Opening Prayer: Psalm 138

Opening Prayer

(based on Psalm 138)

Faithful God,

we come into Your presence with thanksgiving,

deeply grateful for the unfailing love and faithfulness

You have shown toward us, Your people.

When we call out to You, You answer.

When we are exhausted, You give us the strength to go on.

When we find ourselves in trouble,

You are there, standing beside us.

And so we come before You gratitude and praise,

offering You the worship of our hearts and lives.

Open our eyes to see and know You here among us;

open our ears to recognize Your voice.

And then send us out from here,

to live and work in the world as Your faithful disciples.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.

Amen.

~ Christine Longhurst, re:Worship

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: 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

Confession: Psalm 124

Here’s a confession inspired by Psalm 124. It was written by Stephen M. Fearing and posted on Liturgy and Hymns by Stephen M. Fearing.  

Invitation to Confession

God saves us despite us being unworthy of that salvation.
In response to that grace, let us confess the ways we have fallen short.

Prayer of Confession

God of Endless Mercy,
we have often been swallowed up by our greed and selfishness,
desiring that which we do not have,
filling our lives with things that do not save us.
We have often been swept away by the floods of our own making,
polluting your creation,

neglecting to be faithful stewards of the earth.
We have often attacked one another and led lives of violence,
sending missiles instead of accepting refugees,

ignoring your commandments.
Lord have mercy,

for we have sinned and fallen short of your glory.
Christ have mercy,

for we are broken and need your salvation.
Lord have mercy upon us and hear us

as we pray in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

~ 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"

Call to Worship: Who Do You Say I Am?

Here’s a call to worship inspired by Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” It comes from the Spill the Beans website.

Call to Worship

(inspired by Mark 8:29 and Matthew 16:15)

In the name of the Lord Jesus

the bread breaker

the light gatherer

cross carrier

welcome

May the peace of the Lord Jesus

the peace maker

and the temple disturber

friend of the sinner

and companion on the road

be with us all

Let us draw close to the Lord Jesus

the saviour

the healer

the teacher

and worship him

and ask ourselves

who do we say he is?

~ inspired by Mark 8:29 and posted on Spill the Beans.  http://www.spillbeans.org.uk /

Prayer: Who Do You Say I Am?

Here is a challenge and prayer of intercession. It is inspired by Jesus’ question to his disciples in Matthew 16:13-20: “Who do you say I am?”

Prayer: Who Do You Say I Am?

(inspired by Matthew 16:13-20, Mark 8:27-30)

Lord Jesus,

You are a Lord who walks beside your people.

So we pray for people who walk for justice.

You are a Lord who raises up those who are bent low.

So we pray for those held down by the grindings of life

and the indifference of the world.

You are a Lord who feeds the hungry

So we pray for all who long for bread

and the means to provide it.

You are a Lord who celebrates the small and the insignificant.

So we pray for the children

and for those who are never noticed.

You are a Lord who says ‘Follow me’.

So we pray for courage and faith in our hearts

that we may take up the cross and find it leads to life. 

~ posted on the Christian Aid website. https://www.christianaid.org.uk/   

Confession: Keys of the Kingdom

Here is a prayer of confession inspired by Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 16:19: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Prayer of Confession

(inspired by Matthew 16:19)

Forgive us, Lord,

when we are closed and locked up

with negative acts, thoughts and emotions.

Help us not to be imprisoned by fear, hatred,

prejudice, unforgiveness, pride, greed, anger and selfishness,

but open our hearts to the values of Your Kingdom.

Open our eyes to see Your Kingdom

and help us to be an active part of it.

Open our ears to those who cry for help and justice.

~ posted on Third Space. http://third-space.org.uk/

Good Friday Reflection: God, who are you?

What was it about Jesus
that was so confusing for governments
and for ordinary people?

Pilate couldn’t make sense of Jesus
and half the time we can’t either.

We want a God who comes in might and power to take all before him
and yet we get Jesus:
unmistakably human and vulnerable,
trouble-maker
peace-lover,
political subversive
always on the side of love, not power
human, even to the point of death.

We keep asking the question,
‘God, who are you?’
in the hope we’ll get a different answer.
And God just keeps coming back with this one. 

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

Blessing: You are the Body of Christ

You are the body of Christ.

May you have the heart of Christ, 

tender for mercy.

May you have the eyes of Christ 

to see a world in need.

May you have the feet of Christ 

to bring good news.

Go in peace! 

And God go with you. 

~ posted on Literature & Liturgy. https://jesusscribbles.wordpress.com/

Benediction: Sent by Jesus

Here is a closing commission and brief benediction. It was written by Rev. Gord, and posted on Worship Offerings.

Sending Words

Jesus stands and asks:

“Who do you say I am?”

We join millions who have gone before

and say: “the Messiah”

Jesus stands in front of us

and tells us the realities of discipleship

We join millions who have gone before

in the challenges of living as disciples.

Jesus stands before us

and offers food and drink for the journey.

Fed and nourished,

we go out into the world to live and serve.

Jesus stands before us, shining in glory,

and will be with us to the end of the age.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

~ posted by Rev Gord on his blog, Worship Offerings. http://worshipofferings.blogspot.ca/    

Prayer: Called to be One

Here’s a prayer of confession and intercession on the subject of Christian unity. It was written by Christine Sine and posted on Godspace.

Litany of Confession

(inspired by passages like Ephesians 2:14,

John 17, Galatians 3:28, Romans 12:5)

God, we believe you have called us to unity,

but often we have isolated ourselves from others,

God, forgive us for the times we have turned our backs

on those who are different.

God, we believe you have called us

to live together as one body,

God, forgive us for the times we have created division

within your worldwide church.

God, we believe you ask us to look, listen,

and learn from others,

God, forgive us for the times we have ridiculed and attacked

those with different viewpoints.

God, we believe you ask us to accept and seek to understand

all who are called by your name,

Forgive us for the times we have offended you

by failing to love others as we do ourselves.

God, we believe you call us to be one

even as you are one,

Forgive us for the disunity we have harbored

and make us one.

Pause to offer up prayers for unity within the church

God and Creator of all humankind,

your son Jesus Christ prayed that your church might be one

even as you our God are one.

May you renew our minds and rekindle your love in our hearts,

so that by the power of the Spirit,

we might find the Oneness that you intend for us.

God, may we see in your Oneness

our need for unity,

God, may we see in your Three-ness

our need for community

God, may we see in your creativity

our need for diversity,

God, may we see in your Self

our need to love each other.

Amen.

~ from the Lenten series Journey into Wholeness written by Christine Sine. Published in 2009 by Mustard Seed Associates.  The entire series is available on the Godspace website.  http://godspace.wordpress.com/

Prayer of Confession: Many Gifts

Here’s a prayer of confession (and words of assurance) from Rev Gord’s Worship Offerings blog.

Prayer of Confession

God you have given each of us many gifts,

but sometimes we cannot recognize

what gift we have to share,

so we hide it under a bushel.

God you remind us that all gifts are needed,

but sometimes we let ourselves be convinced

that some gifts are more special than others.

God you call us to work, to live, to love together as parts of one body,

but sometimes we decide that membership in the body

is limited by our understandings.

God, for the times we have ignored or mislabeled Your gifts,

for those times we have cut another off from the body,

We offer words of repentance,

we ask for forgiveness and grace.

...time of silent prayer...

Words of Assurance/Forgiveness

God is the giver of MANY gifts.

God is the Creator of the ONE body.

God is slow to anger and quick to forgive.

God helps us to share and honour the gifts of all,

God helps us to heal the wounds and reunite the body.

We are forgiven, loved, and accepted.

Thanks be to God! Alleluia! Amen 

~ posted by Rev Gord on his blog, Worship Offerings. http://worshipofferings.blogspot.ca/

Prayer: You Have Made Us One

Here’s a prayer of petition and commitment from Terri on the RevGalBlogPals website.

Prayer

(inspired by Ephesians 2:14, John 17, Galatians 3:28, Romans 12:5)

Almighty God,

by your Holy Spirit

you have made us one with your saints

in heaven and on earth:

Help us to see your presence

burning in the hearts of others;

grant that we may be united

in a fellowship of love and prayer;

give us the courage to pick up our cross

and respond to the needs of the world,

give us the stamina to follow you,

to be your hands and heart in the world;

enable us to witness to your grace and mercy.

We pray all this

through the love your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

~ written by Terri, and posted on RevGalBlogPals.  http://revgalblogpals.blogspot.ca/2008/08/take-up-your-cross.html

Call to Worship: We Gather to Give Thanks

Here’s a call to worship inspired by Psalm 138.  It was posted on the Lectionary Sermons Archive.

Call to Worship

(inspired by Psalm 138)

We gather to give thanks to You, O Lord,
with all our heart!
We will sing Your praises before all creation,
and rejoice in Your steadfast love!
You have created us O Lord, and made us for Yourself.

In You we become everything You have made us to be!

~ posted on the Lectionary Sermons Archives http://www.lectionarysermons.com/ARCH-W.html

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/

Responsive Call to Worship: Who do you say I am?

Here’s a responsive call to worship inspired by Matthew 16:15; Mark 8:29; Luke 9:20.  It has been adapted slightly from a version by Richard Bott, posted on Sharing Liturgy.

Responsive Call to Worship

(inspired by Matthew 16:15; Mark 8:29; Luke 9:20)

One:     They went to Jesus,
            and he asked them,

Two:     Who do you say I am?

One:     They answered,

Three:  You are the eschatological manifestation
            of the ground of our being,
            the kerygma of which we find meaning
            in our interpersonal relationships.

One:     And Jesus said,

Two:     What?!

One:     Faith doesn’t have to be that hard.
            Life doesn’t have to be that difficult.

Three:  Sometimes, we just have to live God’s love.
            Sometimes, we just have to live what we believe.

Two:     And so we are here,
            simply,
            to sing,
            to celebrate,
            to worship God!

~ written by Richard Bott (revised slightly), and posted on Sharing Liturgy.  http://liturgy.richardbott.com/

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/

Responsive Litany: Jesus Christ

Here’s a responsive litany about Jesus Christ set for four voices and congregation.  It was written by Roddy Hamilton.

Responsive Litany

(inspired by the life of Christ)

A:       For the hungry he is the break-breaker

B:       For the imprisoned he is the freedom-giver

C:       For the lonely he is the companion-maker

D:       Who?

All:    Jesus Christ

A:        For the thirsty he is the wine-pourer

B:        For the forgotten he is the name-caller

C:        For the unloved he is the love-maker

D:        Who?

All:     Jesus Christ

A:        For the excluded he is the table-setter

B:        For the sinner he is the grace-giver

C:        For the silenced he is the word-maker

D:        Who?

All:      Jesus Christ

~ written by Roddy Hamilton, and posted on Listening to the Stones. http://newkilpatrickblog.typepad.com/nk-blogging/mucky-paws/   

Call to Worship: Psalm 122, Psalm 124

 I was glad when they said to me,

“Let us go to the house of the Lord!”

Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.

Our help is in the name of the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.

We gather to worship God!

Contemporary Songs: Psalm 138

If you’re looking for contemporary Praise & Worship song suggestions to use with Psalm 138 (the suggested psalm for  Proper 16A, Proper 5B, Proper 12C, Epiphany 5C), you can find a list at my Contemporary Psalms blog. http://contemporarypsalms.blogspot.ca/  The blog is not finished (and likely never will be, since I keep coming across new songs!), but it’s a start.

Follow this link to Psalm 138: http://contemporarypsalms.blogspot.ca/2013/05/psalm-138.html