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Preparation for Worship
Songs: Ask yourself and the people who will be worshipping with you (kids included), “What are some of the songs we sing that talk about God being with us and songs giving thanks to God?” Play them on Spotify, sing them acapella, or create your own instrumental arrangement.
Bible: You will need a Bible to read from the scriptures. You can use this doc or your phone as well…but I’d recommend using an actual Bible.
This week’s liturgy is based on the following texts: Acts 2:14a, 36-41, Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19, Luke 24:13-35, 1 Peter 1:17-23
You can decide who will lead the different movements of this gathering. It would be great for every person to have a part.
Gathering
Call to Worship
Leader: You break in, O God,
in unexpected places…
in our doubts…
All: You break in, O God,
and change everything
Leader: You break in, O God
with a call…
with an invitation…
with the truth…
All: You break in, O God,
and change everything
Leader: You break in, O God
with a new realm…
with a new world…
with your intent for the future…
All: You break in, O God,
and change everything
Leader: God, break in again
and call us to be your workers…
and use our gifts to build your kingdom
All: God, break in again,
and change everything.
Song of Praise
Sing one or two songs that focus on the risen Savior and God’s saving grace.
Some suggestions:
I Love the Lord, He Heard My Cry
He’s Alive, He’s Alive (for kids)
For other song ideas click here
Prayer of Confession
Holy God, we confess our slowness of heart.
We have failed to see you in our brothers and sisters,
We have failed to serve you in meeting the needs of our neighbors,
We have failed to give our hearts to you.
Holy God, we are selfish, scared, and often numb to the beauty of the world,
and the potential for grace that is around us and within us.
Awaken us today, to all that becomes possible, because you live….
Hear the silent prayers of confession we offer to you today.
(pause in silence)
Amen.
Words of Assurance
How kind our God is to us—
full of grace and compassion!
He alone rescues our souls from the grip of death,
our eyes from weeping,
and our feet from stumbling,
so that we can once again walk in His presence
with confidence and joy.
So be at peace: your sins are forgiven!
Thanks be to God!
An Interpretive Reading of the Psalm
The reading of Psalm 116 (The Message)
I love God because he listened to me,
listened as I begged for mercy.
He listened so intently
as I laid out my case before him.
Death stared me in the face,
hell was hard on my heels.
Up against it, I didn’t know which way to turn;
then I called out to God for help:
“Please, God!” I cried out.
“Save my life!”
What can I give back to God
for the blessings he’s poured out on me?
I’ll lift high the cup of salvation!
I’ll pray in the name of God;
I’ll complete what I promised God I’d do,
and I’ll do it together with God’s people.
When they arrive at the gates of death,
God welcomes those who love him.
Oh, God, here I am, your servant,
your faithful servant: set me free for your service!
I’m ready to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice
and pray in the name of God.
I’ll complete what I promised God I’d do,
and I’ll do it in company with his people,
In the place of worship, in God’s house,
in Jerusalem, God’s city.
Hallelujah!
Prayer for Illumination
Jesus our Guide,
you explained the scriptures
and revealed yourself to the disciples at Emmaus.
Now, by your Spirit,
Open our eyes and ears
That we might recognize what you are saying to us. Amen.
Listening
(The time of listening is a series of reading the scripture, re-telling the story, and paying attention to where God is stirring your hearts as you listen. Invite everyone to listen to the words of the scriptures and to be ready to retell the story.)
Reading Luke 24:13-35
Let’s hear the word of God from the book of John. It says in Luke chapter 24,
On that same day, two disciples were traveling to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking to each other about everything that had happened. While they were discussing these things, Jesus himself arrived and joined them on their journey. They were prevented from recognizing him. He said to them, “What are you talking about as you walk along?” They stopped, their faces downcast.
The one named Cleopas replied, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who is unaware of the things that have taken place there over the last few days?”
He said to them, “What things?”
They said to him, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth. Because of his powerful deeds and words, he was recognized by God and all the people as a prophet. But our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. We had hoped he was the one who would redeem Israel. All these things happened three days ago. But there’s more: Some women from our group have left us stunned. They went to the tomb early this morning and didn’t find his body. They came to us saying that they had even seen a vision of angels who told them he is alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women said. They didn’t see him.”
Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! Your dull minds keep you from believing all that the prophets talked about. Wasn’t it necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then he interpreted for them the things written about himself in all the scriptures, starting with Moses and going through all the Prophets.
When they came to Emmaus, he acted as if he was going on ahead. But they urged him, saying, “Stay with us. It’s nearly evening, and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. After he took his seat at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts on fire when he spoke to us along the road and when he explained the scriptures for us?”
They got up right then and returned to Jerusalem. They found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying to each other, “The Lord really has risen! He appeared to Simon!” Then the two disciples described what had happened along the road and how Jesus was made known to them as he broke the bread.
Re-Telling
Let’s tell the story that we just heard. How did the story begin? What happened next? (go around the circle and tell the story again)
Paying Attention
Was there a word or phrase that spoke to you?
What do we learn about people in these scriptures?
What do we learn about God in this text?
Who is sharing with you on the Christian journey?
Is there something we should remember for this coming week from what we heard from the scriptures?
Responding
Song of Response
Prayers of the People
Prayers are conversations with God. We offer now our prayers and intercessions to God.
Living God,
like those disciples on the road to Emmaus,
we struggle to recognize you in the everyday journey of our lives.
We seek your wisdom in the midst of the questions we have
about the circumstances we find ourselves in—
circumstances sometimes beyond our control.
Open our eyes, O God,
to your work of transformation in and around us.
As we walk with you day by day,
may your new life be made manifest in what we say to and how we treat others.
Help us to understand the power of our words to hurt or to heal;
give us the graciousness to reflect your love in all we say.
As you opened the scriptures to the disciples
and taught them everything,
open our eyes to behold you in your Word.
Help us to live these words in all we say, do, and think.
You were known to the disciples in the breaking of the bread.
May your resurrection presence guide our lives.
We pray now, silently and aloud, for the things weighing on us today…
(pause for prayers)
So often we forget
that you invite us to abide with you;
to have our lives hidden in you.
We thank you that you travel with us in our joys and our concerns.
And now we pray together the prayer you taught us to pray saying,
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.
Sending
May the risen Christ meet you on the road,
Lead you into all truth,
Guide you on your path.
May the risen Christ feed and sustain you,
Fill you with his presence,
Equip you by his Spirit.
May the Risen Christ go with you today,
Be with you through this week,
May you dwell with Christ forever
Amen.
Living Room Liturgist 