For May 10, 2015, to go with Romans 5:1-5

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.