A Liturgy As Big As Life | All Saints Day (October 31, 2021)
Call to Worship | A Prayer for All Saints Day
God of the generations,
when we set our hands to labor,
thinking we work alone,
remind us that we carry:
on our lips
the words of prophets,
in our veins
the blood of martyrs,
in our eyes
the mystics’ visions,
in our hands
the strength of thousands.
Amen.
We Will Feast in the House of Zion
We will feast in the house of Zion
We will sing with our hearts restored
He has done great things, we will say together
We will feast and weep no more
We will not be burned by the fire
He is the Lord, our God
We are not consumed by the flood
Upheld, protected, gathered up
We will feast in the house of Zion
We will sing with our hearts restored
He has done great things, we will say together
We will feast and weep no more
In the dark of night, before the dawn
My soul, be not afraid
For the promised morning, oh, how long?
Oh, God of Jacob, be my strength
We will feast in the house of Zion
We will sing with our hearts restored
He has done great things, we will say together
We will feast and weep no more
Every vow we’ve broken and betrayed
You are the Faithful one
And from the garden to the grave
Bind us together, bring shalom
We will feast in the house of Zion
We will sing with our hearts restored
He has done great things, we will say together
We will feast and weep no more
God is Always Choosing (Blessing / Breaking / Giving) People
“God is not primarily choosing people for a task, although it might appear that way. God is really choosing them to be and to image God in this world. God needs images. God needs people to be willing instruments…
Being chosen doesn’t mean that God likes one over another or finds some better than others. Almost always, in fact, those chosen are quite flawed, ordinary people. It is clear that their power is not their own. So when God chooses someone in the Bible, the standard opening line is ‘Don’t be afraid’, and the final line usually includes ‘I will be with you’…
The paradox is that God’s chosenness is for the sake of communicating chosenness to everybody else! Here is the principle: We can only transform people to the degree that we have been transformed. Only beloved people can pass on belovedness.”
Richard Rohr
God is Always Inviting People (A Kid-Led Liturgy)
Jesus, you say “come to me”
when I am sad
when I am scared
when I am thankful
when I am filled with joy
You are always there to listen.
Jesus, you say, “walk with me”
I will walk with you as I go on my way.
My heart is awake as I notice you, God.
I delight in the treasure of finding you:
here and there and everywhere!
Jesus, you say, “work with me”
Your Kingdom is big
and your Kingdom is grand.
You made me unique.
And your love for me is deep and wide and unending.
You invite me to work with you here on the earth – even right now – to show love and compassion to give and to serve.
Jesus, you say, “watch how I do it.”
Thank you for leading the way.
Help us to listen to God
and work with the Holy Spirit like you did.
Thank you for inviting us
to keep company with you and be with you,
so that we can live freely and lightly.
Marvelous Light
I once was fatherless,
a stranger with no hope;
Your kindness wakened me,
Awakened me, from my sleep
Your love it beckons deeply,
a call to come and die.
By grace now I will come
And take this life, take Your life.
Sin has lost it’s power,
death has lost it’s sting.
From the grave You’ve risen, victoriously!
Into marvelous light I’m running,
Out of darkness, out of shame.
By the cross you are the truth,
You are the life, you are the way
My dead heart now is beating,
My deepest stains now clean.
Your breath fills up my lungs.
Now I’m free. Now I’m free!
Sin has lost it’s power,
death has lost it’s sting.
From the grave You’ve risen, victoriously!
Into marvelous light I’m running,
Out of darkness, out of shame.
By the cross you are the truth,
You are the life, you are the way
Lift my hands and spin around,
See the light that I have found.
Oh the marvelous light
Marvelous light
Community Life & Costume Awards
Passing the Peace & Playdough
The peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
A Liturgy As Big As Life
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi (the law of praying is the law of believing)
Prayers of the People
You hear us calling, You hear us calling
Abba Father
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy
Lord, in your Mercy
Hear our prayer.
We’re Still Here
“Blessed are You, My Lord, our God, King of the universe, Who has kept us alive, sustained us and brought us to this season. Amen.”
The Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts!
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Is the Father with us?
He is.
Is Christ among us?
He is.
Is the Spirit here?
She is.
This is our God.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We are his people.
We are redeemed.
Therefore we proclaim the mystery of our faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
We Will Feast (reprise)
We will feast in the house of Zion
We will sing with our hearts restored
He has done great things, we will say together
We will feast and weep no more
The Cross of Christ
All our Problems,
We send to the cross of Christ.
All our difficulties,
We send to the cross of Christ.
All the devil’s works,
We send to the cross of Christ.
All our hopes,
We set on the Risen Christ.
Blessing & Sending
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
