Easy to Say; Hard to Do

Posted on February 26, 2020 by Tim Graves — Leave a comment

Prayer of Confession

We confess it is easy to claim to follow you and much harder to act on it. Forgive us when we forget that Jesus showed us the way. Remind us that though it is hard, you make our journey possible. Thank you for your unending love and your relentless presence. Amen.

Assurance of Grace

It is hard, life that is. It is harder still to live as Jesus taught and showed us. It is easy to get sidetracked. And, yet, God never gives up on us. God never stops loving and pointing the way. This is Good News. We are beloved.

Posted in Confession of Sin & Assurance, Lent, Lent 1, Mark, Mark 10, Mark 10: 17-31, narrative lectionary, New Testament

It is not an easy path.

Posted on February 26, 2020 by Tim Graves — Leave a comment

The call is made to each of us.
It requires much.

The call requires that we follow the ten commandments.
It requires more.

God asks for our whole selves. Christ asks that follow his teachings and example whit all we have and all we are.
It is not an easy path.

It is not but with God’s help…
With God’s help it is possible.

Come and worship the One who calls and the One who makes it possible.
We choose to follow and with God’s help, we will live as we are called to live. Amen.

Posted in Call to Worship, Lent, Lent 1, Mark, Mark 10, Mark 10: 17-31, narrative lectionary, New Testament

Ash Wednesday: We are Breathing

Posted on February 24, 2020 by Tim Graves — Leave a comment

Call to Worship

Come into this sacred space and breathe.
Formed from dust, we are here.
We are breathing.

Moment of silence.

Let go of the world that tells you to compete endlessly.
Formed from dust, we are here.
We are breathing.

Moment of silence.

Like the disciples who argued who was greatest among them, we focus on earthly status, the rules of humanity. Release human ways. Breathe in the ways of Christ.
Formed from dust, we are here.
We are breathing.

Moment of silence

The Lord God formed the human from the topsoil of the fertile land and blew life’s breath into [their] nostrils. The human came to life. (Genesis 2:7 CEB)
Formed from dust, we are here.
We are breathing.

Come. Begin the journey to the cross and beyond. Let go of the human proclivity to compete. Live as one people. Receive God’s breath and become like a child.
Formed from dust, we are here.
Animated by the very breath of God we are breathing.

Prayer of Invocation

Let us pray,
Creating spirit, hope of humanity, you have walked among us. You journeyed to the cross and overcame death. Be with us in our dustiness this evening as we strive to breathe deeply as you give us your own life force.
We inhale the divine breath.
We pledge our focus upon your ways. Amen.

Posted in Ash Wednesday, Call to Worship, Days of the Church, Invocation, Mark, Mark 9, Mark 9:30-37, New Testament

The Messiah We Have

Posted on February 18, 2020 by Tim Graves — Leave a comment

Jesus asks Peter,
Who do you say that I am?

Peter responds,
You are the messiah, the one who will fix the world.

And Jesus replies,
Not quite… “Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He said all this quite openly.” (Mark 8:31 NRSV)

Peter just knew Jesus had it wrong. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. (Mark 8:32b NRSV)

Like Peter, it’s hard for us to accept the messiah we’ve been given.
Open our eyes, God, that we see the extravagant gift we’ve received. Open our hearts, that we are willing to follow faithfully

Let us worship.
Let us learn. Let us trust. Let us be and become your people in this hour. Amen.

liturgybits.com

Posted in Call to Worship, Mark, Mark 8, Mark 8:27-9:8, New Testament

Forgive Us Our Arrogance

Posted on February 18, 2020 by Tim Graves — Leave a comment

Prayer of Confession

Divine One: We confess we create you in our image. We yearn for a messiah who will force the world into that which we want. Like Peter we rebuke your way and fail to follow you. Forgive us our arrogance. Amen.

Assurance of Grace

We are forgiven our arrogance, our mistakes, and our confusion. That’s the nature of God’s grace. Praise be!

Posted in Confession of Sin & Assurance, Mark, Mark 8, Mark 8:27-9:8, New Testament

A place of respite.

Posted on February 10, 2020 by Tim Graves — Leave a comment

Come into this space of respite. The stress, evils, and hardships of the world have manifested in our bodies and souls.
Beleaguered by the world, we are weary.

Come into sanctuary with the great mystery. Be present with dust and breath, with earth and divinity.
We come to be restored by the breath of the creating One. We come to be one in the presence of one another.

Acknowledge the stress, evils, hurts, and hardships of the world that you’ve absorbed and carry with you.
We seek healing and wholeness and connection.

Take into yourselves the world, integrate it with the Imago Dei (the image of God) within you and together create something holy.
We seek to remake, to restore, and transform ourselves before one another and the mysterious One.

Come into this space of respite. Open your whole beings to the balm of healing.
We open our hearts to the new creation made of dust and breath, of the world and of divinity, of our dark places and the light that resides within.

Be ready. Wholeness awaits. Amen.

Posted in Call to Worship, Mark, Mark 7, Mark 7:1-23, New Testament

Confession & Assurance: Psalm 51

Posted on February 10, 2020 by Tim Graves — Leave a comment

Prayer of Confession

Have mercy on me, God, according to your faithful love!

Wipe away my wrongdoings
according to your great compassion!

Wash me completely clean of my guilt;
purify me from my sin!

Because I know my wrongdoings,
my sin is always right in front of me. (Psalm 51:1-3 CEB)

Assurance of Grace

The boundless love of God has purified you with hyssop and second chances. Each one of you is beloved and forgiven, clean as new-fallen snow (inspired by Psalm 51:6-7)

Posted in Confession of Sin & Assurance, Old Testament, Psalm 51, Psalm 51:1-3, Psalm 51:6-7, Psalms

Be Vulnerable, Be Authentic

Posted on February 5, 2020 by Tim Graves — Leave a comment

You heal.
And want us to do the same.

You love.
And expect us to love.

You give us authority.
And send us out.

You tell us, “Be vulnerable, be authentic.”
And remind us it is risky.
You tell us, “Go. Do the work.”
And accept not everyone or everyplace is ready.

Let us pray,
Give us strength and willingness,
Strengthen our resolve to love and act.
Supply us with your wisdom,
That we know when to stay or go.
Make your presence known,
guide our steps
assuring our journey
is an extension of you. Amen.

Posted in Call to Worship, Mark, Mark 6, Mark 6:1-13, New Testament

Demons Among the Stones of the Dead

Posted on January 22, 2020 by Tim Graves — Leave a comment

Prayer of Confession

We confess we cling to the demons we know and wander among the stones of the dead. We bind ourselves to the that which is unhealthy for humanity because we cannot imagine the Beloved Community. Open our spirits, make us willing to let go of the familiarity of the status quo for your kin_dom. Amen.

Assurance of Grace

God dreams so much for each of you, for each of us. Do not be afraid. You do not need the demons. What God is creating for humanity is filled with joy and peace and enough for everyone. This is the Good News.

Posted in Confession of Sin & Assurance, Mark, Mark 5, Mark 5:1-20, New Testament

Demons – A Call to Worship

Posted on January 22, 2020 by Tim Graves — Leave a comment

We gather in this place, on this sacred ground weekly.
We come to be with friends.
We come for inspiration and hope.
We come to be among those
who love like Jesus.

The demons surround us. We yield to them. We adapt to their ways because change is hard.
We find it hard to imagine another way.
We speak the Sunday words but they don’t always permeate our being.

Systems of this world are powerful. The chains and leg irons cannot contain the legion of demons. The demons oppress us.
We cry out for freedom, unity, love, and justice!

Jesus commands: “Unclean spirit, come out!” Release the people!
Praise be to the One who can release us from the demons! Praise be to the power of extravagant, expansive, unending love.

Holy Spirit, call out our demons in this hour. Leave us filled with God’s breath of hope, justice, and unending love that we may let go of the status quo and truly be your people in our hurting world. Amen.

Posted in Call to Worship, Invocation, Mark, Mark 5, Mark 5:1-20, narrative lectionary, New Testament