Offering Prayer and Words of Sending Forth

This Sunday we read one of my favourite passages, the "sound of sheer silence" story-- I may well sing part of Simon and Garfunkel's The Sound of Silence in the sermon. We are also worshipping out at the lake. Given those things, here are our offering dedication and our words of commissioning:

OFFERING PRAYER
God of lakes and trees, rocks and sky, God who has given us life and that in abundance. Here and now we return part of what we have and all of what we are to You. May our many gifts be used such that Your love is spread around the world and Your hope lifts every sagging heart. Amen.

COMMISSIONING AND BENEDICTION
As our worship ends we go out into a noisy world
In our busy-ness help us to listen for the sound of silence.
We carry with us the memory of the voice we hear when no-one else is speaking.
We remember that the words of the prophets are whispered in the sound of silence
May the God of rushing wind, roaring water, and calm stillness go with us each and every day.
Amen.