Bethlehem Lutheran Church

250 Commerce SW - Wall-Breaking Liturgy

A Liturgy for the Beginning of Construction

Sunday, July 1, 2007 at 11:30 A.M.

Greeting

P Brothers and Sisters: may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all as we gather to set apart this building to be the home of Bethlehem Lutheran Church.

C Amen.

Scripture

P Hear these words of scripture from Paul's Letter to the Ephesians

I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all who is above all and through all and in all. But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift. The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. (Ephesians 4:1-7; 11-13)

Litany

(Those present are invited to pick up a hammer and break the wall between petitions.)

P To the glory of God, in the presence of this congregation, I now direct that this wall be broken as a visible sign of the transformation of this building into the new home of Bethlehem Lutheran Church. The privilege and responsibility now rest upon us to create a space where God may be worshiped in spirit and in truth; where his grace may be experienced through word and deed; and where people may be strengthened and equipped to go out into this community and minister to the needs of those who live here.

That a church may meet here where children shall learn the love of God and grow in grace and goodness, and in favor with God and all people,

C We break this wall today.

P That a church may meet here where youth shall be inspired to develop their spiritual lives and channel their idealism into the creation of a more just world,

C We break this wall today.

P That a church may meet where where those who carry deep burdens may find the peace which passes all understanding, the peace which the world cannot take away,

C We break this wall today.

P That a church may meet here where God is worshipped joyfully, where the Word is proclaimed fervently, and the sacraments are so celebrated that all life becomes sacramental,

C We break this wall today.

P That a church may meet here where people will be refreshed in spirit, relieved from pain, released from bondage, and redeemed from sin,

C We break this wall today.

P That a church may meet here where ordinary people are transformed into extraordinary servants who share the love of Christ with friend and stranger,

C We break this wall today.

P That a church may meet here where the power of your Holy Spirit is so strongly felt that people will joyfully give themselves to the cause of justice, equality, and peace,

C We break this wall today.

P That a church may meet here where walls will continue to be broken: walls which segregate, wall which discriminate, walls which divide. As Christ tore down the walls which would separate us from God's love and from one another, let us dedicate ourselves to do the same.

C We break this wall today and pray for strength to continue breaking walls to the Glory of God.

Prayer

P This wall is broken in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Gracious Lord, grand that what we have broken down this day may serve as the beginning of a new creation that will glorify our name; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

C Amen

Lord's Prayer

Dismissal

P Go in peace.

C Thanks be to God.