Here’s a thoughtful litany suitable for use on the second Sunday after Epiphany (January 15, 2012), or (if you live in the USA), at a Martin Luther King, Jr. worship celebration. It was written by Katherine Hawker.
Here I Am, Send Me
A child once dreamed the Voice was calling his name. . .’Samuel’;
Fishermen once heard the Voice when a young man bid them follow;
And still the Voice beckons today. . .can you hear?
Here I am. Send me.
Moses protested vehemently as the Voice spoke at the burning bush;
Mary stood amazed as the Voice proclaimed impending birth;
And still the Voice beckons today. . .can you hear?
Here I am. Send me.
Rosa Parks followed the Voice to the front of the bus;
Martin Luther King, Jr. heard the Voice as the bullet shattered;
And still the Voice beckons today. . .can you hear?
Here I am. Send me.
The Voice beckons from humble places. . .
in the tears of hungry children,
in the cries of the frail and frightened elderly,
in the pleas of those whose dreams have been too long deferred;
and still the Voice beckons today. . .can you hear?
Here I am. Send me.
A timid believer pauses to listen to the Voice;
A struggling church hears the Voice and turns;
and still the Voice beckons today. . .can you hear?
Here I am. Send me.
— written by Katherine Hawker, and posted on her Liturgy Outside website.
For more resources for the second Sunday after Epiphany (January 15, 2012), click on Epiphany 2 B in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page. For more resources for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day worship, click on Martin Luther King, Jr.
