Breakout 2011 Morning Worship ‘The Burden’

Malachi 1 10 O that someone among you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hands. 11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.

12 But you profane it when you say that the Lord’s table is polluted, and the food for it may be despised. 13 ‘What a weariness this is’, you say, and you sniff at me, says the Lord of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the Lord. 14 Cursed be the cheat who has a male in the flock and vows to give it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished; for I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name is reverenced among the nations.

God our Father, we come to you in sorrow for our sins. For turning away from you, and ignoring your will for our lives; Father, forgive us: save us and help us. For behaving just as we wish, without thinking of you; Father, forgive us: save us and help us.

For failing you by what we do, and think and say; Father, forgive us: save us and help us. For letting ourselves be drawn away from you by temptations in the world about us; Father, forgive us: save us and help us. For living as if we were ashamed to belong to your Son; Father, forgive us: save us and help us. Litany from New Patterns for Worship © Church Commissioners

Praise the Lord! ye heavens adore him; praise him angels in the height; sun and moon, rejoice before him; praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise the Lord! for he hath spoken; worlds his mighty voice obeyed; laws which never shall be broken for their guidance he hath made.

Praise the Lord! for he is glorious; never shall his promise fail; God hath made his saints victorious; sin and death shall not prevail. Praise the God of our salvation! Hosts on high, his power proclaim; heaven and earth, and all creation, laud and magnify his Name.

I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name is reverenced among the nations. Those evangelizing in Muslim contexts Christians in politics The Christian majority in the nation of Southern Sudan Kingdom values in community action

In every place incense is offered to my name... The forming of faithfully worshipping disciples Pioneers who are unsupported, challenged or struggling A recovery of vision and passion in the church

May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers, half truths and superficial relationships so that we might deepen our dependence on him. May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people so that we may work for justice, freedom and peace.

May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war so that we may reach out our hands to comfort them and turn their pain to joy. May God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we, through him, can make a difference in this world. May God bless us. Let us bless the Lord. Amen! © Control