Prayer: Opening the Windows

Here’s a prayer of confession from Terri on the RevGalBlogPals’ A Place for Prayer blog.

Prayer

O God, You who are always doing a new thing,

we confess that we sometimes close windows

against the fresh air of new ideas,

against the noise of other people’s worries,

against the winds of change.

God of every place and time,

we confess that we often draw the curtains

against people who are different,

against world news or community concerns.

Forgive us our insulation in our locked homes,

our shuttered churches,

the security systems on our hearts.

Open up our lives,

and let your Spirit blow through. Amen.

— posted by Teri on the RevGalBlogPals A Place for Prayer blog. http://revgalprayerpals.blogspot.ca/

Call to Worship: Come!

Here’s a call to worship inspired by Matthew 11:29 and Revelation 21:5.  It was written by Rosie Venner.

Call to Worship

(inspired by Matthew 11:29 and Revelation 21:5)

Come all who are weary

of wealth, of poverty, of power, of struggle, of division

Come all who are heavy-laden

with too much, with too little, with anxiety, with fear, with anger

Come all who have hope

for liberation, for peace, for freedom, for the kingdom

Hear these words

“See, I am making all things new.”

~ from I Am Making All Things New, written by  Rosie Venner.  Posted on the WSCF Europe website. http://wscf-europe.org/mozaik-issues/mozaik-25-the-powers-that-be/worship-i-am-making-all-things-new/

Prayer: Revelation 21

Here’s a prayer inspired by Revelation 21. It was written by Christine Jerrett and posted on her blog (see link below).

Prayer:

A God who makes all things new

(inspired by a reading of Revelation 21)

Living God,

Maker of heaven and earth,

we come into your presence

and we know ourselves to be recipients of

great and wonderful gifts —

the earth, the sky, the waters —

given to us here in such abundance and beauty.

We lead enormously privileged lives.

Don’t let our comfort blind us to the newness

you are making in our midst —

a newness that is taking us in directions

we would not choose on our own;

a newness that moves our safe horizons

out beyond what we can control.

This much does not change:

You are our God; we are your people,

bound to you by the love of Jesus Christ

and by the call of your Holy Spirit.

Faithful God, hold us deep in that truth

even as you move us into your new creation.

Creating and re-creating God,

take us in our uncertainties

and make us new.

We pray in the name of your Son,

who has gone ahead of us into your new future

and who beckons us follow. Amen.

~ posted on Christine Jerrett. https://christinejerrett.wordpress.com/

Prayer: You are making all things new

Here’s a prayer litany from the Weekly Worship page of the Christian Aid website. It was inspired by passages like Isaiah 43, Revelation 21:5 and others.

Prayer Litany

(inspired by Isaiah 43:18-19; 65:17, Revelation 21:5, Romans 12:2)

You are making all things new.
A new heaven 
A new earth 
A new way of thinking 
A new way of being. 

You are making all things new.
No more Death 
No more mourning 
No more crying 
No more pain. 

 
You are making all things new.
Renew our minds 
to renew the world 
by living out your 
commandment of love. 

You are making all things new.

~ originally posted on the Monthly Prayers page (now Weekly Worship) of the Christian Aid website. https://www.christianaid.org.uk/churches/weekly-worship

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/

Prayer for Others: Easter 5 C

Here is a prayer of intercession inspired by the suggested scripture readings for the fifth Sunday of Easter, Year C. It comes from the Life in Liturgy blog.

Prayer for Others

(Easter 5, Year C)

How wondrous is your great forgiving love, mighty God!.

How wondrous is your life-giving power!.

With joy we revel in the glow of the sun this day,

and we wonder at the life everlasting

that you have opened for us in raising Jesus from the dead.

As people born of his Spirit,

we are awakened to a world that is caught still

in the night-shades of sin,

and broken by its suffering.

And here, in the midst of all death,

we long to bring life;

we would see Jesus,

and we would lift him up

as a beacon of your love and promise to our world.

Hear our prayers for those who are suffering this day—

the hungry and homeless,

the sick and imprisoned,

the angry, the lonely and lost.

We pray that you would not let our concern pass from our hearts

as these words pass from our lips,

but rather that you would empower us to do your work

of healing and reconciliation in their lives.

We especially lift to you this day

all those who are close to our hearts,

whose needs we are so often reminded of,

and for ourselves in our own needs.

As you made a fearful and disjointed band of disciples

into your holy church,

we pray that you would make us anew,

that we, your body in our world,

would serve you in joy and hope and thankfulness

all the days of our life together in Christ Jesus our Lord,

in whose glorious name we pray.

~ posted on Life in Liturgy. https://lifeinliturgy.wordpress.com/

Call to Worship: All Who Are Thirsty

Here’s a call to worship inspired by Isaiah 55:1-5, John 7:37-39 and other water-related passages. It was written by John Birch, and posted on Faith and Worship.

Call to Worship

(inspired by Isaiah 55:1-5, John 7:37-39;

John 4:13-15, Psalm 63:1-2, Revelation 21:6)

Come, all who are thirsty
says Jesus, our Lord,
come, all who are weak,
taste the living water
that I shall give.
Dip your hands in the stream,
refresh body and soul,
drink from it,
depend on it,
for this water
will never run dry.
Come, all who are thirsty
says Jesus, our Lord. 

~ written by John Birch, and posted on Faith and Worship.  http://www.faithandworship.com/

Prayer Litany: I Have a Dream

Here’s a responsive prayer litany inspired by Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. It was written by Christine Sine and posted on Godspace.

Prayer Litany

May we dream of a world made new,

Where together we shout for justice,

And as one we fight against oppression.

May we dream of a world made new,

Where together we seek God’s righteousness

And as one we sing God’s praise.

May we dream of a world made new,

Where together we climb God’s mountain,

And as one we enter the promised land.

May we dream of a world made new,

Where together we proclaim the good news of God’s kingdom,

And as one we enjoy its peace, and abundance and love.

~ from Christine Sine’s Godspace website. http://godspace.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/i-have-a-dream-a-prophetic-speech-now-50-years-old/

Prayer: Encounters with Jesus

Draw me today into fresh encounters with Jesus, O God.

Make me a servant of love

so that others may know how much You love them

and I may know how much You love me.

Let me not be afraid of new pastures,

whether they be green or brown or parched.

And as I pass through whatever the day’s valleys,

keep my head lifted up to the mountain,

from whence my help comes.

Never let me forget the people Jesus welcomed…

   the greedy and the great,

   the bad and the good,

   the respected and the cheats.

Even as the world becomes more callous and chaotic,

may I never underestimate Your capacity

to fashion the miraculous from the monstrous,

even to make me a choice masterpiece

from the mire and the clay.

~ written by Leonard Sweet, posted on Preach the Story. https://preachthestory.com/

Reflection: A Glimpse of the Kingdom

Here’s a reflection on the kingdom of God from Cheryl Lawrie’s [hold this space] website.

A Glimpse of the Kingdom

Maybe in this there is a glimpse of the kingdom
a foretaste
a hint
a promise.

Let it hold you and let it send you
so you will never be at peace
until all are fed
until all know home
until all are free
until justice is done
until peace is the way
until grace is the law
until love is the rule
until God’s realm comes
until God’s realm comes
until God’s realm comes….

~ written by Cheryl Lawrie, and posted on [hold this space].  http://holdthisspace.org.au/

Prayer: Renouncing Fear

Here’s a prayer from lutheran julia. It was posted on RevGalBlogPauls.

Renouncing Fear: A Prayer

“Say to those who have an anxious heart,

‘Be strong; fear not!’” Isaiah 35:4

Phantasm of fear, I renounce you!

I refuse to call you “spirit” for you are not of God.

You work to oppose the creative forces of the Lord in life and resurrection.

Your efforts will not last.

And you know this.

Delusion of fear, I renounce you!

You may talk loudly, boastfully.

You may bring your buddies, death and destruction, as backup to your threats.

You know your days are numbered.

There is no fear in the life to come.

Specter of fear, I renounce you!

Your work of dividing, fomenting, pain-causing…

We will overcome. With God on our side,

You cannot stand.

Perfect Love, the kind that comes from Christ, casts out fear.

Revenant of fear, I renounce you!

Shrivel and die, you impotent thing!

You may plant, but you will not reap.

You may build, but you will not inhabit.

You may fish, but you will not catch.

There is no home for you, no toe hold, no place of belonging.

You are banished to wither and die… fertilizing the soil of hope and joy.

So be it.

In the name of Christ, so say we all.

~ written by lutheran julia and posted on RevGalBlogPals. https://revgalblogpals.org/

Prayer of Confession: Clean and Unclean

Here’s a prayer of confession inspired by Acts 11:1-18 (Peter’s vision in Joppa).  It was written by Rev. Doug Hagler, Calvary Presbyterian Church of Wyncote, PA, and posted on LiturgyLink.

Prayer of Confession

(inspired by Acts 11:1-18)

God of the clean and the unclean,

we too easily think we can see from your point of view.

We exclude, hold grudges and nurse contempt,

all the while hiding ourselves

for fear we too would be found wanting.

We think we are justified

because we are made holy by your love,

and we assume holiness means more like us.

We forget, or never really knew,

that all you touch is holy,

and that you created all that is.

So when we exclude, we exclude you.

When we hold grudges, we hate you.

When we show contempt,

we are contemptuous of those you love.

May we be made holy in truth,

loving as you love, clean and unclean alike.

~ written by Rev. Doug Hagler, Calvary Presbyterian Church of Wyncote, PA, and posted on LiturgyLink. https://www.liturgylink.net/

Invitation: Come with what you have

Here’s a call to worship or litany of confession and assurance inspired by Jesus’ command to love one another.  It was written by Katherine Hawker, and posted on Outside the Box.

Litany of Call and Confession

(inspired by John 13:34-35; 1 John 4:7)

Come with what you have.

For you who grieve this day

know that you are invited to bring the broken pieces of your heart.

Loved by one another,

we discover God's love for us.

Come with what you have.

For you who come with gladness

know that your melody will find harmony.

Accepting God's love for us,

we are called to love one another.

Come with what you have.

For you weighed down by too many 'shoulds' and 'what-ifs'

know that here you may lay down the burdens of guilt and shame.

Loved by one another,

we discover God's love for us.

Come with what you have.

For you who have the answers,

know that new questions await you.

Accepting God's love for us,

we are called to love one another.

Come with what you have.

For you who come seeking,

know that your questions are safe in the presence of God.

Loved by one another,

we discover God's love for us.

~ written by Katherine Hawker, and posted on Outside the Box. http://liturgyoutside.net/

Call to Worship: Surely God is in this Place

Here’s a responsive call to worship for Easter 5, Year C.  It comes from the Life in Liturgy website.

Call to Worship

We gather in the name of the living Christ to worship God.

Surely, God is in this place

and calls us to worship in spirit and in truth.

God’s love is for you

and for all people everywhere.

That we may share God’s love and life,

may we be renewed

in the refreshing Spirit of the living Christ.

The living Christ is with us.

Praise the Lord!

~ posted on Life in Liturgy. https://lifeinliturgy.wordpress.com/

Call to Worship: Love One Another

Here’s a call to worship inspired by John 13:34-35 (or 1 John 4:7).  It was written by Katherine Hawker, and posted on Outside the Box.

Call to Worship

(inspired by John 13:34-35; 1 John 4:7)

Jesus offers a new-old commandment,
that we should love each other.

With the incredible power

and the unfathomable depth
of God's love for us
we can
we must
love one another.

And it is in this
our love for one another
that the world will know
whom and what we worship. 

Come, children of God, 

let us love one another.

~ written by Katherine Hawker, and posted on Outside the Box. http://liturgyoutside.net/

Prayer: May we love as you love

Prayer: May we love as you love

Here’s a prayer of commitment from Terri.  It was posted on RevGalBlogPals.

Prayer of Commitment

Holy God, before time you named us
Through time you redeem us
You call us, precious in your sight
May we love as you love.

Holy One, through the turbulent waters
Make us steady, your hands
Holding strong the fragile and weak
May we love as you love.

Gracious God, may the fruits of our lives
be food for the hungry, bread
clothing, shelter, fire, water, Word
May we love as you love.

God of justice, remove the chaff
Of our lives that keep us from
Hearing, following, Your call
May we love as you love.

Loving God, take this day our fears our
Worries, distractions, and all
Turn them into wheat, heart food
May we love as you love. Amen

~ written by Terri and posted on RevGalBlogPals. http://revgalblogpals.blogspot.ca/

Prayer of Confession: As You Have Loved

Here’s a prayer inspired by Jesus’ teaching about loving our neighbors. It was posted on the PCUSA website.

Prayer of Confession

(inspired by Matthew 22:37-39, Mark 12:31)

Almighty God, 

you love us, but we have not loved you;

you call, but we have not listened.

We walk away from neighbors in need, 

wrapped up in our own concerns.

We have gone along with evil, 

with pride, quarrelling, and divisiveness.

Holy God, help us to face up to ourselves,

so that, as you move toward us in mercy,

we may repent, turn to you, and receive mercy;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

~ posted on the PCUSA website. http://www.pcusa.org/

Prayers of the People: New Heavens, New Earth

Here’s a prayer of petition and intercession written by Rev. Richard J. Fairchild.

Prayer of Petition and Intercession

(inspired by Isaiah 12:1-6, Luke 21, Mark 13, Revelation 21:1-5)

We are glad and rejoice forever in you, O God. 

With joy we draw deeply from your well of salvation

and pray that even as we have sung, you may fulfill our story—

the story of your love. 

Though the world has been gripped by trouble since early days,

and life has often been short and tormented,

you have given us a vision of a day beyond the terrors:

a day when the heavens and earth will be new again,

a day when the sound of weeping will give way to delight,

a time when all creation will live in peace

and people will long enjoy the fruits of their labours. 

Help us to hold to that vision when the temples about us are falling,

and our world is shaken. 

Strengthen us for the telling of your truth

and for keeping to your path,

that we might not weary in doing what is right,

but through endurance may gain our souls,

even as you desire for us to do. 

Lord, hear our prayer….

As we pray for a new heaven and a new earth this day,

we especially are aware of those among us

and those beyond these doors who are in deep need of your peace,

of your healing touch, of your just and bounteous kingdom.

We pray those who dwell in places of strife, need, and want….

Lord, hear our prayer….

We pray for those who have been bereaved in the past week....

Lord, hear our prayer….

We pray for those who are unemployed and those fear layoff or termination

and all those struggling with a burden in the workplace and the marketplace….

Lord, hear our prayer….

And finally, we pray for today for those of our brothers and sisters

who face persecution because of their faith. 

For those who are deprived of their basic human rights,

and those who are deprived of their lives

because of their desire to worship and serve you...

Lord, hear our prayer….

Let us give thanks to the one to whom we pray,

the one who brings both the snow and the sun;

the one  who heals this troubled world;

the sick; and those who turn to Him in faith;

the one who grants new life not only to us,

but to the creation itself....

Lord, hear our prayer….

Gracious God,

we pray to you in the name of the one who came to show us the way,

he who is our Lord and our Redeemer, our brother and our friend.

We pray to you as one family, even as he taught us, saying...

Our Father….

~ written by Rev. Richard J. Fairchild, and posted on Kir-shalom. http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermons/c-or33sn.php

Prayer in Times of Violence and Fear

Here’s a prayer for peace from the PCUSA website.

Prayer in Times of Violence and Fear

Almighty, all-merciful God,

through Christ Jesus you have taught us to love one another,

to love our neighbors as ourselves,

and even to love our enemies.

In times of violence and fear,

let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts,

so that we may not be overcome with evil

but overcome evil with good.

Help us to see each person in light of the love and grace

you have shown us in Christ.

Put away the nightmares of terror

and awaken us to the dawning of your new creation.

Establish among us a future where peace reigns,

justice is done with mercy, and all are reconciled.

We ask these things in the name

and for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~ From a collection of Prayers for Times of National and International Crisis and Tragedy, posted on the PCUSA website. http://www.pcusa.org/

Prayer: Loving Others

Here’s a prayer of thanksgiving, confession and petition from the Baylor University website.

Prayer

Loving and merciful One,

we thank you for the community in which you have placed us,

for the brothers and sisters with whom we walk this pilgrim journey.

Yet, we confess that we fail to love as you love.

We push aside those whom we believe are the least in your Kingdom.

We fail to see your Kingdom in parables

because we fail to see your Kingdom in each other.

Form in us a new vision of community

in which there is neither East nor West, neither South nor North.

We pray for the sake of your Kingdom

that both is and is not yet. Amen.

~ posted in Hearing the Parables with the Early Church on the Baylor University website. http://www.baylor.edu/christianethics/parablesstudyguide2.pdf