March 29, 2020 Service

Let us worship together as we read!

*You will need a candle to light. *

Prayer:

Our God brings new life into hopeless situations.

Our God offer forgiveness to all who have done wrong.

Our God longs to be a part of us, to live within us.

Our God untangles the chaos of our lives, and sets us free to new life.

Loving God, Breath your Spirit into us, and make us new.

Let us worship the God of resurrection, of new life, of new hope! Amen.

Scripture Readings:

          Ezekiel 37:1-14

          Psalm 130

A prayer during times of COVID-19 by the Right Rev. Richard Bott, Moderator of the United Church of Canada:

In this time of COVID-19, we pray:
When we aren't sure, God,
help us be calm;
when information comes
from all sides, correct and not,
help us to discern;
when fear makes it hard to breathe,
and anxiety seems to be the order of the day,
slow us down, God;
help us to reach out with our hearts,
when we can't touch with our hands;
help us to be socially connected,
when we have to be socially distant;
help us to love as perfectly as we can,
knowing that "perfect love casts out all fear."

For the doctors, we pray,
for the nurses, we pray,
for the technicians and the janitors and the
aides and the caregivers, we pray,
for the researchers and theorists,
the epidemiologists and investigators,
for those who are sick,
and those who are grieving, we pray,
for all who are affected,
all around the world...
we pray
for safety,
for health,
for wholeness.

May we feed the hungry,
give drink to the thirsty,
clothe the naked and house those without homes;
may we walk with those who feel they are alone,
and may we do all that we can to heal
the sick—
in spite of the epidemic,
in spite of the fear.

Help us, O God,
that we might help each other.

In the love of the Creator,
in the name of the Healer,
in the life of the Holy Spirit that is in all and with all,
we pray.

May it be so.

Joys and concerns:

Take this moment to think of those people that you know are having struggling – whether it be physically, emotionally, financially, or in other ways. Hold them in your mind and heart as you pray:

Prayers of the People:

Out of the depths we cry to you, O God,

We call out for those who are sick and suffering, who are hurting and scared. May they feel your presence, and know they are not alone.

Out of the depths we cry to you, O God.

We cry out for justice and peace in a world that is ever-consumed with anger and violence. Help us to relax, to hear what others say before we lash out with hurtful words.

Out of the depths we cry to you, O God.

Make your presence felt through all creation, that we might know we are loved by you. Help us to translate that love into care and compassion for others. We pray in Jesus’ name the words he taught us:

Our Father….

Amen.

Candle Lighting:

Get your candle and light it, and name together the things that give you hope. Talk about the way that God’s Spirit of life keeps moving through you as air and breath. Say together, “God of our hope, we thank you for the gift of our life.”

Closing Prayer:

When things in life frighten us, help us to feel your presence, loving God. When there seems to be no hope, remind us you are with us always. Amen

*prayers courtesy of  Whole People of God