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Where Life and Worship Intersect

2/27/2019 0 Comments

Prayer of Confession, Transfiguration Sunday, Year C

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Call to Confession

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

Prayer of Confession, Transfiguration Sunday, Year C

We come into your presence
with our minds veiled.
We cannot risk seeing you face to face.
We cannot risk being changed.
Give us the law again, O God.
We want to believe the law
will make us holy,
will define who and what
we are to be,
will make clear for us
the lines we want drawn
between us
and
them.
Forgive us, God.
Forgive our fear and trembling
at things we do not understand.
Forgive our dependence
on stone tablets.
Open our eyes to the transforming work
you are doing in and around us
in the name of Love,
that we might recognize the holy
in the faces of all whom we have arrogantly
and erroneously condemned
in your name,
and love as you love.

Assurance of God's Grace

Therefore, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19-22) In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Thanks be to God!

Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us also forgive one another. The peace of Christ be with you.
Please extend the peace of Christ to all whom you encounter this day~
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2/26/2019 0 Comments

Call to Worship, Transfiguration Sunday, C

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​We are called from the routines
of our ordinary lives
to experience the holy;
invited to come near to God ...
to hear God speak,
that we might be transfigured ...
changed ...
by the glory of God's presence.
Come if you dare.
Come, and seek God's face.
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2/22/2019 0 Comments

Prayers of the People, E7C

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​We are fearful, Lord:fearful of the consequences of our past mistakes,
fearful of the present state of our affairs,
fearful of our future as a result of both.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.

We are overwhelmed, Lord:
overwhelmed with guilt,
overwhelmed with questions,
overwhelmed with hopelessness.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.
We are hungry, Lord:
hungry for acceptance,
hungry for grace,
hungry for belonging.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.
Hear our prayers for those who have been defined
by their prior bad acts.
Grant us grace to remember our own failures,
and to love unconditionally those who seem
unlovable.
Hear our prayers for those who grieve
the loss of community,
who feel abandoned and alone,
who are desperate to be reconciled
and reunited.
Empower us to act as peacemakers
in places of conflict,
and comfort in places of distress.
Hear our prayers for our siblings in Christ
whose other-ness makes them targets
of bullies and browbeaters.
Embolden us to speak up in the name of justice,
and to protect those among us
who are marginalized.
Hear our prayers, O Lord,
Make your face to shine upon us,
and be gracious unto us;
grant us your favor, we pray,
and give us peace.

We are fearful, Lord:
fearful of the consequences of our past mistakes,
fearful of the present state of our affairs,
fearful of our future as a result of both.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.


We are overwhelmed, Lord:
overwhelmed with guilt,
overwhelmed with questions,
overwhelmed with hopelessness.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.


We are hungry, Lord:
hungry for acceptance,
hungry for grace,
hungry for belonging.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.


Hear our prayers for those who have been defined
by their prior bad acts.
Grant us grace to remember our own failures,
and to love unconditionally those who seem
unlovable.


Hear our prayers for those who grieve
the loss of community,
who feel abandoned and alone,
who are desperate to be reconciled
and reunited.
Empower us to act as peacemakers
in places of conflict,
and comfort in places of distress.


Hear our prayers for our siblings in Christ
whose other-ness makes them targets
of bullies and browbeaters.
Embolden us to speak up in the name of justice,
and to protect those among us
who are marginalized.


Hear our prayers, O Lord,
Make your face to shine upon us,
and be gracious unto us;
grant us your favor, we pray,
and give us peace.
We are fearful, Lord:

fearful of the consequences of our past mistakes,
fearful of the present state of our affairs,
fearful of our future as a result of both.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.


We are overwhelmed, Lord:
overwhelmed with guilt,
overwhelmed with questions,
overwhelmed with hopelessness.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.


We are hungry, Lord:
hungry for acceptance,
hungry for grace,
hungry for belonging.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayers.


Hear our prayers for those who have been defined
by their prior bad acts.
Grant us grace to remember our own failures,
and to love unconditionally those who seem
unlovable.


Hear our prayers for those who grieve
the loss of community,
who feel abandoned and alone,
who are desperate to be reconciled
and reunited.
Empower us to act as peacemakers
in places of conflict,
and comfort in places of distress.


Hear our prayers for our siblings in Christ
whose other-ness makes them targets
of bullies and browbeaters.
Embolden us to speak up in the name of justice,
and to protect those among us
who are marginalized.


Hear our prayers, O Lord,
Make your face to shine upon us,
and be gracious unto us;
grant us your favor, we pray,
and give us peace.
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2/20/2019 0 Comments

Prayer of Confession, E7C

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Call to Confession

All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Let us confess our sin before God, and seek God's mercy.

Prayer of Confession, E7C

God, forgive us.
We play favorites.
We favor our own race,
our own gender,
our own belief systems,
our own cultural norms,
our own dreams,
our own nation.
In our practice of favoritism,
we foster antagonism
toward the other
because in the currency of human favor
there must always be the unfavored,
the left out,
the cursed,
which fosters jealousy, which comes from fear.

God, forgive us.
We are the ones who sell out our brothers and sisters
in the name of fear.
We are jealous
of the gifts they bring which we do not understand.
We are afraid
that the differentness of our siblings in Christ
will change who we are,
and we are afraid of change,
afraid to be changed.
Our fear keeps us from loving others
unconditionally,
from hearing them
and from learning from them.

God, forgive us.
Teach us to look inside ourselves
and discover the ways in which we contribute
to the world's pain.
Reform our thinking
and transform our hearts
that humility might lead to healing
and reconciliation.


Assurance of God's Grace

God has promised that when we confess our sin, God who is faithful and just, will forgive us our sin and remove it as far as the east is from the west, remembering it no more. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven! Thanks be to God!

Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us also forgive one another. The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Please extend the peace of Christ to all whom you encounter this day~
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2/19/2019 0 Comments

Call to Worship, E7C

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​Come closer,
you who have been sold out for someone else's fears,
and you who have been fearful enough to do the selling.
Come closer,
you who are hungry for spiritual nourishment
and you who have been called to provide it.
Come closer,
bring your household
and all who look to you for direction.
Come closer.
Hurry! Your redemption is here.
Do not delay!
Let us worship God!
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2/15/2019 0 Comments

Prayers of the People, E6C

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​Your people are living
in a desert wasteland, O God,
having trusted too long
in the promises of humans
instead of leaning on you.
We are wearied
by the fear-mongering
and the attacks on humankind.
Lift us up out of our despair,
we pray,
and plant us next to streams
of Living Water
that we might bear fruit that is sweet
and life-giving
once again.

Hear our cries for mercy
as we are tossed about by every wind
that blows,
hardly finding rest
before another sends us packing
once again.
Comfort us in our fatigue
and offer places of restoration
and healing
that we might find the strength
to comfort others like us
who are desperately seeking
hope.

Place your healing hand
upon your heartsick people,
O God,
that in our grief,
we may find peace,
and in our fear,
we may find courage
inspired by your Spirit.
Embolden us to move as one Body
toward a hurting world
that in your name alone,
we may offer restoration
and facilitate reconciliation
for all.
0 Comments

2/13/2019 0 Comments

Prayer of Confession, E6C

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Call to Confession

But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:14-15) Let us confess our sin before God, and seek God's mercy.

Prayer of Confession, E6C

We are the strong ones, God,
who rely on our own strength.
We do not need to need you.
We do not want to need you.
Our confidence in our own confidence
belies our arrogance.
Our arrogance belies our lack of faith.
Forgive us, we pray.

We are the barren,
who do not bear fruit.
We are so sure that we do,
that what we do produce
is contaminated by our surety.
We are so proud of what we give
that even what we give
is tainted by our pride.
Forgive us, we pray.

We are dark and deceitful, God,
but it is not what we want to be.
We want to reflect your light,
but we need you to cleanse the unrighteousness
from us.
Renew in us a right spirit, O God,
and call us again by our name,
"Children of God,"
that we might remember
that we are redeemed,
and live accordingly.

Assurance of God's Grace

And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:27) By the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God!

Since we have been forgiven in Christ, let us also forgive one another. The peace of Christ be with you.
Please extend the peace of Christ to all whom you encounter this day~
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2/12/2019 0 Comments

Call to Worship, E6C

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​In the Lord, we trust
and in that trust, we worship.
Let us lift our voices
in praise and thanksgiving
for God who faithfully guides God's people.
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2/3/2019 0 Comments

Note: Prayer Request

​There will not be any liturgical posts this week. On doctors' orders, I am on bed rest as a result of a positive Influenza A and a positive Strep Infection test.

I tell you this because I think it's important for all of us to realize our humanity. In spite of everything I try to do to make healthy living a priority, sometimes, things like this are unavoidable. When we find ourselves in vulnerable situations, it is good to know we can trust in the community around us to lift us in prayer. But first we have to humble ourselves enough to ask. So I'm asking, for healing of mind, body, and spirit. And ... as I told a friend today ... for some big girl pants, because I'm absolutely heartbroken to be missing a trip to Galveston this week where I was scheduled to present at the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators' Annual Event.

I'm also telling you because I practically PREACH self-care, and I practice it, by setting boundaries on my work days and listening to my body. it isn't enough to preach it and to practice it if one isn't prepared to do it when it really matters. Like now. So this is me making space for healing the way I encourage you to make space for healing in your own lives.

I will be back next week, refreshed and back on schedule. In the meantime, thank you for your faithful support of this ministry. May God bless you with health and wholeness and reminders to cherish both.

Grace and peace to you,
Julie
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    Author

    Julie served as a Commissioned Ruling Elder in a Presbyterian Church (USA) congregation for thirteen years. She now absolutely delights in filling the pulpit for colleagues upon request, and looks forward to opportunities to do so. Her reformed perspective is sprinkled with humor and presented with authenticity, and she is open to creatively deconstructing worship as a means to helping congregants explore worship in transformational ways.

    Julie and her husband, Ray, are parents of three adult children, and grandparents of four energetic and imaginative little people. She is an introverted-with-enough-extrovert-balance-to-keep-her-social, perfectionistic-with-hopper-tendencies, time and goal-oriented, kaleidoscopic, and insatiably curious child of God.

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Julie participated in the 25th Seminar for Certified Zentangle(R) Teacher Training in June, 2019, trained by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. In addition to creating art as a personal spiritual practice, Julie also incorporates the Zentangle(R) method in Prayer Art Retreats in a variety of contexts, including church groups, friend gatherings, and at a local art gallery. Check out the Upcoming Events page for a calendar of events, or use the Contact Us page to inquire about scheduling an event with your group!
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