I Trust You, Lord

A Liturgy of Trust
From the Gospel of Matthew

By
Bob Schaefer

THE INVOCATION
P:	The grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you.
C:	And also with you.

THE ANNOUNCEMENTS

A RESPONSIVE READING
P:	We come before the Lord troubled with doubt.
C:	The questions of the day press heavily on our hearts.
P:	In our minds we are preoccupied with our personal struggles.
C:	And with the trials that assail our brothers and sisters throughout this world.
P:	In our own lives we search for meaning.
C:	Meaning to give us direction.
P:	Let us call upon the Lord in the midst of our uncertainty.
C:	We will trust in his guidance.
P:	Surely he will show us the way.
C:	And he will lead us, hand in hand.

HYMN: I WAS THERE TO HEAR YOUR BORNING CRY (John Ylvisaker)

A MOMENT OF CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
P: 	This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it,
C:	But it is hard to be glad sometimes, and there are times when doubt and insecurity would overwhelm us.
P:	Do you not know that a sparrow falls from his nest, nor a single hair from your head, but that your God knows?
C:	We know, and we confess our lack of trust before the Lord.  Forgive us, Lord God.
P:	Indeed, Holy One of Israel, we have sinned against you by our lack of faith, and in so many other ways this day.  We open our hearts to you, and confess our sins before you now.

	(a moment of silent confession)

	Our Father in Heaven has a plan for us, a great plan to prosper us, and not to harm us.  A plan to prosper us, and never to harm us.  A plan that should make us shout for joy with loud hope, and celebrate the future he has in store for us, a future he gives to all his children in the forgiveness of sins.  By his authority I declare to you that forgiveness and proclaim that plan, through Jesus Christ. 
C:	Amen.

THE FIRST LESSON: MATTHEW 1:18-21

HYMN: COME, LORD JESUS, verses 1 and 2 (Jim Strathdee)

THE SECOND LESSON: MATTHEW 2:9-12

HYMN: COME, LORD JESUS, verse 3

THE GOSPEL: MATTHEW 2:13-15, 19-21

HYMN: THE LORD IS MY DEFENSE (Kathie Duncan)

THE MESSAGE1

THE STATEMENT OF FAITH
P&C:	We believe in God, our Creator and Sustainer.  It is he who made us, with a plan for our every day.  He is the Composer and Conductor of our lives, writing each line with passionate inspiration and cuing in each trumpet fanfare and lonely oboe solo at its proper time.  Though the beat and the melody of our lives is not always clear to us, we trust that in the fullness of time he will bring his composition, his masterwork to a thrilling and brilliant resolution.

	We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of the Most High, who is the bridge to God's glorious coda in our lives.  We affirm his death on the tree so that we may one day be with him in Heaven.  His death paid the price, blazed the trail, and still is the only way today.

	We believe in the Holy Spirit, who is the music of our lives, for the resurrection of the dead, and make a wonderful, joyous noise to him on that day, and every day till then.  Amen.

THE BENEDICTION
P:	And now may the Lord bless you and keep you.  May he make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you.  May the Lord look on you with favor, and keep you in his peace, now and forever.
C:	Amen.

HYMN: I TRUST YOU, LORD (John Ylvisaker)

THE DISMISSAL
P:	Go in peace.  Serve the Lord.
C:	Thanks be to God!

_____________

	1The message should relate to God's direction and guidance as illustrated in the scriptural passages.  The Lord calmed Joseph in the midst of his pain and confusion at his wife's seeming betrayal of him, and revealed to him part of the wondrous plan God had in store for Joseph and his family.  God guided the Wise Men to Jesus, and warned them of Herod's malicious intentions.  And he again warned Joseph of the imminent danger, and led him and his family safely away from it.  Even as God guided these people, taking them in times of joy and elation as well as in despair and depression, so he will take us, too, and lead us despite our doubts, and despite our fears.

Submitted by Eastern North Dakota Synod Resource Center