It was the Spirit of God who moved over the face of the waters,
and brought into being the world.
That same Spirit breathes life into us today.
It was the Spirit of God who conceived a Messiah, the Son and beloved One.
His very name meant salvation. He was our Emmanuel; God with us.
When Jesus gave up his life for ours, he entrusted his Spirit to God’s hands,
and God, the creator of life, raised him from the dead.
It was the Spirit of God who poured into the hearts, minds and mouths of the Apostles
the language of salvation empowering them to tell the stories of Jesus to all the world.
And it is the Spirit of God who moves in and through the Church, the Body of Christ,
empowering us to witness to the truth of Christ, in loving service to all.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Loving and Merciful God we are grateful for your presence with us, acknowledging that you are more than present; you abide in us. You are in our every breath, our every movement, our every thought and expression. You are with us when we are awake and when we are asleep offering us peace of mind, and spirit. We do not believe that you seek to control us by your constancy in our lives, but are hopeful on our behalf, encouraging us to choose goodness, love and compassion toward our fellow humans over evil, hate and indifference. We confess a tendency to get caught up in the woes and challenges that confront us everyday. Keep us mindful of the blessings that often accompany them. We pray for patience and stamina when confronted by, and with change. When we are in distress, guard our hearts and minds against bedeviling panic. When we are in pain, guard us against despair. When we suffer loss, remind us of your abundant love and the promise of a new day. All this we pray in the name of the Christ. Amen.
OFFERING INVITATION
When do you feel the Spirit of God at work in you? Some would answer that question with “never,” some with “always,” and still others with, “I don’t know.” I believe this to be true: Every breath of life is manufactured by the God who created us all. The Spirit of God is always at work in the human soul, more often than not, trying to break through the walls of resistance we build. We want to be the captains of our own soul, the wizards of our own destiny. Many of us think that if we align ourselves too closely with the Holy Spirit, everything we have, all of our possessions, all of our accomplishments, will somehow be usurped or repossessed by that same Spirit. I think God notices when we flinch or get our noses out of joint because we haven’t been properly thanked for our invested efforts, gifts, and talents, or acknowledged for all we have done and do for the church. Do you ever wonder if God’s nose gets out of joint when any of us turns away or disregards God’s presence? I assure you, God is better than that, and only persists in trying to tear down the walls we put up.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Gracious God, we believe you are at work in each of us. It is your Holy Spirit that moves us to be generous and so we ask you to pour our your blessing on the gifts we set before you. We give to support the ministries of the church. These tithes and offerings are an act of worship and a thankful response to your incredible generosity. May this church continue to thrive and grow as each of us seeks to mature as true disciples of Jesus. Help us recognize your empowering and gracious presence at work and let us bring glory to your name. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
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