Liturgy | OCT 25 | Vision

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Generosity Prayer

All that we have we have received from God. We bring nothing into this world and we take nothing out of it. We choose to follow the way of Jesus and increase in generosity until it can be said, ”there is no one in need among us.” We choose to be faithful stewards of all our resources: relationships, time, possessions, and money. We choose to be generous because our Father is generous, and as his daughters and sons we want to show the world what He is like.

BEAUTIFUL THINGS 

Michael Gungor

All this pain

I wonder if I’ll ever find my way

I wonder if my life could really change, at all

All this earth

Could all that is lost ever be found?

Could a garden come out from this ground, at all?

You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of the dust

You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of us

All around,

Hope is springing up from this old ground

Out of chaos life is being found, in you

You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of the dust

You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of us

You make me new,

You are making me new

You make me new,

You are making me new

You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of the dust

You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of us

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Part 1

LEADER: Our Father, loving maker of heaven and earth, we come before you with a posture of gratitude for all you have created and all you are creating in, around, and through us. We open our hands and our hearts to what you have in store for us. We thank you for your love and mercy that gives us life; may the name of Jesus be blessed above all names!

EVERYONE: We love because you first loved us.

LEADER: We offer prayers for the leadership of our country. We pray that our President, Donald Trump, the women and men of Congress, and our Supreme Court justices would rule with diligence, fairness, and kindness. We pray that they would resist and oppose deceitfulness, divisiveness, and self interest.

EVERYONE: May they know the weight of their responsibility and the levity of your grace.

LEADER: We lift up prayers for the many candidates on every level of government during this election season. May they be gracious and kind, acting and speaking in selflessness and wisdom, while navigating the many challenges and temptations that come with their positions of influence. We pray for truth and light to overcome deceitfulness and darkness. 

EVERYONE: Lord, hear our prayers.

LEADER: We pray for every person exercising their right to vote. We pray for clarity to break through confusion, peace to overcome chaos, and for wisdom and knowledge to outweigh fear and doubt during this tumultuous election season. May information and support be accessible to everyone so that each and every person can use their best judgement to elect our leaders. 

EVERYONE: Guide us, oh Lord.

LEADER: We pray for our parish, the City of Englewood; for which we are taking spiritual and social responsibility. We lift up prayers for our Mayor, Linda Olson, the members of our City Council, and Municipal Judge Joe Jefferson. Would you hold them up in their fatigue, grant them integrity in both public and private, and above all sustain them with your grace.

EVERYONE: May they be wise, kind, and gracious; cultivating love and generosity in this community.

LEADER: We pray for the mistreated in our parish; for those experiencing oppression and injustice on the basis of race, gender, and income. We pray against the spiritual and human systems, institutions, and laws that keep people down and hold people back.

EVERYONE: For the oppressed we pray for justice; for the oppressor we pray for repentance.

HOW DEEP THE FATHER’S LOVE FOR US

How deep the Father’s love for us

How vast beyond all measure

That He should give His only Son

To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss

The Father turns His face away

As wounds which mar the Chosen One

Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon a cross

My sin upon His shoulders

Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice

Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there

Until it was accomplished

His dying breath has brought me life

I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything

No gifts, no power, no wisdom

But I will boast in Jesus Christ

His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?

I cannot give an answer

But this I know with all my heart

His wounds have paid my ransom

Why should I gain from His reward?

I cannot give an answer

But this I know with all my heart

His wounds have paid my ransom

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE – Part 2

LEADER: We offer prayers for our friends and family; for our loved ones, those who have been given to us, and to whom we have been given: [NAME]

LEADER: Bless them by drawing them near to Christ.

EVERYONE: Bless them, keep them, and grant them peace.

LEADER: We lift up those who don’t know you, that you may reveal yourself to them with your pursuing love and adopt them as your daughters and sons: [NAME]

LEADER: Draw them near to you, oh Lord.

EVERYONE: Invite them into your family just as you have invited us.

LEADER: And for those we know who face particular trials and tests this day: [NAME]

LEADER: Grant them grace and peace, oh Lord.

EVERYONE: Satisfy them and free them from their troubles.

LEADER: Make us a people who move out towards our city, making disciples as you have commissioned us.

EVERYONE: Strip from us our complacency and apathy, which prevent us from joining you in establishing your kingdom and will in Englewood as it is in heaven.

LEADER: Now with all your people on earth, we pray the prayer that Jesus taught those he called brothers and sisters and friends.

EVERYONE: 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, the power, and the glory; forever and ever, amen

DOXOLOGY

Praise God from whom all blessings flow

Praise him all creatures here below;

Praise him above, ye heav’nly hosts

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen

HOMILY | Nathan Hoag

Jeremiah 29:5–7 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.  Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

LAMENT & CONFESSION

LEADER: God of grace, you have always called your people to weep with those who weep and mourn with those who mourn;  

We join our voices together today in lament, confession, and celebration for all that has been done and all that remains undone.  

The effects of sin and brokenness are deep and wide: racism, sexism, abuse, economic disparity, violence, slavery and oppression of every kind.  

Let’s take a few seconds to reflect on this question: 

How have you recently observed the world or yourself to be incomplete, lacking, or broken?

May your grace and love heal with greater depth and width than any evil thing created or allowed by us.  

LEADER: Lord, have mercy.

EVERYONE: Christ, have mercy.

LEADER: Most merciful God, we confess that we sinned against you, our neighbors, friends, family, and strangers by what we have done and what we have left undone.  

Let’s take a few seconds to reflect on this question: 

In what ways, internal or external, have you wronged another person, God, your environment, or yourself?

May your grace and love fill us and make us whole in spite of our propensity toward disobedience.  

LEADER: Lord, have mercy.  

EVERYONE: Christ, have mercy.

LEADER: Jesus, your yoke is easy and your burden is light. We are weary and we are broken

EVERYONE: Will you stand in our place? Will you hold us up? Reconcile us with God, with our neighbor, and with ourselves, we pray.

The Blessing

The Lord bless you
And keep you
Make His face shine upon you
And be gracious to you
The Lord turn His
Face toward you
And give you peace

Amen, amen, amen
Amen, amen, amen

COMMUNION

The Bread 

LEADER: The Lord is here

EVERYONE: His Spirit is with us.

LEADER: Lift up your hearts.

EVERYONE: We lift them to the Lord.

LEADER: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

EVERYONE: It is right to give Him thanks and praise

LEADER: We cling to the promise of the resurrection

EVERYONE: Christ Has Died, Christ Is Risen, Christ Will Come Again.

The Cup

LEADER: We celebrate with courage all You have done today And hold on to hope for all You will do tomorrow.

EVERYONE: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and forever shall be. World without end! Amen!

BENEDICTION

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