July 25, 2010

The church is good (or OK) at creating people who are committed to an institution. It's much less accomplished at creating communities committed to God's mission. I think we don't in the end trust God's generosity, so we over-compensate by burning people out, guilting people into giving time and money, and otherwise focusing on perpetuating the institution/monster we've created.

We aren't called to make the world right. We are called to live, and God is the one who says "Behold, I make all things new." Instead, we often worry rather than trust.

I was happy with how this liturgy turned out, though it's pretty obvious I've been reading Brian McLaren's A New Kind Of Christianity.

Reign In Us (Starfield)

Confession

Generous God,

who breathed a very good creation to life,
liberated your oppressed people from Egypt,
and spoke, through the prophets,
of a kingdom of peace and life:

We confess today
that we still do not trust
your generosity.

This causes us to live
in broken ways.

We worry about many things:
food, work, ministry, clothing,
parents, children, time;
Forgetting that you care for
even the lilies and the sparrows.

Forgive us for trusting ourselves,
instead of trusting you;
For doing the work that is yours,
rather than the work that is ours.

Help us to live in harmony
with you and your creation,
and believe—truly believe—
in the goodness of creation,
your promise of liberation,
and your kingdom
that is continually coming
on earth as it is in heaven.

Amen

Assurance of Pardon

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

From The Depths (Sojourn Music)

The Wonderful Cross (Trad., Tomlin)

Not Alone (Solomon's Porch)