It was the Spirit of God who moved over the face of the waters,
and brought the universe and this earth into being.
That same Spirit breathes life into human creation.
It was the Spirit of God who conceived a Messiah, the Son and Beloved One.
The very name, “Jesus,” meant salvation. He was our Emmanuel; God with us.
When Jesus gave up his life for ours, at the last he commended his own Spirit into God’s hands, and God, the creator, 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
Gracious God of Love and Mercy, speak to us of possibility. Fill us with the hope that is born of true faith in your promises. We confess to interpreting your promise of prosperity in such a way as to justify the accumulation of earthly treasures. But we are ever aware that you did not promise humanity, riches or power, or health, or happiness. From the beginning you have offered us blessing, truth, peace, mercy and love, hoping that we would embrace those gifts and share them abundantly amongst our fellows. This weekend we celebrate a fought for independence as a nation, but let us, at the same time, acknowledge our dependence upon your grace and goodwill. If not for your grace, we would envision little beyond our days spent upon this earth. If not for the life and word’s of your Son and Beloved One, we would not be aware of your promises. We embrace those promises as true, because of Jesus’ resurrection. For all this and more, we give you thanks in his name. Amen.
OFFERING INVITATION
Colonialism is the “policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically.” On this Independence Day weekend, we celebrate our independence from colonialism. Two hundred and forty years ago we declared ourselves a stand-alone nation, establishing our own constitution, bill of rights and laws, as well as building our own economy. Colonialism is perhaps not as blatantly obvious today as it was three centuries ago, however we must confess that poorer nations and peoples dependent upon richer nations for protection, clean water, food, medicine, and more, also have the potential for being exploited by their patrons. May the help we offer others, as a nation and a people, come from hearts of conscience full of the goodwill of Christ Jesus.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Wondrous and Eternal God, pour out your blessing upon these gifts and promises. We offer them with full and grateful hearts. We trust that you will always guide us to use them wisely, and always for the greater good. Proclaiming our belief that all things are possible with you, we offer ourselves in service, seeking always, in the name of the Christ, to do your work and will. Amen.
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