Universe forming Lord
By your word,
stars and galaxies,
atoms and particles,
rocks and all living things were called into being
called into being through your expression of love
a love which has formed and moulded
your people, your church, in this place
to be your disciples, to love you most of all,
to place following Jesus Christ as at the very centre of our lives
Come, Lord God, through your Holy Spirit
come to guide our hearts and minds
in our praise and prayers
our worship and in hearing your word to us
that in your hands, we may be shaped and formed into your living church,
bearers of the cross of Jesus Christ your son
under the shadow of which we stand
in awe and wonder that you counted the cost of love
and withheld nothing, not even your own Son
teach us to do the same
to focus all we do on you
on building your kingdom here, now
[pause]
Christ Jesus
you taught us many things
to love one another, to love our enemies
to love God, with our very beings, our whole selves
but we forget to count the cost of love
we hold back part of ourselves, in the fear we’ll be disappointed or hurt
we don’t finish the tasks entrusted to us, giving up when things become difficult or too costly to bear
we fail to be like clay in you hands, willing to be moulded by your gentle caress into the beautiful pots you wish us to be
[pause]
Remind us of your cross, Christ our Lord, a cross where all our sins were forgiven, once and for all
may we receive your forgiveness, that we can forgive ourselves and lay our burdens down
that we may follow, in true and costly discipleship
the one who gave us all
You, Christ Jesus, our saviour, our friend
Amen