Paradoxes of Faith

Prayer Gathering for World AIDS week.

Gathering – Welcome

Welcome to this service of worship! It is part of our Christian tradition to come together, united in Jesus Christ, particularly in times of stress and trouble. Today we gather because the impact of AIDS has touched the life of our human community. We gather because our lives have been affected in various ways. Some of us have experienced firsthand the illness or death of a loved one. Some of us have HIV infection and are living with AIDS. All of us are imprinted with the pain and fear surrounding this international epidemic. So we come together in worship, united in knowing that not AIDS, but God is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Let us pray and sing the songs of faith, confident in a God who stands by us, affirms us, and gives us the strength to be sustained and to live today fully.

Responsive Act

Come Lord Jesus, and empower our worship:

So we can be a sign community, among other signs, of God’s gracious love

Come Lord Jesus, and guide our worship:

So we can be a symbol of hope and compassion for the world.

Come Lord Jesus, and move our worship:

So we can be a vision of wholeness and partners in healing.

Great Physician, healer of body, mind and spirit:

Make us a sign, a symbol, and an embodiment of the vision. Refresh us with the healing balm of your presence.

Prayer of the Day

Gracious God, we give you thanks that our time of living can be both holy and healing. We gather here to seek your presence among us. Fill us with your healing power that we may be channels of your love.

Amen.

Prayer of Confession and Act of Pardon

He was dying of AIDS.

He said to me, “No one touches me.”

I did not touch him.

Her face was old and worn before its time.

She told me “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.”

I had no time to stop.

His dreams for the future were dimmed.

He asked: “Where is the welcome I once enjoyed?”

I remained silent.

She was angry with feelings of resentment and the unfairness of life.

She implored: ‘Where were you when I needed you?”

I turned away from her.

In these and in many ways, O God, we are caught in fear, confusion and anger. We have not loved our neighbors or heard their needs. Forgive us, we pray, as we reach out with ears to hear, hearts to respond, and hands to help.

Amen.

Hear the Good News of forgiveness! God grants new life to those who turn and seek it. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.

Amen.

Scripture Reading

Mark 2:2-12

So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . .” He said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Petition Prayer

God of mercy, we thank you today that we are invited to be in this holy space to bear witness to the sacredness of all human life. We are all children of your creation and ask now for your blessing.

SILENCE

We pray and bring before you our pain, anger, grief and tears. We seek your guidance to comfort one another and find comfort for ourselves.

SILENCE

We pray and set before you our hope, courage, wholeness and peace. We lift these up as signs of your presence among us.

SILENCE

We name before you those who have been affected by the crisis of AIDS. We pray for any others in grief or trouble, that they may call upon you for help.

SILENCE

We pray and release all these concerns into your sustaining power. Bless us, heal us, make us whole. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

The Peace

God’s peace is one which heals our attitudes and builds healthy relationships between God, families, persons and communities. The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

And also with you.

Dismissal With Blessing

Empowering God, as we go forth:

Grant us stillness in the midst of strife.

Grant us comfort in the midst of chaos.

Grant us your Spirit as we travel on refreshed and renewed!

Amen.

Closing Prayer

Eternal God, as your disciples we return to our daily lives better able to sustain one another and more intent on extending your healing presence. We leave mindful of your care and love so that we may live faithfully each day.

In sharing one another’s lives, we’ve grown stronger. We are more filled with depth and integrity. We have been driven to love and care by a loving, caring God.

Now we go into the world with the peace of Christ, the love of God and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.