April 10, 2024
GREETING
The love of God poured into our hearts, the saving grace of Jesus Christ, and the abundant life of the Holy Spirit be with you all. | And also with you.
OPENING PRAYER
Let us pray.
You are gracious and merciful, O God, slow to anger, rich in love. Receive our prayers as you have promised and uphold us by your Spirit, until all things, mended by your mercy, are made whole and well in you, through Jesus Christ, our healer and our hope. | Amen.
CONFESSION
In the name of the + Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. | Amen. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us, But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, to you all desires known, from you no secrets are hid.
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts, by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify Your name, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
You are gracious and merciful, O God, slow to anger, rich in love. Receive our prayers as you have promised and uphold us by your Spirit, until all things, mended by your mercy, are made whole and well in you, through Jesus Christ, our healer and our hope. |Amen.
HYMN 886
O For a Thousand Tongues To Sing (Verses 1-4)
1 John 3:1-7
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Everyone who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
HYMN 653
Where Charity and Love Prevail
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
In Christ Jesus we meet the God who knows our weakness and bears the wounds of the world. Therefore, let us be bold as we pray, trusting that God draws near to those in any kind of need.
Rejoicing that Jesus is risen and love has triumphed over fear, let us pray for the church, the world, and all those in need of good news.
A brief silence.
O God our holy one, you feed our deepest hungers. As we share the holy meal that is the body and blood of Jesus given for us, lead us to share all that we have, and find, in generosity, abundant life. God of grace, hear our prayer.
O God our creator, you bring forth all life on earth. Calm storms, bring water to parched places, and protect the climate, that this planet would sustain life in all its variety. God of grace, hear our prayer.
O God our savior, you offer wisdom and guidance beyond all human knowledge. Instruct lawmakers, judges, and elected officials to make decisions grounded in your justice and care for all people. God of grace, hear our prayer.
O God our elder, you care for all your children. Encourage those who are in times of transition, facing the loss of old ways and routines and anticipating change. Guide those who journey in grief, hope, and uncertainty. God of grace, hear our prayer.
O God our center, you bring all people together in you. Help us to remember our identity and purpose in our ministry. Move us to love our neighbors as ourselves and to share in beloved community. God of grace, hear our prayer.
O God our resting place, your Son Jesus promised that we are held in your love forever. We remember our beloved who have died. As we remember and share their love, comfort those who mourn. God of grace, hear our prayer.
Into your hands, most merciful God, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your abiding love; through Jesus Christ, our resurrected and living Lord. Amen.
O loving God, you know the needs of all the world. By your Spirit, grant that we, having turned to you in prayer, now might turn to one another in peace, tend and keep what you have made, and love our neighbor with the love of Jesus, in whose name we pray. | Amen.
HOLY COMMUNION
The Lord be with you. | And also with you. Lift up your hearts. | We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. |It is right to give our thanks and praise.
We praise you for the heart of Jesus, so filled with your love for this earth, who on the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.
Gathered around this table, we your children unite in this wisdom: The earth is full of your glory. The earth is full of your glory.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
SENDING
Through prayer the Spirit draws us more deeply into the beauty and the suffering of the world.
Following a song and a final time of silence we are sent, with Christ, to enter more fully into God’s love for and work in the world. This is our prayer “without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
HYMN 623 Rock of Ages HYMN 708 Jesu, Jesu Fill Us with Your Love
BLESSING
Christ Jesus dwell in our hearts through faith, as we are being rooted and grounded in love, strengthened by the Spirit, and filled with all the fullness of God. | Amen.