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
O, Most Loving and Merciful God, you have sought to guide the steps of your children, through threatening waters, barren unending wildernesses, times of hardship and prosperity, times of hostility and tranquility, times of great sorrow and great joy. We confess wrestling with ourselves in the face of controversy and challenge. Will we hang our heads in defeat or can we muster the spiritual stamina it takes to meet the challenge and work out a solution. With Paul we must proclaim that you have not given us a Spirit of fear, but a Spirit of power and love and self-control. We pray to be instruments of your peace, messengers of your goodwill, and ambassadors of Christ’s love for all. Teach us the ways of welcome and hospitality always, daring us to open wide the doors of our hearts and Christ’s church. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
OFFERING INVITATION
This is a quote from Spiderman: The Battle Within: “Whatever comes our way, whatever battle we have raging inside us, we always have a choice. My friend Harry taught me that. He chose to be the best of himself. It’s our choices that make us who we are, and we can always choose to do what’s right.” In our society we have a tendency to look at choices as something akin to selections on a menu, or which color will bring out the blue in our eyes. The statement “You always have a choice,” is on the verge of becoming a platitude, because it is so often repeated. Whenever we make a choice in this life, there are costs, benefits, and often consequences that ensue. Choosing to follow Jesus, is neither a single, nor a final step. The choice requires us to put our trust in the rightness of his teachings, and invest ourselves in service as his disciples. It’s just not something you can turn on and off at will; it is the choice of your life.
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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