CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Most Loving and Gracious God, gathering here in this sanctuary to worship together, we are grateful for these moments of spiritual nourishment. As we sing, pray and reflect on your word we confess our relief. For this one hour we are able to receive some respite from the madness that haunts so many populations on this earth. We are rattled, frazzled and despairing of the news reports that attest to humanity’s disregard for humanity. Your children are devalued, divided and destroyed by hatred, jealousy and greed. We pray never to succumb to despair or hopelessness, seeking only to be witnesses of your goodwill , reveling in and boasting without ceasing of your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
PREPARING FOR THE OFFERING
I don’t think we thought to much about the word “identity” until someone coupled it with the word crisis back in 1954 and then with the word theft in 1995. So an identity crisis came to be seen as a threat to our who-we-are-ness, that selfness which makes us unique in all the world. Identity theft, may very well cause an identity crisis and is not considered resolvable with therapy. The etymology of the word “identity” refers to sameness, the same, repeatedly, over and over. Identical twins are the same. “Same old, Same old” is the response given by those who are apathetic or have become disillusioned with their circumstances in life. Paul’s epistle to the Hebrews reminds us that sameness is good in Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today and forever.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Gracious God, we take seriously our role as partners with you in sharing your message of love and grace for all of humanity. Our tithes and offerings are just one way by which we affirm our faith and trust in you and ready our hearts, bodies and minds to follow your will. May these gifts bring glory to your name, moving us ever closer to the fulfillment of your kingdom upon the earth. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
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