Beloved creations of God...

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

We approach you, God..

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.

Kingdoms all around us...

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.

With all you have...

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.

Refuge and Stronghold...

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.

A Vineyard was Planted...

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.

Why have you come today?

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!