For October 23, 2016 -- David is promised a house

OPENING PRAYER

God of Abraham and Sarah, of David and Bathsheba, of Jesus and Mary,

we open our hearts and souls to your presence, we open our ears to your voice.

God who long ago promised hope in the house of David,

we gather as those who follow David’s heir, Jesus of Nazareth.

In our time of worship,

remind us of your promise for the future, fill us with hope, invite us into your house.

And when we leave this place,

may we take the glory of your house with us to all corners of our world.

We pray in the name of Jesus, the shoot from the stump of Jesse, who taught his friends to pray saying...

PRAYER FOR AND ASSURANCE OF GRACE (references the Hymn "Let Us Build a House" by Marty Haugen)

God, David had a vision to build you a house of cedar.

But you had another plan.

God, we sometimes get caught up in our own visions and plans and priorities.

Help us to stop and listen and look for your plans.

Let us build a house where love can dwell,

where prophets speak, where songs and visions are heard.

God of Grace, through grace help us,

to recognize where your house is, to live as followers of the promised heir of David.

God of steadfast love and grace,

go with us as you promised to be with your servant David.

So that we would live and thrive in your grace.

Today and all our tomorrows. Amen.

COMMISSIONING:

David was promised a house that would endure forever.

And from that house came Jesus of Nazareth, who we call Christ and Messiah

We have gathered as followers of David’s heir.

From David to Solomon down to Jesus and down the ages to us,

God is acting in the world, bringing hope, bringing change, bringing love.

And now we go out to share God’s hope and love with all we meet.

Confident that we are not alone, we live in God’s world.

God is with us. Thanks be to God.