No. 2: Blessed To Be A Blessing

NO. 02 | blessed to be a blessing (2011)

The Eternal, Loving God has invited every one of us into the greatest possible life: joining God in the redemption and healing of all things. Why has God given us so much and blessed us in so many ways? To be a blessing to others. This liturgy is a 25 minute journey that helps us say “Yes, God, I’m in. Here I am... send me!”

LYRICS

BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi / Bless

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

BLESS | Aaron Niequist

I want to bless - whoever I see next
I want to give - not just use and forget
I want to leave - more than thoughtless regret
Not gonna run away

I want to give - even when I feel poor
To let it go - when I want to keep score
I want to hear - who is always ignored
Not gonna back away

I’m only a part of the story
But wholly a part of the story
So I’ll take my part in the story
Get out of myself
Get over myself
Get lost in the story of somebody else

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.br /> Amen

I want to lift - everyone that I meet
Knowing well - I need them to lift me
Unified - in our humanity
We’re gonna pour it out

I’m only a part of the story
But wholly a part of the story
So I’ll take my part in the story
Get out of myself
Get over myself
Get out of my fear
Give all of myself
Get lost in the story of somebody else

Prayer of intention. (Genesis 12:1-3. 2 Corinthians 5:16-19. Corinthians 9:8-12)

BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING | Sharon Irving

Leader: Like a stone commanding every edge to sharpen, calling every neophyte to
plentiful verve & every outcast to a personified priesthood of believers. Hear the cry
for freedom, for holy imagination! For an outline without lines & separation. From
generation to generation, those who seek Him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Congregation: God create in us a holy imagination.

Leader: Ignite our senses, since this, life is yours, Bend, Break, Shape, Lift,
Free, All things. And when I’m occupied in my own tied tapestry of guardedness -
heart as hard as city pavements – You call fourth, rise up! Throw caution to
the winds…giving to the needy in reckless abandon.

Congregation: God create in us the ability to love without agenda.

Leader: For we are not free if our brothers & sisters are not free. And we
are not free if our neighbor is not free. Help us to embody Your Kingdom,
remembering that You have given all peoples, as beings made in Your image,
the capacity to participate in Your Kingdom.

Congregation: God create in us the ability to be a voice for the voiceless.

Leader: May we seek to live one accord, moving along in unison like instruments of a
great concert under the direction of a concert master, so the Holy Spirit blends
together the lives of every son & daughter.

Congregation: We are connected to a larger story.

Leader: We are blessed to blessing. Dispensing good to others.

Congregation: Here are we. Send us.

Leader: God has reconciled us, and give us the ministry of reconciliation.

Congregation: Here are we. Send us.

Leader: And we have been loved extravagantly so we could be
extenders of extravagant love.

Congregation: Here are we. Send us. Lord, here are we. Send us.

CHANGED | Aaron Niequist

In Jesus’ name I’ve been changed, I’ve been filled,
I’ve been found, I’ve been freed, I’ve been saved!

In Jesus’ blood I’ve been loved, I’ve been cleansed,
And redeemed, and released, rearranged

But how can I show You that I’m grateful?
You’ve been so generous to me.
How can I worship more than singing?
And live out Redemption’s melody.

I have been blessed – now I want to be a blessing
I have been loved – now I want to bring love
I’ve been invited – I want to share the invitation
I have been changed – to bring change, to bring change

In Jesus’ name we are changed, we are called,
We are chosen, adopted, and named!

In Jesus’ blood we are loved, we are healed,
We’re forgiven and free of our shame!

We want to show You that we’re thankful
Flooding Your world with hope and peace
Help us to worship more than singing
Giving Redemption hands and feet

We have been blessed – now we’re going to be a blessing
We have been loved – now we’re going to bring love
We’ve been invited – we’re going to share the invitation
We have been changed – to bring change, to bring change
We have been changed – to bring change, to bring change

Four Prayers: Neighbor / Family / Enemy / World

Our Father, who art in Heaven
Hallowed is your name
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done
On Earth as it is in Heaven
Your Kingdom come, Your will be done
On Earth as it is in Heaven
On Earth as it is in Heaven
(Matt 6:9-10)

Thank You for this new life, thank You for the invitation!
God, we want to live it loud enough to shake the nations – in Your name!

We have been saved – we’re going to shout about the Savior
We have been found – we’re going to turn over every stone
We’ve been empowered – to love the world to Heaven
We have been changed – to bring change, to bring change
We have been changed – to bring change, to bring change
We have been changed – to bring change, to bring change

Prayer of consecration. (space)

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen

LOVE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD | Aaron Niequist

But Love – Love can change the world
Oh do we still believe that
Love – Love can change the world
Oh do we still believe in
Love – Love
God is Love, our God is Love and
Love can change the world

Bridges are more beautiful than bombs are
Bridges are more beautiful than bombs

An open hand is stronger than a fist is
An open hand is stronger than a fist

May we never stop this dreaming
Of a better world
May we never stop believing
In the impossible

(Women: God is love)

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen