Breakout 2011 Morning Worship Life and Wellbeing Malachi

Breakout 2011 Morning Worship ‘Life and Well-being’

Malachi 2 4 Know, then, that I have sent this command to you, so that my covenant with Levi may hold, says the Lord of hosts. 5 My covenant with him was a covenant of life and well-being, which I gave him; this called for reverence, and he revered me and stood in awe of my name. 6 True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in integrity and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity.

7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. 8 But you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by your instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts, 9 and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you have not kept my ways but have shown partiality in your instruction.

Covenant of life and well-being

We believe in God whose love is the source of all life and the desire of our lives, Whose love was given a human face in Jesus of Nazareth Whose love was crucified by the evil that waits to enslave us all.

And whose love, defeating even death, is our glorious promise of freedom. Therefore, though we are sometimes fearful and full of doubt, in God we trust; And in the name of Jesus Christ, we commit ourselves in the service of others,

To seek justice and to live in peace, To care for the earth and to share the commonwealth of God’s goodness, To live in the freedom of forgiveness, and the power of the Spirit of love, And in the company of the faithful so to be the church for the glory of God. Amen. © Wild Goose Publications

Prayer in small groups

We did not want it easy, God But we did not contemplate That it would be quite this hard, This long, this lonely, So, if we are to be turned inside out, And upside down, With even our pockets shaken Just to check what’s rattling And left behind,

We pray that you will keep faith with us, And we with you, Holding our hands as we weep, Giving us strength to continue, And showing us beacons Along the way To becoming new. Poem © Anna Mackenzie from Sheila Cassidy, Good Friday People