OPENING
PRAYER
God
we gather for worship,
here
we sing and pray and listen, we might even dream.
God
we gather seeking your comforting presence,
to
remind us that we are not alone, to share a blessing.
God
we gather to be changed,
to
be moved from lives of fear to lives of love.
God
we gather to be sent back out,
to
share the blessings of life, to remind folks that you are with them,
to declare “surely the Lord is in this place”.
We
offer these prayers, we offer ourselves, in the name of Jesus, who
teaches us to pray saying...
PRAYER
FOR AND ASSURANCE OF GRACE
God
of grace, like Jacob we sometimes use trickery and deception for
personal gain,
assuming
that we need to look out for ourselves first.
God
of grace, like Rebekah we sometimes plot against others to support a
favoured one,
seeing
our own agenda, our own hope, as the best way.
God
of grace, like Esau we are sometimes overcome by our anger and plot
revenge,
because
life is unfair and we feel that we have lost something precious.
God
of grace, like Jacob we sometimes find ourselves bound by rules that
do not allow us to correct the wrongs done to others,
and
so withhold blessings that should be shared widely, increasing anger
and hurt.
God
of grace, we acknowledge our shortcomings and open our hearts and
souls to your grace
even
as we pledge to live differently, to put aside deception and anger,
to work for the advancement of all.
God
of grace, in and through your grace and mercy,
forgive
us, empower us, move us forward as your beloved children, each of us
with our own blessing. Amen.
COMMISSIONING:
Like
Jacob, we are people on a journey,
sometimes
fleeing from danger, sometimes heading home.
As
we journey, we meet other travellers.
Sharing
with them the words of comfort we have gained along the path.
And
when we find shelter,
we
offer a safe place to those who continue to journey.
Journey
with God, who guides us, who supports us, who comforts us, who
blesses us
Wherever
we go. Thanks and praise. Amen.
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