For February 1, 2015 -- Don't Worry, Be Like the Flowers of the Field and the Birds of the Air

CALL TO WORSHIP

In a world which presents us with so many worries,

we need to be reminded to trust, to relax, to not worry so much.

As we gather we bring our worries, our anxieties, our fears.

May we set them aside for a time while we celebrate the presence of the One who helps us to relax.

As our time of worship begins, let us greet our family of faith with words and signs of God's peace...

OPENING PRAYER

God of life, we come to this place with many things on our mind,

concern about parents and children, anxiety about the economy, worry about our own health.

And yet through the voices of many you tell us:

Don't Worry, Be Happy.

In this time of worship,

remind us to let go of our anxiety, help us to re-focus our energy on our most valuable treasures.

And then when we have been fed and refreshed,

Lead us out to live lives a little bit more worry-free.

We pray in Jesus' name,

Amen.

PRAYER FOR AND ASSURANCE OF GRACE

(uses words from Don't Worry, Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin)

In every life we have some trouble
When you worry you make it double

God, the worries of life are so numerous.

Ain't got no place to lay your head...Ain't got no cash, ain't got no style

Sometimes we find it hard to let go, to open ourselves to trust.

And yet you continue to sing to us:

... when you worry your face will frown
And that will bring everybody down
So don't worry, be happy don't worry, be happy now.

God of grace, God who calls us to be like the flowers of the field and the birds of the air,

help us to trust, help us to let go, help us to relax.

So that we can all sing together:

Ooh oo-ooh oo-ooh
Don't worry, be happy
I'm not worried, I'm happy

Amen.

COMMISSIONING:

We have gathered, we have eaten, we have listened.

Now we head back out into the mission field, the world outside the church doors.

As we go, may we carry the peace that passes understanding, the Peace of Christ, with us.

To share with all we meet, to shape the way we live our lives.

And as we go, may we be secure in the trust that God

Parent, Child and Spirit, Love Incarnate in the world

Goes with us wherever we go.

Amen.

For January 25, 2015 -- BLessings and Woes

CALL TO WORSHIP

Children of God! Gather together to worship!

We come to share the life of faith with friends new and old.

Children of God! Open your hearts and souls and minds and ears!

We open our very beings to let God speak and move in our midst.

Children of God! Your brothers and sisters in faith are all around you. Let us greet them with words and signs of God's peace...

PRAYER FOR AND ASSURANCE OF GRACE

Blessed are those who...

God of life, we give thanks that we have been blessed in so many ways.

But woe to those who...

God of life, we wonder if we are the hungry or the filled, the winners or the losers in the game of life.

Blessings and curses, praises and woes, all seem so intermingled.

God of life, help us to sort them out, help us to seek the path of blessing.

As we walk the road that leads to the Kingdom,

may we be open to the upturning of the world, ready to challenge the injustices we see, willing to risk the changes that Kingdom living brings.

And may we be graceful and grace-filled as it happens.

God of grace, God of blessings, God of the Kingdom, we pray and wait in hope. Amen.

COMMISSIONING:

Children of God! Our time of worship draws to a close.

And we prepare to return to the mission field, the world where we live and work and serve.

Children of God! As those who have been blessed,

we go out to share our blessings with others.

Children of God! In a world where there are winners and losers,

we go to share God's word of hope and promise for the Kingdom of Justice and peace.

Children of God! Go with God: Parent, Child and Spirit; One in Three.

We go secure in the knowledge that God is with us every step of the way. Amen.

For January 18, 2015 -- The Temptation of Jesus.

CALL TO WORSHIP

As the week begins anew we come together for worship.

Gathering with friends new and old to explore where God is in our world.

Here in this place we open ourselves to look beyond our understandings

Here we come to be challenged to live as residents of the Kingdom of God

We open our worship together by exchanging words and signs of God's piece with our brothers and sisters in faith.

OPENING PRAYER

God of light, of love, of life,

we open our hearts, our ears, our minds, our souls to your presence.

In this time of singing, of praying, of listening,

challenge us about the ways we face temptation, awaken in us a vision of who you would have us be.

God of transformation, as we hear your call to a new life,

give us the courage to embrace transformation as we follow a new path.

We pray in the name of Jesus, our rock and redeemer, our teacher and guide, who taught his followers to pray saying...