Jesus, you came to us as a baby,
a child of Mary and Joseph,
but also the Son of God.
As parents, we look at our children
and imagine their futures.
Mary and Joseph could not have imagined your future.
A child of man, a child of God.
Our church today, formed __ years ago,
was once an infant,
full of promise and potential,
full of hopes and dreams for the future.
Jesus, you came to us as a man,
a man who shared the teachings
and the love of his Father.
As your followers, we look to you
and imagine our futures.
Your disciples could not have imagined your future.
A child of man, a child of God.
Our church today has nurtured and taught us for the last __ years.
We celebrate the teachers among us, past and present.
We remember and honor those who saw the promise and the potential,
who faced their fears and set aside their own desires,
to fulfill their dreams of the future.
Could they have imagined the future that came to be?
Jesus, you were crucified and resurrected,
you left your disciples and ascended into the heavens,
changing our view of God forever.
As your followers, we know that it is up to us
to make your will be done here on earth as it is in heaven.
It is up to us
to share your love with those we meet,
to speak up for the voiceless,
to feed the hungry,
to share your teachings,
and to work for peace and justice in this world.
Father, we are your children.
Each of us uniquely cherished and deeply loved.
We are here in this place and time, by choice.
Our church has helped to shape us into the people we are today.
We celebrate one another and thank each other, and you,
for our history and for our future.
Our church today, formed __ years ago,
is still full of promise and potential.
We have hopes and dreams for the future.
We ask that you be with us to help us follow your plan,
your teachings.
We know that you are with us.
We know that you have shared our world
and that you know our pain and worries.
We ask that you be with ___ and
grant them your healing peace and strengthen them
As your followers, and as members of the body of Christ,
we lift our voices together using the words you taught us,
“Our Father…”
Uniquely Cherished 