14B – Epiphany 6B

13B - Epiphany 5B — 15B - Epiphany 7B
 
See also my post from 2012
 
WE GATHER BEFORE GOD (From Psalm 30)
Joyful praise I give you, O LORD;
you drew me up and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
I called on you and you healed me;
you brought my life up from the darkest depths.
I was among those going down to a pit of death,
but you brought me to life.
All you faithful, praise the LORD,
praise the holy name of the LORD.

PRAYER OF PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING (From Psalm 30)
O LORD, a fractured relationship with you is like a death;
yet your one desire is life – community with you.
With darkness weeping remains,
but joy comes with the hint of morning light.
We’ve come to take so much for granted in our lives:
“I’m OK – steady as a rock.
In fact, LORD, you’ve been so good to me
I’m more secure than a strong mountain.”
Then it seemed that you hid your face from me,
and I was terrified.
I cried out to you, LORD, when things were really grim;
I pleaded with you to restore my good circumstance:
“What profit is there in my weeping, in my going down in the pit?
Will the dust praise you? Will it declare your faithfulness?
Hear me, LORD, and be merciful.
O LORD, be my help.”
You transformed my mourning into dance,
and gave me new life;
you have taken my sack-cloth and clothed me with joy,
so that my life will praise you, and not weep.
O LORD, my God, I will praise you  – for ever.

OFFERING
Gracious and generous God,
we do not bring silver, or gold, or fine linen,
but simply ourselves and symbols of our daily life.
By your Holy Spirit bless our lives and our gifts
to your use and for your glory,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

DISMISSAL
You have transformed my mourning into dance,
and given me new life;
you have taken my sack-cloth and clothed me with joy,
so that my life will praise you, and not weep.
O LORD, my God, I will praise you  – for ever. 

 …. AND BENEDICTION

A CREATIVE MOMENT – 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Materials/Preparation: 
A pair of running shoes (or other appropriate apparel);
a sports trophy (e.g. cup);
a wreath of evergreen;
a wreath worked from thin branches of a thorn bush. (This one needs to be prepared sufficiently in advance for it to be made “green” and allowed to dry and lose its leaves.)

The running shoes, trophy and evergreen wreath are placed at the foot of the communion table; the thorny wreath/crown placed on the communion table either alone or in front of a cross which might usually be in place there.

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
(A prayer to gather the spoken and silent concerns/joys/thanks expressed by the congregation and lead into a more structured Intercession with connection to the lections for the day. Sometimes this prayer will borrow lightly from other sources e.g. Uniting in Worship 2 or publications of the Iona Community.)
 
There is no place you have not been,
Jesus of our history.
Stretch out your hand and touch
those for whom we pray
with life in all its wholeness.
Let the light of your word
dispel the weeping of the dark night
of despair, loneliness and grief
with peace.
Transform the sackcloth and ashes
of our lives,
into songs of thanks and praise.
(The Prayers of the People continue)

Looking for contemporary music and song resources?
Try David MacGregor’s Together to Celebrate