Monthly Archives: April 2020

Easter 3A in Quarantine: God Sightings

24 Friday Apr 2020

Posted by in Pop, Quarantine Liturgy and Prayers

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God sightings

Entry Into Worship
When the light of today dims into the horizon,
God will accompany us into tomorrow.
As our health wanes and our hope lessens,
God will fill our lives with new possibilities.
As loneliness overtakes our hearts,
God’s embrace will fill us with comfort.
In these long days facing the unknown,
God’s peace will last with us into eternity.

Invocation
Holy Winds of Hope, as we continue in uncharted territories, may your breezes nudge us to look around us.  As the wilderness surrounds our souls, may we still see your presence in the flowers in front of us, with our kin sheltering with us, and in the star-filled sky above us.  We need not seek far; we can sense you in the voices echoing on phone calls and video chats.  With gratitude, we share our joy that you are near, today and always.  Amen.

Prayer of Reconciliation
God of Steadfast Presence, as we grow to know these shadows next to us, we focus on the lack of light.  We stop seeking the light that comes from you and which brings us peace.  We direct our attention to loud voices of distraction instead of the stillness of you, God.  Our minds are wrapped around news feeds and tomorrow’s concerns.  We focus on everything else and miss the God-sightings in our midst.  Open us to your presence next to us.  Grab our attention so that we sense you in front of us now instead of barely noticing you in our rearview mirror.  Amen.

Assurance of Grace  
We are forgiven for the ways we have missed God next to us.  God understands the mind and heart of humans, and God will appear to us again and again.  Amen!

Reflection on Giving
If we keep searching, keep exploring, we will notice God’s presence near us.  And we will detect the needs of our siblings across our communities as well.  We will discern God’s call of the ways we need to care for this congregation as well as the people outside of the church’s walls.

This has been a time for us to seek God in the wilderness and to listen to the ways that God is asking us to be creative in ministry, communication, and care.  What is God asking us to do next?  In what ways will the gifts we contribute this week further the mission and ministry of our congregation in this time of exile?

We give thanks for God’s calling and for the treasures, time, and talents provided by God.  With gratitude, we pray together:

Divine Presence, in these times of wilderness, you shine your light upon us.  You help us to realize our purpose and give us wisdom on the best ways to utilize our gifts.  Open our souls to possibilities on how we can minister and share your love with our church and community – even when we are miles apart.  Amen.

Benediction
In the steps we take today, tomorrow, or sometime this week, God of Hope, 
May we see your presence directly in front of us.
May we feel your presence in the winds above us.
May we smell your presence in the flowers around us.
May we taste your presence in the food surrounding us.
May we hear your presence in the laughter which comes from within us.
For you are always a part of our exiles, our promise lands, our dreams, and our eternities.  Amen.

Written by Rev. Michelle L. Torigian.  Feel free to use/adapt this liturgy with attribution.

Easter 2A in Quarantine: Peace Be With You

14 Tuesday Apr 2020

Posted by in Current Events, Liturgy, Pop, Quarantine Liturgy and Prayers

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Entry into Worship
Peace floats on the breezes
And peace sails on the calm waters.
Peace is heard in the dove’s coos
And in a child’s laughter.
Today, we pray for peace-
A peace which transcends the restlessness in our world,
A peace which fills our souls with hope.

Invocation
Divine Architect of Peace, the waves of anxiety crash upon us daily.  Will we have enough?  Will we survive? When will “normal” return?  We are riding the swells of the emotional seas.  God of Peace, in this great storm of life, calm the waters.  In the howling wilderness, settle the gusts. For you are our source of peace, our deliverer of serenity.  Amen.

Prayer of Reconciliation
Holy Tranquility, we listen to the news instead of seeking your serenity.  We read article after article instead of meditating upon your presence. Your child spoke “Peace be with you,” and we turned our backs.  Help us to focus on the hope of resurrection and renewal instead of the world’s destructive preoccupations. May we focus our care in ways that are constructive for our neighbors across this community, country, and world during this pandemic and times of isolation.  May we turn our worry into acts of mercy and justice. Encourage us to seek help for overwhelming anxiety so that we can live whole and healthy lives. Amen.

Assurance of Grace
Even when we turn our backs to God’s peace, God continues to send holy calmness in our direction.  May we continue to open our souls to this steadfast peace which already surrounds us. Amen!

Reflection on Giving
In this season of uncertainty, we often want to hide in the caves of scarcity.  Instead, God calls for us to give in a spirit of abundance. Through these gifts, we are able to reach many people outside of the church’s walls.  Through these treasures, our mission continues – even when the world slows down.

With hearts of hope and openness, we pray together…

Divine Tranquility, may we embrace your steadfast peace.  Through your peace, may we confidently give our treasures, talent, and time in order for the work of the church to continue.  Through your peace, may our congregation utilize these gifts wisely to reach a world filled with anxiety and uncertainty and to share your hope and love.  Amen.

Benediction
As this morning starts a new week, may we embrace the peace of God-
A peace which will carry us through moments of turmoil,
A peace which will connect us with God and neighbor,
A peace which will ask us to be still, and get to know God,
A peace which surpasses our understanding.
May the hope of God, the peace of Christ, and the love of the Spirit
chase away despair and encourage us to embrace divine serenity.
Amen!

Written by Rev. Michelle L. Torigian.  Feel free to use/adapt this liturgy with attribution.

A Maundy Thursday Communion Liturgy in Times of Quarantine

07 Tuesday Apr 2020

Posted by in Communion Liturgy, Liturgy, Pop

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Service of Communion

Christ gave us the mandate to love one another.
Christ gave us the peace that we will never be left alone.
Christ gave us the picture that we are connected as vine and branches.
Christ gave us the assurance that no one will take away our joy.

God is with you!
God is with us all!
Open wide our hearts.
We open them to new possibilities.
From our dining room tables to our home offices.
this is the time to give God our thanks and praise.

Our homes may be filled with young voices,
or our homes may be filled with overwhelming silence.
This table might be brimming with family,
or we may be sitting by ourselves at the empty table.
But the table is never truly empty.  The silence will not be the last sound you hear.

Jesus the Christ has created a realm of love for each of us-
one in which we will be reunited with loved ones,
one in which we are assured of God’s comfort.

It was a night filled with teachings and memories.
Undoubtedly, tears were shed and laughs raised.
This was the night before Jesus died.

Jesus took bread. 
As he blessed it and broke it,
he said to his friends
Whenever you eat this bread, eat in remembrance of me.

Later, Jesus blessed a cup filled with fruit of the vine.
Friends, this is the new covenant. Drink this to remember me. Drink to remember our time together.

Spirit of God, surround the bread.  Surround the cup.
Surround the elements – no matter what form they take.
Surround us – no matter where we are.
Bless us in our eating and drinking.
Bless our connection – near and far.

Even with physical distance between each one of us, our covenant with God will keep us together. Amen.

A Shelter-in-Place Palm Sunday Liturgy

02 Thursday Apr 2020

Posted by in Current Events, Lent Prayers, Liturgy, Pop

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I am using the Matthew 21:1-11 text plus Isaiah 61:1-4.

Entry into Worship
In the spirit of the springtime,
we raise our palms and flowers.
In grateful praise,
we celebrate God’s beautiful creation.

With gratitude,
we breathe in the warming air
and smell the floral scents
dancing in the breeze.

For creation and for our Creator,
we sing songs of praise and thanksgiving.
No matter our location-
we join together this day.

Invocation
Glorious God,
This is the day that you have made!  From our front porches to our basements, from our bedrooms to our kitchens, we see your light, and we sing our songs of Hosanna.  As world events distract our minds, assist us with focusing on your presence here and now. We give thanks for your enduring and steadfast love.  Hosanna, Glorious Creator! Hosanna in the highest! Amen!

Prayer of Reconciliation
On Palm Sunday, we remember the words of Scripture:
“Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Through the life of Jesus, we were given steps to follow.
Through the life of Jesus, we too see how we also came along to carry your name, Gracious Creator.

Instead, we worried about our own names and reputations.  We concern ourselves with our own paths and not the one of Jesus.  We sing “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord” and we run away from following Jesus.  Build up our courage. Give us resolve to try again tomorrow, knowing that we have been called to follow Jesus’ steps: to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind-up the broken-hearted, and to comfort all who mourn.  Amen

Assurance of Grace
The Spirit of God is among us, giving us grace and imparting strength.  May this courage take hold of our hearts. Let us try again this very moment.  God will call us again and again to love our neighbors as ourselves. Amen!

Reflection on Offering
Whether we are in front of computers or with smart phones in our hands, God is using technology to draw us closer.  God is also using new avenues for us to contribute our talents, time, and treasures to the church. Our Creator uses every means to draw us closer and share what we have.

In this time and space, as we support our staff and care for our congregants, our giving sustains the work of the church.  Please give as you can as our ministry continues in this most unique of situations.

And with gratitude, we pray together:

Gracious God, for treasures collected, for time given, and for talents shared, we express our thanks.  Encourage us to use our offerings to sustain and expand the work of the church. Amen.

Benediction
Whether we are expressing our joy for Jesus the Christ on Facebook
or continue Christ’s work as we plan online,
we are entering a new world, excited to share the good news of God’s love and grace.

Let us share this love on every platform, through every phone call, and in various letters-For the Spirit of God is with us, bringing us joy, and helping us find new avenues to the future.  Amen!

Michelle L. Torigian (c) 2020  Free to use or adapt as needed with attribution.

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Are you looking for a communion liturgy?  Head over to Gifts in Open Hands for a beautiful Communion for Palm Sunday during quarantine/shelter in place.  Thank you Maren C. Tirabassi for your writing!