Call to Worship
May our lives be a hymn of praise, O God.
May your glory shine forth in us.
Strengthen us in love, root us in mercy.
That your people may know that your love is everlasting.Glory to you, God of all peoples.
To Jesus, healer and friend.
To the Spirit dwelling within,
Praise be yours forever. Amen.
Psalm Reading
A Psalm of Partnership in Ministry
Antiphon: "The events of our lives happen in a sequence of time, but in their significance to ourselves they find their own order…becoming for us a continuous thread of revelation."*
We are partners in the mystery of redemption,
partners in the mystery of reconciliation,
partners in the misery of the world’s population,
partners in the way of the cross.We are partners in the ministry of service,
partners in the ministry of justice and peace,
partners in the liturgy of the church and life,
partners in healing and hope.Together we reach out to touch the untouchables.
Together we move out to teach the taught.
Together we stand up to preach right practice.
Together we practice what we preach.
Ours is the gift of good company on days when there’s nobody else there beside us.
Ours is the gift of affirming the ways of the God who is working within us.
Blessed is the partnership rooted in love that spills over, spreads over, covers over everything negative and uninspiring.
Blessed is the fellowship partnership shares with its circle of friends and supporters.
God of Relationship, bless this relationship, strengthen this partnership, deepen this fellowship, let it be symbol of Your mode of Being and sign of Your own noncompetitive ways.
God of Companionship, may we be supportive, may we be effective, bring to life all the best in each other so we may help others see good in themselves.
All: Thank You, O God, for the gift and the grace of partnership in the mystery of living.
Glory to You, Source of Life, Eternal Word, and Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever.
Antiphon: (repeat)
Closing Prayer
Jesus, you walked with your disciples on the way to Emmaus and revealed Your presence in the breaking of the bread.
We thank You for walking with us on this journey this year.
May we continue to recognize the revelation of your presence in the daily events of our own lives so that we, in turn, may be able to guide others to you.
We ask this, confident that You will hear and respond to our prayer.
Amen.
