Reflection: The Power to Transform

Here’s a thoughtful reflection on Luke 1:47-55 (Mary’s Magnificat).  It was written by Sara Miles.

A Hunger Beyond Food

(inspired by Luke 1:47-55)

“He has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away with empty hands.” Luke 1:53

At the heart of Christianity

is a power that continues to speak to

and transform us.

As I found to my surprise and alarm,

it could speak even to me:

not in the sappy, Jesus-and-cookies tone

of mild-mannered liberal Christianity,

or the blustering, blaming hellfire

of the religious right.

What I heard, and continue to hear,

is a voice that can crack

religious and political convictions open,

that advocates for the least qualified,

least official, least likely;

that upsets the established order

and makes a joke of certainty.

It proclaims against reason

that the hungry will be fed,

that those cast down will be raised up,

and that all things,

including my own failures,

are being made new.

It offers food without exception

to the worthy and unworthy,

the screwed-up and pious,

and then commands everyone to do the same.

~ excerpted from Sara Miles in A Hunger Beyond Food. Posted on the Seed Publishers website.  http://www.seedspublishers.org/

Call to Worship & Prayer for Advent

Here’s a responsive call to worship and opening prayer inspired by Psalm 146 and Luke 1:46-56.  They were written by Joanna Harader, and posted on Spacious Faith.

Call to Worship

(inspired by Psalm 146 and Luke 1:46-56)

Our souls proclaim your greatness, O God.
And our spirits rejoice in you.
We will praise you as long as we live.
We will sing praises to you our whole lives long.
We will not trust in the powerful of this world,
But will trust in you–Creator of heaven and earth,
the One who gives food to the hungry,
the One who enacts justice for the oppressed.
Our souls proclaim your greatness, O God
As we worship you in this place,
As we light these candles in hope, peace, and joy.

Opening Prayer

Holy God of Joy,
We rejoice in the reality of who you are.

We live within the joy of your love for us.

Our contentment comes and goes.

Our happiness ebbs and flows.

Our feelings depend upon our circumstances,

our physical health, our brain chemistry.

But our joy is deeply rooted

in our identity as your beloved children.

And we give you thanks. Amen.

~ written by Joanna Harader, and posted on Spacious Faith. http://spaciousfaith.com/

Advent Prayer: For Justice

Here’s a pastoral prayer for Advent from Paul G. Janssen.

Advent Prayer

(inspired by Luke 1:39-45, Amos 5:24, Isaiah 57:7)

Lord our God,

you have revealed yourself as One

who wishes to bring about justice and true peace among people;

In a world that looks away from injustice,

You cast your eyes on the destitute, the poor, and the wronged;

You have called us to follow you,

to preach good news to the poor,

to proclaim release for the captives

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to set at liberty those who are oppressed

and to proclaim the time of your blessing.

Be present with your church, Lord,

as we respond to your call.

Open our eyes to the downtrodden.

Fill us with compassion for the plight of the alien,

the refugee, and the immigrant.

Lead us into ministries that help orphans and widows.

Give us courage to block the paths of the ungodly

who exploit the poor.

Set us free from pious exercises

that prevent us from the true worship you choose:

Sharing bread with the hungry,

Sharing homes with the homeless,

Sharing clothes with the naked,

Sharing hearts with our own kin.

So may your justice roll down like waters,

your righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Lead our footsteps to stand with the poor,

that we might stand with you.

Have mercy, O God:

Scatter the proud,

Put down the mighty,

Lift up the lowly,

Fill up the hungry,

And send the rich away empty-handed.

Our Father, etc. ...

~ Paul G. Janssen, and printed in Prayerful Preparation: Living God, Renew Us. Published by the World Communion of Reformed Churches, and posted at http://wcrc.ch/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/GC2017-PrayerfulPreparation-English.pdf. 

Call to Worship: Psalm 89

Call to Worship 1

(based on Psalm 89)

I will sing about the wonders of your love forever, O God!

I will tell everyone I meet about your faithfulness to all generations!

I will declare that your love stands firm,

that your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens above!

Blessed are those who know you as their God,

for they walk in the light of your presence!

Call to Worship 2

(Psalm 89:1-2, 15, New Living Translation)

I will sing of the tender mercies of the Lord forever!

Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.

Your unfailing love will last forever.

Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens.

Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship,

for they will walk in the light of your presence.

Call to Worship 3

(based on Psalm 89)

Happy are we who hear the joyful call to worship,

for we walk in the light of God’s presence!

Let’s worship God together—

celebrating who he is and all that he has done!

For God is our strength and our protection,

the One in whom we trust.

Annunciation Poem

Here’s a poem inspired by the events of the Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38). It was written by Luci Shaw and posted on Journey with Jesus.

Virgin

(inspired by Luke 1:38)

As if until that moment
nothing real
had happened since Creation

As if outside the world were empty
so that she and he were all
there was — he mover, she moved upon

As if her submission were the most
dynamic of all works: as if
no one had ever said Yes like that

As if one day the sun had no place
in all the universe to pour its gold
but her small room 

~ written by Luci Shaw, in Accompanied By Angels: Poems of the Incarnation by Luci Shaw, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (June 19, 2006). Posted on Journey with Jesus. http://www.journeywithjesus.net/

Advent Prayer: Psalm 89

Here’s a responsive prayer inspired by Psalm 89 and Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1:47-55). It was written by R. Victor Klassen.

Responsive Prayer

(inspired by Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26; Luke 1:47-55)

We will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever;
Our souls magnify the Lord;

With our mouths we proclaim God’s faithfulness to all generations

Our spirits rejoice in God our saviour.

We declare that your steadfast love is established forever;

His mercy is to those who fear him

from generation to generation.

Your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.

He has filled he hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.

You are our God and the Rock of our salvation.

~ written by R. Victor Klassen

Advent Prayer of Confession

Here’s a prayer of confession for Advent. It was written by Rev. Jan Brooks at the Cottonwood Falls Presbyterian Church.

Prayer of Confession for Advent

(inspired by Isaiah 7:14 and Luke 1:26-38)

O Holy God of Promise,

we so often place our trust in the things we can see,

and touch, and easily believe.

But you did not ask us to believe what is easy,

you have asked us to believe what is true!

Forgive us, Holy One, when we doubt the ways you work.

Forgive us when we find it hard to believe an ancient story.

Forgive us we question how you chose to enter the world,

born as one of us.

Forgive our lack of faith and belief

in ways which seem so impossible to believe.

Help us to look in faith, open our belief, and set aside our doubts

that you sent your Son, born of a virgin –

the one who has come to set us all free.

We offer these prayers in the name of your Son,

Emmanuel, God with us.  Amen.

~ written by Rev. Jan Brooks, Cottonwood Falls Presbyterian Church.

Prayer of Confession: Luke 1:47-55

Here’s a prayer of confession inspired by Mary’s Magnificat in Luke 1:47-55. It was written by Joanna Harader, and posted on Spacious Faith.

Magnificat Prayer of Confession

(inspired by Luke 1:47-55)

When our spirits despair and we deny our blessedness,
Forgive us, O God.
When we ignore the mighty things you have done,
When we doubt your mercy,
Forgive us, O God.
When we are proud
in the thoughts of our hearts,
When our power rests on the oppression of others,
When our wealth causes others to go hungry,
forgive us, O God.

[silence]

Help us, your servants,

according to the promises you have made.

~  written by Joanna Harader and posted on Spacious Faith. https://spaciousfaith.com/

Prayer of Illumination: Luke 1

Here is a prayer of illumination (a prayer traditionally spoken before the reading and preaching of the Word), from the Worship@North website.

Prayer of Illumination

(inspired by Luke 1:26-38)

Faithful God,

you chose Mary, full of grace,

to be the mother of our Sovereign and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Now fill us with your grace, that with her,

we may understand your ways,

rejoice in your salvation,

and embrace your will;

through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever. Amen. 

~ from a collection of prayers posted on the Worship@North website. https://northchurchindy.wordpress.com/ 

Call to Worship: Solstice

Here is a call to worship for the end of the Advent season – specifically, the December solstice marking the shortest day of year.  It was written by Roddy Hamilton, minister at the New Kilpatrick Church in Bearsden, Scotland.

Advent Call to Worship: December Solstice

it is solstice night
it is the death of darkness

for an age
light has been slipping away
but now
no further

it shall return

and in the hearing of the darkness
the light says:
arise
shine
for your light has come

the promise frees itself from the frost
and long nights

there is an awakening
and in the hearing of the darkness
the light says:
the people who have walked in darkness
have seen a great light

the day now
shrunken yet
is filled with hope
and begins to stretch
pushing at the edges of darkness
scraping it away
with hope of new life

and in the hearing of the darkness
the light says:
for unto you a child is born
unto you a son is given

this is a darkness greater than any night
and the light more than the day

right in the heart of the deeper, human darkness
a manger is ready
as the age of brightness returns

the advent promise
has found a place
to chase the darkness
and make room for the light

~ written by Roddy Hamilton, and posted on the New Kilpatrick Church website. http://www.nkchurch.org.uk/

Prayer: Mary's Song

Here’s a prayer of petition and intercession inspired by Mary’s Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). It comes from the Christian Aid website.

Prayer

(inspired by Luke 1:46-55)

“He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,

and lifted up the lowly.” (Luke 1:52)

Merciful God, 
May Mary’s song be heard through the ages, 
drowning out the din of Christmas chaos. 

May it be heard by the victims of violence 
in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

May it ring in the ears of the traumatised 
in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. 

May it sing in the hearts of those stuck 
in the refugee camps of Lebanon, Jordan and Greece. 

May it be an earworm song of hope 
for all standing strong for land rights. 

May it be the rally cry of peace 
for the war-weary of South Sudan. 

May it nourish hope in the bellies 
of those fearful of failed harvests. 

May it be a song that stirs reverent fear 
in the hearts of those who assume power. 

And may the joyful promises of justice 
and overturned power fill all our hearts 
to overflowing action. Amen.

~ posted on the Monthly Prayer page of the Christian Aid website. http://www.christianaid.org.uk/

Affirmation of Faith: Luke 1:46-55

Here is a statement of faith for use with Mary’s song of praise in Luke 1: 46-55. It was written by Ann Siddall, and posted on the Stillpoint Spirituality Centre and Faith Community.

Statement of faith

(May be used following the reading of Luke 1:46-55,

or a sermon on that passage)

Our souls magnify the Lord,

and our spirits rejoice in God our Saviour,

for he looks with favour upon us

and sees our unrealized potential.

In the tradition of Mary,

and all who have said “yes” to God,

we stand here today,

to add our assent to theirs.

Like Mary, we feel overwhelmed;

we wonder if we are worthy,

or capable, of following the calling.

Like Mary, we have our questions

and we will not be afraid to ask them.

Like Mary, we will hear and ponder

the assurance that God will empower us.

Like Mary we will strive to say -

“Let it be with us according to your will.”

To whatever God is inviting of us

at this time in our lives,

and relying on God’s grace,

we say “yes.”

 

~ written by Ann Siddall, and posted on the Stillpoint Spirituality Centre and Faith Community website. http://stillpointsa.org.au/prayer/prayers-and-liturgies/

Advent Call to Worship: Luke 1:46-55

Here’s a call to worship inspired by Mary’s Magnificat in Luke 1.  It was written by John Leach, and posted on The Jubilate Group website.

 

Call to Worship: Magnificat

(inspired by Luke 1:47-55)

 

My soul glorifies the Lord

and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,

for all his loving kindness to me day by day.

 

Great is our God and worthy to be praised

 

The Mighty One has done great things for me;

holy is his name.

 

Let it be to me according to your word.

 

God’s mercy reaches to all those who fear him,

in every generation.

 

Great is our God and worthy to be praised

 

The Lord has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has humbled those who are haughty and proud

 

Let it be to me according to your word.

 

God has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the poor and lowly

 

Great is our God and worthy to be praised

 

The Lord has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

 

Let it be to me according to your word.

 

God has kept his promises:

He has helped his servant Israel,

and shown mercy to Abraham and his descendants forever

 

Great is our God and worthy to be praised.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever.

Amen.

~ copyright © John Leach.  Posted by The Jubilate Group. http://www.jubilate.co.uk/

Advent Prayer: Luke 1: 39-56

Here’s an Advent prayer from Dr. Susan M. (Elli) Elliott’s Sermons & Prayers website. It was inspired by Mary’s song of praise in Luke 1:39-56.

A Prayer for use with the Magnificat

(inspired by Luke 1:39-56)

Great God of the prophets and truth-tellers,

Great Voice of Truth who speaks through unexpected voices,

Great Power of the Universe who works mighty deeds

        from fragile possibilities,

   we gather here to know Your presence and to listen for Your truth.

   We listen in Your presence. We listen for You.

Let our listening reach to hear the voice of young Mary.

Let us listen for her voice,

   the voice of an adolescent girl in an insignificant village

        in a marginal province,

   far from the centers of power.

Extend our listening to hear her where she may be speaking today:

   an adolescent girl in a village in rural China

        whose parents really wanted a boy;

   a girl in a remote native village in Latin America

        leading the singing in a small church;

   a 14-year-old working for a tiny wage in a crowded factory somewhere

making our high-priced running shoes;

   a 15-year-old helping her village in West Africa recover from civil war;

   a high school student in a U.S. city

        resisting a culture of violence daily to attend school.

Extend our listening, God,

   to hear the song of truth and hope You are putting in their mouths.

Extend our listening, God,

to sense the motion of a future You are moving in their midst,

   a future world put right.

Extend our listening, God,

   that we may receive and affirm and listen

        with the eager ears of elderly Elizabeth,

   wise with years of waiting.

Let us listen fully and deeply for the hope You are preparing.

Let us greet Your hope with the Elizabeth’s joy greeting Mary.

Let us feel the future moving in us as well.

Let us listen fully and deeply for the hope You are preparing in us.

Let us listen deeply to the truth speaking in us.

Let us listen fully to the hope You place in us.

Extend our listening

   to the deepest reaches of our own souls, God of Truth.

Extend our listening through the cares

    that each of us brings on our hearts this morning.

Extend our listening through the financial worries

      and the preoccupations with our health,

   our concern for loved ones whose lives are straying out of control,

   our angers and aggravations, our inundation with activity.

Extend our listening into all that we bring today

   to hear there the transforming truth about our lives.

Extend our listening until we listen with all that we are, our whole beings.

Extend our listening until we hear with Your whole voice.

Extend our listening until we become the voice that speaks as Mary to say,

   “My soul magnifies God and my spirit rejoices.”

May the listening of our souls enlarge Your listening

   until we truly hear You from unexpected places

        in the farthest reaches of the earth

   and the most remote territories of our own souls.

   Extend our listening that we may magnify You.

~ written by Dr. Susan M. (Elli) Elliott, December 12, 2004. If you use this material, please credit Dr. Susan M. (Elli) Elliott. Source: http://ellielliott.webs.com/sermonsprayers.htm

Call to Worship: Luke 1: 46-55

Here’s a call to worship inspired by Luke 1:46-55.  It was written by Stephen M. Fearing, and posted on his website, Liturgy and Hymns by Stephen M. Fearing (see link below).

Advent Call to Worship

(inspired by Luke 1:46-55)

Our souls magnify the Lord,

and our spirits rejoice in God our Savior.
God has looked with favor

on the lowliness of God's servant.
God's mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.
God has shown strength with God's arm.
God has scattered the proud

in the thoughts of their hearts.
God has brought down the powerful from their thrones,

and lifted up the lowly;
God has filled the hungry with good things,

and sent the rich away empty.
Come, for God is doing a new thing!  

Come, let us worship God!

~ written by Rev. Stephen M. Fearing, and posted on Liturgy and Hymns by Stephen M. Fearing.  http://www.stephenmfearing.com/ Permission is given for use in congregational worship.  Please give the following credit:  "Written by Rev. Stephen M. Fearing - www.stephenmfearing.com"

For a complete liturgy for Advent 4C, visit http://www.stephenmfearing.com/liturgy/2015/11/15/call-to-worship-4th-sunday-in-advent-year-c-december-20th-2015?rq=call%20to%20worship%20advent

Pastoral Prayer: Reign of Christ

Here’s a prayer of petition for the last Sunday before Advent, known as the “Reign of Christ” or “Christ the King” Sunday.  It was written by Roddy Hamilton.

Prayer for Proper 29

Create a throne room for yourself here, O Christ,
but let it be the empty seat beside the anxious
the lonely chair next to the confused
the vacant pew next to the hungry
and reign, O Jesus,
as sovereign over the forgotten

May your reign be a mockery to the world
but good news to those who seek out truth
and may we join them in the search
finding you walking the streets
or breaking bread
or sitting by bedsides

May we find you in border areas
on the edge of things
crossing over with the foreigner

May we find you among children
learning to finger paint
as teachers to those who long to enjoy life again

May we find you with the worried
silenced with nothing to say
and space enough to keep it

May we find you on the wrong side of the tracks
going where you should not
and finding a place to lay your head among the lost

May we find you singing our songs
of justice and peace
and removing your crown to do so

May we find you with a word that lives
in the hopes of the afraid
and a comforting peace for those who are broken

May we find you laughing at the powerful
unnerving what folk think so secure
while welcoming those who have nothing into your throne room

O Jesus, reigning in the world
with your upside down kingdom
may we find the faith to stand with you
sovereign of life
and servant of all

~ written by Roddy Hamilton, and posted on Mucky Paws. http://www.nkchurch.org.uk/index.php/mucky-paws

Opening Prayer: Loving as Jesus Loved

Here’s an opening prayer from the website of Old South Church in Boston.

Opening Prayer

O God,

you broke down the barriers when you crept in beside us.

In Jesus, your hands touched all, and touched us.

You opened our eyes

to see how the hands of the rich were empty,

and the hearts of the poor were full.

You took the widow’s mite and the child’s loaves

and used them to show us the Kingdom.

Here in the company of the neighbor whom we know

and the stranger in our midst,

and the self from whom we turn,

we ask to love as Jesus loved.

Make this the place and time, good Lord,

when heaven and earth become one,

and we in word and flesh

know ourselves beloved. Amen.

~ posted on the website of Old South Church in Boston.  http://www.oldsouth.org/sites/default/files/podcast-transcripts/Bulletin.01.22.12.pdf