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Where Life and Worship Intersect

2/29/2020 0 Comments

Prayers of the People, L2A

​Your people are famished, O God.
We are hungry for kindness and compassion.
We are starving for thoughtful dialogue.
We long for caring interaction.
In this wilderness journey called Lent,
we are facing the demons inside us,
and fearful that we will not be able to stand firm ...

Every other month, the Prayers of the People are written for RevGalBlogPals and posted on that site on Saturday evening. You can find the Sunday Prayer: Woes in the Wilderness posted in its entirety here: https://revgalblogpals.org/2020/02/29/sunday-prayer-woes-in-the-wilderness/
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2/26/2020 0 Comments

Prayer of Confession, L1A

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Call to Confession

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 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 4:15-16).

Prayer of Confession, L1A

Everpresent God,
Forgive us.
Daily we are confronted with temptation,
and daily, we struggle and cave to it.
In the age of Instagram,
we want instant answers,
instant solutions,
instant gratification.
Grant us the strength to wait patiently,
trusting in you to guide and direct us,
and listening for your Word to show us the way.
In an age of divisiveness,
we use your Word as a weapon against others,
insisting our own interpretations are the only interpretations,
but we so often do not interpret your Word
through the law of love.
Our motives are selfish,
and we are tempted to prove our rightness
over and over again
by jumping from steep statements,
expecting you to bear us up before the world.
Teach us humility.
Open our ears to listen to other voices,
while keeping us attuned to your self-revelation
in Christ, who was obedient all the way
to the cross.
We are inclined to put confidence
in positions of power and authority,
and to not only exercise that power and authority,
but to do so abusively.
Remind us that Jesus came as servant leader
to show us how to share power
with the marginalized and voiceless.
Transform us through the wilderness of this Lenten season
into people who live from the strength of Christ,
in whose name we humbly pray.

Assurance of God's Grace

God has promised that when we confess our sin, God is gracious and merciful and will forgive our sin, removing it as far as the east is from the west, and 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 Christ be with you.
Please extend the peace of Christ to all whom you encounter this day.
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2/25/2020 0 Comments

Call to Worship, L1A

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Traveling through the wilderness,
God is with us.
Hungry for answers,
God is with us.
Tempted to try to control outcomes,
God is with us.
Wondering if we are important enough
to God for God to protect us,
God is with us.
Wrestling with our own sense of power,
God is with us.
Standing up to the demons inside us,
God is with us.
Let us worship God.

*Liturgy based on Matthew 4:1-11.
*(C) Julie Gvillo, A Place of Grace, February 2020
*A Place of Grace encourages you to share blog posts via email or social media. Permission is not granted to cut-and-paste prayers without a link back to the specific post, however you are welcome to use the material in printed publications with proper attribution. 
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2/19/2020 0 Comments

Prayer of Confession, E7A

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Call to Confession

We were called to freedom, but we use our freedom as an opportunity to serve ourselves, neglecting to love our neighbor as ourselves. (Galatians 5:13-14 pp) Let us confess our sin before God and seek God's mercy.

Prayer of Confession, E7A

God of mercy and compassion,
hear our prayers.
We have neglected to do good
and to share what we have.
We see our siblings in Christ poorly clothed
and hungry,
and we wish them well
with thoughtful words of blessing,
but we do not DO anything
to help them.
We sow sparingly,
looking out for our own households
out of fear that there will never be enough.
We curse our enemy
rather than bless them,
and "enemy" is broadly defined
as anyone who disagrees with us,
who looks different from us,
whose beliefs do not match ours.
Lord, in your mercy, do not hold our sin
against us, but
forgive our self-centered ways, and
transform us into purposeful people,
whose goal is to love as you call us to love,
to share with abandon
in a spirit of generous abundance
that rains down blessing
and hope
that all poverty might be eradicated
and life restored
in all of your creation.

Assurance of God's Grace

The Lord is good to all, and God's mercy is over all God has made. (Psalm 145:9) In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God!

Since God has forgiven us in Christ, let us 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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2/18/2020 0 Comments

Call to Worship, E7A

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2/12/2020 0 Comments

Prayer of Confession, A6E

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Call to Confession

Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. (1 John 2:9) Our actions speak louder than our words. Let us confess our sin before God and seek God's mercy.

Prayer of Confession, E6A

Creator God,
forgive us.
In 1 John 3:15a, we read
"Everyone who hates their brother is a murderer."
By that definition, Lord,
we are murders.
We allow bitterness and anger
to simmer inside us
until it boils over in words that pierce
like weapons
and kill the spirits of those we target.
We incite quarreling
and refuse to listen to another point of view.
We behave as though we are entitled,
judging our neighbor by standards
we could not pass ourselves,
failing to remember that every human ...
every
human ...
carries the image of the Creator within them.
Forgive our foolish pride.
Forgive our self-centeredness.
Renew in us a spirit of love and compassion.
Help us to see the goodness of the Lord
in every human,
to humbly confess our failures in person,
to acknowledge our contributions
to the brokenness of the world,
and to reconcile with one another
in the name of Love.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayers.

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. Let us live out that forgiveness by forgiving one another in Jesus' name.

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 everyone you encounter this day.

*Liturgy based on Matthew 5:21-37.

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2/11/2020 0 Comments

Call to Worship, E6A

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Welcome to this place of grace.
Welcome to community.
Welcome to the presence of God.
Be reconciled
to your neighbor
and to your Creator.
Forgiveness is freedom.
Be free.

*Liturgy based on Matthew 5:21-26.

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2/7/2020 0 Comments

Pastoral Prayer, E5A

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Unchanging God,
when we look ...
really look ...
we can see the God-flavors
in your people
all around us.
We see people standing up
for the things that are important to you
even when it is difficult,
even when it risks reputation
and community,
in quiet ways
and in very public ways,
and we are thankful for those who have the strength
to do what you have called them to do.
Give us strength, we pray,
to do the same ...
to put the needs of others
ahead of our own agendas,
to protect what is sacred,
and to name injustice when we see it.

Help us to bring out the God-colors
of people everywhere
whose lights have been hidden under bushel baskets
because of their race
or gender
or age
or religious beliefs
or sexual orientation.
Open our eyes to the gifts of every created being
that all may be appreciated
as they reflect your love and light
in the world.
So many simply need an opening, God,
through which to shine.
Remind us to take a step backwards today
and make room for those among us
whose lives do not mirror our own
but have the propensity
to enrich it.

Law-giving God,
you sent your Son to fulfil the law
and to interpret it.
In our humanity,
we so often interpret your law as judgement,
but Jesus taught us the law of love.
Open our hearts to what it means
to truly LOVE as you love ...
to truly DESIRE LOVE for all people ...
to truly SERVE and PROTECT your creation
and all creatures ...
as Jesus taught us,
with malice toward none.
Light of the World,
shine your healing light
into
and around
and through us
that the world you created
may once again reflect your goodness for all.

*(C) Julie Gvillo, A Place of Grace, February 2020
*Liturgy based on Matthew 5:13-20.  A Place of Grace  encourages you to share blog posts via email or social media. Permission is not granted to cut-and-paste prayers without a link back to the specific post, however you are welcome to use material in printed publications with proper attribution.
*Join the conversation: ​https://www.facebook.com/juliegvillo.aplaceofgrace/photos/a.1109649079092669/3005832156141009/?type=3&av=935598163164429&eav=AfbQ2KEOmU_O5Ah_EYzEDHltt2o4GNYX8DF4Wz2gBm5OtB3A_MO4PB7yFO3YM7LDdY0&theater

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2/5/2020 0 Comments

Prayer of Confession, E5A

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Call to Confession

God's word is firmly fixed in the heavens forever. God's faithfulness endures to all generations; God has established the earth, and it stands fast. (Psalm 119:89-90 pp) Let us confess our sin before God and seek God's unending mercy.

Prayer of Confession, E5A

Jesus called us "the salt of the earth," God,
but we do not behave like it.
Our speech is often angry
or hate-filled
rather than gracious
or kind.
We choose to walk in darkness
instead of reflecting the light of Christ
to the most vulnerable,
the marginalized,
the oppressed,
and the voiceless.
We fail to devote ourselves to good works,
but focus our attention
on ourselves alone
and those we love ...
those like us ...
and we judge everyone else
without walking even a mile
in their shoes.
Forgive our selfish behavior, we pray,
and restore our saltiness,
that we may indeed be seasoning
and light
in a world that is decidedly bitter
and dark.

Assurance of God's Grace

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth (God's) Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as (children). (Galatians 4:4-5) In the name of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Thanks be to God for this indescribable gift!
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.

(C) February 2020, Julie Gvillo, A Place of Grace
*Liturgy based on Matthew 5:13-20. A Place of Grace  encourages you to share blog posts via email or social media. Permission is not granted to cut-and-paste prayers without a link back to the specific post, however you are welcome to use material in printed publications with proper attribution.
*Join the conversation: ​https://www.facebook.com/juliegvillo.aplaceofgrace/photos/a.1109649079092669/3001545633236328/?type=3&theater
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2/4/2020 0 Comments

Call to Worship, E5A

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Children of God:
You are the salt of the earth;
You are the light of the world.
But if salt loses it's saltiness ...
if the lamp is hidden under a bushel basket ...
what good is it?
God is waiting to restore you ...
to relight your lamp ...
to name your righteousness
in the presence of your enemies.
Therefore, worship God with gladness,
and give glory to God's name!


*(c) February, 2020, Julie Gvillo, A Place of Grace
*Liturgy based on Matthew 5:13-20.  A Place of Grace encourages you to share blog posts via email or social media. Permission is not granted to cut-and-paste prayers without a link back to the specific post, however, you are welcome to use material in printed publications with proper attribution.
*Join the conversation this week at 
https://www.facebook.com/juliegvillo.aplaceofgrace/photos/a.1109649079092669/2998592946864930/?type=3&theater
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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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