L: In the midst of your hectic week you have come to worship God.
P: Our lives are pulled in so many directions, we seek God’s guidance.
L: Let go of the burdens that weigh you down. God will take them.
P: We thank God for the rest we are given.
L: Tune your hearts and voices in praise to God.
P: Let our voices bear the joy we feel because of God’s love for us.
People: We have come seeking the Kingdom of God.
Leader: God’s Kingdom has no borders and no specific location.
P: Where then can we find it?
L: Search for the King, and you will find the Kingdom.
P: Where can we find the King?
L: The King resides in the edges of this world’s kingdoms, at those places where this world does not meet the needs of its people.
P: Then we will look into our own suffering and the suffering of those around us.
L: Let us be blessed in the search.
P: Let us remember that the King said, “Seek and you will find.”
Leader: As we approach our Master in worship this morning,
People: The table has been set and a feast has been prepared.
L: Who will sit and partake in this spiritual feast?
P: All who are hungry, all who long to be with their Master.
L: Many have been invited, but not all have come.
P: Who can we find to fill these empty seats?
L: Let us bring in everyone – rich and poor, sick and well, young and old, free and oppressed.
P: Let us join together in the Great Feast prepared by our God.
(written by children in Mississippi)
Leader: Children want love. Will you love me?
People: As Jesus loves the children, we will love you.
L: We want to learn to pray. Will you pray with us?
P: As Jesus prayed with his disciples, we will pray with you.
L: Sometimes we are mean and do bad things. Will you teach how to say I'm sorry?
P: As Jesus forgives, we will look into our own hearts and forgive.
L: When we grow up, we will take care of you. Show us how to care.
P: With God's help, we will show you how to care.
L: We cannot vote. Will you vote for us?
P: We will stand for you and we will vote for you.
L: Our world is all messed up. It is hard to know what is right. Will you help?
P: With God's help, we will show you how to live.
L: Jesus listened to children. Will you hear us when we call your name? Are we important to the church?
P: Jesus said, "Unless you turn and become children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Children are our teachers. Yes, we are the church together!
Leader: Look around. What wonders we behold!
People: We see others, gathered here to worship and praise God.
L: Each person here is a unique, beloved creation of God.
P: Each person here is given special gifts and talents by God.
L: Come, let us worship God who has blessed us so mightily.
P: Let us praise God with our whole hearts, souls, minds, and spirits
Leader: Most wonderful God, we approach you with our little lives, our tiny minds and our large ignorance,
People: But also with our purest longings and hopes.
L: We want to worship you with all that we have and are,
P: But unless you encourage and assist us,
L: We will fail in this our holiest intention.
P: Therefore please let your Spirit move in our hearts and minds,
L: Lifting us above things of secondary importance,
P: And concentrating our whole being on your love and beauty.
Leader: We see kingdoms all around us.
People: Kingdoms of power and authority. Kingdoms of fear and greed.
L: These kingdoms leave us feeling helpless and unfulfilled.
P: We seek a better kingdom. We seek a greater kingdom.
L: Take heart, for the God of the universe wants to be your king.
P: We seek a kingdom of justice and righteousness.
L: God opens the doors of his kingdom to all who wish to enter.
P: We worship you, O God, our King, and are here that we may serve you.
Leader: With all your strength, sing aloud to the Lord, who has brought you here and blessed you.
People: Our voices shall shout forth praise and thanksgiving to God.
L: With all your heart, reach out in service to those in need, remembering God's mercy in your own life.
P: Our lives shall be witnesses to the love of God which has been lavished upon us.
L: Come, let us worship the Lord with Great joy!
P: Let us bring all that we have and all that we are to God in gratitude.
L: With great rejoicing we come to the house of the Lord today!
P: God is our refuge and our stronghold.
L: The power and love of God flow through this gathering.
P: We place our whole trust in God’s mighty compassion for us.
L: Come, let us worship the Lord!
P: Let us celebrate the presence of God here in this place and in all our lives.
L: Long ago a vineyard was planted. The ground was prepared, and all was made ready.
P: But the vines grew wild, the ground was unable to support the wild grapes.
L: What happened in that place of promise?
P: People forgot the One who planted the vineyard. They chose their own ways and failed.
L: Let us again turn to the Lord, who will again plant, prune, and cause us to grow in faithfulness.
P: Let us open our hearts to God, trusting in God's ways and God's word.
Leader: Christians, why have you come today?
People: We have come to worship God.
L: Where is this God you worship? I cannot see anything.
P: We don’t yet see clearly, we’re just squinting through a fog, but still we worship.
L: How do you know that it is real? How do you know that God is there?
P: We have felt God’s Spirit move through our lives like the wind.
L: And is this a good God that you worship?
P: We trust our God with our whole lives. His goodness, his love and his mercy make Him most worthy of praise!
Leader: God has lavished us with so many wonderful gifts,
People: He has given us our time, our talents and our daily bread.
L: Meanwhile we chase after petty gadgets and gizmos
P: And the grass that always looks greener on the other side.
L: But today we have come to set first things first.
P: We have come to recognize that God provides all things.
L: So let us worship God, let us chase after Him alone.
P: May we use our gifts to worship Him always.
Leader: From where we stand, we can see the Promised Land.
People: Be strong and very courageous.
L: It has taken great faith and great leadership to bring us here.
P: Be strong and very courageous.
L: Who knows what lies before us? Who knows what can keep us from wandering?
P: Be strong and very courageous.
L: Oh how deeply we yearn to be at home in God’s presence.
P: Be strong and very courageous.
Leader: “Unless the Lord build the house, those who build it labor in vain.”
Congregation: “Thou hast shown us how to build, our Father, and we have built unto Thee.”
Leader: “The church cannot build for itself alone, but for all who share in the Church Universal.”
Congregation: “So do we pledge that this is house doing that which shall benefit all.”
Leader: “Even as the many churches have joined together for the uplifting of the Kingdom. Nor can the church be blind to the needs of our country and of all mankind.”
Congregation: “So do we dedicate this house to the building of man's brotherhood.”
Leader: “Let us seek the approval of God that his house, in the service of man and the Father, may be to His glory and praise.”
Congregation: “Praise to the living God, for He has built us a church, and we dedicate it to His use.”
Leader: How lovely is the dwelling place of God!
People: Our souls long for the courts of the Lord.
Leader: In God’s loving presence, all will find rest and peace.
People: In God’s care, all will find a home forever.
Leader: Place your lives in God’s compassionate care.
L: God has called all God’s people to lives of hope and service.
P: We want to serve God, but sometimes life gets to be too difficult for us.
L: When we try it on our own, it seems impossible.
P: But with God, all things are possible.
L: Place your trust in God’s power and love.
P: God understands our needs, our sorrows, and our joys.
L: Come, let us worship God who is with us always.
P: Praise God for God’s eternal presence.
Leader: Faith is a fleeting thing.
People: We believe in you, God, help us with our unbelief!
Leader: But do not fear, faith is not having all the answers.
People: O God, there is so much about you that we do not know.
Leader: Do not fear, faith does not require perfection.
People: Thank you God, there is so much work left to be done.
Leader: Faith is this: trusting God when all other lights go out.
People: O God, we are here today to put all our hope and trust in you.
L: Come, take refuge in the Lord, for God is good.
P: From the storms and struggles of life we come.
L: Come, rejoice in the Lord, for God will provide peace for you.
P: From fear and anxiety, we come to find peace.
L: Come, open your hearts to the Lord and you will be given blessing.
P: Thanks be to God for the many ways in which we are blessed.
Leader: God, the one who Created you, is here today to provide all you need.
People: We find emptiness all around us, and we have come to be filled.
Leader: If you drink from the well of Jesus Christ, you will never again go thirsty.
People: How can we earn this living water?
Leader: It is not for sale, it is a gift freely given by God. Come and drink.
People: We have an awesome God! Let us fill ourselves with the good life God provides.
Leader: When I survey the wondrous cross, on which the Prince of Glory died,
People: my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.
Leader: God be praised for the wondrous cross, the tree of life,
People: which bears upon itself the scars and wounds of the world,
Leader: yet heals the sick, brings hope to the desperate and comforts the oppressed.
People: God be praised for the cross, which guides the lost, feeds the hungry, and shelters the poor;
Leader: inspires the anxious, illumines the wise, and challenges the fearless;
People: saves the condemned, and meets the need of every age and every land.
Everyone: God forbid that we should glory, except in the cross of Jesus Christ our Lord.
L: Come, let us praise the Lord!
P: Let us shout our songs of thanksgiving to Almighty God!
L: For God has done wonderful things for us.
P: God’s love and blessings have been showered upon us.
L: Come, let us praise the Lord!
P: Let us sing songs of great joy to God. AMEN.
Leader: How shall we prepare this house for the coming of God's Royal Son?
People: With branches of cedar, the tree of royalty.
Leader: How shall we prepare this house for the coming of our Savior?
People: With wreaths of holly and ivy, telling of his passion, death, and resurrection.
Leader: How shall we prepare our hearts for the coming of the Son of God?
People: By hearing of Israel's waiting for the Messiah, and feeling our own sense of yearning.
Leader: The Savior is near.
People: It is time to prepare the way of the Lord.
Leader: Our waiting, our yearning is almost over.
People: Let us make room in our lives for the coming Savior.
Leader: He is coming to bring light even to the darkest places of our lives.
People: All people from every nation will be saved by our God.
All: Glory to God in the highest!
L: It's Christmas Sunday! How quickly this time has come upon us!
P: We are breathless. Still so much to be done.
L: Calm your spirits. Take time to hear the wondrous news.
P: Open our ears to hear Mary's Story
L: Believe in the good news!
P: We believe and rejoice! God's love is here with us!
Leader: When the wise men returned home, they had to find a different road.
People: So we too after Christmas have found a new way to live.
Leader: With the Christ child in our midst, we know that anything is possible.
People: We know without a doubt that God loves us.
Leader: Rejoice and give thanks.
People: We will say it again: rejoice!
Leader: How will the world see the light of Christ?
People: We will be the light.
Leader: After Christmas, we have so much.
People: Our closets and bellies are full.
Leader: There is so little that we need in life.
People: But yet so much that we need to truly live.
Leader: God doesn't want all your new Christmas stuff.
People: He just wants us to need him.
Leader: God, I need you in my life.
People: God, we need you in our lives.
Leader: Sisters and brothers, rejoice. We live sustained by God's presence and love.
People: Thanks be to God.
Leader: As we mourn the wounds of God's children,
People: God weeps with us.
Leader: As we struggle for justice,
People: God struggles with us.
Leader: As we strive for peace,
People: God strives with us.
Leader: As we work to build the beloved community,
People: God works with us.
Leader: As we offer our gifts to all,
People: God blesses us.
Leader: Sisters and brothers, rejoice.
People: Sustained by God's presence and love we worship God.
Leader: We each have many gifts to offer in service to God.
People: Some will be teachers; others preachers;
Leader: Some will be those who have visions of all possibilities; others will find ways to make those visions a reality;
People: Some will be capable leaders, others will be skillful workers;
Leader: Some will develop ministries of peace and justice; others will seek to change unjust systems.
People: Each person here has been blessed by God.
Leader: And we need every gift that has been given by God
L: Holy is the Lord!
P: God’s love pours down upon us.
L: Let the name of the Lord be praised!
P: With our hearts and our spirits, we raise our voices joyfully in praise of God’s mighty presence in our lives.
L: Let our voices praise God continually.
P: Let all that we do and say and think reflect our love of God.
Leader: Love the Lord your God.
People: Lord, we love you with all we have.
Leader: And love your neighbor as yourself.
People: Lord, give us the strength to those we find it the hardest to love.
Leader: This is how God showed us what love is...
People: While we were still sinners, Christ came to us and died for us.
Leader: That is your strength to love your neighbor as yourself.
People: Lord, we love you with all we have.
Leader: Who will feed the starving mouths of your neighbors around the world?
People: Here I am, Lord. Send me.
Leader: Who will comfort the daughter who lost her father and the mother who lost her son?
People: Here I am, Lord. Use me.
Leader: Who will guide the lonely and the empty into a rich life of wholeness?
People: Here I am, Lord. Guide me.
Leader: For even now, God is calling you by name, calling you to come, follow Jesus.
People: Here we are, Lord. We will follow you.
Leader: Today is a day to sing praise to God!
People: God continually blesses us, each and every day.
Leader: Even in the midst of cold and darkness, the warmth of God’s love is real.
People: We can count on God to be here for us.
Leader: Let your hearts rejoice and your voices shout praise to God.
People: For God is great and worthy to be praised
Leader: A rich feast awaits those who call upon the Lord.
People: God offers to us all the bounty of God’s love.
Leader: How we have thirsted for hope and peace!
People: How we have longed for joy and love!
Leader: God continually blesses and heals us.
People: Praise be to God for God’s steadfast love.
Leader: Jesus asks: who does the world say that I am?
People: Some say a great teacher, some say a healer.
Leader: Who do they say that I am?
People: Some say you are a prophet who has never been understood.
Leader: But what about you, who do you say that I am?
People: You are the Messiah, the Son of God, and our personal Lord and Savior.
Leader: Then let us all praise the God who would send a Savior.
People: And let us live to tell others about him.
Leader: Come, let us celebrate the supper of the Lord.
People: Let us make a huge loaf of bread, and let us bring abundant wine, as at the wedding in Cana.
Leader: Let the women not forget the salt; Let the men bring along the yeast.
People: Let many guests come, the lame, the blind, the poor.
Leader: Come quickly. Let us follow the recipe of the Lord.
People: All of us, let us knead the dough together with our hands.
Leader: Because today we celebrate the meeting with the Lord.
People: Today we renew our commitment to the Kingdom.
Leader: Cry out, people of faith! Rejoice and praise God!
People: If we did not sing praise, the very stones would cry out!
Leader: Cry out, people of faith, for your Savior draws near to Jerusalem.
People: Hosanna! God saves! Blessed is the one who comes in the God's name!
Leader: Blessed is Jesus Christ, who did not turn back for fear of the cross. Let us praise the God who loves us, sharing Christ's sufferings, and facing with courage our path of faith.
People: Hosanna! God saves! Blessed is the One who comes in God's name!
Leader: Why have you come here today?
People: We are looking for Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
Leader: And why can I see the sadness written on your faces?
People: Because he has been crucified and is now dead and buried.
Leader: But look: the stone has been rolled away, and the tomb is empty!
People: Can it be true? Where is he?
Leader: He is not here! He has risen! He has gone ahead of you and you will find him.
People: Our hearts burn to see our risen Savior.
Leader: Happy Easter Season! Today is the first day of the week.
People: The joy of Easter still sings in our hearts.
Leader: Breathe the breath of new life in your spirits!
People: We open our hearts to all the wondrous work God has for us to do.
Leader: Welcome to worship this glorious day!
People: Let our lives be testimony to God’s redeeming love!
Leader: When we come to this place, whether we come to worship or work,
People: Our attitude should be like that of Jesus.
Leader: He was God in his very nature, but didn't act like it.
People: Instead he came to us as a servant.
Leader: He humbled himself, and died for us --
People: Even dying on a cross!
Leader: Therefore let us love one another,
People: For Christ has loved us so completely.
Leader: Awake! Rise up!
People: There is much to be done in the Lord’s Name today.
Leader: Get ready to worship and to serve God.
People: We are ready to hear God’s word for us and to respond in action and love.
Leader: Open your hearts to God’s will this day.
People: Praise be to God who walks with us and guides us.
L: How is life with you today?
P: Sometimes it is full of goodness and peace; but at other times it is full of worry and strife.
L: Give these worries and fears to Jesus.
P: We need to let go of our anxiety and turn to God.
L: Come, let us praise God, who has spoken words of healing love through Jesus.
P: Let us open our hearts and let go of our fears, for there is no one else who can heal our spirits.
Leader: Every week we meet again at this table.
People: We bring bodies broken by worry and strife,
Leader: And God makes us whole.
People: We bring souls that thirst for a peaceful and just world,
Leader: And God quenches our desire.
People: Why? Why does God do this for us?
Leader: He loves you enough to send his own Son. All that God asks is that we humbly accept this most beautiful gift.
People: We cry out as one body of Christ: "Hallelujah! Praise the God who saves us!"
Leader: What would God have us do?
People: What gifts do we have that can serve God?
Leader: Lord, guide our lives and our service.
People: Lord, call us to ministries of hope and promise.
Leader: Help us, O Lord, to look beyond words.
People: Help us, O Lord, to see ways of service
Leader: Open our hearts and our spirits this day to receive your guidance.
People: Help us to be those people who will bring good news to those in darkness and doubt.
Leader: Come, let us worship God with thanksgiving for gifts of ministry.
People: Let us praise God with joyful hearts for opportunities to serve.
Leader: Brothers and sisters, as we enter God's house,
People: Let us love one another.
Leader: Because God loved us first and has loved us so well,
People: Let us love one another.
Leader: Even when we do unlovable things to each other,
People: Let us love one another.
Leader: So that the world will know about God's great love,
People: Let us love one another.
Leader: These three remain: faith, hope and love.
People: But the greatest is love, so let us live together in love.
Leader: It happened! Jesus was absolutely right!
People: Christ is risen! It was as he said it would be!
Leader: Darkness is gone! Brightness reigns!
People: God’s love has poured over us, bringing us joy and hope!
Leader: We are free from fear and doubt!
People: We are free to celebrate and dance, and shout the Good News: “Christ is Risen!”
Leader: What a wonderful Creator we have!
People: And how worthy of our praise!
Leader: When we see the beautiful flowers of Spring,
People: Our souls cry out in worship.
Leader: When we stare at the most distant stars,
People: We see the vastness of God's creation.
Leader: When we look at our own unique fingerprints,
People: We know how intricate and precious we all are.
Leader: What a wonderful Creator we have!
People: Let us shower him with our praise!
Leader: Let us sing a new song to our God!
People: We enter God's house feeling tired and empty, yearning for something more
Leader: Let us sing to our Creator, who is not done creating his world.
People: Our God has been with us every step of the way, so we will praise him.
Leader: Let us sing, and as we sing, may we find what we are looking for.
People: Let us sing a new song to our God!
Leader: Create in us a clean heart, O God.
People: O God you know that we are prone to wander.
Leader: And renew a right spirit within us.
People: We turn our backs on you, O God of all love.
Leader: Restore unto us the joy of your salvation.
People: We are here today to give our hearts again to you.
Leader: Let us dwell in your presence every hour of every day.
People: Take our lives and keep us with you for all eternity.
Leader: We are the body of Christ.
People: One body with many parts.
Leader: We need every part of the body and every gift from God.
People: When one part hurts, the whole body hurts.
Leader: Brothers and sisters, I need you.
People: And we need each other.
Leader: Let us accept our call to be the body of Christ.
People: And with the help of the Holy Spirit, let us bring glory to God.
Leader: What a privilege it is to come and worship together.
People: We sing together, we laugh together, we learn together, we grow together.
Leader: Friend, when I am in your presence, I can see the face of God.
People: We are all God's children, created in his image.
Leader: Though we may be separated by great distances,
People: We are still one in the body of Christ.
Leader: But one day, all the distances will be no more.
People: We will meet again at the feet of our Savior in his very presence for all eternity.
Everyone: Hallelujah and Amen!
Leader: A rich feast awaits those who call upon the Lord.
People: God offers to us all the bounty of God’s love.
Leader: How we have thirsted for hope and peace!
People: How we have longed for joy and love!
Leader: God continually blesses and heals us.
People: Praise be to God for God’s steadfast love.
