Call to worship
Minister: We come to worship God,
We come, bringing our stories, our lives,
and our whole selves
All: All are welcome
Minister: We come with our faith and our doubts,
With our hopes and our fears.
All: All are welcome
Minister: We come as we are,
Invited by God who will never turn us away.
All: All are welcome
Hymn
Bless the Lord, my soul,
And bless God′s holy name.
Bless the Lord, my soul,
Who leads me into life.
Prayer of confession
Minister: Let us pray together with the prayer of confession.
All: God of Mercy,
we confess that we have sinned against You
in our thinking
in our speaking
in our action and inaction, word, and deed.
We have not loved ourselves, our neighbours or You
with our whole heart and mind and strength.
In Your mercy forgive what we have been,
and redirect what we shall be,
so that we may live fully in Your will
and walk humbly in Your ways,
to the glory of Your holy name.
Through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Prayer of absolution
Almighty and everlasting God,
You love all that You have made
and forgive the sins of all those who look to You.
Create in us a pure heart,
that we may receive mercy from You,
as we lament all that we have done
that has diminished Your love in the world.
Forgive us through Jesus Christ the perfect one,
who is alive and reigns with You,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one Perfect Community of Love,
now and always.
All: Amen
Gospel Reading – according to Matthew ch. 6. v. 16-18
– in German
– in Hungarian
– in English
16 Wenn ihr fastet, sollt ihr nicht sauer sehen wie die Heuchler; denn sie verstellen ihr Angesicht, auf dass sie vor den Leuten scheinen mit ihrem Fasten. Wahrlich ich sage euch: Sie haben ihren Lohn dahin.
17 Wenn du aber fastest, so salbe dein Haupt und wasche dein Angesicht,
18 auf dass du nicht scheinest vor den Leuten mit deinem Fasten, sondern vor deinem Vater, welcher verborgen ist; und dein Vater, der in das Verborgene sieht, wird dir’s vergelten öffentlich.
16 Amikor pedig böjtöltök, ne nézzetek komoran, mint a képmutatók, akik eltorzítják arcukat, hogy lássák az emberek böjtölésüket. Bizony mondom nektek: megkapták jutalmukat. 17 Te pedig, ha böjtölsz, kend meg a fejedet, és mosd meg az arcodat,18 hogy böjtölésedet ne az emberek lássák, hanem Atyád, aki rejtve van; a te Atyád pedig, aki látja, ami titokban történik, megjutalmaz téged.
16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Sermon
Prayers of intercession
Minister: Tender God,
Your love is unconditional.
Wider, deeper and truer than we can ever fully know.
For those of us who find it hard to accept ourselves,
Lord in Your mercy,
All: Hear our prayer
Minister: Compassionate God,
for those of us who feel stretched and tired
and whose lives are strained and stressed,
Lord in your mercy.
All: Hear our prayer
Merciful God,
for those of us holding onto life by our fingertips,
or whose grip upon life is fragile,
especially for those who are affected by war, or natural disaster,
who lost their home, their loved ones,
Lord in your mercy.
All: Hear our prayer
Healing God,
for those of us whose illness makes us vulnerable,
or leaves us isolated,
hear our prayer.
Lord in your mercy.
All: Hear our prayer
Loving God,
For those of us whose journey is chaotic or find ourselves in turmoil,
Lord in your mercy.
All: Hear our prayer
Caring God,
For those of us whose calling is to journey with and care for others,
Especially for those giving any kind of support in times of war, earthquakes, and other difficult times,
Lord in your mercy.
All: Hear our prayer
Eternal God,
in Your infinite mercy
hear our prayers.
All: Amen
Prayer for Ukraine
A year on from the start of the current war in Ukraine, Christians join in an act of witness to pray for Ukraine on Sunday 26 February, for an end to the conflict and for all those affected by the terrible impact of war. Let us pray with the words written by the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church:
Almighty and Great God,
Accept our gratitude for your boundless mercy towards us. Hear the supplication of our afflicted hearts for the land and people of Ukraine, as they confront foreign aggression and invasion. Open the eyes of those who have been overtaken by a spirit of deception and violence, that they be horrified by their works. Grant victory over the powers of evil that have arisen and bless Ukraine with your gifts of liberty, peace, tranquility, and good fortune.
We implore you, O Merciful God, look with grace upon those who courageously defend their land. Remember the mothers and fathers, the innocent children, widows and orphans, the disabled and helpless, those seeking shelter and refuge, who reach out to you and to their fellow human beings looking for mercy and compassion. Bless the hearts of those who have already shown great generosity and solidarity, and those who prepare to receive their Ukrainian brothers and sisters in Ukraine’s greatest time of need. Bring us together as your children, your creation, and instil in us your strength, wisdom and understanding. May you be praised and glorified, now and forever, and to the ages of ages.
All: Amen
Lord’s Prayer
Minister: Let us conclude all our prayers with the words our Lord Jesus taught us
All: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever.
Amen.
Hymn
Ubi caritas and amor.
Ubi caritas, Deus ibi est.
(Latin, for: Where charity and love are, God is there.)Blessing
Minister: The blessing of Almighty God Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you and remain with you always.
All: Amen.
Bedekovics Péter 