Day of Prayer for People with AIDS
and Other Life-Threatening Illnesses
VISUAL ARTS (PARAMENTS, GENERAL DECORATIONS, SPECIFIC DECORATIONS)
Brim: Creative Overflow in Worship Design
Banner Designs for the Church Year
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CALL TO WORSHIP
Lamentations 3
Leader: The steadfast love of God never ceases,
with mercies that are new every morning.
People: Great is your faithfulness, O God, the source of all hope.
Leader: You are good to those who wait upon you and whose souls seek you.
People: You came when we called upon you and said, “Do not fear!”
Leader: The steadfast love of God never ceases,
with mercies that are new every morning.
People: Let our worship be pleasing in your sight.
—Ministry Council Ministry Teams Staff
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Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Leader: The Lord is with us in health and in sickness.
People: The Lord is with us in poor and in plenty.
Leader: The grace of God is with us,
People: even when we feel unredeemable.
Leader: God walks with us.
People: even when we feel alone.
Leader: The love of God is with us,
People: even when we feel unloved.
Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
—Byron Forester
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Leader: Today God’s Spirit is upon all who are afflicted, poor, needy and hungry.
We remember we are a broken world living with AIDS
and other life-threatening illness.
People: We remember God will never leave or forsake us.
Leader: God’s healing light shines upon and within us.
People: Thanks be to God.
All: Let us worship God.
—Shelia O’Mara
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Leader: The Lord’s house is a shelter for the forgotten;
a refuge for those seeking wholeness and healing from AIDS
and other life-threatening illnesses,
and a family for those who are alienated.
People: We remember God will never leave or forsake us.
Leader: God’s healing light shines upon and within us.
People: Thanks be to God.
All: Let us enter into the Lord’s house and worship God.
—Shelia O’Mara
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Psalm 13
One: How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
Many: How long must I bear pain in my soul, and have sorrow in my heart all day long?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?
One: Consider and answer me, O Lord my God!
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death.
Many: And my enemy will say, “I have prevailed”;
my foes will rejoice because I am shaken.
All: But I trust in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord, because you have dealt bountifully with me.
—Jennifer Hayes
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One: God consoles us in all our afflictions.
Many: Let us also console those who are afflicted.
One: Take strength from each other, the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us.
Many: We are stronger together, and our consolation is abundant through Christ.
One: May God who creates and sustains us be with us and bless us this day.
Many: Praise be to God who continues to give us strength.
—John Smith
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INVOCATION
God of Hope,
All of us have been affected by diseases which threaten life.
Diseases such as AIDS, cancer, Alzheimer’s threaten to drive us into fear and despair.
However we thank you that your perfect love casts out fear and gives us hope.
All around us we see growing understanding, medical advances, changing attitudes and behavior,
and greater awareness and concern in your church.
Holy Spirit, tie us together with strong ties of love.
May we be a church where all can find acceptance and refuge.
May we be a place where those experiencing illness will find welcome and safety.
May we be a people who care and love for others as you have cared and loved us.
May all of this be done for the glory of you son Jesus the Christ
who with you and the Holy Spirit are glorified forever and ever. Amen.
—John Smith
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MUSIC (HYMNS, SONGS, ANTHEMS)
My Faith Looks Up to Thee (HPSS-381, WC-552, WSH-381)
What A Friend We Have in Jesus (HPSS-403, WC-622, WSH-397)
There is a Balm in Gilead—Anthem
O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go (HPSS-384, WC-531, WSH-323)
HPSS—Hymns, Psalms and Spiritual Songs
WC—The Worshiping Church: A Hymnal
WSH—Worship and Service Hymnal
—Ministry Council Ministry Teams Staff
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CALL TO CONFESSION
The words of the prophet Isaiah call us to confession of sin: “Be not so terribly angry, O Lord, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all your people.” Let us confess our sins against God and others.
—Ministry Council Ministry Teams Staff
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Trusting that we are reconciled to God, may we confess our sin to God and to each other.
—Byron Forester
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When one member of the body of Christ suffers, all members suffer. Scripture tells us to say no to wrong, learn to do good, work for justice, help the down-and-out, stand up for the homeless, go to bat for the defenseless. Let us together ask for God’s forgiveness for the times we have not listened to God’s voice.
—Shelia O’Mara
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When one member of the body of Christ suffers, all members suffer. Scripture tells us to say no to wrong, learn to do good, work for justice, help the down-and-out, stand up for the homeless, go to bat for the defenseless. Let us together ask for forgiveness for the times we have not listened to God’s voice.
—Shelia O’Mara
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As those who are called to follow God’s commandments and show the love of Christ to all, let us confess our sins before God.
—Jennifer Hayes
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God welcomes meets us where we are. While we are yet sinners Christ died for us.
We are sinners for whom Christ died. We are sick and need to be healed.
Let us come before God humbly asking forgiveness.
—John Smith
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PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of holiness and wholeness, we call to you from an awareness of our unworthiness in your sight. Sometimes that is revealed in our attitudes toward others particularly those who are suffering from AIDS and other life-threatening diseases. We tend to turn the other way, or to “blame the victim,” or to forget that part of our calling is to serve those in greatest need. When we are ill, we do not hesitate to call on you for help. But we may forget or even be hesitant to pray for others. Remind us that it is in our weakness that your strength is made known, and in our dependence on you that we find genuine freedom. Your son touched the untouchable, reached out to those forsaken by all others. Shape us, we pray, in his example for your glory. Amen.
—Ministry Council Ministry Teams Staff
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We see our sisters and brothers with illnesses
that take away their strength and abilities
and we feel pity for them,
but we have not been moved.
We know that through your wondrous creation,
through the work of science and research
that much can be done to alleviate suffering and restore health,
But we find it too expensive.
Lord, you tell us to love one another,
but we find it frighteningly easy to ignore that command.
Forgive us, Lord.
Heal us of our own blindness and deafness and hardheartedness.
Make us over into your caring servants
who would deny ourselves in order to minister to others
in the way that Christ serves us.
Heal us, O God.
Restore us, that we may enter your kingdom.
Silent confession
—Byron Forester
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God, you created all things good and sacred. We have sinned against you and creation. You created all of us in your image. We have denied many their dignity. You gave us resources and charged us with stewardship of all you gave us. We have denied food and medicine to those in need. Bread, medicine, food and prayer alone are not enough. May we join together to serve those in need. Forgive us and renew our commitment to stewardship of your sacred creation. Amen.
—Shelia O’Mara
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You created all of us in your image. We have denied many their dignity. You gave us resources and charged us with stewardship of all creation. We have failed to celebrate life when facing life-threatening situations. We spend too much on funerals and not enough on saving lives. We prefer the mountaintops and avoid the valleys and shadows of death. Forgive us and renew our commitment to stewardship of your sacred creation. Amen.
—Shelia O’Mara
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One: God of Compassion, when we fail to see your image imprinted on those
who do not look, act, or believe like us,
Many: Forgive us, O God.
One: When we cast judgments upon those whose shortcomings are more public than our own,
Many: Forgive us, O God.
One: When we allow our discomfort with sickness to be an excuse
to further isolate those who are ill,
Many: Forgive us, O God.
One: When we use shallow clichés to minimize, silence, and disregard
the grief those with AIDS and other life-threatening illnesses experience,
Many: Forgive us, O God.
One: When we feed into the stereotypes of already marginalized people,
allowing our words and actions to create questions
about your never-failing grace and love,
Many: Forgive us, O God.
One: When we confuse healing with cure,
Many: Forgive us, O God.
One: Hear, now, our silent confessions:
(pause for silent confessions)
One: Forgive us, O God.
All: Amen.
—Jennifer Hayes
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Welcoming God, we acknowledge that too often we do not love others as you love us. You receive us as we are, yet we reject those that come to us. We have been given mercy, but we withhold it from others. Forgive us God. Allow us to be a place where the inclusive love of Christ is seen and felt. Let us be a place of healing and a place where wholeness is offered and received. Make us whole again we pray in Christ’s name. Amen.
—John Smith
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ASSURANCE OF PARDON
We act in unloving ways and yet God is willing to hear us when we turn from our unloveliness and ask for forgiveness. Through Jesus Christ we are forgiven and offered love. Thanks be to God! Amen.
—Ministry Council Ministry Teams Staff
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Be assured that God hears our prayer and will repair our broken spirits. There is nothing we can do that can move us beyond the reach of God’s love, compassion and mercy. Sisters and brothers in Christ, we are a forgiven and blessed people. Amen.
—Byron Forester
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2 Corinthians 4:8-10
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
—Shelia O’Mara
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Romans 8:34
One: Who can condemn us? Only Christ Jesus, who died, who was raised,
who is at the right hand of God, and who indeed intercedes for us.
Hear the good news—through Christ, you are forgiven.
Many: Thanks be to God!
—Jennifer Hayes
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God is present. God has called us here and welcomes us here. God offers us acceptance and peace.
Thanks be to God.
—John Smith
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CHILDREN’S SERMON
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PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Hear our prayer now to illumine these scriptures and open them to our minds through the message in this time we have now to hear what you have us hear. Amen.
—Ministry Council Ministry Teams Staff
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God of our weakness and wellness, speak to us in whatever state we are in that we may find encouragement and wisdom in your Word. Amen.
—Byron Forester
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Open our ears, eyes, and hearts, O God, so that we can see the suffering of others and respond to their needs. Give us courage to bring justice, healing and hope to a broken world. Amen.
—Shelia O’Mara
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Draw us close to you, O God. Break down our barriers and preconceived notions so that we may meet your word with ears ready to hear, hearts ready to love, and feet ready to go. May truth be spoken, and truth be heard. Amen.
—Jennifer Hayes
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O God, let us hear these words of hope and healing from your word. Amen.
—John Smith
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SCRIPTURE TEXTS/SERMON IDEAS
- Psalm 103
- Matthew 5:1-11
- Philippians 4:1-9
—Ministry Council Ministry Teams Staff
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- Matthew 14:34-36
—Byron Forester
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- Isaiah 65:17-25
- Isaiah 12
- Malachi 4:1-2a
- Psalm 98
- 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
- Luke 21:5-19
—Shelia O’Mara
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There are many scriptures that testify to God’s ability to physically heal. However, for whatever reason, physically healing does not always occur, no matter how many petitions to God are made. People of faith who desire, but are not experiencing, physical healing often feel great shame for feeling angry or bitter toward God about their sickness. Numerous patients and families of patients have shared with me how isolating it is to want healing, pray for healing, and then not be healed. These confessions are almost always followed by apologies for “questioning God” or “being angry with God” or “not being a good Christian because ‘good Christians’ never have weak moments of faith.” My hope is that on this Sunday, which is set apart to pray for people with AIDS and other life threatening illnesses, we are able see God working through the suggested scriptures as we publically name the silent parts of illness—the pain, grief, isolation, shame, anger, etc.—and think theologically about how followers of Christ can love, advocate for, and serve those affected by life threatening illness.
- Psalm 31:1-13
- Psalm 38
- Proverbs 31:8-9
- Isaiah 35
- Isaiah 40:1-11
- Lamentations 3 (in part or in whole)
- Matthew 11:28-30
- Romans 8:18-39
- Colossians 3:12-17
—Jennifer Hayes
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- Psalm 103
- James 5: 13-16 or 2 Corinthians 1: 3-11
- Matthew 8: 1-17
- Hope, God’s comfort in the midst of affliction, the welcoming nature of Christ (in the gospel passage he “touches” the leper)
- Emphasize the identification of Christ with the afflicted. Christ suffers alongside. They do not suffer long.
- Do research on AIDS and some of these other illnesses. Look at the statistics and some of the advancements in research.
- Fight against the stigma that so many illnesses, especially AIDS, have built up in our society. The afflicted sought out Jesus and he by passed the stigma (once again Jesus “touched” the Leper)
—John Smith
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SOCIAL MEDIA HELPS (VIDEOS, TAPED SONGS)
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AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
We believe in God the Father, who is holy love. God, by word and action, invites all person into a covenant relationship. God acts to heal the brokenness and alienation caused by sin and to restore the human family to community through the reconciliation effected in Jesus Christ. God never leaves or forsakes God’s people.
We believe in God the Son, the eternal Word made flesh. He is always the essence of the one covenant of grace. Jesus accomplished God’s mighty act of reconciling love. Jesus willingly suffered sin and death for every person. On the third day after being crucified, Christ was raised from the dead, appeared to many disciples, afterward ascended to God, and makes intercessions for all persons.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who continues to act redemptively in the world. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, God creates the Church for mission in this world. We, as God’s people, continue to look forward to the consummation of history at the coming of Jesus Christ, when all the kingdoms of the world shall become the kingdom of the Lord and his Christ and God shall reign forever and ever.
Based on various sections of the Confession of Faith
—John Smith
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PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
O God, who loves us more than we will ever know,
we come to you praising your name
and thanking you for the gift of your amazing love.
You give us more than we deserve or could ever hope to return
and yet here we are trying to say in our insufficient words “We love you.”
God, we feel your love and presence with us
and yet we know that there are others who do not:
—those who are poor and homeless
—those who are suffering from illness and grief
—those who have not experienced an accepting community of believers
because of their lifestyle or attitudes
—those who are hurting so much that they cannot open up
Help those who do not feel your love to open themselves up to your love
so that they too might experience true joy and acceptance.
Give us the grace to seek out those who need our love,
so they might see your love through us.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
—Ministry Council Ministry Teams Staff
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Loving, liberating and life-giving God,
Heal our spirits.
Heal our spirits in such a way
that we are able to be aware of the ways
that your Spirit continues to move in our lives.
Be with those of us who are patients of AIDS, of cancer,
of ALCS, of any illness that threatens our lives.
Illnesses that:
- take away those physical abilities that we took for granted,
- confuse our minds and rob us of our memories,
- prevent us from experiencing life in the way we once did,
- will prevent us from experiencing life in our later years.
Give us the ability, Lord, to experience life in a different way; a way that allows us to be in deeper communion with you without all the distractions that come with a so-called “healthy” life.
Become so real to us that we understand that through our pain and disease, you walk with us as we move toward that point where we cease this earthly existence and are resurrected into eternal life with you.
We pray for those who labor in the hospitals: doctors, nurses, and technicians, those who feed us and bathe us and clean up after us. Give them the vision and urgency and the clear understanding that they are your agents of healing.
We pray for those who take care of us:
- friends and family, who so love us that they go beyond what they thought themselves capable of doing.
- Those who sit with us, talk with us, watch TV with us, listen to us as we unburden our hearts, or when we rail against God.
Be with them as they work through feelings of inadequacy, of guilt, of fear that they should have done something to prevent our illness.
We pray especially those of us who have no one like that in our lives; no one to listen to us, to comfort us, to pray for us; those of us who lay alone in our suffering, wondering if anyone ever loved us.
Help us, Lord. Speak to us in our hearts, assure us that we are not judged because we are sick; that we are not less precious to you because we cannot do what others do; that we are not less worthy of your love because we are not whole. Show us that even in our fragile physical state we still have gifts to share.
Help us to know that wholeness, true healing, comes when we are released into your eternal care.
Ease our spirits, strengthen us, embolden us to know that you walk with us on every step of our journey as we are restored to you. Amen.
—Byron Forester
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God, you are the God of wholeness and want good health for all your people.
Grant healing to all who are sick and restore them to health.
Jesus Christ, you came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. You commanded your disciples to lay hands on the sick and anoint them with oil.
May our lives and the witness of the church be a sign of your love to a broken world.
Holy Spirit, our bodies are the temples of your presence.
Be with those who suffer and strengthen them with your presence. Grant them peace and comfort.
Bless medical personnel, researchers and all who care for the suffering.
May the Lord strengthen them in their ministry. Amen.
—Shelia O’Mara
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God, your will is health and salvation.
Grant healing to all who are sick and restore them to health.
Jesus Christ, you came that we might have life and have it more abundantly.
May our lives and the witness of the Church be a sign of your love to a broken
world.
Holy Spirit, our bodies are the temples of your presence.
Be with those who suffer and strengthen them with your presence. Grant them
peace and comfort.
Hear us Lord of Life—what can we learn?
All life is sacred. God is the only giver and protector of life and intervenes
with the suffering. We are called to bring hope to those without hope.
Hear us Lord of Life—what can we be thankful for?
We are thankful for life, whether we are HIV positive, have AIDS or are
seriously ill. We are thankful for those who work with at risk populations, for
researchers who dedicate their lives to find cures and for the medical
advances made thus far.
Hear us Lord of Life—what can we pray for?
We pray for a spirit of compassion, a desire to work for positive change in the
lives of those suffering and the courage to visit those who live in the valleys of
the shadow of death.
Hear us Lord of Life—what can we do?
We can be agents for change in a caring community, lead thankful lives and
serve as ambassadors of hope. Amen.
—Shelia O’Mara
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One: Merciful and caring God, you are present in the midst of our joys and sorrows,
our healing and sickness, our calm and anger, our honor and shame.
Open our eyes to see your presence in our lives.
Many: Have mercy on us.
One: Be with those who are physically, mentally, and spiritually unwell.
Provide those who are sick comfort and peace, access to medicines and health care,
and a community of faith who is willing to journey alongside those who are ill.
Many: Have mercy on us.
One: Give us clear vision so that we may recognize those living with HIV and AIDS
as children of our beloved.
Provide us with strength so that we may act justly
in hopes of erasing the social stigma, discrimination, poverty, and violence
that so often accompanies a diagnosis of HIV and AIDS.
Many: Have mercy on us.
One: Grant gentleness, kindness, patience, strength, and wisdom
to those who offer care to those living with HIV, AIDS, and other threatening illnesses.
Many: Have mercy on us.
One: Meet us with grace, kindness, and love when we find ourselves
consumed with feelings of inadequacy, darkness, isolation, shame,
and unmovable pressures and circumstances.
Many: Have mercy on us.
One: Encourage, protect, and guide those whom govern, protect, teach, and serve us.
Allow your Spirit to direct their leadership, actions, and policies
to reflect your kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
Many: Have mercy on us.
One: Let us, as a community, lift our voices up to a God who cares:
(Speak the names and situations aloud)
One: Good and caring God, we commend all for whom we pray,
trusting in your mercy, as we pray together in the manner
in which Jesus taught his disciples, saying:
All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
—Jennifer Hayes
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LITANY
Romans 12:1
God, you are our creator, you have called us to wholeness and salvation.
All: Heal us Lord, Have mercy on us.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, you have given us abundant life.
All: Heal us Lord, Have mercy on us.
Holy Spirit, we have been made your temple.
All: Heal us Lord, Have mercy on us.
Heal us from our broken bodies and hearts caused by sicknesses such as AIDS, cancer, Alzheimer’s and other diseases which medical science has yet to find a cure.
All: Heal us Lord, Have mercy on us.
Heal us from the grief that continues to pain our spirits and minds and leave us empty about the meaning of life.
All: Heal us Lord, Have mercy on us.
Heal us from the social stigma that comes with disease.
All: Heal us Lord, Have mercy on us.
Into your hands, gracious God, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Christ who taught us to pray…Our Father…
—John Smith
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INVITATION TO THE OFFERING
There are those in our communities that need our help. Let us give our tithes and offerings so their needs may be met through the ministries of this congregation.
—Ministry Council Ministry Teams Staff
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God has given us everything we need in this life. May we share some of what we have been given so that others may have wholeness.
—Byron Forester
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We are truly blessed with many gifts from God. At this time, let us give as generously to others as God has given to us.
—Shelia O’Mara
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1 Corinthians 13:3
“If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” As we prepare to give of our tithes and offerings, let us also silently reflect on ways to give of ourselves.
—Jennifer Hayes
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Romans 12:1
I appeal to you therefore, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God.
—John Smith
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OFFERTORY PRAYER
Creator God, we see your love in everything around us.
We have received so much from you
and our hearts are grateful for your abundance.
We come now to you with our hearts, our arms, our whole selves
open and willing to be living sacrifices to you, O God.
We present ourselves.
Take us, mold us, use us in new and creative ways in the world
that your love and abundance may be spread throughout this world. Amen.
—Ministry Council Ministry Teams Staff
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Lord we present to you symbols of what we do with our lives and ask your blessings upon them. We bring to you our very lives that you would use us in ways that reflect kindness and love for us. Amen.
—Byron Forester
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O God, we know that even if we continued to give all that we have for all the days of our lives that we have, that we would never be able to match what you have given to us. And yet, we stand here giving of our best. Bless this offering and use it to better your kingdom here on earth. Amen.
—Shelia O’Mara
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God, giver of all good gifts, we thank you for the opportunity to give of our funds and ourselves. We ask that you receive now our tithes and offerings. Bless our resources, giving us the discernment to use them wisely, so that we may reflect your glory as we serve your creation. Amen.
—Jennifer Hayes
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God of healing and wholeness, we thank you that you have not left us. We stand on the promise that you will never forsake us. We grow stronger knowing that you will comfort us in the midst of affliction, pain, and disease. We cling to the hope, knowing that there is a day when crying and pain shall be no more. Help us, by your Spirit to continue to receive your power into our lives and to trust in your love through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
—John Smith
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CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
May we show God’s love through our selfless giving.
May we show Christ’s love by accepting the unlovely.
May we show the Holy Spirit’s love by giving comfort to those who need us.
May we receive love from this community that surrounds us. Amen.
—Ministry Council Ministry Teams Staff
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Go in the knowledge that none of us is completely healthy, that all of us are in need of grace and redemption.
Go in the knowledge that if we possess the same mind as Christ that we, too are able to share healing and restoring love with our sisters and brothers.
May you know the peace of Christ, the love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit today and always. Amen.
—Byron Forester
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May God the Son heal us.
May God the Holy Spirit strengthen us.
Amen.
—Shelia O’Mara
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to a broken world longing to be restored to wholeness.
Share the love of Jesus Christ who touched the broken,
ate with them and offered them healing.
Give thanks for the gift of life—celebrate, live and protect it. Amen.
—Shelia O’Mara
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Proverbs 31:8-9
Go into the world and share the love of Christ with all whom you encounter. “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy” in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Alleluia and Amen.
—Jennifer Hayes
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Ephesians 4:1-3
“Lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Alleluia and Amen.
—Jennifer Hayes
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(As the congregation says, “We send to the cross of Christ” they can make a sweeping gesture with their hands toward the cross at the front of the sanctuary. In the final statement, they can lift their hands to heaven in symbolism of lifting our hopes to Christ.)
All our problems and grief
We send to the cross of Christ.
All our sickness and pain
We send to the cross of Christ.
All the devil’s works
We send to the cross of Christ.
All our hopes
We set on the risen Christ.
Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you and scatter the darkness from before your path: and the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always. Amen.
Based on the Kenyan Rite of the Eucharist, Kenyan Book of Common Prayer
—John Smith