worship pieces for lent 3a

What might living water look like?

The header on my blog is of a sunrise on the Greek coast at Xiropagado. As the sun would come up the dark blue water would begin to lighten, glisten. The colors of the sunrise would be reflected on it, as if it were setting the water afire. In my artist journal this week, the living water cannot be contained. It spills out of the jar, as if pushed by the wind out into the world that is already ablaze with the Light of God.

Living Water Art Reflection Journal Entry

I often use the wonderfully rich commentary series, Feasting on the Word in my sermon preparations. This week the gospel story is of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4. The pastoral perspective essay by Deborah J. Kapp focuses on the social status of the woman, especially in contrast with Nicodemus from last week’s lesson. She quotes Emily Dickinson’s poem, “I’m Nobody! Who Are You?” With stories in the news this week about a young boy in North Carolina bullied at school because of his My Little Pony lunch bag and an Arkansas high schooler whose profile was pulled from his school yearbook because it included his coming out story, it is hard to escape the harsh reality that being different is unwelcomed in many parts of our world.

With Dickinson’s lines dancing around in my head, a beloved poem came to mind, inspiring me this week. One that is slightly more upbeat, yet with a broad welcome to the outsiders. Shel Silverstein, the poet of my childhood, opened his wonderful book Where the Sidewalk Ends with these words:

If you are a dreamer, come in.
If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar,
A hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer . . .
If you’re a pretender, come sit by my fire,
For we have some flax golden tales to spin.
Come in!
Come in!

Those words seem to me to be the best call to worship one might write, and they inspired me in this week’s writing.

Call to Worship

Welcome to you–the dreamers, the troublemakers, the wanderers, and the star-gazers!
Is the Lord among us–has the Creator of the universe come to meet us here?
God’s welcome is for you–the nobodies, the somebodies, the overworked, and the forgotten!
Is it true–Is there a place for us here?
Welcome to you all–you who thirst after a new start, you at the back of the line, you at the end of your rope! Welcome, one and all!
With grateful hearts we sing praises to our God, who brings life abundant and full.

Opening Prayer

O God of grace, who meets us where we are, we are grateful for your loving presence. When our lives are falling apart, you come to us bringing comfort and hope. When we have lost our way, you come alongside us, bringing light amidst the gloom. When our hearts are filled with gladness, you take our hand to dance with joy! We come seeking you, O Living Water, and find that you are already here, welcoming us with your overflowing mercy and love. Amen.

Prayer of Confession

You know our struggles, O God:
the times when our actions contradicted our words,
or when we spoke words to hurt,
or when we held back words in anger.
the times we have broken our covenants,
wounded our relationships,
with you, with those around us, with your creation, and with ourselves.
Forgive us, Lord.

(silence for reflection)

Redeemer and Savior, fill us with your love.
Gift us anew with resurrection life, our Healer and Friend, Amen.

 Invitation to Communion

Here we find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—in the welcoming presence of God’s grace. God knows our stories, the very best of ourselves and those secrets we keep hidden from sight. None of that matters. For the invitation extended to us is one we cannot earn, but can only receive.
Living water, bread of life, the gifts of God are here for us to share. There is abundance at Christ’s table, life-giving abundance.
If you need mercy, this table is for you.
If you seek wholeness, this table is for you.
If your heart is grateful, this table is for you.
In the ordinary gifts of bread and cup, broken and blessed, we encounter the mystery of our faith. Christ meets us here–in this moment and this place–in bread and wine.

All are welcome at Christ’s table.
Everyone is welcome at Christ’s table.