God. This is the fast we have chosen.
(Isaiah 58:6)

Jesus is our teacher and healer. Praise be to Christ!

Praise be to Christ!

Posted in Acts, Acts 2, Acts 2:1-4, Acts 2:42-44, 47a, Call to Worship, Isaiah, Isaiah 58, Isaiah 58:6, Luke, Luke 10, Luke 10, Luke 10:37, New Testament, Old Testament

Grant Us a Reset

Posted on August 14, 2019 by Tim Graves — Leave a comment

Confession of Sin

Holy One,

You empower of us with gifts so that we may live fully into our callings as your people. Forgive us for the times we’ve misused those gifts. Grant us your grace for the times we’ve failed to use them at all because we’re afraid, embarrassed, or because it is just too hard. Forgive us. Grant us grace once again as we seek a reset for our lives. Help us use our gifts for the furtherance of your kin_dom on earth.

Assurance of Pardon

Hear these words of assurance: No matter what you’ve neglected to do, whether you’ve intentionally or unintentionally failed to be the person God created you to be, God loves you! God’s grace is for you. You are God’s delight. You are God’s beloved. Share this love with your neighbor.

Posted in 1 Corinthians 12, 1 Corinthians 12:12-21, Confession of Sin & Assurance, New Testament

We Know We Can Do Better

Posted on August 8, 2019 by Tim Graves — Leave a comment

Reconciling with God & Neighbor

Confession of Sin

Holy One, We confess we are not the people we can be. We pretend we are doing our best when we know we can do better. Too often we know what we ought to do and don’t do it. Forgive us! Reinvigorate our drive to love as actively as Christ did on earth.

Assurance of Pardon

No matter the choices you’ve made, no matter your mistakes, and motivations, hear this: God loves you! God has not given up on you. You are God’s delight. You are God’s beloved. Share this love with your neighbor.

*Passing of the Peace

You Are God’s Beloved

As Are You

Posted in Confession of Sin & Assurance

Praise to God for Our Diverse Gifts

Posted on August 7, 2019 by Tim Graves — Leave a comment

*Call to Worship

Come and worship.

We gather as one people.

Bring your gifts.

We have different gifts.

But the same Spirit provides them.

L: Some of us are leaders.

R: Some of us teachers.

L: Some have a contemplative spirit.

R: Others among us are passionate about doing justice and love.

L: Some of us are gifted healers.

All of us are needed and of God.

The Spirit provides our gifts. We are all God’s beloved people. Praise be to God for our diversity of skills, talents, and gifts. Amen.

Posted in 1 Corinthians 12, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Call to Worship, New Testament

Why church? What’s the point?

Posted on July 30, 2019 by Tim Graves — Leave a comment

Why church? What’s the point?
We come to connect with one another.

Why church? What’s the point?
We come to find healing and hope in a world of hurt, hate, and disregard.

Why church? What’s the point?
We come to confess and repent and become better people.

Why church? What’s the point?
We come to be reminded that Christ calls us to take the Good News into the world.

Why church? What’s the point?
We are church. We are God’s people created and called to take good news to the poor, proclaim release to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind. We are called to liberate the oppressed and proclaim the grace revealed in the year of divine favor.(Luke 4:18-19 CEB)

But why?
We are church. The Lord requires us to do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8 CEB)

Posted in Call to Worship, Luke, Luke 4:14-19, Mark, Mark 16, Mark 16:12-15, Micah, Micah 6, Micah 6:8, New Testament, Old Testament

We Confess Our Part in the World’s Fragmentation

Posted on July 27, 2019 by Tim Graves — Leave a comment

Confession of Sin

Holy One, you know our hearts, our acts, and our hurts. We confess we’ve failed to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Not only have we done less than we know we can, we have too often convinced ourselves that we are superior to our neighbors. If they were just more like us, we tell ourselves, the world would be better. We confess our arrogance and our lack of humility.

We confess we too often contribute to the fragmentation of our world that yearns for your Good News of expansive love and justice. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

No matter what you have done or failed to do, no matter your motivation, hear this: God loves you! God weeps and rejoices with you in life’s ups and downs. God has not given up on you. You are God’s delight. You are God’s beloved. Share this love with your neighbor.

Passing of the Peace

You Are God’s Beloved
As Are You