Bulletin

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Sunday, January 8th, 2012

Baptism of the Lord

We Gather in God's Name

Opening Reflection

Brother Lawrence (1611-1691)

Born Nicholas Herman in Lorraine, France, Brother Lawrence received little formal education and as a young man served briefly in the army. One day, he had an experience that set the course of his life in a new direction. Gazing at a barren tree in winter, Lawrence saw for the first time the majesty of God's grace and the constancy of God's providence. He imagined himself like the tree, waiting for the life that God would inevitably bring in season. Shortly after this experience, he became a lay brother in the Carmelite monastery in Paris. there he worked in the kitchen and, in the repetition of this daily chores, found a way to integrate spirituality and work, which he called the "practice of the presence of God." By learning to perform his daily, mundane tasks for the sake of God, Brother Lawrence turned every moment into an opportunity for prayer.

[silent reflection]

Leader: May I sense you every moment

People: and make my whole life a prayer.

Opening Song

What is this Place?

Leader: May I sense you every moment

People: and make my whole life a prayer.

We Hear God's Word

Psalm 61:4-8

Read passage online at oremus.org (NRSV)

Leader: May I sense you every moment

People: and make my whole life a prayer.

Galatians 3:15-22

Read passage online at oremus.org (NRSV)

Leader: May I sense you every moment

People: and make my whole life a prayer.

We Respond in Prayer

Brother Lawrence wrote, "Men invent means and methods of coming at God's love, they learn rules and set up devices to remind them of that love, and it seems like a world of trouble to bring oneself into the consciousness of God's presence. Yet it might be so simple. It is not quicker and easier just to do our common business wholly for the love of him?"

Prayers for One Another

(Please stand when offering a prayer, so others will know you have the floor.)

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, and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,

for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.

Amen.

Closing Prayer

Lord, remind us that we are resident aliens, called to be in the world but not of it. Show us today what it means to live as though your kingdom has come, while trusting that it is still coming. Amen.

We Go in Peace

Passing the Peace of Christ

(Each person says a line of the blessing, adding the name of someone present at the end of the line. If there are more than 8 people present, two or more names may be added at the end of a line).

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, [name]

wherever he may send you, [name]

may he guide you through the wilderness, [name]

protect you through the storm, [name]

may he bring you home rejoicing, [name]

at the wonders he has shown you, [name]

may he bring you home rejoicing, [name]

once again into our doors, [name].