At-Home Liturgy for Sunday Worship

Set aside 20–25 minutes. Move slowly. This can be done alone or with others.

You may follow this word-for-word or let it guide your time.

Gathering

Good morning.

Today we step out of our busyness and make space to be with God—right where we are.
In your home, on a walk, with family or alone—give these moments to be present to God.
Whatever this week has been, you are invited to rest in the grace and peace of Jesus.

If you’re able, light a candle.
Let the flame remind you that the Spirit of God is with you now.

Take a moment of quiet.

Opening Prayer (Collect)

Pray (aloud or silently):

All-Loving God, thank you for sharing your Son Jesus Christ. Through his death, you have offered forgiveness and the healing of all sin. Through his life, you have given us an example to follow in living well and becoming whole. Give us grateful hearts to receive these gifts and help us to follow more closely his example with courage, humility, and love. We pray this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Confession and Assurance

Take a moment in silence.

Bring before God anything you’re carrying—
fear, guilt, regret, or a lack of trust.

Pray:

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.

Take a breath.

Receive this:
In Jesus Christ, you are forgiven and loved.

Song of Praise

Sing or listen to a song that expresses gratitude and trust.

You can use a playlist from our YouTube page, or choose any song that helps you turn your attention to God.

Praying for the World

Pray:

God, you created us in your image and redeemed us through your Son, Jesus. Look with compassion on every person. Remove the pride and hatred from our hearts, tear down the walls that divide us, and bind us together in love. Work through our struggles and confusion to bring about your good purposes, until people of every nation and race worship you together in peace around your heavenly throne. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Pray the Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today the bread we need. 

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Gospel Reading and Reflection

Read: Matt. 7:1-5

(You may also listen to the teaching here if you’d like.)
As you read, notice what stands out—a word, a phrase, or an image.
Take a few minutes in silence.

Then reflect:

·      What does it feel like to be judged?

·      When you judge someone else, what is the underlying emotion? How do you feel after you have made your verdict?

·      If you think about divine judgment, what comes to mind?

Closing Prayer

Pray:

Lord, help us to be present today— not held by the past, not anxious about what is to come.
Give us grace to trust you, and to receive your peace.
Guide us, sustain us, and teach us to walk with you.

Amen.

Practice for the Week

Take a few moments to respond:

·      Notice how you speak to yourself and think about people who offend you.

·      When you’re making judgments, do you feel more at peace or less? More grateful or less?

·      Imagine how you might feel if you lost the ability to judge yourself and others.

If you’re with others, share one or two things aloud.

Sending

As you go about your day, remember:

In Jesus, God is making all things new, dispelling all lies, and bringing all darkness into the light.

Receive his peace.
And carry it with you into the week.

Grace be with you.