The Beatitudes

Here’s a fresh taken on the Beatitudes from Brian McLaren and Rob Bell. It was posted on Third Space.

The Beatitudes

(see Luke 6:20-22, Matthew 5:3-12)

The poor, and those in solidarity with them –

God is on your side.

Those who mourn and feel grief about the state of the world –

God is on your side.

The non-violent, gentle and humble –

God is on your side.

Those who hunger and thirst for the common good –

God is on your side.

The merciful and compassionate –

God is on your side.

Those characterized by sincerity, kindness and generosity –

God is on your side.

Those who work for peace and reconciliation –

God is on your side.

Those who keep seeking justice –

God is on your side.

Those who stand for justice and truth as the prophets did,

who refuse to be quiet even when slandered,

misrepresented, threatened, imprisoned or harmed –

God is on your side!

~ posted on the Third Space blog. http://third-space.org.uk/fairtrade-beatitudes-and-sanctuary/

Call to Worship: Beatitudes

Here’s a contemporary call to worship inspired by the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12, Luke 6:20-22).  It was written by Katherine Hawker.

Call to Worship

(inspired by Matthew 5:3-12, Luke 6:20-22)

Happy are we

when our treasures cannot be quantified.

Happy are we

when our knowledge is tempered by mystery.

Happy are we

when our pain is held in the balm of love.

Happy are we

when our delight comes from beyond ourselves.

~ written by Katherine Hawker (2006), and posted on Liturgy Outside. http://liturgyoutside.net/beatitudes.pdf

Call to Worship: Luke 6: 17-26

Here’s a responsive call to worship inspired by Luke 6:17-26, one of the suggested scripture readings for Epiphany 6, Year C. It was written by Gill Le Fevre.

Call to Worship

(inspired by Luke 6:17-26)

From the comfort of our Western homes and prosperous lives,

We come hungry for a better world for all.

In our society divided by power struggles and prejudice,

We affirm the power of Your healing love.

With the honesty of our doubts and insecurities,

We rejoice in Your love for each one of us;

seeking Your blessing to make us whole.

~ submitted by Gill Le Fevre

Opening Prayer: Luke 6: 17-26

Here’s an opening prayer/prayer of invocation inspired by Luke 6:17-26, one of the suggested scripture readings for Epiphany 6, Year C. It was written by Gill Le Fevre.

Opening Prayer

(inspired by Luke 6:17-26)

Compassionate God,

we recognize that our world is a broken place,

hurt by poverty, famine and disease.

We admit that sometimes we make the world a broken place,

tolerating prejudice, conflict and self-interest.

We confess that our hearts also suffer with anger,

resentment and jealousy.

Renew us in Your love, O God,

and heal us with the comfort of Your abundant love.

Awaken us to the role we can play in healing Your creation.

Strengthen us through the power of the Holy Spirit

to hear Your word and move forward in faith. Amen.

~ submitted by Gill Le Fevre

Offering Prayer: Luke 6: 17-26

Here’s an offering prayer inspired by Luke 6:17-26, one of the suggested scripture readings for Epiphany 6, Year C. It was written by Gill Le Fevre.

Offering Prayer

(inspired by Luke 6:17-26)

Benevolent God,

you see those who are hungry, poor and marginalized,

who too often we overlook.

You recognize their humanity and their suffering,

and promise to overthrow the rejection they encounter in our world.

Help us be part of that transformation.

Take our gifts to feed the hungry and sustain the poor.

Multiply our gifts to erase the margins of our society,

embracing us all in Your inclusive love. Amen.

~ submitted by Gill Le Fevre

Prayer: Strange Territory

Here is a prayer which reflects on the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12, Luke 6:20-22). It was written by Christine Jerrett in 2011, and posted on her blog (see link below).

Strange Territory:

A prayer reflecting on the Beatitudes

God of life and of truth,

Your Son invites us to see the world through your eyes

and we find ourselves disoriented:

You bless the poor

You bless the meek

You bless the pure in heart.

You turn our world and its values upside down.

We have signed on to follow your Son

but this is strange territory.

It doesn’t look anything like

the life we have been taught to yearn for,

to work for,

to believe will bring us happiness.

Yet, You know the despair that besets

so many of our young people

who fear that their future has been mortgaged

by our greed and carelessness.

You hear the cries of those who

have traded their souls for power and money

and now have emptiness as a friend.

You see those who are caught in lives that

lead only to weariness and anxiety.

Set us at Jesus’ feet

so we can learn to judge our lives differently.

Awaken in us that hunger and thirst for you

which will lead us to your will

and your peace.

Open our eyes to see your unexpected blessings.

Open our hearts to welcome you

when you come to us in strange ways.

Then make us into a community of blessedness

that beckons this neighbourhood

into your joy.

We ask these things in the name of Jesus

who blesses us with your living presence

and fills our lives with your life-changing truth. Amen. 

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

Litany: Happy are They

Here’s a responsive litany from the Canadian Interfaith Conference.

Happy are They

(inspired by Matthew 5:1-12 and other passages)

Happy are all they that wait for the LORD.  (Isaiah 30:18)  

Happy are all they that put their trust in him. (Psalm 2:12)                                                         

Happy are they who know that they are poor;

the kingdom of heaven is theirs. (Matt. 5:3)

Happy are they whose delight is in the law of the Lord.  (Ps. 1:1-2)                                       

Happy are they of a gentle spirit; (Ps. 37:11)

They shall have the earth for their inheritance.  (Matthew 5:5)                                                                         

Happy are they who do hunger and thirst to see the right prevail;

For they shall be satisfied. (Matthew 5:6)                                                                          

Happy are the merciful;

For they shall obtain mercy. (Matthew 5:7)

Happy are the pure in heart;

For they shall see God. (Psalm 24:4, Matthew 5:8)

Happy are the peacemakers;                                                                            

For they shall be called the children of God. (Matthew 5:9)                                                         

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us,

that we should be called the children of God.

And such we are. (1 John 3:1)

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who only does wondrous things;

And blessed be the Name of his majesty for ever:

Let all the earth be filled with his glory.  (Ps. 72:19-20)

Amen and Amen. 

~ in Canadian Centennial Anthology of Prayer (The Canadian Interfaith Conference, 1967). http://www.amazon.ca/Canadian-Centennial-Anthology-Interfaith-Conference/dp/B0087KOKTW

Prayer: Psalm 1

Here’s a prayer of confession and commitment from Jeff’s Blog. It was inspired by Psalm 1.

Prayer

(inspired by Psalm 1)

Holy God,

we come before your throne and admit

that most of the time we are too busy singing and praying

and feeling good and feeling bad

and feeling so-so

to stop and listen for your tiny, little whispers. 

In your word you paint for us a picture of full and abundant life,

life that can only be had by drinking your living water,

knowing you not as a title, but intimately, a mystery….

We pray that our lives would be planted near you –

that we would send our roots deep into your word and your life,

that we would draw nourishment from you,

and that with the life you give we would in turn

provide shelter and comfort and blessing

to whoever comes under our branches.

We pray that we would not walk in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stand in the way of sinners,

nor abide in the house of the scornful,

but that our delight would be in you,

in your truth, in your grace, now and forevermore.

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

Beatitude Acclamations

Here is a set of praise acclamations inspired by Matthew 5:3-12, the verses commonly known as the Beatitudes.  It was written by Bruce Prewer.

Acclamations

(inspired by Matthew 5:3-12)

Wonderful is the God of Christ,

who gathers the poor of the earth.

Glorious is our God,

who wipes away the tears of sorrow.

Wonderful is the God of Christ,

who gives inheritance to the meek.

Glorious is our God,

who satisfies the hunger of the just.

Wonderful is the God of Christ,

who gives mercy to the merciful.

Glorious is our God,

who gives vision to the pure in heart.

Wonderful is the God of Christ,

who adopts the peacemakers.

Glorious is our God,

who lifts high the persecuted.

Wonderful is the God of Christ,

who finds the lost.

Glorious is our God,

who awakens the dead

~ written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Home Page.  http://www.bruceprewer.com/

Beatitudes: Version 2.0

Here’s an updated version of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12, Luke 6:20-22).  It was written by Harrison Adams.

                                    

Beatitudes Version 2.0

(inspired by Matthew 5:3-12, Luke 6:20-22)

Blessed are the poor in spirit.
For when our spirits seem empty,
the Holy Spirit becomes our spirit.

Blessed are those who mourn.
For even when we have no joy,
the joy of finding the tomb empty becomes our joy.

Blessed are the meek.
For even when we have no courage,
the courage of facing the cross becomes our courage.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
For when there is no justice,
the justice we uphold becomes our own justice.

Blessed are the merciful.
For when the world is full of suffering,
the mercy we show others becomes the mercy shown to us.

Blessed are the pure in heart and the peacemakers.
For even in death,
the incarnation of God becomes their transcendence.
the mortality of Christ becomes their immortality.
the humanity of Spirit becomes their divinity.

~ written by Harrison Adams. From Sacred Seasons, Lent/Eastertide 2000.  Posted on Simple Living Works. http://simpleliving.startlogic.com/indexoth.php?place=archives/Articles/WorshipAltItems3.php

Prayer of Praise

Here’s a prayer of thanksgiving and praise inspired by the Beatitudes in Matthew 5: 3-12.  It was written by Bruce Prewer.

Prayer of Thanksgiving and Praise: The Beatitudes

(based on Matthew 5: 3-12)

King of the poor

to whom belongs the kingdom of heaven,

we thank you for your mercy

and praise you for your enduring love.

King of the sorrowful

who experience a comfort this world cannot give,

we thank you for your mercy

and praise you for your enduring love.

King of the meek,

who are destined to inherit the earth,

we thank you for your mercy

and praise you for your enduring love.

King of the hungry and thirsty

to whom are given heavenly bread and wine,

we thank you for your mercy

and praise you for your enduring love.

King of the merciful

who receive far more than they ever give or expect,

we thank you for your mercy

and praise you for your enduring love.

King of the pure of heart,

who see God where others see wilderness and despair,

we thank you for your mercy

and praise you for your enduring love.

King of the peacemakers,

who receive the right to be called children of God,

we thank you for your mercy

and praise you for your enduring love.

King of persecuted believers,

who rejoice to be counted worthy of suffering for Christ’s sake,

we thank you for your mercy

and praise you for your enduring love.

Thanks be to you, God of Christ our Wounded King,

for everything he has taught us,

for the humble path he has shown us,

and for all he has suffered for us and the whole world.

For yours in the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever.

Amen!

~ written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Home Page.  http://www.bruceprewer.com/

Litany of Confession & Assurance: Beatitudes

Here’s a litany of confession and assurance inspired by the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12 and Luke 6:20-22).  It was written by Katherine Hawker.

Beatitudes Litany

(inspired by Matthew 5:3-12, Luke 6:20-22)

Blessed are we when we let go of possessions

for the kingdom of God unfolds in open places.

Woe to us when we gather into barns

for soon this life will be over.

Blessed are we who know the ache of hunger

for the empty places in body and soul are the fertile soil for new growth.

Woe to us who fill our lives to capacity

for we fail to recognize what is missing.

Blessed are we who know sorrow

for the ache of love lost is witness to the seed planted.

Woe to us who have yet to know the pain of grief

for the fullness of love is woven with sorrow.

Blessed are we who know scorn

for the rejection of humans keeps us mindful of that beyond.

Woe to us who depend on the approval of others

for to dance with Spirit appears foolish.

Blessed are we who live in the harmony of life in the Spirit,

For we will recognize abundance. Amen.

~ written by Katherine Hawker (2004), and posted on Liturgy Outside. http://liturgyoutside.net/beatitudes.pdf

Call to Worship, Opening Prayer: Psalm 1

Here’s a call to worship/opening prayer inspired by Psalm 1.  It comes from the Oratio Contemplativa website.

Opening Prayer / Call to Worship

(inspired by Psalm 1)

King of all the earth,

Creator of the universe,

Holy Triune God,

From everlasting to everlasting, you are Lord.

Your law brings life, O Lord, and we meditate on it day and night;

Happy are we when we walk in your ways, O Lord.

You are a rich stream of living waters, and we would immerse ourselves in you;

Happy are we when we walk in your ways, O Lord.

You bring forth fruit in due season and establish the work of our hands;

Happy are we when we walk in your ways, O Lord.

Who is like our God, the One whose ways are full of life?

Happy are we when we walk in your ways, O Lord.

This is our God, the Holy One.  

Come before him with thanksgiving

and offer him the sacrifice of praise.

~ excerpted from a longer prayer posted on Oratio Contemplativa. http://oratiocontemplativa.wordpress.com/2013/06/14/prayers-for-proper-18-year-c-rcl-closest-to-september-7/

Call to Worship: Psalm 1

Here’s a short call to worship inspired by Psalm 1.  It was written by Amy Loving.

Call to Worship

(inspired by Psalm 1)

Come, let us delight in the law of the Lord.

Our joy is found in the love of God and neighbor.

Come, let us be nourished by the Living Water.

Together, we will worship the One who enables us to thrive.

~ written by Amy Loving, and posted on The Worship Closet website. http://worshipcloset.com/

Prayer: Bless the Peacemakers

Here’s a prayer of blessing for peacemakers from John Birch.

Prayer: Bless the Peacemakers

Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they shall be called children of God. Matthew 5:9

Bless those who are peacemakers
From all creeds and cultures
All who bring no other agenda
Than to see neighbour and stranger
Live together as one community

Bless the peacemakers
Strengthen and bless them

Bless those who are comforters
Shoulders to cry upon
Willing ears to listen
A present help in times
Of despair and hopelessness

Bless the peacemakers
Strengthen and bless them

Bless those who are healers
Of physical injury
And deeper hurts
Whose touch brings relief
From trauma and pain
Who brings compassion

Bless the peacemakers
Strengthen and bless them

—Copyright © John Birch, posted on Faith and Worship - Prayers and Resources http://www.faithandworship.com/

Call to Worship: Psalm 1

Here’s a call to worship inspired by Psalm 1.  It comes from the Ministry Matters website.

Call to Worship

(inspired by Psalm 1)

Happy are those who follow the ways of the Lord.
God’s ways are just and merciful.
Those who follow God’s ways are continually nourished in faith.
In all that they do, they prosper.
Come, let us open our hearts to God’s compassionate love.
Let us celebrate God’s mercy and justice. AMEN.

 

~ written by Nancy C. Townley, and posted on the Ministry Matters website. http://www.ministrymatters.com/

Psalm 1: An Alternate Psalm

Here’s an alternative reading of Psalm 1. It was written by David Rosenberg.

Psalm 1: A Paraphrase

Happy the one
stepping lightly over
the hearts of men

and out of the way
of mind-locked reality
the masks of sincerity

he steps from his place at the glib café
to find himself in the word
of the infinite

embracing it
in his mind
with his heart

parting his lips for it
lightly
day into night

transported like a tree
to a riverbank
sweet with fruit in time

his heart unselfish
whatever he does
ripens

while bitter men turn dry
blowing in the wind like yesterday’s paper

unable to stand in the gathering
light

they fall
faded masks
in love’s spotlight

burning hearts of paper
unhappily
locked in their own glare

but my Lord opens
his loving one
to breathe embracing air

— written by David Rosenberg, A Poet’s Bible. Posted on The Praying Life blog. http://theprayinglife.com/

Call to Worship Litany: Psalm 1

Here’s a call to worship litany inspired by Psalm 1.  It was written by Joan Stott.

 

Call to Worship Litany

(based on Psalm 1)

 

With joy and delight we gather to praise our Holy God!
With reverence and awe, we approach our Gracious God.
We give thanks that God understands us, and does not
want us to be that which we were never created to become!

Creating God, you call us to worship you as your children,
made in your image, with a divine spark within each of us.
We give thanks that God understands us, and encourages
us to grow in our knowledge of God’s awesome holiness.

Glorious God, you invite us to sink our roots deep into your love
and holiness, and to grow stronger each day in our faith in you.
We give thanks that God understands us, and that the fruits
we bear are consistent with what God created us to become.
We gather to worship and praise our supporting and caring God. Amen.

— written by Joan Stott, and posted on the Geelong City Parish UCA website.  If used in shared worship, please provide an acknowledgement as follows: © 2012 Joan Stott – "The Timeless Psalms" RCL Psalm Year B, used with permission.   

Call to Worship & Prayer: Easter 7

Here’s a call to worship and opening prayer based on some of the suggested scripture readings for the seventh Sunday after Easter.  They were written by Bruce Prewer.

Call to Worship

(Psalm 1, John 17)

I tell you this:

It is a wonderful thing when members of the family

live together in love and peace.

They shall be like trees planted beside flowing rivers.

May the church be one, just as Christ and God are one,

that Christ may be glorified in us.

They shall yield good fruit in its season,

and their leaf shall never wither.

The grace, mercy and peace, of the Lord Jesus,

be with you all.

And also with you.

Prayer of Praise

(inspired by Psalm 1)

You, loving God, are the ground of our being and the river of life;

you both steady our roots and draw them to seek the living waters.

You are like the sunlight enticing us taller

and like the breeze rustling our leaves.

You are with us through hard seasons of summer heat,

and in the nights when winter’s frost ice the landscape

your love warms and sustains us.

You are everything to us.

O let our gratitude be great,

let our praise be plentiful,

let our worship be wonder-full!

Through Christ Jesus your ever-living Son. Amen!

— written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Homepage. http://www.bruceprewer.com/