We believe in God, the creator of heaven and earth, the giver of light and truth, life and breath.
We believe that nothing can separate us from the grace, love and mercy of God who never hesitates to forgive the repentant heart.
We believe in Jesus Christ, God in human vesture, who desired to walk among us, reaching out to love us into new life.
We believe that he took upon himself our sin and regret, carrying these to the cross, where he gave his own life for our sakes.
This was his ultimate gift to us.
We believe that the Christ triumphed over death and will come to us again one day.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who speaks God’s truth to all people, in every language.
Embracing the Holy Spirit, our hearts are warmed, and we become living proof
of God’s transforming presence.
We believe in the church, the body of Christ to which we belong,
and through which we are called to serve and to make a difference in God’s world.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Our Sovereign God, Master of all and Creator of the Universe we make many entrances in this life, and many of them mark significant days in our lifetime. We enter the world on the day we are born. We enter the world of learning, on our first day of school. When we find our course we enter into careers and callings. When we fall in love we enter into covenants and commitments. And many of us ready or not will enter into the sometimes joyous, sometimes grievous commitment of parenting. At the end of our days upon this earth we shall soar making another kind of entrance altogether into your glorious company. In the meantime, merciful God, we acknowledge and proclaim that the most important entrance we have made is the entrance into a lifelong relationship with Jesus. We trusted then that divine company would walk with us and bless us all our days. This morning, remind us that as Jesus’ disciples, we are called to accompany him into and through the days of his passion. All this we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
PREPARING FOR THE OFFERING
The Palm Crosses you will receive at the end of the service today are made by villagers near Masasi, Tanzania, Africa. By weaving crosses and totes from palm leaves they earn wages to support their families. All proceeds from the sale of palm products fund basic humanitarian aid projects in Africa. The significance of the palm cross is linked to the church’s long standing tradition of burning the dried up palm leaves to use as ashes for Ash Wednesday, and offers us a connection to a kind of spiritual continuum throughout the church year. As the palm ashes are imposed upon our brows we are reminded of our mortality and thus enter, appropriately, the season of Lent. You will be invited to adorn yourselves with the ashes from these palm leaves on February 10, 2016.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Gracious God, we thank you for each and every one of life’s blessings. Remind us this week that the presence of the Christ in our lives is the greatest blessing of all. Give us the courage and will to go the distance with him during this final week of the Lenten season. As we walk with him as his disciples, we commit our hearts to ministering in his name. Bless these gifts to be a transforming witness, bringing your light, comfort, healing, and strength to those who walk in darkness. Remind us always that we reflect your presence in our lives through our gifts as well as our work. Amen.
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