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THE GATHERING OF GOD’S PEOPLE
Call to worship
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with us all.
Amen.
In Christ Jesus we are all children of God through faith.
There is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female:
We are all one in Christ Jesus.
For everyone who is in Christ:
There is a new creation!
A hymn may be sung.
A Prayer of Approach and Confession
We praise and adore you, God, the Creator:
through your love and power all things came to be,
and continue in their being.
We praise and adore you, Jesus Christ, the Redeemer:
by your life and death on the cross
we are reconciled to the Father and to each other;
by your resurrection from the dead
we are born anew into a living hope.
We praise and adore you, Holy Spirit, the Giver of life:
by your fire the church was born and baptized,
and by your gifts of grace the body of Christ is continually built up.
With the whole church on earth and in heaven
we praise and adore you,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
one God, forever.
Jesus said: “Come to me,
all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me;
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Let us confess our sins:
We are called to be the body of Christ.
We are not worthy of his name.
Christ proclaimed truth.
We obscure it.
Christ opened the way to the Father.
We shut people out.
Christ prayed for the unity of his church.
We remain divided.
Christ denounced the rich and blessed the poor.
We shrink from the demands of justice.
Christ loved his enemies.
We love only our friends.
Christ gave himself for the world.
We huddle in our churches.
Forgive us, Lord.
Conform us to the image of Jesus.
May all that we do arise from our unity in him.
May his Spirit renew and transform the world.
Amen.
Here are words you may trust,
words that merit full acceptance:
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”
Jesus says: “Your sins are forgiven.”
He also says: “Come follow me.”
Thanks be to God.
This Gloria or a suitable hymn may be said or sung,
or an alternative Gloria.
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
Almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
Either
a prayer or suitable collect may be said 1
Or
Heavenly Father,
you have called us in the Body of your Son Jesus Christ
to continue his work of reconciliation
and reveal you to the world:
give us the courage to overcome our fears
and to seek that unity which is your gift and your will:
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God for ever and ever.
Amen.