For May 4, 2008 -- Easter 7

CALL TO WORSHIP
In the wild places of the world, the voice sounds,
calling people to gather in God’s name.
In the wilderness times of our lives, the voice sounds,
calling us to an awareness of God’s presence.
In times of trial and suffering the voice still sounds,
reminding us that we are not alone.
The Voice has called us together, called us to worship. Let us pray…

Offering Prayer
Life-blessing and Sustaining God, even in the midst of hardship we are surrounded by blessings. Moved by your Spirit, we share of our abundance, praying that the gifts and the givers would be agents of your Love in the world. Amen.

COMMISSIONING AND BENEDICTION
In this place we have met the God who will never abandon us.
Now we go out into a world where it can be easy to feel alone.
As we go out, we carry with us the promise that God is with us always.
In the laughter and tears of life, in our triumphs and our struggles, God is there.
Indeed, when we walk through the storms of life we never walk alone. May God the Creator, the Redeemer, and the Sustainer be with you on all the paths of life.
Amen.

For May 11, 2008 -- Pentecost Sunday

CALL TO WORSHIP
The Spirit is here among us
Within us, around us, between us.
The Spirit is here to strengthen us
Bringing courage, bringing conviction
The Spirit is here to move us
Making us sing and praise.
The Spirit is here.
May we feel the Spirit as we gather.
May we be fed by her fiery strength.
May we be emboldened by her powerful wind
We gather in the Spirit's arms to be nurtured as we worship.
And may our worship fill us with the Spirit as we go back out into our daily lives.

OPENING PRAYER
Spirit God, we come into your presence with awe and wonder, praying that we would be touched with your power.

In this time of worship remind us of your constant presence, your gentle guidance, your hope for the world.
As we remember those of old who were moved into speech by the Spirit, so too may we find our voice to be prophetic witnesses in the world today.
Remind us that we can all speak Spirit-language, that we too can burn with the fire of hope. Amen.

Offering Prayer
God, as the Spirit moves within and around us we are moved in response. Part of that response is to offer these gifts of time, talent, and treasure. May the gifts and the givers be ways your love and hope is spread. Amen.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION/ASSURANCE OF PARDON
God, we aren’t sure what to do with the prophetic voices in our world.
We laugh them off, deciding they are drunk or deranged.
The power of the Spirit is unfamiliar and unnerving,
which is why we often prefer to avoid the wind and fire of Spirit-change.
…time of silent prayer…
The Spirit blows into our lives as either a gentle breeze or a roaring wind. With the wind comes forgiveness and empowerment, igniting the fire of hope and possibility in our lives.
We are forgiven. Hallelujah! Amen.

COMMISSIONING AND BENEDICTION
Here we have gathered,
Here we have been fed.
Here we have invited the wind and fire into our lives
Now we go out to be windy firebrands in the world
Blowing with the energy of change, hot with the fire of hope.
We go out Spirit-led and Spirit-touched, to be people of the Spirit.
And as you go take courage and confidence in the knowledge that the Spirit of God moves in, around, and with us always. Spirit God is your strength and your sustenance.
Thanks be to God! Amen.

For April 13, 2008 -- Easter 4

CALL TO WORSHIP
We come as the people of God,
sharing a hope for the future, sharing the commandment to love all creation.
We come as a community of friends,
caring for and with each other.
We come as a community of faith,
praying and worshipping together.
We come to worship, let us pray…

Offering Prayer
Giver of life, you call us to live and serve that all people may have life in abundance. May the gifts we offer today and every day enrich the lives of people near and far. Amen.

COMMISSIONING AND BENEDICTION
We have gathered together to be enriched in spirit,
we have gathered to be sent back out to serve.
As our worship ends, our service continues,
so we go out, committed to supporting and caring for family, friend, and neighbour.
We go to serve, but we do not serve alone!
We serve with all people of faith, near or far.
Yes but we serve also with God. We serve with the power of God to sustain and support us always.
Thanks be to God! Amen!

For April 27, 2008 -- Easter 6, Camping Sunday

CALL TO WORSHIP
We gather as the people of God
We gather to sing, to pray, to worship
Sometimes in a church, sometimes by the lakeshore, sometimes around a fire pit,
We gather in God’s presence, we gather to grow in faith, hope, and love.
Come, now is the time to worship.

OPENING PRAYER
God, as the morning sun breaks over the horizon,
we pause to give thanks for the gifts of life.
As the we come to the table for breakfast,
we give thanks for food and friends.
As we go through our days of work, and play, and learning,
we remember that you are with us always.
And as we watch the sun sink over the lake,
we pause to say thanks for a day well spent.
God, in this hour together, fill us with hope for life.
May this time together remind us that we are your people, that we are people of love. May this hour empower us to spread that love to all we meet.
At home, at camp, wherever we are,
there is your love. Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER (spoken VU p.916, bottom)

Offering Prayer
God who gives us so much, we offer back what we have and are. May these gifts be tools of love. Amen.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION/ASSURANCE OF PARDON
God, you call us to be people of love,
and we confess that at time we find this difficult.
You call us to be stewards of creation,
and we confess that we often feel distanced from the natural world.
You call us to pass on our hope and faith to our children,
and we confess that we run out of time and energy to do that.
…time of silent prayer…
God calls and equips us to do all these things. God gives us friends and mentors to help us in our efforts. God forgives our slips and gives us another chance.
We are forgiven people. Hallelujah! Amen.

COMMISSIONING AND BENEDICTION
We have been given a new commandment
We go out seeking to love one another as we are loved.
The commandment is a challenge and a blessing.
To love and to be loved, it is a part of how we are able to live together.
We go out knowing that we do not try this alone.
We are able to live out God’s love because God is with us on every step of life’s path.
Go with the love of God, go with the power of the Risen Christ, go with the support of the Holy Spirit. Amen