SACRAMENT FOR THE CITY

THE INVITATION

“Everyone, without exception, may take advantage of the provisions of the gospel. We must proclaim ‘glad tidings’ to every individual of the human race. God sends the True Light to illuminate and melt every heart. It visits the palace and the dungeon, saluting the king and the captive. To civilized and savage, bond and free, black and white, the ignorant and the learned, the offer of salvation freely comes.”

-B.T. Roberts, “Earnest Christian,” 1860

PRAYERS OF CONFESSION

THE CALLING TO URBAN MINISTRY

Leader: These are the words of the Lord of Hosts, Creator of Life and Lord of the City: “Seek the welfare of any city to which I have carried you off, and pray to the Lord for it; for on its welfare your welfare will depend.” (Jeremiah 29:7)

People: “You call us to build homes on land scarred by vandalism and neglect; You call us to plant gardens where the land has known only concrete and steel.”

Leader: “Seek the welfare of any city to which I have carried you off, and pray to the Lord for it; for on its welfare your welfare will depend.”

People: “You call us to raise families in communities that lie vacant; You call us to work in a marketplace that does not know your name.”

Leader: “Seek the welfare of any city to which I have carried you off, and pray to the Lord for it; for on its welfare your welfare will depend.”

PRAYER OF RENEWAL

Lord of the City, you call us to sing your song of new life wherever we go, in abandoned buildings and bustling malls, at bus stops and subway stations, in the bank and the beer hall, in hospital rooms and jail cells, along the quiet side streets and in the throbbing heart of our city, on either side of the tracks. Let the music ring.

But, even more than calling us to sing, Creator of Life, you promise us the presence of your Spirit among us, in the city with us, drawing us and enticing us to be your faithful people. Lord of Hosts, open our eyes, cleanse our ears, and empower our voices anew that we might more fully be your light to this darkened world. May we together, a reconciled people, be that city on a hill which keeps the demands of your gospel in plain view.

SONG OF DEDICATION AND CONSECRATION

RESPONSIVE READING

Unison: “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” (Psalm 127:1-2)

Leader: Lord, without your watchful care, our labour in the city is in vain.

Unison: “By the blessings of the upright a city is exalted. When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices.” (Proverbs 11:10-11)

Leader: Lord, may we be upright and righteous that the city may rejoice and be exalted.

Unison: “Thus says the Lord God: On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited and the waste places will be rebuilt.” (Ezekiel 36:33)

Leader: Lord, we are grateful for your cleansing and rebuilding of lives and cities.

Unison: “For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah; and his servants will dwell there and possess it.” (Psalm 69:35)

Leader: Lord, thank you for the gift of a city to your servants.

Unison: “Thus says the Lord: I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem will be called the faithful city… old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.” (Zechariah 8:3-4)

Leader: Lord, thank you for a city of safety and laughter.

Unison: “And Jesus said to them, ‘I must preach the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other cities also: for I was sent for this purpose.” (Luke 4:43)

Leader: Lord, your purpose was to spread the good news from city to city, may we learn from your example.

Unison: “After this the Lord appointed 70 others, and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every city and place where he would come.” (Luke 10:1)

Leader: Lord, let us share the work of ministering in the city.

Unison: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood and you would not!" (Luke 13:34)

Leader: Lord, you continually had compassion despite outright resistance! You were crucified right on the outskirts of your beloved city.

Unison: “…for the place that Jesus was crucified was near the city.” (John 19:20)

Leader: Lord, you love the city.

Unison: EPHESUS, ANTIOCH, LYSTRA, ICONIUM, CORINTH, ROME, LONDON, TORONTO, NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES, CHICAGO, INDIANAPOLIS, MANILA, TOKYO, JOHANNESBURG, STOCKHOLM, SAO PAULO, BOMBAY, CAIRO…

Leader: Lord, these cities and many others have heard the message of your death, resurrection and kingdom.

Unison: “And I saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God… and I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God, the Almighty and the Lamb.”

Leader: “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb.” Amen. (Revelation 21:23)

SONG OF ADORATION

THE CALL TO COMMITMENT

THE PRAYER OF CONSECRATION OF THE ELEMENTS

On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks, broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Take eat; this is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

When supper was over, he took the cup, and after giving thanks, gave it to his disciples, and said: “Drink from this, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sin. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

And so Father, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ’s offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

All: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Leader: Pour out your Spirit on us, gathered here, and on these gifts of bread and wine. Make them be for us the body and blood of Christ, that we may be for the world the body of Christ redeemed by his blood.

By your Spirit make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world and its cities, until Christ comes in final victory, and we feast at his heavenly banquet in that city called the New Jerusalem. Through your Son, Jesus Christ, by the Holy Spirit in your holy church, all honour and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and forever.

All: Amen. Amen. Amen.

Leader: The body and blood of Christ.

SONG OF REDEMPTION

BENEDICTION

You have heard the good news, you have seen the good news, and you have tasted the good news. And it is good. Therefore go, be God’s light; make disciples of the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything Christ has commanded you. And surely he will be with us always, to the very end of the age. Amen.

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