Here’s a call to worship and opening prayer inspired by the suggested scripture passages for the sixth Sunday after Easter. They were written by Thom Shuman.
Call to Worship
(based on Psalm 98, 1 John 5:1-6, John 15:9-17)
We gather to worship the One who crafted creation out of chaos,
our cries of joy join the anthems of the universe.
We gather to lift our praise to the God who gives us voice,
we bring the songs which have echoed in our hearts all week long.
We gather as the children of God, our joy unbroken in God's love.
young and old, tone deaf and perfect-pitched,
lift the new, new songs of faith.
Prayer of the Day
(inspired by Psalm 98)
(inspired by Psalm 98)
You raise your hand
and gently begin
the concerto of creation:
birds carry the melody
while stars keep the beat;
mountains dance in merriment
and little children clap
their hands with joy.
Love's Composer,
our new songs are lifted to you.
The old, old song
is made new in our hearts:
Christ is Risen!
Sing Alleluia!
You invite us to sing to a world
deafened by despair
and haunted by the tunes of fear.
Lord of the Dance,
our new songs are lifted to you.
Believing we cannot
carry a tune,
we hesitate to join in
the chorus of praise
sung by all creation.
So, you softly and gently
hum the melody in our hearts
until they burst with you,
raising a rousing chorus
of Amazing Grace.
Music-making Spirit,
our new songs are lifted to you.
Every song, old and new, is offered to you,
God in Community, Holy in One,
even as we lift the prayer Jesus teaches,
Our Father . . .
and gently begin
the concerto of creation:
birds carry the melody
while stars keep the beat;
mountains dance in merriment
and little children clap
their hands with joy.
Love's Composer,
our new songs are lifted to you.
The old, old song
is made new in our hearts:
Christ is Risen!
Sing Alleluia!
You invite us to sing to a world
deafened by despair
and haunted by the tunes of fear.
Lord of the Dance,
our new songs are lifted to you.
Believing we cannot
carry a tune,
we hesitate to join in
the chorus of praise
sung by all creation.
So, you softly and gently
hum the melody in our hearts
until they burst with you,
raising a rousing chorus
of Amazing Grace.
Music-making Spirit,
our new songs are lifted to you.
Every song, old and new, is offered to you,
God in Community, Holy in One,
even as we lift the prayer Jesus teaches,
Our Father . . .
— written by Thom Shuman, and posted on his excellent Lectionary Liturgies blog. Visit that site for many other excellent worship resources.
