Call to Worship, Prayer: Psalm 81

Here’s a call to worship litany and opening prayer inspired by Psalm 81.  It comes from A Psalm and a Prayer.

Call to Worship

(inspired by Psalm 81)

Sing aloud to God our strength!

Shout for joy to the God of Jacob!
Raise a song.

Sound the tambourine.

Play sweet music with the harp.
Hear, O my people, while I admonish you.

If you would but listen to me!
There shall be no strange god among you.

You shall not bow down to a foreign god.

I am the Lord your God.

Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.
I would feed you with the finest of the wheat,

and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.

Opening Prayer

(inspired by Psalm 81)

O God, we gather in Your presence to praise Your Holy Name,

with songs on our lips and love in our hearts.

We gather here, because we find joy and love,

peace and understanding, among Your people.

We seek to serve You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ,

our Lord and Savior.

Deliver us from slavery to all sins.

Save us from those who would deceive us.

Teach us the way that we should go each day.

Fill us with Your Holy Spirit

that we might have the comfort of Your presence within us day and night.

And now we pray together in Jesus’ Name: “Our Father. . .”

~ from A Psalm and a Prayer. http://apsalmandaprayer.com/psalm81.htm

Call to Worship: Psalm 81

Here’s an opening call to worship inspired by Psalm 81.  It was written by Rev. Christopher Ney.

Call to Worship

(inspired by Psalm 81)

Sing aloud to God our strength and shout with joy:

God, our Host, welcomes us.                                                           

God reminds us,

“I brought you out of the land of Egypt and fed you along the way:”

When we opened our mouths, God filled us with good things.

God calls us to walk the path of faithfulness, trusting the promise:

a feast for all--  

freshly-baked bread, hot from the oven,

and sweet honey to satisfy our hunger.

Let us worship God!

~ written by Rev. Christopher Ney, and posted on the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways website. http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/year-c/p/pentecost-ordinary-time-15.html

Contemporary Hymn: O God, You Made the Sabbath Day

Here’s a contemporary hymn suggestion about the Sabbath.  It was written by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette.

O God, You Made the Sabbath Day

O God, you made the Sabbath day,
Your gift, your law, your healing way.
You also made, within each heart
A longing for this day apart.

You gave your children, long-oppressed,
Your freeing gift of Sabbath rest.
You give us Sabbath freedom, too:
Our lives are more than work we do!

Life's sacred rhythm seems long gone;
The world, unblinking, carries on.
Your Spirit calls us! Slow our pace
That we may hear your word of grace.

Christ Jesus lives! He makes us new!
On Sundays now, we worship you.
With hearts uplifted, joy restored,
Your church goes out to serve you, Lord.

~ Copyright © 2000 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved. 

Biblical References: Luke 13:10-17, Exodus 20:8-11; Deuteronomy 5:15; Acts 20:7; 2 Corinthians 5:17
Suggested tune: TALLIS CANON ("All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night") 8.8.8.8

From Songs of Grace: New Hymns for God and Neighbor by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (Upper Room Books, 2009). Contact (bcgillette@comcast.net) for permission to use the hymn and to get a copy of the hymn formatted for worship bulletin use.