Monday, November 18, 2013

FOr November 24, 2013 -- Service looking at Priorities, Procrastination, and Self-Care

OPENING PRAYER
God of life, we gather here in Jesus' name.
Seeking to be followers of The Way.
God of life, we have gathered together for worship,
we have come to be refreshed, we come because this is part of how we take care of ourselves.
God of life, there are many demands on our time, on our lives.
In this time together remind us how to choose what is most important.
God of life, in this time of worship.
Renew and refresh us, and lead us back out to make good decisions in our daily lives.
We pray as followers of the Risen Christ, who taught us all to pray saying...

PRAYER FOR AND ASSURANCE OF GRACE
Sometimes, God, we get things mixed up.
As we decide what is important, as we decide how to spend our time.
Sometimes, God, we get lost in the busy-ness of the world.
And spend all our time attempting to be “productive”, even when we feel exhausted we aren't sure we can take a break.
Sometimes, God, it is hard to know how to “put first things first”.
Because there are so many voices telling us that their thing is the “first thing”.
God of Grace, in the busy-ness of our lives, in the hustle and bustle of the world,
remind us to take time to rest, remind us to look carefully at our choices, help us to see clearly what the first things are.
...time of silent prayer...
God calls us to love each other as we love ourselves. Which means God calls us to care for each other and to care for ourselves. God helps us to sort out what is important and what can wait. All so that we can flourish and grow.
Thanks be to God! Amen.

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