I’ve been on holiday for a fortnight, hence the recent silence. This week, and for another four, I will be frustrating to those who are following the RCL Lectionary. For tomorrow and August I’m moving to the Narrative Lectionary and focussing on 2 Corinthians. This week’s theme is “Consolation”.
Call to Worship
Grace and peace from God
and from the Lord Jesus Christ
surround this place
and all of life.
Blessed by God with mercy and comfort,
we gather in our experience of laughter and joy,
sorrow and pain,
to grow in hope and love,
and then console beyond our own frame
that others may know the love of Christ.
With the experience of ordinary living
and this day,
we come,
to be issued of the Lord’s grace and mercy.
Then may we rise anew,
called to lives that speak of Christ.
Let us worship God…
Opening Prayer
Blessed Creator,
who gathers all within a loving embrace,
You are to be praised
for the hope and mercy
brought into human experience.
When doubt and cynicism cloud vision,
You shed light,
capturing imagination
so that fresh thought
may give way to new innovations.
We praise You
for our experience of love and kindness
found in the thoughts and words
of others.
We praise You
for the fresh dawn of each day
that urges us
to begin anew.
Consoling Presence,
You know the thoughts that stir,
and the actions taken,
and so we acknowledge
that we do not always respond in love.
Forgive us for our hardness of heart,
and free us to live
withering to offer compassion.
Empowering Spirit,
as we walk in the grace of God,
call us to offer mercy to all
in Christ’s name.
Amen.
Dedication of Offering
Rejoicing in Your presence,
Comforter of hearts,
we look for ways
in which we can offer a little of our life and love.
We bring these gifts
from our working lives and talents,
thankful for all we have,
and willing to share
that others may find
the comfort of the living God.
Amen.
Prayers of the People
Rejoicing:-
Rejoicing in Your presence, living Lord,
we thank You for what we know of You
because others shared their experiences of faith.
We thank You for those who taught and told stories
of a living, hopeful presence
of God revealed in Jesus Christ,
so that peace and love would reign
within our own lives.
Teaching:-
No matter our age
there are always opportunities to learn.
As we give thanks for inspiring moments,
we remember those
for whom the simmer months
allow time to reflect on working lives.
We pray for children, young people and students,
teachers and lecturers,
as they delight in the creation around.
We give thanks for fight shared in holidays clubs and Messy churches,
and we seek the encouragement
to act upon the moments when we know we are to share our own faith.
Peace:-
In this unsettled world
we pray for peace.
We remember the people across the world this week
whose lives have been shaken by terrorism.
We pray for life lost in the actions of others,
and we pray for the perpetrators.
We pray for families mourning loved ones,
or waiting hopeful news.
And we long for peace.
Peace that comes from recognising the sacred nature of life,
and respecting differences,
while searching for common purpose.
Love:-
If our common purpose is to love and value
all human life,
then stretch our hearts,
that we may become the hands and voices
that bring comfort and justice
to those who are hungry,
homeless and hurting.
Power:-
We pray for those who are seen as powerful,
for governments, monarchs and heads of state,
that they may seek after the best for all people
and Your creation.
May they learn graciousness at Your hand
that values those
whose needs are often ignored.
In Your embrace,
may the troubles of our world find rest
and Christ’s love reign
in all of life.
Amen.
Beachblesser's Prayer blog 