Litany

Closing Litany

(based on Ephesians 2, 4 and I Peter 2)

One:    People of God,

            I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

            Be completely humble and gentle;                      

            be patient, bearing with one another in love.

            Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit    

            through the bond of peace.

            There is one body and one Spirit—

            just as you were called to one hope when you were called—

            one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

            one God and Father of all,

            who is over all and through all and in all. (Eph. 4:1-6)

Two:   Remember that at one time you [were] without Christ,

            aliens from the commonwealth of Israel,       

            and strangers to the covenants of promise,

            having no hope and without God in the world.

            But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off

            have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

            For he is our peace….

            He came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off

            and peace to those who were near;

            for through him we all have access in one Spirit to the Father.

            So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,

            but you are citizens with the saints

            and also members of the household of God. (Eph. 2:11-14; 17-19)

One:   Once you were not a people,
            but now you are God’s people;
            once you had not received mercy,
            but now you have received mercy. (I Peter 2:10)

Two:   Come to him, a living stone,

            rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight,              

            and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house,

            to be a holy priesthood,

            to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God

            through Jesus Christ.  (I Peter 2:4-5)

One:    For you are a chosen race,

            a royal priesthood,

            a holy nation,

            God’s own people,

            in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him

            who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  (I Peter 2:9)

~ Compiled by Christine Longhurst, re:Worship

Litany of Lament & Affirmation

Here’s a scriptural litany that contrasts the hope and confidence of the psalmist in Psalm 23 (in bold print) with the anguish and despair of the writer of Psalm 13 (light print).  The litany could either be read by two readers on behalf of the congregation, or the congregation could be invited to join in, choosing to read whichever psalm best represents their current experience of God’s presence.  

 

Whichever approach you choose, be sure to take your time.  Read slowly, without rushing.  

 

Experiencing God: Two Views

(Psalm 13 and Psalm 23)

O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever?
How long will you look the other way?

            The LORD is my shepherd;

            I have everything I need.

            He lets me rest in green meadows;

            he leads me beside peaceful streams.

How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
with sorrow in my heart every day?

            He restores my soul.

            He guides me along paths of righteousness

            for the sake of his good name.

How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

Turn and answer me, O LORD my God!
Restore the sight to my eyes, or I will die.

            Even when I walk through the dark valley of death,

            I will not be afraid,

            for you are close beside me.

            Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”
Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.

            You prepare a feast for me right in front of my enemies.

            You welcome me as a guest, anointing my head with oil.

            My cup overflows with blessings.

But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
I will sing to the LORD

because he has been so good to me.

            Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me

            all the days of my life,

            and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.  

~ Christine Longhurst, re:Worship

Responsive Prayer: Psalm 119:105-112

Here’s a simple responsive prayer inspired by Psalm 119:105-112. It was written by The Rev. Erin Counihan, and posted on RevGalBlogPals.

Prayer

(inspired by Psalm 119:105-112)

Your word is a lamp to my feet, Lord.
Your word is a light to my path.
Though the world around me tosses and tumbles,
I hold fast to you.
Though I have doubts and worries and I wonder,
I hold fast to you.
Though my heart hurts, my spirit aches, and I lose my way,
I hold fast to you.
Though I encounter wickedness and hate seemingly around every corner,
I hold fast to you.
Your stories and your songs, O Lord-
They comfort me.
Your will and your way, O Lord-
They nudge me along.
Your presence and your promise, O Lord-
They give me hope.
Your world is my heritage and my heart.
And I will turn toward you forever.
I will hold fast to you.
And I will sing praises to your name!

~ adapted from Psalm 119:105-112. Written by The Rev. Erin Counihan, pastor Oak Hill Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) in St. Louis, MO. Posted on RevGalBlogPals. https://revgalblogpals.org/2017/07/13/thursday-prayer-126/

Call to Worship: Nehemiah 8

Here’s a call to worship (or an invitation before the reading/preaching of the Word) inspired by Nehemiah 8, one of the suggested scripture readings for Epiphany 3, Year C. It was written by Katherine Hawker and posted on Liturgy Outside.

 

Call to Worship

(inspired by the events in Nehemiah 8)

 

Gathered together in the square

young and old

men and women

certain and seeking

slave and free.

Gathered together in the square

they opened the book

read and listened

talked and prayed.

They opened the book

gathered together in the square

and heard the Word of God.

 

Let us now gather

together

in the square

to open the book

and hear the Word of God.

 

~ written by Katherine Hawker, and posted on Liturgy Outside.

 https://liturgyoutside.net/

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.

Prayer of Illumination: John 20: 19-31

Here’s a prayer of illumination - that is, a prayer for the presence of the Holy Spirit - before the reading/hearing of Scripture.  It was written by Stephen M. Fearing, and posted on Wild and Precious Life.

Prayer before the Reading of Scripture

(inspired by John 20:19-31)

Resurrected God,
though we have hidden ourselves in a locked room
and huddled together as ones who build barriers,
send your Living Word through our locked doors
and into our guarded hearts
that we might be witnesses of your grace
and couriers of your goodness.

By the power of your Holy Spirit,
grant us the trust to believe the Gospel
not because we see it
but because we have been seen by it
and transformed through it. Amen.

~ written by Stephen M. Fearing, and posted on Wild and Precious Life. http://stephenmfearing.wordpress.com/category/easter/

Prayer of Illumination: Mark 1: 21-28

Here’s a prayer of illumination (invocation) traditionally used before the reading and preaching of Scripture.  It was written by Amy Loving, and inspired by Mark 1: 21-28 - where Jesus casts out an evil spirit.

Prayer for Illumination

(inspired by Mark 1:21-28)

Un-stop our ears, O God,

that we may hear your Word proclaimed this day. 

Open our minds and hearts to be changed. 

Free us from the unclean spirits of worry, fear, destruction, and pride. 

Teach us, Lord, that we may follow you more faithfully.

 ~ 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/

Scripture Litany: Psalm 104

Here’s a responsive litany from Psalm 104.

Scripture Litany

(inspired by Psalm 104:1, 5-15, 24, 27-28, 31)

Praise the Lord!

O Lord my God, how great you are!
You placed the world on its foundation

so it would never be moved.
You clothed the earth with floods of water—

water that covered even the mountains.
At your command, the water fled;

at the sound of your thunder, it hurried away.
Mountains rose and valleys sank to the levels you decreed.
Then you set a firm boundary for the seas,

so they would never again cover the earth.

You make springs pour water into the ravines,
so streams gush down from the mountains.
They provide water for all the animals—,
even the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
The birds nest beside the streams
and sing among the branches of the trees.
You send rain on the mountains from your heavenly home,
and you fill the earth with the fruit of your labor.
You cause grass to grow for the livestock
and plants for people to use.
You allow them to produce food from the earth—
wine to make them glad,
olive oil to soothe their skin,
and bread to give them strength.

O Lord, what a variety of things you have made!
In wisdom you have made them all.
The earth is full of your creatures.
They all depend on you to give them food as they need it.
When you supply it, they gather it.
You open your hand to feed them,
and they are richly satisfied.

May the glory of the Lord continue forever!
May the Lord take pleasure in all he has made!

Gospel Reflection: Hebrews 4: 12-16

Here’s a reflection on the living Word of God.  It comes from Steve Brown’s Worship Ideas You Can Use website.

Gospel Reflection

(inspired, in part, by Hebrews 4:12-16 and Psalm 119)

For the word of God is alive and active.

Sharper than any double-edged sword,

it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow;

it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. – Hebrews 4:12

Hello Bible!
Yes, it’s alive
It speaks to me,
Hear the pure voice
Not like thunder
Like a whisper,
It beckons me
It’s inspired
It draws me near,
Speak to me now
The Living word
Double-edged sword?
Divides soul from
Spirit. Joints from
Marrow.

Hello Bible!
It has quick feet
It pursues me
Chases me down
It lights my path
It catches me
But now I’m free

Hello Bible!
It has strong hands
Powerful grip
Like Praying hands,
Lord, carry me
Bare my burden
The Word made flesh
Grabs hold of me
Kneads and molds me
Potter and clay
It lifts me up
It fills my cup

Hello Bible!
It has appeal
It draws me near
Like a magnet
Spiritual force
Or a mirror
It is faithful
Right, wonderful
Everlasting
Pure Righteousness
Bread from heaven
Take eat, take drink
It makes me think

Hello Bible!
It’s alive!
It lives and grows
Tell the whole world
It’s pure as gold
Tentacles spread
It must be read

~ posted by Steve Brown on Worship Ideas You Can Use. http://sjbrown58.wordpress.com/

Psalm 96 Litany

Here’s a litany which comes from Carolyn Brown’s Worshipping with Children website.  If your worshipping community doesn’t have a choir, consider using two leaders and congregation instead.

Psalm 96: 1-9,10-13

Leader:            O sing to the Lord a new song!

Choir:               Sing to the Lord, all the earth!

People:            Sing to the Lord, bless the Lord’s name;

            tell of God’s salvation from day to day.

Leader:            Declare the glory of the Lord among the nations,

                        and God’s marvelous works among all the peoples.

Choir:               For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;

                        The Lord is to be revered above all gods.

People:            For all the gods of the peoples are idols,

                        but the Lord made the heavens.

Leader:            Oh, the honor and majesty of the Lord’s presence!

                        Oh, the strength and beauty of God’s sanctuary!

Choir:               Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,

                        Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

People:            Ascribe to the Lord the glory due God’s name;

                        bring an offering, and come into the courts of the Lord.

Leader:            Worship the Lord in holy splendor;

                        tremble before God, all the earth.

Choir:               Say among the nations, “The Lord is king!

People:            The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.

                        The Lord will judge the peoples with equity.”

Leader:            Let the heavens be glad,

Choir:               Let the earth rejoice;

People:            Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

Leader:            Let the fields exult, and everything in them.

Choir:               Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy

                     before the Lord; for the Lord is coming,

                        for God is coming to judge the earth.

All:                   The Lord will judge the world with righteousness,

                        and the peoples with truth.

— based on the New Revised Standard Version and Book of Common Worship (PCUSA and CPC).  Posted on Carolyn Brown’s Worshipping with Children website. 

Responsive Psalm: Psalm 25: 1-9

Here’s a simple responsive version of Psalm 25:1-9, one of the suggested scripture readings for September 25, 2011 (Proper 21A).  It uses the New Revised Standard Version of scripture.

A Responsive Reading

of Psalm 25: 1-9

To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

O my God, in You I trust;

do not let me be put to shame;

do not let my enemies rejoice over me.

Do not let those who wait for You be put to shame;

let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

Make me to know Your ways, O Lord;

teach me Your paths.

Let me in Your truth, and teach me,

for You are the God of my salvation;

for You I wait all day long.

Be mindful of Your mercy, O Lord,

and of Your steadfast love,

for they have been from of old.

Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;

according to Your steadfast love remember me,

for Your goodness’ sake, O Lord!

Good and upright is the Lord;

therefore He instructs sinners in the way.

He leads the humble in what is right,

and teaches the humble His way.

For more worship resources related to this text, or other texts for September 25, 2011 (the fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost), click on Proper 21A in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.

Readers' Theatre: Romans 8:26-39

If your worship this Sunday includes the beautiful passage in Romans 8:26-39, here’s a 3-voice readers’ theatre version from the New Living Translation which might be useful.

Readers’ Theatre

(Romans 8:26-39)

One:     The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.

Two:     For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for.

            But the Holy Spirit prays for us

            with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

Three:   And the Father, who knows all hearts,

            knows what the Spirit is saying,

            because the Spirit pleads for us in harmony with God’s own will.

One:     And we know that God causes everything to work together

            for the good of those who love God

            and are called according to his purpose for them.

Two:     For God knew his people in advance,

            and he chose them to become like his Son,

            so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.  

Three:   And having chosen them, he called them to come to him.

One:     And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself.

Two:     And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.

Three:   What shall we say about such wonderful things as these?

            If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

Two:     Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all,

            won’t he also give us everything else?

One:     Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own?

Three:   No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself.

One;     Who then will condemn us?

Two:     No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us,

            and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

Three:   Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love?

            Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity,

One:     or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute,

Two:     or in danger, or threatened with death?

One:     (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day;

            we are being slaughtered like sheep.”)

Three:   No, despite all these things,

            overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

Two:     And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.

            Neither death nor life,

One:     neither angels nor demons,

Three:   neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—

Two:     not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

One:     No power in the sky above or in the earth below—

            indeed, nothing in all creation

            will ever be able to separate us from the love of God

            that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007

by Tyndale House Foundation.

Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.

All rights reserved.

Romans 8:26-39 is one of the suggested scripture passages for the sixth Sunday after Pentecost (July 24, 2011).  For more worship resources related to this passage, or other scripture passages for that Sunday, click on Proper 12A in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.

For more Readers’ Theatre resources, click on readers’ theatre in the list of “Labels” at the right.

Readers' Theatre: Genesis 29:15-28

Dante's Vision of Rachel and Leah, Dante Rossetti (1855)

If your worship this Sunday includes the story of Jacob’s marriage to Rachel (and Leah!), here’s a 3-voice readers’ theatre version of Genesis 29:15-28 which might be useful.

Jacob's Wedding

(Genesis 29:15-28)

 

Narr:     After Jacob had been working with Laban for a month, Laban said:

 

Laban:  You shouldn’t work for me without pay just because we are relatives.

            Tell me how much your wages should be. 

 

Narr:     Now Laban had two daughters.

            The older daughter was named Leah, and the younger one was Rachel.

            Leah had lovely eyes, but her sister Rachel was stunningly beautiful.

            Since Jacob was in love with Rachel, he told her father,

 

Jacob:  I’ll work for you for seven years if you’ll give me Rachel,

            your younger daughter, as my wife.

 

Narr:     Laban readily agreed.

 

Laban:  I'd far rather have her marry you than some outsider.   

            Stay here, and work with me.

Narr:     So Jacob stayed with Laban, and worked seven years to pay for Rachel.

            But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days.

            Finally, the time came for him to marry her.

Jacob:   I have fulfilled my agreement.

            Now give me my wife so I can marry her.

Narr:     So Laban prepared a lavish wedding feast

            and invited everyone in the neighborhood

            But that night, when it was dark, Laban took Leah to Jacob instead,

            and he slept with her.

            And when Jacob woke up in the morning—it was Leah!

            Jacob was very upset and confronted his uncle.

Jacob:   What have you done to me?

            I worked seven years for Rachel!

            Why have you tricked me?

Laban:  In our country, it’s not our custom 

            to marry off a younger daughter ahead of the firstborn.

            But wait until the honeymoon is over, then we’ll give you Rachel, too—

            provided you promise to work another seven years for me.

Narr:     So Jacob agreed to work seven more years.

            A week after Jacob had married Leah,

            Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife.

Genesis 29:15-28 is one of the suggested scripture passages for the sixth Sunday after Pentecost (July 24, 2011).  For more worship resources related to this passage, or other scripture passages for that Sunday, click on Proper 12A in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page.

For more Readers’ Theatre resources, click on readers’ theatre in the list of “Labels” at the right.