Faith

I Believe in Joy

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I believe in God even when he is silent.

My days can be very busy, Lord.
The noise of today’s world is loud and chaotic.
The demands on my attention drown out my own thoughts, much less your voice.
I confess, Lord, that I may not be listening to you and
I don’t always notice the silence.

I believe in God even when he is silent.

When things in my life are going well, Father,
I may not seek you out as often as I should.
But in the dark of night, when my fears are the loudest,
I am mindful of the silence.
When illness or injury strikes,
I am reminded of my weakness and the fragileness of life.
The news reminds me there is evil in the world.
When tragedy strikes, we ask why.
Where were you, Father?
How could you permit such terrible things to happen to innocent people?

I believe in God even when he is silent.

The silence can be deafening at times.
Mother God, we plead with you at these times.
Make our loved ones well again.
Give us one more chance to make amends,
one more time to make a relationship work.
We bargain with you and offer up promises and sacrifices if you will only,
just this time, give us what we are asking for.

We believe in God even when he is silent.

It is only later, Lord, that we realize that you were not silent at all.
It was us, all along. We could not hear you or see you.
During tragic times, we see later that you were there with us.
You were there in the form of a community who came together
to mourn with the fallen.
You were there with the strangers, the friends,
and the family who gave us strength to make it through our challenges.
You were there in the form of the unanswered prayers that in the end
were the best answer we could have been given.

You were there, Lord. You have always been there.
We know that you will always be there.

We believe in God.

Gather in this Sacred Space (Exodus 3:1-15)

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We gather in this sacred space, week after week.
We are standing on your holy ground.

As our ancestors gathered in awe and worship,
we still gather in worship.
Our awe and wonder today may not be a burning bush,
but we find wonder in the birth of the daughters we celebrate and welcome today.
We find wonder in those God moments we encounter in our daily lives.

We gather in this sacred space, week after week.
We stand today in your holy space.
Remind us that wherever we are, when we are sharing your word,
that space is holy as well.
Remind us to find wonder in the ordinary.
Remind us to see your face in the faces of those we encounter throughout our day.
Remind us to hear your story when we listen to the stories of those around us.

We gather in this sacred space, week after week.
We stand today in your holy space,
reminded by the baptism of our newest members,
that we are your children, Lord.
As we cherish our children, you cherish us.
You find wonder in us, even as you know us completely.
Remind us to open our hearts to you to fully receive the love of our parent.

We gather in this sacred space, week after week.
As we celebrate new life in this holy space,
we look forward to our future, to their futures.
There is excitement and anticipation, a wonder for the future.
Use us, Creator, to make this future yours.
Use our bodies, our minds and our hopes and dreams.

We gather in this sacred space, knowing that you are with us week after week.
Be with those among us who need your grace and healing touch.
Celebrate the additions to our family, Allison, Ella, Kimberly, Mic and Laura.
As we stand in this holy space, we use the words that your Son taught us,
“Our Father…”

Transform Us (Luke 9:28-36)

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We come to this place every week
for many different reasons.
Some of us were born into a church family
and we know no other way of life.
We cannot imagine a life without you, Jesus.
Others came to this church later in life.
We had a life before that may not have included God,
or maybe a life with a God that was minimized
and only called upon in times of crisis.

But we are here now, Lord, here in this sacred place with you.
We ourselves have been transformed by your love,
by your grace, and most especially by your teachings.
Jesus, you have been our role model and
showed us how we should live our lives.
You showed us how important it is to pray,
to allow that quiet time between ourselves and God.
You showed us how to include everyone,
and to treat everyone with respect and fairness.
You showed us how to live in a way that fulfills God’s plan on earth,
even when we may not feel we have the courage to do so.
You showed us how our lives will change when we live not for ourselves,
but for others.
You showed us how to live in peace with each other,
and how to support each other.
You showed us how to enjoy life and to celebrate God’s joy in this world.
You did this in actions, not only in words.

Transform us today, Lord, here in this sacred place,
and in every place we may find ourselves.
Transform us. Make us more receptive to prayer and
to hearing the call of the Holy Spirit.
Transform us. Make us more willing to accept and to seek out diversity.
Transform us. Make us peacemakers who work for equality and fairness for all.
Transform us. Make us more generous with our talents and our treasures.
Transform us. Make us a community who builds each other up
and supports those who may need help.
We ask that you also be with ___ who are in need of your healing touch and strength.
Transform us into a stronger body of Christ,
a community who celebrates the joy of your love
and enjoys and nurtures the gifts of the earth that you have given us.

We come to this place every week.
And, we leave this place changed by your presence.
We follow your teachings as best we can.
We ask that you walk with us on our journey and transform us along the way.
And, we use the words that you taught us to use,
“Our Father…”

Bold text can be read by the congregation.

Light of the World (Matthew 2:1-12)

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We celebrate the birth of your son,
who has come to be one with us,
to experience life as we know it.
Many others came to celebrate as well.
The Magi, ones who did not believe in you,
came to celebrate and to give their praise.

If the Magi, who did not believe,
can celebrate you and give you
their earthly treasures,
how can we not give you ourselves?
We are the believers, Lord.
We have heard your teachings and
we follow your ways.

A star lit the way for the Magi to follow.
Your teachings have told us we are to be the light of this world,
we should be the stars who light the way for those around us today.
Just as we know that the sun will rise tomorrow,
we know that you are with us always,
we know that you have given us the gifts and talents we need to fulfill your plan,
we know that together with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we are strong,
we know that our faith does not remove the struggles in our lives,
but gives us the ability to persevere and to overcome those challenges.
There are those among us today who need your grace and healing strength.
Be with them and help them to feel your presence.

We are to be the light of this world.
At the end of our lives, when we come face to face with you, Lord,
will we be asked how we loved one another?
Help us to answer that we shared ourselves freely and openly with each other.
Open our hearts today and give us the opportunity to share our love, our treasures and our talents with others.

Christ came to us in love.
Remind us to share that love with others.

In love, your son taught us to pray. And, in the spirit of love, we raise our voices together, using the words he taught us,
“Our Father…”

What Good Can Come Out of Nazareth? (John 1:43-51)

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We look at something or at someone,
and we make assumptions about what we see.

We watch the woman in front of us at the grocery store using food stamps,
and we evaluate her purchases.
We critique her clothing, the fact that she has a cell phone and how many children she has.
What good can come out of Nazareth?

We see protestors in the streets.
Some of us relate to them and celebrate their presence.
Some of us think to ourselves that those people have too much time on their hands,
and don’t want to take personal responsibility for themselves.
What good can come out of Nazareth?

We are a divided people, Lord.
We view the world through our biases, our assumptions, and often, through our judgments.
The big picture escapes us, it is easier to believe the soundbite, rather than ask why.
We live in a world of us versus them.
What good can come out of Nazareth?

We are supposed to be a people of love.
Remind us that we are all interconnected,
that our energy interacts with the energy of those around us.
Remind us, Jesus, that you made no judgments about those around you.
You accepted those you encountered,
regardless of the reaction of those who considered themselves to be socially correct.
You reached out to those who were powerless and marginalized,
and empowered them with your love and acceptance.
What good can come out of Nazareth?

We are the people who come from Nazareth.
We heard your teachings,
we follow you with our lives and our deeds.
We are the good that comes from Nazareth.
We are a strong community, gathering strength from each other,
united in our faith even while we debate with each other the best way to create your world here on Earth.
It is us to us, Jesus, to make this world as it is in heaven.
Help us to do that. Give us the strength and the wisdom to make it so.
Open our eyes to your plan and open our hearts to do your bidding.

We are the people who come from Nazareth.
And, we know that you are with us always.
We ask that you be with ___, our members in the body of Christ who need your added strength and healing grace.
As your people in love, we know that we need to spend time in prayer and contemplation.
You modeled the need for prayer and you gave us the words to start with,
“Our Father….”

Because We Believe (John 3:14-21)

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Like you, Father, we understand the love you have for your children.
Until our children were put in our arms, we had no idea how much love we could feel.
We are your children, Lord, each of us uniquely cherished and deeply loved.

You gave your Son to us, not to condemn us but to save us.
Help us to truly follow his teachings.
He taught us that we should act as one body,
to treat each other as we would want to be treated.
Help us to freely love one another without reservation.
He taught us to love the unlovable,
to comfort those in pain or illness,
to speak for those who have no voice,
and to value those who have no power.
Help us to realize it is not enough to say we believe,
help us to understand that our actions truly define our beliefs.

We cannot say we believe in your teachings
if our actions tell a different story.
We believe in your Son, and that he is the way to your light and your love.
And, because we believe, we act in ways that uphold those beliefs.
We cannot say we love your Son
if we do not freely love our brothers and sisters.
We cannot say we love your Son
if we do not seek out opportunities to make this earth as it is in your heaven.
We cannot say we love your Son
if we do not love ourselves completely.
We cannot say we love your Son
until we are willing to sacrifice our needs and wants for those around us.

Give us the strength to carry out your plan on earth.
Open our hearts to share your love freely with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Help us share your message of love and healing to those we encounter in our daily lives.
Be with those among us who need your healing touch and your sense of peace.
We name ___.

We are your children, Lord. As your children, we know that you are with us always.
We are comforted by your love and we use the words that you have taught us,
“Our Father…”

People of the Good News (John 20:19-31)

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We are the people of the good news.
Our grief at the cross, our fear of being left alone,
our uncertainty when the tomb was found empty,
has turned into joy with the news of your resurrection.
Open our hearts in joy with this good news.
Lift our hands up in celebration.

We are the people of the good news.
We gain comfort knowing that you are with us always,
despite our doubts, despite our failings,
you are with us always.
Open our hearts in joy with this good news.
Encourage us to dance with joy,
as if no one is watching us.
Encourage us to share your news
with those we meet in our lives.

We are the people of the good news.
Knowing the good news does not free us from worry
or fear.
Your disciples locked themselves in a room.
Unlock the barriers we place between ourselves and others.
Remind us that we can lift our burdens up to you
Free us from our fear and concerns of this world,
and open our hearts to the concerns of others.

We are the people of the good news.
Remind us to act as if we are full of this joy,
as if we are full of your love.
We are your children, Lord,
each of us uniquely cherished and completely loved by you.
Open our eyes to your love,
call us into your dance,
remind us that we don’t dance alone.
We are the people of the good news;
we are your people, your children.
You are with us always, and we ask that you specifically be with ___ .

We are the people of the good news.
We can’t sit out this dance, we are unable to be quiet.
We have to share the news of your love, your resurrection.
Your teachings, the way you lived your life, have inspired us,
have shown us the way.

As the people of the good news,
we dance freely without reservation,
we celebrate and embrace the life you have given us.
We use the words you taught us, saying
“Our Father, …”

What We Perceive (1 Samuel 15:34-16:13)

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As a child, we see things in black and white.

Our world is very clear, and our boundaries are established.
A child can easily tell you if an act is right or wrong.
The world can become more gray as we get older.
Father, we have more doubts now and
sometimes we ask more questions than a two year old.

Why do we act selfishly at times?
Why do good people die before their time?
Why does a tornado hit one house and not another?
Why do I feel alone even when surrounded by many?
Why are there people in our neighborhoods who go to bed hungry?
And, why does evil sometimes seem to flourish in our world?

As adults, we see the world in shades of gray.
When asked if an act is right or wrong, we may answer, “It depends.”
We view the world based on our experiences, our biases, and our fears.
Father God, we ask that you open our eyes to your choice,
to your plan.
Open our hearts so that we can follow you without hesitation.
Mother God, comfort us in our doubt and confusion,
as a mother soothes her child.
Reassure us that while our world is sometimes lacking balance
and fairness, you are with us always.
Remind us that it is up to us to make this world as it is in your heaven.
We are to act now, to live out your word now, in this place.

Holy Creator, you have shaped us, formed us, and known us.
You see beyond what the world sees in us, beyond what we share with others.
You know us completely and you love us as completely.
We ask that you give us the faith to follow your plan
using the gifts and talents that you freely given us.
Allow us to see ourselves as you see us, each of us deeply loved and uniquely cherished.
As your children, we are to support one another in this world.
We know that you are also with us supporting us in the chaos of this world.
We ask that you be with ___ granting your comfort and peace.

We may still have questions, we may still doubt what we see around us,
but we have faith in the words your Son gave us.
We lift our hearts and our thoughts to you, using those words,
“Our Father…”

Fill Us With the Faith that David Possessed (1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23),32-49)

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Heavenly Creator, fill us with the faith that David possessed.
Remind us that we are your beloved children and that you love us completely,
without reservation and without regret.
That should be enough for us,
but we sometimes allow the world
to fill our minds with self-doubt,
to fill our hearts with greed and jealousy,
and to fill our hands with shiny treasures.

Creator of Light and Love, fill us with the faith that David possessed.
Remind us that you sent your son to us, not to give us a religion,
but to give us a faith.
You sent your son to us, not to give us a set of rules to follow,
but to give us guidelines of how to share your love with everyone.
Your son was a living example of what you want us to do here on earth.
Help us to be the same example to others that we meet.

Maker of all that we see and know, fill us with the faith that David possessed.
Remind us that we don’t need the trappings of the world around us.
We know that in the moment we are given terrible news,
our first thoughts are not about our things,
but rather about our families and our friends.
We know that when given a second chance, our priorities change.
Keep our relationships in front of us.
Help us to build the community here that your son built with his followers.

All-knowing and All-Loving God, fill us with the faith that David possessed.
Remind us that our actions here in this earth shape the world that we experience.
It is up to us to make this world your world.
Our choice to follow you does not mean
that our way will be easy or that we will always succeed.
There is no doubt that we will face giants that appear to be more than we can handle.
Remind us that as your united community, we can tackle those challenges together.
And, we know that you are with us as we make our way through this world.
We ask that you be with those among us who may need your extra guidance and
your strength.
Remind us to follow your son in actions as well as in words.

Teacher, fill us with the faith that David possessed.
As we follow your teachings, we use the words you gave us,
“Our Father…”

Do Whatever He Tells You to Do (John 2:1-11)

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Do whatever he tells you to do.
That’s what Mary told the servants to do at Cana.
Lord, help us to have the same faith and the same discipline.
Help us to follow you and to do what you tell us to do.
Open our ears to your directives.
Open our hearts to your love.
And, open our eyes to your plan.

Your mother, Lord, had faith in your ability to make a difference in this world.
You gathered disciples from unlikely candidates
and they also had faith in you.
They carried your story forward and have made disciples of us.

We are your followers, Lord.
We gather here each week
and make up the body of Christ in today’s world.
Strengthen us,
Use us,
Teach us,
Lead us,
We want to do whatever you tell us to do.

Remind us that there is abundance in this world.
As you changed over a hundred of gallons of water into wine for a wedding,
help us to see that we live in a world of plenty.
We may feel there is not enough, but you have given us more than enough.
Unclench our fists as we try to hold onto more than our fair share.
Encourage our generosity.
Open our eyes to the needs of those around us, locally and globally.
As you have blessed us, we need to also bless those around us.
As your disciples learned from you, help us to also learn your teachings
and help us to share those teachings with others.
As your community shared with one another, and supported one another,
we support each other.
We ask that you be with __ .

Do whatever he tells you to do.
That’s what Mary told the servants to do at Cana.
You have told us what to do.
We know what we are to do and we ask that you give us the strength to do so.
You have given us the words to say and we use those words today,
“Our Father…”