No. 5: Here Are My Hands — A New Liturgy

NO. 05 | here are my hands (2013)

This two-part liturgy is all about recapturing the holy possibility of our commutes.

On the way to work, Part ONE helps us to pray "God, here are my hands. What do You want to do through me today in my job? May my hands, voice, and heart help to bring Your Kingdom here on earth."

And on the way home from work, Part TWO helps us reflect on the day, confess our sins, forgive those who have wronged us, and let it all go.

Carried by piano, string quartet, and some pounding floor toms, "Here are my Hands" invites us to turn our cars, bikes, or trains into rolling sanctuaries that launch us into God's good work in our jobs and lives.

LYRICS

THANKSGIVING

Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks
for all your goodness and loving-kindness
to us and to all whom you have made.
We bless you for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;
for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.

And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies,
that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise,
not only with our lips, but in our lives,
by giving up our selves to your service,
and by walking before you
in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honor and glory throughout all ages.
Amen.

HERE ARE MY HANDS | Aaron Niequist

here are my hands
they’re small, they’re small and
here are my hands
they’re small and trembling

here are my arms
they’re weak, they’re weak but
here are my arms
they’re weak but willing

here are my eyes
they burn with memories

here are my eyes
they’re teared and tired

here are my feet
they’re slow, they’re slow but
here are my feet
they’re stumbling to You now

and God, I know
there still is so much i just don’t know
but God, i believe
Your Kingdom can still be built in me

so here is my heart
here is my soul
take me in part
take me in whole, whole, whole
I want to be whole, whole, whole

here are my hands
they’re small, they’re small and
here are my hands
they’re small and trembling

here are my dreams
they’re me protected
here are my dreams
so please be gentle now

and God, I know
there still is so much i just don’t know
but God, i believe
Your Kingdom can still be built on me

so here is my heart
here is my soul
Your kingdom come
my kingdom go, go, go
I’m letting it go, go, go
I’m letting it go, go, go
I’m letting it go, go, go

PRAYER

Loving God, here are my hands.
What do you want me to create or build today?
Who do you want me to serve?
What activities should I keep my hands away from?
May these small hands help build your kingdom.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (Colossians 3:23, 24 NIV)

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29 NIV)

Loving God, here is my voice.
I commit to only speak words of life today. Words that build up and not tear down.
Always speaking the truth, and always speaking it in Love.
Please help me to be a voice for the voiceless today.
Please show me when to stay quiet.
O God, may my voice make this world more like You've made it to be.

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14 NIV)

Loving God, here is my heart.
You know the deepest longings of my heart. I humbly hold them out before You.

FOR VOCATION IN DAILY WORK

Almighty God our heavenly Father, you declare your glory
and show forth your handiwork in the heavens and in the
earth: Deliver us in our various occupations from the service
of self alone, that we may do the work you give us to do in
truth and beauty and for the common good; for the sake of
him who came among us as one who serves, your Son Jesus
Christ our Lord...

and God, I know
there still is so much i just don’t know
and God, I believe
Your Kingdom can still be built on me

so here is my heart
here is my soul
Your kingdom come
my kingdom go, go, go
I’m letting it go, go, go

May Your Kingdom grow, grow, grow May Your Kingdom grow, grow, grow

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 trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
At the impulse of Thy love.

Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose,
Every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.

PART TWO.

ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK.

Prayer of thanksgiving for the opportunity to work:
Almighty God, thank You for today. Thank You that I was able to work today - to earn a living, and through Your Spirit, to make the world a little more like You've made it to be. Thank You. The scriptures say...

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." (James 1:16-18 NIV)

DOXOLOGY

Praise God from whom all blessings flow
Praise Him all creatures here below
Praise God above Ye heavenly hosts
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Amen.

Holy Spirit, please guide me now as I pray.

First, please bring to mind a moment today where You really used me, where you spoke and I listened, where I was able to serve someone and be your hands and feet. God, where did I feel most alive and full of Your Spirit today?

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Amen.

Loving God, would You bring to mind a moment today where I fell short, where I sinned against You or someone else. Maybe it was something I did when no one was looking...something I said that was hurtful...something I thought...maybe I said something I said that was absolutely true but the energy powering it was ugly. Father, please bring my sin to my mind.

Lord God,
I have sinned against you;
I have done evil in your sight.
I am sorry and repent.
Have mercy on me according to your love.
Wash away my wrongdoing and cleanse me from my sin.
Renew a right spirit within me
and restore the joy of your salvation,
through Jesus Christ my Lord.
Amen.

NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

O precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow
No other fount I know
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

O precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow
No other fount I know
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
Nothing but the blood of Jesus

And finally, Gracious God, because I have been forgiven so much, would you bring to mind one person that I need to forgive today? Did someone say, do, or not do something that was hurtful to me today, and I need to forgive them? Or maybe it's a system or culture or rule that I deeply resent. Or a disappointment that follows me around. O God, who do I need to forgive today?

God, I forgive them. Help me to let it go. I release them, I let them off the hook by the power and grace of Your son, Jesus Christ.

I'm letting it go, go, go

and God, I know
there still is so much I just don’t know
and God, I believe
Your Kingdom can still be built on me

so here is my heart
here is my soul
Your kingdom come
my kingdom go, go, go
I’m letting it go, go, go
I’m letting it go, go, go
I’m letting it go, go, go