A Covenant People

 

….let me be empty, let me have all things, let me have nothing:

Today as we consider the above phrases from the Covenant Prayer, we spend time in prayer. It maybe helpful to have an empty plate and cup to hand.

In the name of the Father,

and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

We are connected by God's Spirit, 

hoping for a glimpse of the holy:

the One who brooded over Creation, 

who engulfed a bush in flame,

who made a path through the waters, 

who rolled away the tombstone.

We are connected by God's Spirit, 

hoping for a whisper of the truth:

the Word who first spoke in the silence,

the voice who raged with the prophet’s zeal, 

the host who sang of peace on earth,

the teacher who blessed the humble and poor. 

We are connected by God's Spirit,

hoping for a touch of compassion:

the tenderness that shaped the human body, 

the caress that opened eyes of the blind,

the soothing hand that brought healing calm, 

the warmth that embraced the lonely and lost.

We are connected by God's Spirit, in the presence of mystery: 

of One who is revealed and hidden, known and unknown, 

mother and father of Creation,

God-with-us, living Word, eternal Spirit, Three and One.

Breathe into us hope, faith and joy.

Breathe into us compassion, truth and holiness.

Breathe into us reconciliation, justice and peace. 

Breathe newness of life as we worship today

in this place and in many places

joined by your Spirit of comfort and hope.

Amen.

We hold up the empty plate...

It is Christ who is the bread of life,

who satisfies the hungry heart.

We hold up the empty cup...

It is Christ who is the cup of hope,

who revives the thirsty.

We place this plate and cup on the table.

The gifts of God for the people of God.

In faith and hope, we hold out our empty hands.

In our hands and in our hearts, 

we leave space for resurrection, 

for new life and for new meaning.

We shall not seek God among the dead.

We shall be bearers of hope among the living.

We shall carry the stories of our hurts 

and losses that we may tell the story of healing and resurrection.

Live then, in the promise of Resurrection Life!

Live according to the story of the One: 

Father, Son and Spirit. 

Knowing that the scattered community of God

is placed in the world, for the sake of the world.

Glory to God and Peace to All.