Liturgy for Narrative Lectionary September 7, 2014 -- Noah and Creation

As threatened promised, here's my take on liturgy for this coming Sunday's Narrative Lectionary. I will try to post these each week for the coming Sunday. I am basing the calls to worship on the Psalms.

Call to Worship

One:  O God, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens.
Many: You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.

One: When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you set in place—what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?
Many: Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honour.
One: You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority—the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents.

Many: Holy One, our God, your majestic name fills the earth!

 (based on Psalm 8)

Reconciliation/Assurance of Pardon

One: Gracious God, we have fallen short—of our own expectations of ourselves, and of your hopes for us. We have not done all we could—we have been silent when we ought to have spoken, and we have spoken when we should have kept silent. We have not acted when we could, and have acted when we should have kept still. Forgive our fears and open our hearts to your love and grace for all people.

(silent prayer)

Holy One, you who speak to us in the silence of our hearts, you have forgiven us as soon as we have asked. Remind us of your grace and presence with us. For what can keep us from your love? Nothing at all on earth or in heaven. My friends, you are forgiven!

Many: You are forgiven!

Communion

One: God is with you!

Many: And also with you!

One: God the Creator has made all things good!

Many: Thanks and praise to the Creator!

One: Holy One, from a great void your creative powers formed the cosmos, from the largest stars to the smallest creatures; and you declared all of them good. Yet we humans, placed just below you, forgot this and have put all creation under our heel, declaring ourselves to be in charge of creation. You sent your prophets to point out the errors of our ways, but we did not listen. Your beloved child, Jesus the Christ, came to us to show us a new way of life, of living, of love—and we still turned away. Speak to us again in these gifts of creation, of grain from the hills, and the fruit of the vine, that we may remember your love for all creation.

On the night before Jesus gave up his life for us, he gathered with his closest friends and shared one last meal with them. At that meal, he took the bread, blessed it after the manner of his people, broke it, and shared it with his friends, saying:

Many: This is my body, opened for you.

One: When the meal was over, Jesus took the cup, and blessed it after the manner of his people, and passed it to his friends, saying:

Many: This is my love, poured out freely for you and for all nations.

One: And when we eat this bread and drink from this cup

Many: We remember Jesus’ promise and the mystery of our faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again! Go and tell.

One: Spirit of the living God, pour out your grace and your presence on these gifts of grain and grape. Make them be for us whatever we need them to be, that we may be reminded of your gracious love for us, now and always. Amen.

Benediction

One: As we go our ways, God goes with us.

Many: We are not alone.

One: God’s promises are sure and true—we will not be left alone and abandoned.

Many: We are not alone.

One: May the blessing of God, who creates, redeems and sustains, be with you now and all your days.

Many: Amen!