Liturgical Resources

Call to Worship

The apostle Paul calls us to “let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” What is the mind of Jesus?
The mind of Jesus is to love God, neighbor, self, and all creation.
Paul reminds us that “it is God who is at work in you.” How is God at work in us?
God enables us through grace to love God, neighbor, self, and all creation.

Paul exhorts us to “work on your own salvation with fear and trembling.” How do we work on our own salvation?
We cooperate with grace to love God, neighbor, self, and all creation.

Beloved, we gather to worship God who, through Jesus, shows us how to love and enables us to love as Christ loves us.
We gather to learn how to live in full accord through our love of God, neighbor, self, and all creation.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, July 2026.

Opening Prayer

Most wonderful God,
the beauty we see in Jesus
is your beauty veiled in human flesh,
the love we witness from Bethlehem to Golgotha
is your love contracted to a span.
If Christ’s life is so holy as to fill us with wonder,
how much more would your unveiled beauty
leave us overwhelmed and trembling?
You are more than the eye could bear,
more than the mind can ever fathom.

Yet you have so carefully made us
that although we cannot fathom you,
we can yet love you.
Gratefully, we bring our little lives to you,
asking that our worship may arise from love and be shaped by love,
and be directed towards that larger loving which is our soul’s desire.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen!

Written by Bruce Prewer, posted on Bruce Prewer’s Homepage. Reposted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/09/opening-prayer-philippians-2-6-11.html.

Prayer of Confession

Within the strength of community, in the power of silence, we come before God with the truth of our lives, trusting in the mercy and love of our Creator. Let us offer our confession before God and each other.

Holy God, we know that in so many ways
We have run from you,
We have ignored your call,
We have closed our eyes to your presence,
We have disbelieved your mercy,
We have disregarded your words,
We have belittled ourselves,
We have forsaken others.
So we ask, once again, for your forgiveness. We ask you to stay with us as we turn away from what is wrong and hurtful to what is bright and life-giving. And hear now our silent prayers.

Receive the good news:
God’s love abounds for us,
Forgiving us and restoring us to
Community with God and one another.
In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.

In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.
Glory to God! Amen.

Written by Beth Merrill Neel on her blog, “Hold Fast to What Is Good.” Used with permission. Posted at https://holdfasttowhatisgood.com/liturgy/prayer-of-confession/.

Benediction

Beloved, remember: God is at work in you, enabling you to will and to work for God’s pleasure. May God bless you with a spirit of joyful cooperation and Christian love as together we work with God and neighbor for the flourishing of all God’s creation. Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, July 2026.