Call to Worship (based on Psalm 36):
L: Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to
the clouds.
P: Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgments are
like the great deep; you save humans and animals alike, O LORD.
L: How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the
shadow of your wings.
P: O continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your
salvation to the upright of heart!
L: Come, let us worship the Lord!
Call to Worship
L: The Church is the community of those called by God
P: Justified by grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit!
L: We are baptized into Christ's death and raised with Christ in the
resurrection!
P: We are living members of the body of Christ-people from all walks of
life, from all nations and various persuasions.
L: We have come into this House to give thanks to the One who saved us and
gathered us into the community of faith. Let us worship God!
Prayer of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Everlasting God, you gave us the faith of Christ for a light to our feet
amid the darkness of this world. Grant us grace to fulfill and mercy when we
fail these words of our brother in Christ, Martin Luther King, which we lift
to you in prayer:
"If I can help somebody as I pass along;
If I can cheer somebody with a word or song;
If I can show somebody he’s traveling wrong;
then my living will not be in vain.
If I can do my duty as a Christian ought;
If I can bring salvation to a world once wrought;
If I can spread the message as the Master taught;
then my living will not be in vain.
Yes, Jesus, I want to be on your right or your left side, not for any
selfish reason. I want to be on your right or your left side, not in terms of
some political kingdom or ambition. But I just want to be there in love and in
justice and in truth and in commitment to others, so that we can make of this
old world a new world." Amen.
Prayer based on all Lections:
God of love, Source of all life, Light of our world, we come before you in
joyful anticipation of the ways in which you are making your presence known to
us. We invite you to come among us in your gentle and surprising ways.
With Isaiah we hope for the promise of a better future - a vision of the
heavenly Jerusalem, loved and sustained by you.
Already you have given us reason to rejoice in your salvation through
Jesus, who lived and walked among us, gently reminding us of your love for
us. By turning water into wine He showed us that you are interested in human
affairs-even in the joyous celebrations of our lives.
Breathe upon us your Spirit and fill us with every grace and spiritual
gift; empower us to use our talents so that your Name will be glorified in the
heavens and your church be edified on earth; in the Name of Jesus, our
Shepherd and Guide. Amen.
Prayer of Thanks for God's Faithfulness Amid Hardship
(adapted from a Letter by St. Francis de Sales on the occasion of the
death of his younger sister)
Almighty God and Father,
In our shared humanity, our hearts fear more than ever before in this
world filled with anxiety, strife, and uncertainty.
For those who doubt and fear that evil is greater than good we pray for
the grace to take the side of your divine Providence. May we always believe
that it does all well, and disposes all things for the best.
And for all of us we pray for wisdom and justice, for courage and hope.
May we know that, even if everything is taken from us, your divine Providence
means that You will never take Yourself from us, so long as we do not will it.
Enlighten our minds, encourage our hearts, and enliven our souls that we
might know your presence, grow in love, and bring new hope to our world.
AMEN.
Closing Prayer (traditional Pakistani prayer)
O Creator and mighty God,
You have promised strength for the weak,
rest for the laborers, light for the way,
grace for the trials, help from above,
unfailing sympathy, undying love.
O Creator and mighty God,
help us to continue in your promise. Amen.
