CALL
TO WORSHIP
May
the Peace of Christ be with you!
And
also with you!
As
a new week begins, we have been invited to gather together.
In
person and at a distance we open ourselves to God’s presence.
Come,
now is the time for worship, for prayer, for growing as followers of
Christ
OPENING
PRAYER
God
you call us to love and serve each other.
We
gather together in body and in spirit to grow in our ability to do
just that.
Gathered
here in this physical space and linked by wires and bits and bytes,
we
pledge ourselves anew to be servant leaders.
In
this time of prayer and song and listening,
open
our eyes and our hearts to the realities of power in the Realm of
Shalom.
We
pray in the name of the Prince of Peace, who leads us to that realm,
and
who encourages us to pray saying...
PRAYER
FOR AND ASSURANCE OF GRACE
God,
if we are honest, we often get caught by the promise of status.
Asking
for special places at the table of life, feeling entitled to special
treatment or privileges.
The
draw of power and authority is potent,
tempting
us to seek power over others, or at the expense of our neighbours.
But
you call us to a different way of being,
power
based on servanthood, where the last are the first and the greatest
are the least.
For
those days we fall victim to the siren song of power and privilege,
status and specialness,
forgive
our misunderstandings, lead us into new ways of seeing the world, we
pray.
...time
of silent prayer...
Through
grace God opens the door to new opportunities. With mercy God gives
us the chance to set aside our old understandings and learn new ways
of being. Our mis-steps and poor choices are forgiven as we are given
a chance to live into a new world.
Thanks
be to God. Amen.
COMMISSIONING:
We
have been called to love and serve in the world around us.
We
go out to do just that, to provide leadership as we serve our
neighbours.
As
you go out into the world, carry with you God’s love for the world.
We
pledge to share that love in our words, in our deeds, in how we serve
our neighbours
Go secure in the knowledge that God, who models servant
leadership in the life of Jesus Christ, is with you every where and
every day.
We
trust in God. Amen
