Struggle and Blessing
Service Prayers for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
August 6, 2017

Genesis 32:22-31, Psalm 17:1-7, 15, Romans 9:1-5, Matthew 14:13-21 

Call 

One:	The day breaks
All:		And God does not let us go.

One:	The hour calls
All:		And God does not let us go.

One:	The evening falls
All:		And God holds us fast.

One:	Let us turn to God in worship
All:		God, who never turns from us.

Gathering Prayer

(This prayer could be offered by the leader, or offered, as notated below, from many voices throughout the congregation.)

Leader:		God, you see us.  

Voice:		You see our struggles, 
Voice:		You see our difficulties.  

Voice:		You see our possibilities, 
Voice:		You see our promise.  

Voice:		Connect the dots for us, O God.  
Voice:		Soften the hard spots with your blessing.

Voice:		Call us in our wandering to hear you say our names.  
Voice:		Satisfy our longings as with loaves and fishes and manna from heaven.

Voice:		For you are a good God, a God present in the scramble,
Voice:		And in the end, you always, always have a blessing.  

Leader:		For this and so much more, 
we give you thanks, through Jesus Christ.  Amen.

All:		Amen.

Confession

God is present to us, but we don’t always feel it.  
God is good to us, but we can’t always accept it.  
Fact is, there are things within and around us 
that attempt to step between us and our relationship to God’s goodness.  
There are things that we think, things that we do, 
that act to separate us from God.  
The church calls that “sin.”  

Let us confess our sins to God, in the presence of each other.  

Silence

God of all mercy:
I confess that sin grips me and 
I cannot break free.
The sins in my mind, on my lips, 
in my acts done or even ignored
Stand between me and you.  

My entire heart is not always yours.
My love of neighbor falls short.
In the name of Jesus,
Have mercy on me.  

Grant me your renewing forgiveness.
Lead me on your paths of righteousness,
And I shall delight in you
And I shall follow you
Giving glory to your holy name.  

Through Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

One:	The God who gives, gives all.  
The God who loves, loves all.  
The God who forgives, forgives all.  
	
	Through Christ, our sins, every one of them: 
the sins of commission, 
the sins of omission, 
the sins we confessed with contrition – 
all are forgiven.

All:		By the grace of God, we are forgiven.  Alleluia! 

Invitation to Offering

(We’ve found that people give when they understand why they’re being asked to give.  This invitation includes an invitation to learn more about what happens with the money we ask to receive.  As you make this invitation, consider having a station to greet those interested in knowing more about where the money goes, and how the church does amazing things with it!)

When resources were short, did Christ worry?  
No!  Christ saw the gifts, and Christ multiplied them!

This is the miracle we witness every time we give to the church.

God will take what we have, and God will do good things with it.  

You are invited to give, and even to participate in the miracle of God’s multiplying acts.  
After the service, ask us how.   

This morning’s offering will now be given and received.

Dedication

God of increase and bounty, Source of all good things:  
we offer these gifts as a portion of that which you have given us.  
May these gifts be as loaves and fishes 
for those who find themselves in poverty or hunger.  

May this act of giving bring about change:
change in our lives, 
change in the lives we touch, 
change in the systems that harm. 

Through Christ, who gave so much to save.  Amen.

Benediction

God’s peace: carry, keep and hold you.  
God’s love: nourish, bless and enfold you.
God’s spirit: inspire, lift and mold you.

Almighty God:  + Triune, holy and blessed
Be with you now and forever.  Amen.
	
Written by the Rev. Kaji S. Douša, Senior Minister of  Park Avenue Christian Church, New York City.

Copyright 2017 Local Church Ministries, Faith Formation Ministry Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH  44115-1100.  Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved.