Call to Worship: Jeremiah 31: 27-34

Here’s a call to worship inspired by Jeremiah 31: 27-34. It was written by Joanna Harader.

Call to Worship

(based on Jeremiah 31: 27-34)

Holy One, dwell within us.
Whisper in our ears;
Glimmer in our vision;
Write upon our hearts.
We wait
with open ears, open eyes, open hearts.
Amen

~ written by Joanna Harader, and posted on Spacious Faith.  http://spaciousfaith.com/2012/01/18/wednesday-worship-piece-isaiah/

Prayer of Confession: Walking with God

Here’s a prayer of confession from Rev. Mindi’s Rev-o-lution website.

Prayer of Confession

Almighty God,

You have set before us the path

but we have wandered on our own

to try to find our way.

Sometimes we are like toddlers

and we hear Your call and come back.

Other times, we are children testing boundaries,

ignoring Your call until fear finally makes us look back.

And still other times we are full of youthful rebellion,

demanding to be cut loose and set free,

not knowing how much we still need

to seek Your wisdom and guidance.

But most of all, too often we think we are adults

and have figured it all our and know our own way,

only to stumble and stray so far. 

Remind us, parental God,

that we are always Your children,

that we are never fully grown up in Your sight,

that we always have much to learn.

Help us to seek You every day,

to acknowledge that we need Your wisdom and guidance,

and help us to return to the path and walk with You.

In the name of Christ,

who is our companion on this journey of faith, we pray. Amen.

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

Psalm 121 Blessing

Here is a paraphrase of Psalm 121 from Reverend Sarah Agnew. It was posted on pray the story.

Psalm 121

I lift my eyes
from world to sky,
from where will I find help? 

My help will come
from Holy One,
maker of earth and sky. 

Beneath your feet
the ground may tremble,
but you will never fall;

Holy One slumbers not,
is watchful ever
over the people of God. 

Holy One will keep you,
Holy One will save you,
from trouble and from harm. 

Fear not the sun’s hot flame,
nor moon’s shards of silver;
Holy One will be your shield. 

Holy One will keep you, 
Holy One will hold you;
your life is precious to God.

Holy One will keep you,
Holy One will seek you,
going and coming and ever more. 

Lift your eyes 
towards the light,
however thick the dark;

help will come
from Holy One,
maker of day and night.

~ written by Reverend Sarah Agnew. Posted on pray the story.  http://praythestory.blogspot.ca/

Opening Prayer: Jeremiah 31

Here’s an opening prayer I wrote for World Food Day (October 16). It draws on scripture texts from Proper 24C.

Opening Prayer

God of love and justice,

we gather together to worship you:

to offer our thanks and praise

and to proclaim your goodness and mercy.

Meet us here.

Breathe your Word into our souls;

engrave your covenant of love upon our hearts.

Teach us faithfulness and compassion

so that our lives may reflect

your love and justice to the world.

Amen. 

For more resources for World Food Day (October 16), visit the Canadian Foodgrains Bank website at http://foodgrainsbank.ca/product/world-food-day-2016-hunger-for-justice/

Prayer of Thanksgiving: Psalm 121

Here is a prayer of thanksgiving (or closing benediction?) inspired by Psalm 121. It comes from the Monthly Prayers page of the Christian Aid website.

 

Prayer: Thanks Be to the Lord

(inspired by Psalm 121)

 

For those who have watched over me, 
for those that have protected me, 
for those that have shielded me, 
thanks be to the Lord, 
maker of heaven and earth.

For the roof that shades me from the sun, 
for the walls that shield me from the storm, 
for the bed that warms me in the night, 
thanks be to the Lord, 
maker of heaven and earth.

To the one who keeps me from evil, 
to the one who preserves my life, 
to the one who watches over my coming and going, 
thanks be to the Lord, 
maker of heaven and earth.

~ posted on the Monthly Prayers page of the Christian Aid website. http://www.christianaid.org.uk/resources/churches/prayer/church-seasons.aspx

Prayer for the Offering: Jeremiah 31

Here’s an offering prayer I wrote for World Food Day (October 16). It’s part of a larger worship resource I put together for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. (See link below.)

Prayer for the Offering

(inspired by Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Generous God,

through your Son, Jesus Christ,

you have shown us what it means to love.

And you call us to follow Your example—

to love our neighbours as we love ourselves.

Continue to write your law of love on our hearts.

Give us an unwavering passion for justice,

and a tenacious faith that will not rest

until the hungry are fed,

the oppressed find relief,

and the outsider finds a welcome. Amen.

~ Christine Longhurst, in Hunger for Justice: World Food Day 2016, posted on the Canadian Foodgrains Bank website. http://foodgrainsbank.ca/product/world-food-day-2016-hunger-for-justice/

Call to Worship: I Lift My Eyes Up

Here’s a call to worship from Rev. Mindi’s Rev-o-lution blog.

Call to Worship

I lift my eyes up to the mountains,

from where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.
We look not to the mountains or valleys,

even heaven or earth,
For God is found among us.
Wherever two or three are gathered in Christ’s name,
God is here among us.
Come, let us worship the God of Creation,

the God of People, the God of Community.
Let us follow Jesus, for Jesus is The Way.

Let us worship together in faith.

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

Prayer: Luke 18: 1-8

Here’s a prayer of thanksgiving and petition inspired by Luke 18: 1-8. It was written by Jan Sutch Pickard, and posted on the Christian Aid website.

Prayer: Persistence

(inspired by Luke 18: 1-8)

God of Justice,
we know that in this hard world there are judges
that neither fear God nor respect their fellow men.

But you call us to remember
the woman who gave one a hard time,
crying out to him day and night, until he changed his mind -
her sheer stubbornness.

And we celebrate all those, women and men,
who persist in the cause of right;
who will not keep quiet;
who insist on raising the issues, again and again;
who campaign for unpopular causes,
write letters, send emails, sign petitions:
people round the world
who pick up their pens or take to the streets - 
and young girls determined to go to school.

We celebrate them: steadfast, down-to-earth,
blessed with both stubbornness and courage,
to change the world. Amen.

~ written by Jan Sutch Pickard, and posted on the Monthly Prayers page of the Christian Aid website. http://www.christianaid.org.uk/

Prayer: Psalm 119: 97-104

Here’s a lovely responsive prayer inspired by Psalm 119: 97-104. It was written by Rev. Jan Brooks of Cottonwood Falls Presbyterian Church in Kansas.

Prayer

(based on Psalm 119:97-104)

Oh, how I love your law!

I meditate on it from the rise of the sun to its setting.

Your commands are always with me

and make me wiser than the world that surrounds me.

Your Words gives me more insight than my teachers,

for I meditate on your statutes

until they become part of me.

I have more understanding than the elders,

for I obey your precepts and live by their words.

Because you yourself have taught me,

I have no need to stray from your law and your path.

O Holy God, how sweet your words are to taste,

sweeter than honey on the tongue.

Because you desire us to know your holy Word,

help us to read it night and day.

O Holy Spirit, come to us this day

and teach us sweet words again!

Make our minds and thoughts richer,

so that we may know your law

and your word can show us

your loving and wise heart. Amen.

~ written by Rev. Jan Brooks, Cottonwood Falls Presbyterian Church, Kansas.

Call to Worship: Jeremiah 31: 31-34

Here is a responsive call to worship inspired by Jeremiah 31:31-34.  It was written by Amy Loving, and posted on The Worship Closet.

Responsive Call to Worship

(inspired by Jeremiah 31:31-34)

The Lord is making a new covenant with the people of God.

Here in this place,

Christ writes the law of love on our hearts.

We are children of the living God.

Together, let us worship the Lord of Love!

 ~ written by Amy Loving, and posted on The Worship Closet: The Place for Creative Worship Ideas. http://worshipcloset.com/baptism-of-the-lord-sunday-year-b-words-for-worship/

Prayer for Others: God is not reluctant

Here’s a thoughtful prayer of intercession from Ann Siddall at the Stillpoint Spirituality Centre and Faith Community.

Prayer of Intercession

(inspired by Romans 8:26-27, Luke 11:5-13, Luke 18:2-8)

People of God, as we come to prayer

let us remember that we do not

have to twist the arm of a reluctant God

to seek good things for this world,

nor find ways to persuade a distant God

to come near and listen to us.

Let us remember that as we pray

we kneel alongside Jesus Christ,

in the presence of God,

with the help of the Spirit.

So let us bring to mind now

those people who are in need of our prayers:

those who are ill, or anxious;

those who are lonely or sad;

those who are despairing or defeated;

those who are hungry or homeless;

those whose relationships are breaking apart;

those who are bullied or abused;

those who cannot find work;

and those who are over-worked.

In silence now, let us make our own specific prayers

for those on our hearts and minds today.

(silence)

In the presence of God,

alongside Jesus Christ,

with help from the Spirit

may we go into this week

to live out our prayers through our lives.

Amen.

~ written by Ann Siddall, Stillpoint Spirituality Centre and Faith community. http://www.stillpointsa.org.au/prayer/prayers-and-liturgies/

Litany of Blessing: Psalm 121

Lift up your eyes!  Look around.

Where does our help come from?

Our help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

God will not let you stumble and fall;

the One who watches over you

will never slumber or sleep.

God will keep safe from all of life’s evils;

from your first breath to the last breath you breathe,

from this day forward and forever.

So go in peace to love and serve God and your neighbours.

Benediction: Luke 18: 1-8

Here is a closing benediction based on Luke 18: 1-8. It was written by Ryan, Pastor at Adamsville Presbyterian Church.

Benediction

(based on Luke 18: 1-8)

May you continually wrestle with prayer.

May you beseech the door of heaven with shameless boldness.

May your prayers produce, in you,

a countenance of joy,

a gracious demeanor,

and a peaceful heart

And may the God of hope, fill you with all peace,

that you may abound in hope,

assured that your prayers are heard

by a loving and gracious Father.

~ written by Ryan, Pastor at Adamsville Presbyterian Church. Posted on rethinklife. http://dialogizomai.blogspot.ca/

Prayer: Proclaiming More of You

Here’s a prayer of commitment from John Birch’s Faith and Worship website.

Prayer of Commitment

You call us to be
your light
in the darkness,
your voice
in the wilderness,
your hope
for the hopeless.

You give us
strength
in our weakness,
peace
and gentleness,
words
and boldness,
to proclaim
more of you
and of us, less.

~ written by John Birch, and posted on his Faith and Worship website.  Visit that site for many other excellent worship resources. http://www.faithandworship.com/

Responsive Benediction: Psalm 121

From where will help come in times of trouble?

Our help comes from God,

who created the heavens and the earth.

God will not let us stumble or fall;

the one who watches over us never tires and never sleeps.

It is God who watches over us,

whose protective presence stands beside us.

Neither the bright light of the sun,

nor the dim light of the moon will harm us.

May God continue to watch over you as you come and go,

keeping you safe from harm, this day and forever.

Benediction: Proper 24 C

Here’s a closing commission and benediction inspired by the suggested scripture readings for Proper 24, Year C.  It was comes from the Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren website.

Commission & Benediction

Go now, awakened to the voice of God

who speaks in his Word and his world.

As you leave this place,

be listening amid the noise of your everyday life.

Be persistent, for the One whom you follow is not dead,

nor are his teachings and his promises.

Don’t get discouraged.

Keep asking … seeking … knocking,

for times of receiving, finding, and opening will come.

Christ Jesus is alive.

Be alive in him,

the Word written upon your heart, always there.

Amen.

~ posted on the Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren website. http://rockhay.tripod.com/worship/orders/2010/10-10-03.htm

Responsive Reading: We Be Preachers!

Here’s a responsive reading inspired by 2 Timothy 4:2: “Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not.”

We be Preachers

(inspired by 2 Timothy 4:2)

One:     Preachers, preach!

All:       In season, out of season;

wandering, wondering;

speaking, listening;

saying what must be said,

leaving some things unsaid ...

One:     we preach.

Here, there, and everywhere,

we preach.

All:       Connecting our lives to the gospel,

and this gospel to our world, we preach.

One:     As the Spirit leads, in word and deed,

we preach!

All:       As we uplift and inspire,

as we challenge and change—ourselves and our world….

One:     we be preachers!

All:       We be preachers! Amen?

One:     Amen!

~ written by David Radcliff, director New Community Project Elgin, Illinois.  Posted on the Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren website. http://rockhay.tripod.com/worship/orders/2010/10-10-03.htm