Sunday, January 31, 2021
CALL TO WORSHIP
Psalm 138
MUSIC
Curated by Kevin Borst
Bethel Music - Raise A Hallelujah
Bethel Music - God I Look To You
Bethel Music - Goodness of God
Hillsong Worship - Cornerstone
EUCHARIST INVITATION
Written by Larissa Amour
For almost a year now, we have grown acutely experienced in foreign or alternative ways of coming together. Today we worship from homes that have doubled as workplaces, classrooms, and even sanctuaries. The duality of these spaces have left us longing for intentional connection, whether it be to other people or to the Divine. Now the beauty with Eucharist, or communion, is its inherent ability to connect us not only to centuries of participants, but to the very moments God shows us just how worthy and wholeheartedly loved we are. This deep connection with a community built on faith and held together by grace, can be the spiritual sustenance we need to carry us through the dimmest and brightest moments of our days. Let this be an invitation to the feast in which Christ is both host and meal – a moment of welcome into God's divine presence in your life.
Come to this table in your frailty to be made strong. Come to this table in your doubt to be reassured. Come to this table in your despair to be given hope. Come to the table, crawling or kneeling to be lifted up on steady ground. For this is the body of Christ
All are welcome at the table, grace and peace is being offered to you. So let us come to the table not because we must because we may, and not because we have any claim on the grace of God but because we stand in constant need of grace. Come, today, not because you are strong, but because we are weak. Let us turn to the elements, whether it’s a cracker, bread, grape or juice. Allow this to be a moment of thanksgiving, of joy, comfort and stillness.
And as we take the partake in this sacrament, here is the blessing for your elements: Gracious God, may this bread nourish our bodies and our souls. Reminding us of your unfailing, merciful love – your body broken open for us to be made whole again. Merciful God, as we lift up this cup, or grape – may the image of your son Jesus Christ, arms stretched wide grant us the courage to love and serve one another as you have. Send us now into the world in peace, knowing that the heavens and the earth are filled with your Glory.
Let us pray:
God,
We give you thanks.
For moments like these. Moments where all of our striving, our reaching, our urging for more can take pause. Pause long enough to know we are endlessly loved and tenderly held.
God, we give you thanks.
For the places your spirit fills in wherever we feel small, neglected and neglectful.
God we give you thanks.
For the the feelings you help us to bear. Steadily shouldering our pain, grief and fear. And uplifting our joy, our laughter, our love for one another.
God of all that is good,
Guide us and walk with us, take us deep on this journey of being formed by your Spirit.
Loving God, it is good to be loved and to be known by you.
Amen.
