CALL
TO WORSHIP
Jesus
said “Come to me, all you that are weary and are
carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest “
We
gather in the loving presence of God, who gives us rest.
Here
we lay out our lives, here we are refreshed for the continuing
journey
We
gather to worship,
And
as we gather we turn to our neighbours and exchange the Peace of
Christ.
OPENING
PRAYER
Loving
and Gracious God, we gather together again.
Here
we celebrate your presence, here we give thanks for your gifts, here
we come to drink from the spring of your wisdom.
Supporting
God, we carry our burdens into this place.
Seeking
to lay them in your hands.
Guiding
God, we bring our struggles with us to this time of worship.
Trusting
that you are with us in the struggle, that you will help us endure
and give us hope for the future.
Challenging
God, when this time of worship is over.
Send
us back into the world, ready to carry our burdens, prepared to
continue the struggles, open to see how you are active in our lives.
These
things we pray in the name of Jesus, who walks with us, who offers to
share our load, and who taught us to pray saying...
PRAYER
FOR AND ASSURANCE OF GRACE
God
of life, we acknowledge that the world is sometimes a confusing
place.
A
place that challenges our understandings and expectations of life.
In
a world where we are told that if we do/buy/say the right things life
will be easy,
we
wonder why there is such suffering.
We
meet our own struggles, our own suffering, small and great,
and
we wonder what we are supposed to gain from it.
God
of grace, God of presence, God of hope,
you
promise to share our burdens, you promise to be with us always.
In
grace, help us work through the struggles of life.
Through
grace, push us to support others in their struggles, to ease the
suffering where we can.
And
if it is the right time, may we learn and grow in the struggle.
...time
of silent prayer...
God
is Gracious. God's grace is shown in the wonder that we are never
alone in our suffering and struggles. God's grace is shown when we
move forward and learn and grow. And also when we simply survive.
This is Good News!
Thanks
be to God! Amen.
COMMISSIONING:
Our
time of worship ends, our time of service continues.
We
go from this place back out into the wider world with its joys and
its sorrows, its celebrations and its struggles.
As
we live and serve, may we carry the love of God with us.
Sharing
it with all we meet
And
may we help each other with our burdens
Even
as God walks with us and lifts the weight from our shoulders.
Go
with God.
Always.
Amen.
