One in Love and Mission:  
A Liturgy for the Seventh Sunday of Easter
May 8, 2016 	 

Acts 16:16-34  •  Psalm 97  •  Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21  •  John 17:20-26

Call to Worship (Psalm 97)  
	God rules the Earth with justice:
	Earth and Earth’s people rejoice!
	
	All nature serves God:
	Fire clears the way and lightening lights God’s path: 
Earth and Earth’s people rejoice!

The heavens proclaim God’s righteousness;
All peoples behold God’s glory:
Earth and Earth’s people rejoice!

Delight in God, O coastlands and heartlands;
Give thanks to God, O faithful ones:
Earth and Earth’s people rejoice!

A Prayer of Invocation (John 17: 20-26)
	Mysterious God, 
You reveal yourself in Jesus, your Beloved Child
who gives us a glimpse your glory 
and invites us to share in the unity of all that is Holy: 
the holiness that is You, your creation,  your people, 
united in the Spirit that breaks through all boundaries of fear and injustice.
Meet us here today, O Unity, and teach us to be one:
		One in love for each other
		One in love for Creation
One in understanding with all who find in Jesus the Way to You
One in peace with all who find other paths to your Truth.
We ask all this in the name of Jesus, whose fervent prayer was ever:
“May they all be one.”

Prayer of Confession  (Revelation 22: 12-14;16-17;20-21)
God’s invitation to us thirsty people is clear: 

“Come to the waters of life.”
 Everyone is thirsty!

 “Let everyone who hears say, ‘Come.’”
Everyone is thirsty!

“So let everyone who is thirsty come!”
Everyone is thirsty!

Let all who are thirsty take the water of life as a gift.
The water of life is a gift, and everyone is thirsty!

O God, the waters of life are your gift, in trust for us all.
And yet we are so often careless with that precious gift, 
and render your waters undrinkable, 
unable to support your precious life on land, in animals, in people.
We turn fresh water into a commodity, and sell it to those in need.
But everyone is thirsty, and the water of life is a gift!

Forgive us for abusing and hoarding and selling your water.
Remind us that part of our human oneness is thirst for life-sustaining water.
Empower us to advocate just practices for all who are thirsty:
For the water of life is a gift, and everyone is thirsty! 

Words of Assurance
	In Christ we are forgiven and refreshed and empowered 
to celebrate all God’s good gifts and to share them in justice and peace:  
For the water of life is a gift, and everyone is thirsty! 

Invitation to Offering
            Jesus prays that we might all be one: with him, with God, with each other.  
            One way to respond to this prayer is to share our gifts for the common good,
            to support the body of Christ, the Church, in its local, regional and national settings. 
            
Prayer of Dedication
	O God, receive these gifts, bless them and multiply them, 
that they may strengthen and unify the work of your Church here 
and around the Earth you love.  In Jesus’ name we pray:  Amen.

Benediction  
               Go forth in the Peace of Christ, 
              renewed in Unity, 
              thirsting for Justice, 
              rejoicing in the love of God for Earth and Earth‘s People.  Amen!

One in Love and Mission: Service Prayers for the Seventh Sunday of Easter, was written by the Reverend Susan A. Blain, Faith Formation Ministry Team. 

Copyright 2016 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.