May 3 2026 – The Fifth Sunday of Easter

CHIMING OF THE HOUR

WELCOME

PRAYER

God of all journeys, the road we travel is stony,
and often we struggle to hold fast to hope.
But in you, we find new courage,
new purpose, and new life.
By your grace, teach us to live as your Easter people,
with mercy, compassion, and justice.
Guide us with your light,
that in your all-sufficient presence,
we might raise our voices in endless praise. Amen.

PRELUDE

CALL TO WORSHIP

Christ is a living stone, precious in God’s sight,
and on him we build our lives.
We are God’s people,
and we proclaim God’s mighty acts,
for we have been called out of darkness
and into the light.

Once we were not a people,
but now we are God’s people;
once we had not received mercy,
but now we have received mercy.
With hearts lifted in praise, we come to worship.

*HYMN No. 244 “This Joyful Eastertide

This joy­ful East­er-tide,
Away with sin and sor­row!
My Love, the Cru­ci­fied,
Hath sprung to life this mor­row.

Refrain

Had Christ, that once was slain,
Ne’er burst His three day pri­son,
Our faith had been in vain;
But now hath Christ aris­en,
Arisen, aris­en, aris­en!

My flesh in hope shall rest,
And for a sea­son slum­ber;
Till trump from east to west,
Shall wake the dead in num­ber.

Refrain

Had Christ, that once was slain,
Ne’er burst His three day pri­son,
Our faith had been in vain;
But now hath Christ aris­en,
Arisen, aris­en, aris­en!

Death’s flood hath lost his chill,
Since Je­sus crossed the riv­er:
Lover of souls, from ill
My pass­ing soul de­liv­er.

Refrain

Had Christ, that once was slain,
Ne’er burst His three day pri­son,
Our faith had been in vain;
But now hath Christ aris­en,
Arisen, aris­en, aris­en!

CALL TO CONFESSION

Jesus taught us mercy
by praying for the forgiveness
of those who killed him.
This miraculous grace assures us
that no matter what we have done,
no matter the words we have left unsaid,
we can come to Christ with our honest confession.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Christ, our way, our truth, our life,
you have shown us the way,
so clearly and fully.
You have not simply told us how to live,
you have shown us.
But we still don’t get it.
We do not believe all you have said to us;
we do not trust the way you have shown us.
Help us, O God.
Forgive us.
Open our ears to your truth,
open our eyes to your way,
and lead us into new life.

Silence is observed

*ASSURANCE OF PARDON

Beloved, believe the good news.
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.
Jesus prepares a place for us,
Jesus brings us close to him,
Jesus answers us even in our unbelief.
We are God’s own people.
Thanks be to God. Alleluia!

*RESPONSE NO. 244, refrain only “This Joyful Eastertide”

Had Christ, that once was slain,
Ne’er burst His three day pri­son,
Our faith had been in vain;
But now hath Christ aris­en,
Arisen, aris­en, aris­en!

*PASSING OF THE PEACE OF CHRIST

Before the foundation of the world Christ forgave us, and forgives us still today.

Let us forgive as we have been forgiven and share the peace of Christ.

May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

And also with you.

Worshippers are invited to briefly “pass the peace” of Christ to those directly seated around them thus keeping our worship time “decent and in order” with a focus upon being part of God’s community.

ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS

Service of Ordination and Installation

of Ruling Elders and Deacons

OPENING SENTENCES
There are different gifts,
But it is the same spirit who gives them.
There are different ways of serving God,
But it is the same Lord who is served.
God works through different people in different ways.
But it is the same God who achieves his purpose through them all.
Each one is given a gift by the Spirit.
To use it for the common good.
Together we are the body of Christ.
And individually members of him.

Though we have different gifts, together we are a ministry of reconciliation led by the risen Christ. We work and pray to make his church useful in the world, and we call men and women to faith, so that, in the end, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God. Within our common ministry, some members are chosen for particular work as ministers of the Word, ruling elders, or deacons.

In ordination, we recognize these special ministries, remembering that our Lord Jesus said: Whoever among you wants to be great must become the servant of all, and whoever wants to be first among you, must be the slave of all persons!

Just as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life to set others free.

CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTIONS
God has called you by the voice of the church to serve Jesus Christ in a special way. You know who we are and what we believe, and you understand the work for which you have been chosen. Please answer these questions required by the Constitution:

  1. Do you trust in Jesus Christ your Savior, acknowledge him Lord of all and Head of the Church, and through him believe in one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? I do.
  2. Do you accept the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be, by the Holy Spirit, the unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ in the Church universal, and God’s Word to you? I do.
  3. Do you sincerely receive and adopt the essential tenets of the Reformed faith as expressed in the confessions of our Church as authentic and reliable expositions of what Scripture leads us to believe and do, and will you be instructed and led by those confessions as you lead the people of God? I do and I will.
  4. Will you fulfill your ministry in obedience to Jesus Christ, under the authority of Scripture, and be continually guided by our confessions? I will.
  5. Will you be governed by our Church’s polity, and will you abide by its discipline? Will you be a friend among your colleagues in ministry, working with them, subject to the ordering of God’s Word and Spirit? I will.
  6. Will you in your own life seek to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, love your neighbors, and work for the reconciliation of the world? I will.
  7. Do you promise to further the peace, unity, and purity of the Church? I do.
  8. Will you pray for and seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love? I will.
  9. (For elder) Will you be a faithful ruling elder, watching over the people, providing for their worship, nurture, and service? Will you share in government and discipline, serving in councils of the Church, and in your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ? I will.
    (For deacon) Will you be a faithful deacon, teaching charity, urging concern, and directing the people’s help
    to the friendless and those in need? In your ministry will you try to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ? I will.

QUESTIONS TO THE CONGREGATION

  1. Do we, the members of the church, accept as ruling elders _______________________________,

________________________________ as deacon

and ____________________________ as trustees,

chosen by God through the voice of this congregation to lead us in the way of Jesus Christ? We do.

  1. Do we agree to pray for them, to encourage them, to respect their decisions, and to follow as they guide us, serving Jesus Christ, who alone is Head of the Church? We do.

LAYING ON OF HANDS AND PRAYER OF ORDINATION

Almighty God, in every age you have chosen servants to speak your word and lead your loyal people. We thank you for these men and women whom you have called to serve you. Give them special gifts to do their special work; and fill them with the Holy Spirit, so they may have the same mind that was in Christ Jesus, and be faithful disciples as long as they shall live.

PRAYER OF DEDICATION (In unison)

God of grace, who called us to a common ministry as ambassadors of Christ, trusting us with the message of reconciliation: give us courage and discipline to follow where your servants rightly lead us; that together we may declare your wonderful deeds and show your love to the world; through Jesus Christ the Lord of all. Amen.

CHARGE AND WELCOME

You are now ruling elders, deacons, and trustees in the Church of Jesus Christ and for this congregation. Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Amen.

ANTHEM “A New Psalm” Patti Drennan

UNISON PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

Living God, with joy we celebrate
the presence of your risen Word.
Enliven our hearts by your Holy Spirit
so that we may proclaim the good news
of eternal and abundant life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SCRIPTURE John 14:1-14

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe[a] in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?[b] 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am going.”[c]5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will know[d] my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, but if you do not, then believe[e]because of the works themselves. 12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If in my name you ask me[f] for anything, I will do it.

Pause…

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God!!

SERMON “Holy Air B&B???”

Where do you like to stay when you go on vacation? Do you seek out a luxury, 5 star, all-inclusive resort? Are you a “pack in, pack out” kind of camper? Or prefer the communal living in a hostel? Maybe you rely on the guest rooms and pull out couches of family members or friends. While some would argue that there are other things that matter more than where you stay, your lodging choice can make a big difference in how the trip goes, and we tend to have our own preferences. And so we read the reviews, hoping for reasonably priced places that will fit our list of wants. It can be a tedious process, whether you are researching the best place to park your family RV or finding the perfect beach front hotel with ocean views. In the end, we want to know what to expect, and hope to find the perfect fit for our needs to make a truly memorable trip.

In our gospel reading for this morning, Jesus is in the midst of what is known as his “Farewell Discourse” to his disciples, where he does far more than just telling them about a great trip he has planned with Mom and Dad to a cozy spot on the Sea of Galilee. The stakes of his journey are tremendous, and his explaining them to the disciples has caused understandable grief. In this passage, we hear Jesus offering words of comfort, reminders that his trip will not separate him from his disciples forever. Instead, quite the opposite will be true – they will be reunited with him. Naturally, the disciples want to know what it is going to be like, and how to get there. Thomas is the one who is bold enough to ask the question.

In response, we would expect Jesus to paint a clear picture. After all, throughout his ministry, particularly in the gospel of Matthew, he has described what the “kingdom of heaven” is like: a mustard seed, a great treasure, a generous landowner in the vineyard, a pearl. And yet, he doesn’t seem to spend much time on a list of amenities. It is as if he has already told the disciples what they need to know – it is his Father’s house, there is space for everyone, and he is preparing the way. Throughout the centuries, Christians have tried to paint a bigger, better picture of what this must mean; images of big pearly gates and a grand estate with golden roads. The Christian rock band Audio Adrenaline had a hit song in 1993, describing it as a “big, big house, with lots and lots of room, a big, big table, with lots and lots of food, a big, big yard, where we can play football!(i)” It’s natural for us to want to get a glimpse of what the Father’s house will look like, or at least to imagine some of the splendor that is to come. And, like we sometimes do with our vacation plans, we can get caught up in the lists of amenities and luxuries. We want to book our room, and secretly hope we’ll be upgraded to a penthouse suite. Our view of eternity is almost like we’re guests in God’s hotel.

When you’re a hotel guest, you view things as a customer. Things become a business transaction in which you give something to the hotel in exchange for services. If the services don’t meet your standards, you can call the front desk and complain to the manager in the hopes of some resolution. You are a consumer, free from the responsibilities you normally have at home. I remember arguing with my mother as a teenager while on vacation about whether or not it mattered if we made the bed, since someone would come and do it for us. To this day, my mom will more often than not make the bed, or at least smooth the covers back in place. Some people take this convenience to the extreme in the other direction and leave quite the mess; rock stars are stereotypically notorious for this. While I am sure that none of you would ever trash a hotel room, if we’re really honest, I imagine we don’t put too much thought into how it looks when we leave for the day, or even the trip. That’s normal for a hotel guest.

Jesus’ response to the disciples question makes it pretty clear that what he’s talking about is a bit more than a vacation reservation. He responds to Thomas not as a travel agent trying to sell the upgraded room, but as the Savior who knows what is truly at the heart of the matter. “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” Jesus says. In other words, “I’ve got you covered, Thomas. Trust me, friend, it’s going to be good.” Jesus knows that the reservation will be made by his death and resurrection, that grace will cover all the costs. He knows he’s doing much more than playing travel agent. What Jesus is offering isn’t a short term vacation opportunity, or even a fantastic deal on some eternal real estate. He’s not really selling anything at all. Rather, he is inviting his friends to come and live with him. They aren’t going to be paying customers; they are going to be houseguests.

Being someone’s houseguest is very different from renting a room. Our expectations aren’t the same when staying with friends and family. We generally don’t experience a daily turndown service, mints on our pillows, or tiny bottles of shampoo and lotion. Instead, we tend to focus more on the time we get to spend with our loved ones. Things feel a bit more like home as we fall into a shared rhythm and routine together over morning cups of coffee, rocking on the front porch, local adventures and shared reminiscing. Of course, our hosts will do things to make us as comfortable as possible. They’ve probably done some cleaning up to prepare for our arrival, and show us where we can find things around the house. They say “make yourself at home,” and show us where to find extra towels and late night snacks. They may even give us their wifi password. But chances are, during our stay we aren’t that focused on the amenities or luxuries of the accommodations. They are replaced by something far more important – relationships.

This is what Jesus is really talking about in this passage: relationships. Not just in the far off future of eternity, but in the very immediate reality of the present. He reminds the disciples that through him, they are already connected to God the father. They have begun an intimate relationship with the divine host. Through Christ, they have laughed with God, dined with God, walked with God. They have witnessed God’s incredible powers to heal and reach out into the world. They have truly experienced God, not as some future being to meet, but as someone who is a part of their lives even now.

Jesus’ farewell discourse is meant to encourage them to live more deeply into that relationship with God in the present. He summarizes what that means in this passage by identifying the role of good works, not as a way to get to God (that’s already been done through Christ), but as a response to God dwelling within each of them, and as a way to glorify God in this time and this place. Theologians call this “sanctification,” the ongoing process of living holy lives that remind us of God’s presence with us and seek to praise God in all that we say and in all that we do. Jesus reminds the disciples that these works give hints of the even greater works he will do in God’s name, and will be the glimpses of what is to come. The key to this kind of living? A focus on the relationships they have with God and one another.

Hearing this passage today, we are challenged to consider what our relationship with God is most like. Do we approach it as a hotel guest with a list of desired amenities and consumer mentality, or do we approach it like we are going to visit a dear friend or family member. Chances are the answer is truthfully a little bit of both. We trend toward the consumer approach sometimes. We remember to pray more when there is something we particularly want or need. We come to church looking for what we can “get” out of our time here, ready to be served and hoping not to be disappointed by a less than stellar sermon. We think about God when it is convenient for us, which might be less often than we’d like to admit, rather than make our spiritual lives a priority. And if we’re really honest with ourselves, we’re pretty quick to complain to the management when things aren’t the way we like them. This mentality isn’t all bad. Jesus even indicates that he will provide for us in verse 14 of our scripture passage. We trust in God’s power and grace to be able to do anything, even more than what we ask. And there is certainly nothing wrong with asking God to help us or others, or to expect that our time together as a community of faith will benefit us. It absolutely should. But that’s not where our relationship with God should end.

I think we have an innate desire as human beings to connect in meaningful ways, and it’s even seen in our travel trends. All over the world, people are opening their homes to guests through programs like “AirBNB.” In one commercial, the company is presented like this. A mother juggles a tote bag full of groceries and baby bottles, trying to get them to fit into a hotel room mini-fridge, as her husband notes that every time she moves one of the original overpriced snacks, “you know they’re going to charge us for that.” Then, the scene cuts to the same family entering a home, with a room for the kids to play, and large spacious fridge big enough for an assortment of items only Mary Poppins could produce from that same bag. The mom smiles and takes a deep breath.

This travel movement accomplishes a lot of things and meets a new set of needs for travelers, but also represents in us, I think, the desire to be more connected with each other and for our travels to feel more rooted in our own realities as we try to find places that “feel like home.” It shifts the focus of our trip to the relationships we have, and even opens the doors to some new relationships, depending on whether or not the owners of the house are around. Many who have enjoyed these types of accommodations have noted the joy of shared cups of coffee as cultures are exchanged. It can be fun to engage with the host.

In God’s house, we find the best kind of host. We are welcomed with warm and open arms as beloved children who have come home. We settle into the Father’s house and are reminded of past memories. We reminisce with God about good times and bad, laughing and crying together until the wee hours of the morning. We learn more about the place we are staying, and get insider tips that make our experience more authentic, rather than falling into tourist traps with cheap thrills. We are more inclined to lend a hand preparing dinner, and might just tidy the covers a bit and hang up our towels in the morning. When we approach our faith journey more like houseguests than customers, something shifts inside of us. We realize that our time with God involves giving of ourselves, to God and to each other so that we can all grow together as a family of faith. We sing out in worship, not worrying if our voices are a bit off key. We speak up in Bible study, not worrying if our ideas about Scripture are perfectly phrased or even completely correct. We volunteer in service, not worrying about being the most qualified, just wanting to help as best as we are able. As houseguests, we have the boldness to do these things because we trust we are in a safe place with our host, who will be with us every step of the way. As God’s houseguests, we can linger in this place without worrying about a check-out time. For with God, we are home.

The invitation to us has already been made some two thousand years ago, and will extend into eternity. But we don’t have to wait to accept it. We can live as God’s houseguests now, dwelling with Christ in us today. The Father’s house can be wherever we are; the light is always on for us to come and stay. As the Psalmist reminds us, this is a good and joyful place to be! You won’t find better amenities anywhere else than God’s grace and love. So come and stay a while, there’s a place prepared for you. Let us go to the house of the Lord! Amen.

*AFFIRMATION OF FAITH Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 27-28:

What do you believe about the Church of Christ?
We believe and confess one single catholic or universal church- a holy congregation and gathering of true Christian believers.

And what binds them all together?
They await their entire salvation in Jesus Christ, are washed by his blood, and sanctified and sealed by the Holy Spirit.

When did this church begin?
This church has existed from the beginning of the world and will last until the end, as appears from the fact that Christ is eternal King who cannot be without subjects.

Will God protect his Church from its enemies?
This holy church is preserved by God against the rage of the whole world, even though for a time it may appear very small as though it were snuffed out.

How big is this Church?

This holy church is not confined, bound, or limited to a certain place or certain persons. But it is spread and dispersed throughout the entire world, though still joined and united in heart and will, in one and the same Spirit, by the power of faith.

How important is church membership?
We believe that since this holy assembly and congregation is the gathering of those who are saved and there is no salvation apart from it, no one ought to withdraw from it, content to be by himself, regardless of his status or condition.

What is our obligation and duty toward the church of Christ?
All people are obliged to join and unite with it, keeping the unity of the church by submitting to its instruction and discipline, by bending their necks under the yoke of Jesus Christ, and by serving to build up one another, according to the gifts God has given them as members of each other in the same body.

*HYMN No. 240 “Alleluia, Alleluia! Give Thanks to the Risen Lord

Refrain:
Alleluia, alleluia!
Give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Give praise to his name

1 Jesus is Lord of all the earth.
He is the King of creation.

Refrain

Alleluia, alleluia!
Give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Give praise to his name

2 Spread the good news o’er all the earth:
Jesus has died and has risen.

Refrain

Alleluia, alleluia!
Give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Give praise to his name

3 We have been crucified with Christ.
Now we shall live forever.

Refrain

Alleluia, alleluia!
Give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Give praise to his name

4 Come let us praise the living God,
joyfully sing to our Savior.

Refrain

Alleluia, alleluia!
Give thanks to the risen Lord.
Alleluia, alleluia!
Give praise to his name

THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION

INVITATION
Come you who are weary,
come you who have sore feet and a tired spirit,
come refresh at the Lord’s table
with bread, wine and a community of faith
that flows with the love of Christ.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Holy are you, Power of the Universe;
you spoke words of power and creativity on that first morning,
calling life to spring forth.
You call us still.
As your breath hovered over the chaotic waters at creation,
as a mother bird hovers over her nest,
you continue to hover over your creation and our chaos.
You nudge us forward through changes.
As Moses brought assurance of your promised life
to those who preferred to return to slavery in Egypt and diminished living,
as Elijah on the mountain could not resist your call
to engage a frightening future,
as Isaiah brought your word of comfort
to a people overwhelmed by change,
you nudge us forward despite our hesitancy to change.
In Jesus, you walk beside us,
teaching, modeling, and encouraging us to walk the path of genuine love.
He kept moving when the judgment of others tried to shut him down.
He kept raising others up and healing, at inconvenient and surprising times.
He loved beyond borders of respectability and expectations.
Jesus showed us that nothing can overcome your love—
not suffering,
not the cruelty of the cross,
not even death.
Your faithfulness is still reflected in the companions on our journey.
You accompany us to an unclear future.
Through this bread and wine,
we remember Jesus,
and his promise to prepare the way for us.
In this simple, sacred meal,
hover over us, within us, and around us,
that we might sing the song of faith on the road,
trusting that you will meet us there.
We pray for the world you created:
we bless the light and happy places where it’s smooth sailing,
and find joy in the spray and freshening winds.
We pray for those in dark, or hidden places,
full of pain, sorrow, and despair.
Where leaders are misguided, straighten them out.
Where nations collide, may your rhythm set them dancing,
just as you set planets and stars dancing to an ancient song.
Come, Holy Spirit, and do what we cannot.
Pour out your power on this bread, wine, and on your beloved people,
that with the Spirit of the risen Lord,
we might become the Body of Christ once again.
What we can do, we will.
We will seek the Lord at this table and in our living.
We will eat this bread.
We will drink this cup.
We will become the Body of Christ once again.

(Together we say the words Jesus told us, in our heart language:

THE LORD’S PRAYER
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. Forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

COMMUNION

On the same night on which Jesus was betrayed,
he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said,
“Take, eat; this is my body which is broken for you;
do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same manner he also took the cup after supper, saying,
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood.
This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup,
You proclaim the Lord’s death till he comes.

CLOSING PRAYER
Holy One,
you have met us here and strengthened us for the journey.
We have tasted what love is, and our saltiness has been restored.
Whether through tears or with joy,
we will follow,
trusting we are not alone.
With Jesus, and all the company of heaven and earth, we pray.
Amen.

PASSING OF FELLOWSHIP PADS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

TITHES & OFFERINGS

How does God’s love abide in anyone
who has the world’s goods
yet refuses to help a sister or brother in need?
Remembering God’s great love for the world,
let us offer our time, talents and treasures to the Lord.

OFFERTORY ANTHEM

*RESPONSE N0. 248, v.3 “Christ Is Risen! Shout Hosanna”

Christ is risen! Earth and heaven
nevermore shall be the same.
Break the bread of new creation
where the world is still in pain.
Tell its grim, demonic chorus:
“Christ is risen! Get you gone!”‘
God the First and Last is with us.
Sing Hosanna everyone!

*PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Great God, to you we give our thanks;
your steadfast love endures forever.
With gratitude we bring our gifts to you.
Bless us and our gifts,
that our lives and our resources
may be a source of healing and hope,
of joy and justice in our world. Amen.

*HYMN No. 252 “Day of Arising”

1 Day of arising,
Christ on the roadway,
unknown companion walks with his own.
When they invite him,
as fades the first day,
and bread is broken,
Christ is made known.

2 When we are walking,
doubtful and dreading,
blinded by sadness,
slowness of heart,
yet Christ walks with us,
ever awaiting
our invitation:
Stay, do not part.

3 Lo, I am with you,
Jesus has spoken.
This is Christ’s promise,
this is Christ’s sign:
when the church gathers,
when bread is broken,
there Christ is with us,
in bread and wine.

4 Christ, our companion,
hope for the journey,
bread of compassion,
open our eyes.
Grant us your vision,
set all hearts burning
that all creation
with you may rise.

*BENEDICTION

God summons us to speak truth to power,
even when that power is our own.
Friends, in the name of God who acts faithfully,
Christ who serves humbly,
and the Spirit who inspires creatively,
go out and embody the
justice our Triune God proclaims radically. Amen.

*POSTLUDE