1st
Quarter 2001-2002
Call to Worship (Based on Psalm 146:1-3)
Leader: Praise the Lord!
People: Praise the Lord, O my soul!
People: I will praise the Lord as long as I live.
All: Happy are those whose help is the God of Israel, who do not put their trust in princes and presidents, but whose hope is in the Lord their God.
Prayer of Confession (Based on Psalm 146:7-9)
Leader: The God of the Psalmist, of Amos and Isaiah, calls us to work for justice for the oppressed.
People: But we worry about our own rights and seek to enlarge the privileges that we enjoy as members of the middle and upper classes.
Leader: The One who is called the bread of Life calls us to share our bread with the hungry.
People: But we prefer to cook our gourmet meals for ourselves and to spend our money in upscale restaurants.
Leader: The Lord watches over the strangers and upholds the orphan and the widow.
People: We spend our energy pursuing security through accumulated wealth and material goods, giving begrudgingly to those whom we deem "worthy."
Leader: From these and other sins, may the Lord set us free and open our blind eyes to the One who calls to us.
People: Lord, have mercy upon us!
Leader: Christ have mercy upon us!
All: Lord, have mercy upon us.
Pastoral Prayer
Lord, how glorious is your creation, so grand and beautiful that not even our worst acts of sin can dim its lustre. We cannot always see you or appreciate the wonders of your creation because of our sin, so you have sent us your prophets to call us back to your ways. Thank you for their vision of a highway leading us back to your kingdom, which transforms deserts into blooming oases, bringing life where only chaos and death have reigned. In the midst of our fears for our safety and security may we cling to the promise of a realm, where the strong and the weak, the rich and the poor may live and work together in mutual respect and harmony. Help us all to walk on what Isaiah called the Holy Way, singing your praises and seeking Your will. Be with those who mourn, who are lonely and rejected, that they will know of Your lovingkindness. Guide our President and Congress during the tense and difficult times in which we find ourselves. Turn our sorrow and tears into joy and laughter as we find ourselves led by Your Spirit into Your very presence. Nurture us in the fellowship of the church, so that we might go out and share the good news of your emerging kingdom of love, for we ask this in the name of the Christ, Your Son and our Lord. Amen.
