Prayer as We Gather: In this holy hour, dear Lord, re-mind us. Grant us a new mind, a new way of thinking, to faithfully follow you. Re-mind us of the darkness from which you have brought us, and where we might otherwise have been. Re-mind us that Jesus called us to be followers of “The Way,” not people of The Destination or The Organization or The Building or The Bank Balance. Re-mind us how you transformed apostle Paul from a hate-filled man breathing murderous threats against the first followers of the Way into a fearless proclaimer of The Way who would one day lay down his own life for Jesus’ sake. Transform us likewise. Amen.*(Mitchell Simpson, inspired by Acts 9)
Call to Worship:
I exalt you, Lord, because you pulled me up;
You didn’t let my enemies celebrate over me.
I cried out to you for help, and you healed me,
Brought me up from the grave, brought me back to life.
Weeping may stay all night, but by morning, joy.
You changed my mourning into dancing.
Dress me up in joy, so my whole being might sing praises to you.
Lord, my God, I will give thanks to you forever. (from Psalm 30, The Common English Bible)
Morning Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for visions sent, received and acted upon. May we shed the blinders and restraints of timid reason in favor of soaring, Holy Spirit-prompted dreams. Unsettle us with such disruptive imaginings as inhabited evangelist John’s musings on the island of Patmos, sounds and blinding flashes of angelic choruses, living creatures and church elders singing with abandon: “Worthy is the slaughtered Lamb to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory and blessing.” Rid us of fear over what others may think of our new-found spiritual abandon. May our worship of your majesty not cease at the sanctuary threshold, but propel us to reckless obedience of your commands delivered so fearlessly by the Galilean carpenter who taught us to pray, saying …*(Mitchell Simpson, inspired by Revelation 5)
Prayer of Confession: Have mercy, Lord, when we look right through you. Crazy as it may sound that your own disciples failed to recognize you after your resurrection as you stood on the lakeshore, calling out to them as they completed a night of fishing, far too often you remain equally invisible to us in the conversations and appointments of our overly-scheduled lives. Forgive our neglect of your pleading presence in the hurts and fears of those whose paths we cross daily, heedless of your counsel that “in as much as you have ministered (or not) to the least of these, you have done so even unto me.” Give us another chance to see you, hear you, touch you as we extend nets of caring through the ministries of our beloved UBC community, gathering all the children of the world to your precious, bleeding side. Amen.*(Mitchell Simpson, inspired by John 21)
Assurance of Pardon: I have good news! Jesus understands our every weakness, including our perpetual blindness to his presence, and yet he continues to beckon us along the lakeshore of our lives, greeting us with a warm breakfast fire, fish on the grill and fresh bread for all who heed his call. If we will only cast our nets of love where he leads us, we will be astounded at the bounty of rescued souls and reclaimed wanderers he will privilege us to embrace. Thanks be to God for the high calling of fishing for persons, and for the burgeoning future of servant ministry opening before us at University Baptist Church.*(Mitchell Simpson, inspired by John 21)
Thought for an Eastertide Sabbath: “Nothing can take away the sins of the world except the love that is revealed on the cross and vindicated in the resurrection.” Martin L. Smith, Episcopal priest, Washington, D.C.