At-Home Liturgy for Sunday Worship
You may use this liturgy alone, with family, or with friends.
Follow it word-for-word, or let it simply guide your time of prayer.
You are invited to move at a slow and restful pace.
Gathering
Good morning! As we rest from the rush to make it to Sunday worship on time, we invite you to use this liturgy to connect with God and loved ones — in your home, on a walk, or wherever you find yourself today.
There is also a short talk available on our website (see link below).
Whatever is going on in your life, for today, rest well in the grace and peace of Jesus.
Know that he is present with you by his Spirit.
Find hope in his goodness.
If possible, light a candle, and let the flame remind you that the Spirit of God is present wherever you are.
Collect (Opening Prayer of Intention)
Intention: There’s an interesting story from the dastardly King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4, after the 3 Jewish boys are saved from fire, Nebby has a great awakening to the largess and eternity of God. The event inspires awe and he says, “I lifted my eyes to heaven and my reason returned to me. I blessed the Most High and praised and honored the One who lives forever” (Dan. 4:34).
The world is insane. Nebby was the cause of insanity in his day—many of us sit by wondering if we can do anything at all to influence reason. Scripture says considering the eternal God sets our minds right, praise tunes our hearts to God, and we can settle into the world under God’s vision and intention.
Today, I invite you to take time and consider an eternal, loving God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is Goodness and Love and Light. They, who are One from the beginning, are now, and will be One in the end. And God has invited us to live with them in eternal light here and now.
Pause. Take a deep breath and find stillness.
Prayer: God of peace, whose Son Jesus Christ proclaimed the kingdom and restored the broken to wholeness of life: look with compassion on the anguish of the world and by your healing power make whole both people and nations; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Confession and Assurance
Private Reflection:
Open your life to God. Talk honestly about any area where you lack hope or trust, or anything you’re carrying in guilt or regret.
All pray together:
Most Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us,
that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways,
to the glory of your Name. Amen.
Leader:
Grant to us your pardon and peace,
that we may be clear of great offense
and free in conscience to serve you with a quiet mind and a whole heart;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
with you and the Holy Spirit — one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Song of Praise
Sing or listen to a song that expresses gratitude and trust. YouTube Playlist Here
Suggested songs:
· Doxology
· Everything’s In Your Hands
· The Whole Earth Is Full of Your Glory
· Do You Believe That He Loves You [DYBTHLY]
Praying the Psalms
The Psalms are the prayerbook of God’s people.
For millennia, this book has guided hearts to see God clearly and to pray for themselves, their friends, and the world.
If a verse doesn’t seem to fit you today, hold it for someone else and pray on their behalf.
This practice roots us in a reality bigger than our own.
Psalm 145:15,–17-21 (The Message)
Leader:
1 I lift you high in praise, my God, O my King!
Everyone: and I’ll bless your name into eternity.
2 I’ll bless you every day,
and keep it up from now to eternity.
3 God is magnificent; he can never be praised enough.
There are no boundaries to his greatness.
4 Generation after generation stands in awe of your work;
each one tells stories of your mighty acts.
5 Your beauty and splendor have everyone talking;
I compose songs on your wonders.
17 Everything God does is right—
the trademark on all his works is love.
18 God’s there, listening for all who pray,
for all who pray and mean it.
19 He does what’s best for those who fear him—
hears them call out, and saves them.
20 God sticks by all who love him,
but it’s all over for those who don’t.
21 My mouth is filled with God’s praise.
Let everything living bless him,
bless his holy name from now to eternity!
All pray:
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Reading and Reflection
Gospel Reading — Luke 20:27–38
Read the passage before listening to the devotional talk below. If possible, read the Message or some other translation you like. We’ll read in NIV on the podcast as well.
During reading:
Listen for a word, phrase, or image that stands out.
Listen for what God might be saying to you or to your community.
After Reading, Reflect:
· What do you notice in this story?
· What is Jesus saying about God and “The Age to Come?”
(Optional Listening: short talk on the Gospel (~11 min) — LINK HERE)
Closing Prayer
Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored,
may your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all—right now and always. Amen.
Practice for the Week
Reflect on these words: Our All-Loving God has invited us to live in what is eternal: loving service, wonder, awe and beauty.
· How might the beauty of God in eternity change how I see the present?
· How can our life together with Jesus reflect an anticipation of the Age to Come?
(End of Liturgy)
You are invited to rest, reflect, and carry this peace with you into your week.