Priest:The Lord God in his goodness has seen fit to call us together as the Church of Jesus Christ in this place. In our history of being God’s people of St. Martin's Episcopal Church, God has given us his word of creation, redemption and blessing. He has given us his word of forgiveness and grace. He has given us his word of guidance and mission, and sent his Holy Spirit to empower us for that mission. And when we have strayed from his word, God has called us to return to him that we might continue to be blessed by his grace and favor. We are nothing without our God and his word of hope and promise.
Therefore, people of God, on this day I invite you to commit yourselves and your whole lives to God’s holy word and to his loving purpose for you and for us as St. Martin's Episcopal Church, so that our lives may be enriched and the work of our hands blessed and prospered.
Litany of Commitment to God’s Word
Leader: Let us pray. Almighty God, by your holy word, all that we know has come into existence: our universe, our world, our lives, our loved ones, and all that we have and hold so dear. By your holy word, you sent forth your Son to bring us salvation through the cross of death and resurrection. By your holy word, you have called us together to be a Church of love and service in the world. By your holy word, we know that we live in grace and hope. Keep us ever close to your word, that it might be written upon our hearts.
All: We commit our lives to your word, O God.
Leader: Help us to grow in faith and love toward you, so that we might always live in trust and hope.
All:We commit our lives to your word, O God.
Leader: Center us in routines that keep us close to you, O Lord. Center us in weekly worship.
All. We commit our lives to your word, O God.
Leader: Center us in daily prayer.
All: We commit our lives to your word, O God.
Leader: Center us in knowledge of holy scripture.
All: We commit our lives to your word, O God.
Leader: Center us in the mission of the church.
All: We commit our lives to your word, O God.
Leader: Center us in lives of thankful giving and loving for all the blessings which you have bestowed upon us.
All: We commit our lives to your word, O God.
Priest: By your word, O Lord, guide our lives, forgive our sins, inspire our thoughts, shape our attitudes, lighten our darkness, give us eternal hope, and fill our hearts with joy, assuring us of your constant presence, until you bring us at last into the glories of your heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
All: Amen.
At this time, people may bring their Pledge Cards forward and place them in the baskets before the altar.
Dedication of Pledges & Commitments
Priest: Accept, O God, the tokens of our love and signs of pledge and commitment which we bring forward today. By your word of blessing and grace, may they blossom forth as leaves on a tree, as flowers in our hearts, as blessings in your kingdom, as joy in Jesus Christ.
All: Amen.
To view the context for this liturgy as well as to become familiar with other helpful worship resources, click on http://www.LiturgyByTLW.com [Liturgy of God’s Word for Reformation Sunday]
Dedication of Pledges & Commitments
Priest: Accept, O God, the tokens of our love and signs of pledge and commitment which we bring forward today. By your word of blessing and grace, may they blossom forth as leaves on a tree, as flowers in our hearts, as blessings in your kingdom, as joy in Jesus Christ.
All: Amen.
To view the context for this liturgy as well as to become familiar with other helpful worship resources, click on http://www.LiturgyByTLW.com [Liturgy of God’s Word for Reformation Sunday]
Author
Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel is on the Bishop’s staff of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod, ELCA as the Director of the Freed to Lead Fund.
Rev. Thomas L. Weitzel is on the Bishop’s staff of the Indiana-Kentucky Synod, ELCA as the Director of the Freed to Lead Fund.
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