Tensions rise between neighbors. Hate lurks in stores and on roads, in school hallways and political discussions. Humanity focuses more on its own individual well being instead of the well being of all.
Yet animosity isn’t the last word, and hate will never win because God’s love endures forever. Divine love dissipates all venom and sweetens all bitterness.
Even as we walk in the shadow filled valleys of toxic interactions, God’s love is lighting the path to the future. Through the Spirit of the Christ in our world, the vapors of hate will not last in our world. Love will spread from person to person, lifting the toxic fogs that linger between people.
We light the candle of love to clear the cloud of hate in our world and dissolve the mists of gloom as the Christ enters our world and brightness continues to grow. Amen.
(c)2021 Rev. Michelle L. Torigian. Permission to use in a worship service (including a streamed service) with attribution.
Under the night sky We abide the beauty of God’s darkness. Beyond midnight- where miracles fill the earth and magic fill the skies. Where stars and planets twinkle, delighting both the greatest skeptics and believers.
Under the night sky In the chilly winds of nighttime, A young woman met her son, And light came into her world. This illumination spread beyond time and space, Expanding beyond human limitations into our world.
Under the night sky Humans saw the alignment of planets birthing an extraordinary light- The greatest star declaring a birth. And as human and divine aligned that night, the world shifted to a new realm.
(c)2021 Rev. Michelle L. Torigian. Permission to use in a worship service (including a streamed service) with attribution.
It wasn’t a night full of familiar carols But a melody crafted from surrounded creation.
It wasn’t an eve fashioned with trees and tinsel But a stable of simplicity adorned with hay and dirt.
It was a cow rejoicing with a smoothened moo And a sheep baa-ing in jubilation. A woman sobbing with relief and great joy And words of love from her beloved.
Stillness and motion danced in the twilight Allowing room for Divine Light to pierce reality’s realm And ushering in a new era of warmth, love, and hope On top of the chilly earth below.
(c) Rev. Michelle L. Torigian. Permission to use in a worship service (including a streamed service) with attribution.
Divine Dawn of Redemption, as the tomb has opened, we peer into the future. Like in the garden long ago, so much around is still unknown. Yet you have refilled our souls with hope. Even when fear lingers, your peace-filled spirit surrounds us, bringing us the confidence to continue to move forward. May we embrace this new era of resurrection with steadfast faith, even when anxiety and amazement disorient us. Amen.
Blessing of the Gifts
Holy One, with gratitude, we celebrate all gifts we have been given and the gifts we share with the church and our community. May the treasures, talents, and time we share build a world in which all people experience resurrection and renewal. Amen.
Benediction
As we enter a world where resurrection is possible, Nudge us forward when the unknown is overwhelming. Empower us when anxiety and amazement seize our spirits. Allow our trembling voices to share Alleluias with a hurting world. Open our hearts to our neighbors yearning for rebirth. And allow us to see the empty tomb in each season of our lives.
Divine Love, in this week of contemplation, may we remember the presentation of your love through the Christ. As we share in the breaking of the bread, may we recall the beautiful unity of Christ’s table. May the mandate of this day, to love our neighbors as ourselves, be etched into our souls. Widen our minds to see our neighbors from a new angle. Widen our hearts to serve as Jesus the Christ once served. Amen.
Communion
The communion liturgy keeps in mind a hybrid approach to worship this year. Some people may be in our presence, and others experiencing worship at home. This was adapted from last year’s “sheltering in place” communion liturgy.
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 here tonight to dining room tables, this is the time to give God our thanks and praise.
Jesus the Christ has created a realm of love for each of us- one in which we will be reunited with loved ones, one full of sacred memories, 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 us – here and elsewhere. Bless us in our eating and drinking. Bless our connection – near and far. No matter if close or distant, our covenant with God will keep us together.
May we spend this time remembering: The ones who can’t be at the table. The ones who are no longer at the table. And the one Christ who created this sacramental table experience. Amen.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Loving God, Great Provider-
After this time together, near and far, we give thanks for the opportunity to commune with the Christ and our neighbor. May the love that was experienced tonight through bread and cup open our hearts to the beauty, pain, and joy across our world. May this sacrament move us to offer our neighbors our love. And may our time at the table remind us of the ones who are forever in our hearts. Amen.
Blessing of the Gifts and Benediction
As we are not having a “collection” time during our service, our congregants are dropping them in boxes on the way out of the sanctuary, mailing them into church, or giving online. We have combined the two together.
Holy One-Your gifts build a world of love, filled with memories of your presence in our lives. May we use our gifts to continue to create a world of care, living into your mandate to love one another as you love us. Amen.
We walk into the dusk knowing the journey of Jesus. May we remember his steps to the cross. May we embrace his profound love. And may we share this grace each and everyday, leading our world to resurrection.
Amen.
(c) Rev. Michelle L. Torigian 2021. Liturgy may be used with attribution.
This week, I’m going off lectionary to continue to preach on the challenges of COVID-19. I suppose I feel called to preach on the John 15 text that we see in Easter year B. As part of the sermon, I will be using the 1 Corinthians 12 “Body of Christ” text as well.
Entry into Worship
Like a vine wrapped around a fence,
the Divine thrives in our world.
Like each flourishing branch of the vine,
we, too, blossom in our connection to God and neighbor.
Even though we may be worshiping in individual spaces,
Through the Spirit, we are forever united.
When the complete vine suffers, we all suffer together.
When humankind struggles, we all struggle together.
May we see our well-being as a piece of the whole
and as connected to God and neighbor.
Invocation
God of Connections, in this world of isolation, bring us closer together in ways we’ve never previously experienced. In this world of heartache, call us to use words and deeds to bring comfort to our neighbors. Grant us the lens to see our siblings across this world as a part of our realm. May we balance our desire for fierce autonomy with a growing sense of the covenant we have with you and neighbor. Amen.
Prayer of Reconciliation
Loving God, Divine Connector, Right now, we have few opportunities to look into the eyes of our neighbors-
from friend to stranger
and from those who bring us comfort to those who bring us uneasiness.
Because of this physical distance, we are forgetting the great connection between all of us.
We make decisions based only on our needs.
We dismiss concerns, ailments, and the despair of our neighbors.
We forget their health is connected to our health,
and their prosperity is tied with ours. In this season of wilderness,may we see that loving our neighbor as ourselves is a piece of your Great Commandment,
and may we begin to see how the well-being of all are linked. Amen.
Assurance of Grace
The God of Humankind, our Great Connector, continues to open our spirits to the needs of our neighbors. God continually pours grace upon our souls, calling us to new beginnings and hope-filled futures. Amen!
Reflection on Giving
The Divine Connector, Christ, the Great Vine, calls us to see how our actions impact the lives of others. God our Connector directs us to how our treasures, talents, and time are best used in this season. Even in this time of quarantine and wilderness, we are being asked to give as we can to our neighbors, our community, and our congregation. By our contributions, we promote healing between neighbors and gratitude for what God has given each of us.
In this spirit of thanksgiving, we pray together,
Holy Binder, you yearn for your children to join together for the well-being of all. You desire that each of us shares our gifts for the unity of your kin-dom. With gratitude, we celebrate the treasures, talents, and time we contribute to our church and community. May our work and our gifts nourish each branch on the Great Vine. Amen.
Benediction
May God, the Great Connector, open our souls to the ones across our cities.
May Christ, the Great Vine, open our hearts to the ones across our states.
May the Holy Spirit, the Great Soul, open our minds to the ones across our country and world.
We are many branches on the one Great Vine.
Love and care for the people connected to this Vine as if each of our well-beings depend on it.
Amen.
Texts used this week include John 14:1-21 and Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16
Entry Into Worship Your space was prepared for you. In this time, you are where you need to be. Embrace the Spirit sent by God In our quarantine dwellings. Receive the gift of refuge, knowing that God is near. Do not let your hearts be troubled. Release the worry and abide in God.
Invocation Divine Architect, as we abide in our homes, we wonder what will come next. We grieve what we have left behind, and we mourn the life we are no longer living. Fill us with a new Spirit, that we can vision a future filled with joy. May we spend this time rejoicing in the power of Divine Hope, knowing that your presence is forever with us, God. Amen.
Prayer of Reconciliation Have we forgotten about you God? Have we turned our eyes away from your presence? In this time, we have welcomed crutches to endure this time of loneliness and uncertainty. We have forgotten that you are our Great Supplier of Hope and Root of All Faith. May we begin to invest our trust in you instead of false idols. May we begin to adopt the practice of gratitude in our daily lives. Amen.
Assurance of Grace The steadfast love of God journeys with us forever – in the peaks and valleys of our pilgrimage. May we embrace the grace which stems from God’s love. Amen!
Reflection on Giving In God, we seek our refuge. In our Divine Architect, we find our wisdom. Even in this season of the unknown, God is caring for us. And we are called to give what we have to care for our church, our community, and our world. We are nudged to give what we can to share the Good News of God’s unconditional and steadfast love for each of us.
In a spirit of thanksgiving, we pray together-
Holy God, Divine Architect, in your presence we find a peaceful refuge. In your presence, we are called to keep your commandments to love our neighbor as ourselves. Give us the courage and strength to carry your light into our communities and world with the talents, time, and treasures you have bestowed upon us. We pray in the name of Jesus the Christ, our Compass in unsure times, Amen.
Benediction As we dream of a future with hope, We seek our refuge in God. We find enduring comfort in the Holy Spirit. We embrace the peace furnished by Jesus the Christ. We will not let our hearts be troubled or afraid as the steadfast presence of the Divine is in our midst giving us the vision to look ahead to the future with love and hope. Amen.
(c) 2020 Rev. Michelle L. Torigian. Permission to us with attribution.
Entry Into Worship What is abundant life And where do we see it in our homes? How can we see bounty in the wilderness, As boundaries restrict us from living our “fullest” life Do we perceive God’s generosity? On what in our lives is God’s light shining? To what type of service is God calling us next? May worship be a tool of discernment, a flashlight in the shadows, and a celebration of God’s generosity of Spirit.
Invocation Holy Shepherd, Divine Leader, we look towards you in this time of quarantine. From nights in isolation to our days of fog and bewilderment, we search for your healing presence. We seek your wisdom and guidance in the coming weeks as we look towards the future. May your Spirit of Hope permeate our souls as we wander in the shadow-filled valleys. Amen.
Prayer of Reconciliation Loving God, Divine Shepherd, we listen for your voice, but get drawn by some distracting voices squawking nonsense. We allow these loud voices to lead us instead of your wisdom. May we focus on and enact your intentions for our world, our country, our communities, our church, and our own lives. May your steadfast love and mercy call us on healthy paths which cares for all of of your children. Amen.
Assurance of Grace The gift of God is grace which pours over us and leads us to still waters. May we embrace second chances in God’s mercy which will accompany us throughout our entire lives. Amen.
Reflection on Giving The Good Shepherd, our God, requests that we learn from Jesus the Christ’s example. Through Jesus, we see the ways we are to serve one another. Through Jesus, we see the leader who is willing to ensure that all neighbors live the abundant life. What can we sacrifice to ensure our neighbors’ needs are met? What can we give to ensure that our congregation is able to fulfill its mission and share the good news during this pandemic? This is our opportunity to see where God is calling us to share our treasures, time, and talents.
In a spirit of gratitude for the gifts that God gives to us, we pray together,
Divine Shepherd, your presence is the rod and staff which brings us peace. We know we are called to follow your lead. Open our souls ready to live into a spirit of abundance instead of a mindset of scarcity. Open our hearts to your flock – your children across our communities and world who are struggling. Open our minds to the possibilities of how we can share our gifts during this challenging time. May we continue to focus on your voice as we discern what is next for us. Amen.
Benediction As we leave our time together today- May God find you pillows of comfort on which you will rest your head. May God lead you to places and in ways that will keep you healthy and safe. May God restore your souls during the long days and nights of quarantine. We will not fear, for you are with us God. You will follow us to the ends of the earth and remain with us in our homes. Your goodness, mercy, and steadfast love will accompany us, And we will dwell in your loving embrace our whole life long. Amen.
(c) 2020 Rev. Michelle L. Torigian. Permission to use with attribution.
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.
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.
Michelle L. Torigian 