Wherever you are, whoever you are, Join us in our Journey
WE GATHER TO PRAISE GOD
TO PONDER:
John said Jesus went into the Jerusalem Temple and overturned what was at
the heart of institutional and religious practice. What if we were to do
the same today as followers of Jesus?
MUSICAL PRELUDE
HYMN: "
Let us build a house" M.V. 1
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
CALL TO WORSHIP
God's glory is revealed in the created order.
We who dwell on the earth declare God's power.
Jesus came to reveal this power in His life and ministry.
We receive this power as a gift each day of our lives. Come, let us worship together.
OPENING PRAYER
Creator God, You have shown us how we can transform the world in which
we live. You have given us the ability to live fuller lives, to honour
and respect the earth. Give us the courage to accept the grace You
offer us. Teach us how to imagine a future that remains open to Your
love. AMEN
HYMN "
My faith looks up to thee" V.U. 663
THE LENTEN TRIAD LITURGY
Lent 3- Waste and Pollution
Reader: We have become a throw-away society. From dumps littered with
broken cell phones, VCR's, stereo equipment, outdated TVs and computers -
to tons of paper and garbage filled with food that has been thrown away.
This week we have found a place to begin. Let us focus on plastic bags and
the environmental damage these small household items cause. As we
extinguish this candle, we acknowledge that we have burdened creation with
mountains of waste and pollution. (3rd purple candle is extinguished)
Almost a trillion plastic bags are used worldwide each year. Less than 1%
is recycled. Plastic bags have been banned in Bangla Desh and Rwanda, are
taxed in Ireland, must be purchased in China, are either banned or there
are proposals to ban them in Israel, Canada, Western India, Kenya,
Tanzania, South Africa, Taiwan and Singapore.
Let us join in our Prayer of Confession.
A PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God of creation as we wind our way to Easter on this Lenten journey, we
begin to realize that creation is indeed groaning under the weight of
our excesses. We never intended to be wasteful or destructive, but we
confess now that we have been slow to adopt new habits and mend our
wasteful ways. We have convinced ourselves that our small individual
excesses don't hurt that much. Forgive us and show us that we are not
too old to change. Help us to join in efforts to restore the health of
the planet and in a just distribution of resources for all people. AMEN
Giver of life, in the midst of mountains of waste, we groan with
creation: have mercy upon us.
SUNG RESPONSE
"As the Sun With Longer Journey"
VU 111 (vs 2)
Practical suggestion: Take your own shopping bag with you whenever you
go shopping.
RESPONSE: V.U. 400
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Lord, send your Spirit in this place,
Lord, listen to your children praying,
Send us love, send us power, send us grace.
PASTORAL PRAYER
WE RESPOND TO GOD'S WORD IN FAITH AND ACTION
OFFERING INVITATION
OFFERTORY RESPONSE:
For food in a world where many walk in hunger, for friends in a world where
many walk alone, for faith in a world where many walk in fear, we give you
thanks, O God. V.U. 552
OFFERTORY PRAYER: We have heard the words of the biblical writer who
intimated with clarity how we can live fully with one another in a
diverse world such as ours. So we come to offer these gifts in a spirit
of openness to our neighbours. AMEN
