February 21 (First Sunday of Lent)

Fear. It's an amazing force in our lives. I've become convinced that most of our problems as church are motivated by fear. It certainly seems to be a factor in much of the recent dialogue around Jay Bakker and Revolution Church, Brian McLaren's new book, and Doug Pagitt's dialogue with Chris Rosebrough. This subject of fear combined with our church going through 40 Days of the Jesus Creed for Lent has led to this liturgy, focusing on how fear keeps us from the love we are supposed to have for God and each other.

From The Depths (Sojourn Music)

Reign In Us (Starfield)

Confession

God of grace,

You give us the choice
to reject fear,
or to be defined by it.

We confess that much of our lives,
individually and as a community,
is motivated by fear.

We are afraid of others' opinions,
instead of
abandoning ourselves to love.

We are afraid of different beliefs,
instead of
trying to understand
and learn from others.

We are afraid of wrong behavior,
instead of
embracing people as Jesus did.

We are even afraid of you,
instead of
believing that you are even better
than we could imagine.

Forgive us for choosing fear,
and help us
as we commit to live in
the great commandment of love
for you and others.

Amen

Assurance of Pardon

We choose to believe
the love that God has in us.
Simply, if we live in love,
we live in God,
and God lives in us.

There can't be any fear in love,
because love drives out fear.
If we are afraid of anything,
we don't know God's love well enough.
We love because Jesus loved us first,
and his commandment is clear:

"Love God and love each other!"

(adapted from I John 4)

All Of My Days (Hillsong)

When I Survey The Wondrous Cross

Post-sermon response: You Are God Alone

Ash Wednesday

Reading from Job

Then Job replied to the Lord :

“I know that you can do all things;
no plan of yours can be thwarted.

You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.

“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.’

My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.

Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes.”

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Introduction to Ash Wednesday

Reading from Psalm 51

Of Psalm 51 (Sojourn Music)

Responsive Reading

(Leader)
Cry, and God will answer.

(People)
Call, and the Lord will say, "I am here."

(Leader)
If you do away with the yoke, the clenched fist, the wicked word; if you give your bread to the hungry, and relief to the oppressed.

(People)
Call, and the Lord will say, "I am here."

(Leader)
Your light will rise in the darkness and your shadows become like noon. The Lord will always guide you, giving you relief in desert places.

(People)
Cry, and God will answer. Call, and the Lord will say, "I am here."

From the Depths (Sojourn Music)

We Need You Lord (Eugene Kim)

Reading from Joel 2:12-16

Homily

Silent confession and imputation of ashes

February 14

It's amazing how much we have a hard time trusting God. He's proven his faithfulness over and over; the entire Bible can be read as a story of deliverance made up of many smaller stories of deliverance. The liturgy this week reflects on a few of these stories.

Hear Our Praises

Cannons

Confession

Faithful God,

Abraham cried out to you for a son
and you blessed him with nations;

Israel cried out to you for deliverance
and you led them to a land of milk and honey;

Esther fasted and cried out to you for freedom
and you delivered Israel from annihilation;

The disciples cried out to you in one place
and you poured out your Spirit on the church.

Why, then, do we have such trouble
trusting you, God?

We confess that we have failed
to let the stories of your people
become our story.

We turn back to you today in trust.
Restore us, encourage us, and guide us,
by your word, your Spirit, and our community.

Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the praise of Israel.
In you our fathers put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
They cried to you and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not disappointed.

I will declare your name to my brothers;

in the congregation I will praise you.
You who fear the Lord, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!

(from Psalm 22)

From the Depths (Sojourn Music)

Our Great Savior

Response: Sanctuary (Eugene Kim)

February 7

It was good to have a week off. This week I've been thinking about the vulnerability that's required for us to truly live in community. We find in our daily lives that it's safer to reveal only small parts of ourselves, but even if this works in our job or personal life (which is arguable), it is a disaster in our church/community life. We simply need to be open with each other and with God.

Marvelous Light

Confession

God,

We confess that we often
run away from risk,
rather than into it.

We build walls around ourselves
and make small openings in them,
controlling what parts of ourselves
we reveal to others;

because it is easier and safer
than being vulnerable.

But it is also destructive.

Forgive us for closing ourselves off
from each other, from you,
and from the community we need.

You know us, God;
let us not be afraid
of being known by each other.

Amen.

Assurance

But now, this is what the LORD says:
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze."

He Knows My Name

Communion Response:

There's A Table

Be Thou My Vision

God Of Wonders