Develop a Discipleship System
Call to Worship
Children of God, in Jesus, Love became flesh and moved into the neighborhood.
We gather to worship Christ, the image of the invisible.
In Jesus, we meet the fullness of God with no barriers to access.
We gather to worship Christ, the image of the invisible.
In Jesus, our separation from God, neighbor, self, and creation has been removed. We are free for divine and loving connection once again.
We gather to worship Christ, the image of the invisible.
Children of God, come! Come, let us worship God, whose power makes Love visible to us so that we might reflect Love to the world.
Come, let us worship Christ, Love who came to dwell among us and within us!
Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, January 2025.
Prayer of Intercession
O Christ, your cross speaks both to us and to our world.
In your dying for us,
You accepted the pain and hurt of the whole of creation.
The arms of your cross stretch out
Across the broken world in reconciliation.
You have made peace with us.
Helps us to make peace with you
By sharing in your reconciling work.
May we recognize your spirit
Disturbing and challenging us to care for creation
And for the poor who most feel the effects of its abuse.
O Christ, the whole of creation groans.
Set us free and make us whole. Amen.
From the Iona Community’s Iona Abbey Worship Book (Wild Goose Publications, Iona Community, 2001). Re-posted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2013/10/prayer-of-intercession-colossians-1-15.html.
Prayer of Confession
Let us open our hearts and minds to the truth of our lives, and let us offer that truth to God.
Offer silent prayers of confession..
Forgive us, O God, when we limit you –
When we remake you in our image,
When we claim our causes as your own,
When we box you in,
And explain you away,
And in our attempts at understanding, whittle away all mystery.
Forgive us for our human impulses, and change us:
Awaken us to your glory,
Confound us by your love,
Shower us with grace so that we will be made new,
Recreated in your image,
Grateful for all that we cannot know.
In the name of Christ, who brought us closer to you, we pray. Amen.
Assurance of Forgiveness
Friends, let us proclaim the Good News:
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven!
Let us go out into the world as people made new by God.
Alleluia! Amen.
Written by Beth Merrill Neel on her blog, “Hold Fast to What Is Good.” Used with permission. https://holdfasttowhatisgood.com/liturgy/prayer-of-confession/.
Benediction
Go now in the blessing of Christ, the image of the invisible, Love-made-flesh. May God’s loving presence surround you on every side, guiding you and empowering you to share God’s loving presence with everyone you meet. Amen.
Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, January 2025.
