Call to Worship

God has come and made his home among us: We recognise the face of Christ in one another.

God calls us to listen and to follow: We learn and grow together to become a people of grace and peace.

God is our guide, our pattern and our source: As we live and move, with our breath and being, we honour and worship the God who is Love.

Candle Lighting

For the joy of friendship and community, We light the flame.

For the blessings of serving and sharing, We light the flame.

For the humility of learning and forgiving, We light the flame.

In the name and Spirit of Christ We light the flame.

                        The candle is lit.

Opening Prayer

God help us to change.

To change ourselves and to change our world.

To know the need for it.

To deal with the pain of it.

To feel the joy of it.

To be courageous enough to undertake the journey without understanding the destination.

God teach us the art of gentle revolution, show us the path of inner transformation, lead us in the way of Truth and Light. Amen.

A Pause for beauty

Psalm 63:1-8
O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.

Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.

So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name.

My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips when I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night;

for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy.

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

Gospel reading: Luke 13:1-9

At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans?

No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did.

Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them–do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem?

No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.” Then he told this parable:

‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, “See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?” 

He replied, “Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig round it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.”’

Reflections on the reading

Prayers of the People

Blessing

May God the Maker bless you

May you grow wise and strong and holy.

May God the storyteller bless you

May you know laughter and grace and healing.

May God the life – breather bless you

May you be filled with curiosity and courage and love.

Amen.