For Feb 24/08 -- Lent 3, Why Church?

NOTE: THis year's Lenten liturgies will not be based on the lectionary readings for YEar A. Instead they will be following a series called The 5 W's of Church (the link shows what themes and readings are being used)

CALL TO WORSHIP
The world is a place of uncertainty, a place of questions.
We bring our questions here to the church,
In this place we lay out our wonderings before God and neighbour
In this place we trust that we can find clues that will help us find some answers
One of the questions of life is why we do what we do, how we set our priorities.
We each have our own stories about why we are here.
In this time we pause to honour our stories of seeking and celebrating God’s presence.
In God’s presence we pause to reflect on what makes this gathering important to us
Let us pray and sing and worship together…

OPENING PRAYER
God, each of us comes here for a variety of reasons.
We come for community, we come for nourishment, we come to be connected.
But when we come here we trust that we will encounter your Light, your Love, and your Life
In this time together, may we be reminded of why we come. In this time together may we be united with one another in a common faith.
These things we pray in Jesus’ name, as we say together the words he taught his friends…

Offering Prayer
God, we have so any things to offer…
Here, now, we offer them to you. We share our stories, our selves, our stuff with the prayer that they will be instruments of grace. May our sharing spread your love and hope in the world. Amen.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION/ASSURANCE OF PARDON
The road of life has many intersections, many corners, many choices to be made.
God we know that making the right choice is sometimes very difficult.
At times we choose wisely, at times wisdom fails us.
Here, now, we confess those times our choices have been unwise or made for the wrong reasons
…time of silent prayer…
The path of Lent leads to the cross of death. But beyond the cross of death is light and life and hope. We are forgiven people, loved and embraced by a gracious God.
Thanks and praise to God! Amen.

COMMISSIONING AND BENEDICTION
Here we have heard some stories.
Now we go back out to where those stories merge with the larger stories of the world.
We go to continue to share our stories, to share our hopes, to share the God we meet in life.
We go to share the love of God with all we meet.
And we go out held and supported by the Threefold God: Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. Amen.