Litany

Closing Litany

(based on Ephesians 2, 4 and I Peter 2)

One:    People of God,

            I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

            Be completely humble and gentle;                      

            be patient, bearing with one another in love.

            Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit    

            through the bond of peace.

            There is one body and one Spirit—

            just as you were called to one hope when you were called—

            one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

            one God and Father of all,

            who is over all and through all and in all. (Eph. 4:1-6)

Two:   Remember that at one time you [were] without Christ,

            aliens from the commonwealth of Israel,       

            and strangers to the covenants of promise,

            having no hope and without God in the world.

            But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off

            have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

            For he is our peace….

            He came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off

            and peace to those who were near;

            for through him we all have access in one Spirit to the Father.

            So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,

            but you are citizens with the saints

            and also members of the household of God. (Eph. 2:11-14; 17-19)

One:   Once you were not a people,
            but now you are God’s people;
            once you had not received mercy,
            but now you have received mercy. (I Peter 2:10)

Two:   Come to him, a living stone,

            rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight,              

            and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house,

            to be a holy priesthood,

            to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God

            through Jesus Christ.  (I Peter 2:4-5)

One:    For you are a chosen race,

            a royal priesthood,

            a holy nation,

            God’s own people,

            in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him

            who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  (I Peter 2:9)

~ Compiled by Christine Longhurst, re:Worship

Prayer: One Body

Here is a prayer of confession and commitment from Jeff’s Blog (see link below).

Prayer of Confession and Commitment

(inspired by Ephesians 4:4-6)

Holy God, your word declares that you have taken away our iniquity, and that you remember our sin no more. But we confess that we focus so much on ourselves, and our failures, and our feelings and our merits that we choose to be consumed by our guilt and shame, and refuse the salvation you offer us freely through the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ.

Forgive us when we forget the comfort of your love, our fellowship with your spirit, and the tenderness and compassion you have called us to show to a world in need. Forgive us when we care so much about ourselves and what we want that we forget to love our neighbor, and in so doing forget to love you.

Almighty Father, take from us all hatred and prejudice and discord. Remind us that there is but one Body and one Spirit, and one hope of our calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, so that we may all truly be of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and that with one mind and one mouth we may glorify you, through Jesus Christ our Lord who reigns together with you and the Holy Spirit, in a Kingdom without end. Amen.

~ posted on Jeff’s Blog. https://blog.wisch.org/category/benedictions-and-prayers/

Prayer for the Church

January 18-25 is observed by many in the northern hemisphere as the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Here is a prayer from the World Council of Churches website which is appropriate for that occasion (and others throughout the year).

A Prayer for the Church

God, Protector of the widow,

the orphan and the stranger –

in a world where many know despair,

you raised your Son Jesus

to give hope for humanity and renewal to the earth.

Continue to strengthen and unify your Church

in its struggles against the forces of death in the world,

where violence against creation and humanity

obscures the hope of the new life you offer.

This we pray in the name of the Risen Lord,

in the power of His Spirit. Amen.

~ from Resources for The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and throughout the year (2011), http://www.oikoumene.org/fileadmin/files/wcc-main/documents/p2/2010/WOP2011eng.pdf  jointly prepared and published by The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity and The Commission on Faith and Order of the World Council of Churches.  Posted on the World Council of Churches website.  http://www.oikoumene.org/en/home.html

Call to Worship: A New Commandment

Here is a responsive call to worship inspired by John 13:34-35, one of the suggested scripture readings for the fifth Sunday of Easter, Year C. It was written by Rev. Mindi and posted on Rev-o-lution.

Call to Worship Litany

(inspired by John 13:34-35)

Jesus has given us a new commandment:
We are commanded to love one another.
Just as Christ has loved us,
So we ought to have love for one another.
By this, everyone will know we are Christ’s disciples:
By our love for one another.
Come, may we join our hearts in worship:
Worship God by loving one another.

~ written by Rev. Mindi and posted on Rev-o-lution. http://rev-o-lution.org/

Call to Worship: God's Ways

Here’s a responsive call to worship from Tim Graves’s LiturgyBits blog. (See link below.)

Call to Worship

Out of a world of cut-throat competition,

of winners-and-losers,

and too many left behind

we come together.
The world’s ways are not our ways.
The world’s ways are not Christ’s ways.

Out of a world of hatred, violence,

individualism, and life-taking power

we gather as Koinonia, as God’s people.
God’s ways are inclusive, expansive,

and life-giving for all peoples.

Come and worship the One whose love knows no limits! 

Swim and splash in the cleansing waters of divine community!

Resurrect your spirits and souls in worship of the One!
Praise be to the Everlasting One!

~ written by Tim Graves, and posted on LiturgyBits. https://liturgybits.wordpress.com

Prayer: Reaching Out

Here’s a prayer from Leonard Sweet. It was posted on Preach the Story.

Prayer

Jesus, though you were of one age,

you spoke to the ages.

Jesus, though you lived long ago,

you spoke words that continue to move, motivate,

mature, and transfigured us.

Jesus, though you were of Palestinian color and culture,

you spoke to all cultures and colors.

We thank you for your timeliness and timelessness.

May the church that bears your name

continue to reach out with love and compassion

toward other members of the human family,

no matter what age, culture, color, or context.

~ Leonard Sweet. Posted on Preach the Story. https://preachthestory.com/