Acts Litany

Here’s a responsive litany inspired by Acts 2:42-47. It was written by John Leach, and posted on The Jubilate Group website.

Invitation to Worship
(inspired by Acts 2:42-47)

We are God’s church:
We come together to worship.

He has given us his Word:
We come together to learn from him.

He has filled us with his power:
We go out to bring others to him.

He has called us into his family:
We come together to share our lives.

He has put his words on our lips:
We go out to tell the world about him.

He has given us his Spirit:
We come together to celebrate.

He has showered us with his riches:
We go out to share his goodness with others.

He has freed us from our past:
We come together to move forwards.

He has planned for us a glorious future:
We go out to live our lives to please him.

We are God’s church:
We come together to worship.

~ copyright © John Leach/The Jubilate Group.  Posted on The Jubilate Group website. http://www.jubilate.co.uk/liturgy/liturgy/acts_invitation_to_worship

Benediction: 1 Peter 2: 21-25

Here’s a closing benediction (or even words of assurance after a time of confession) from Sunday Word and Prayer.  It was inspired by 1 Peter 2: 21-25.

Benediction
(based on 1 Peter 2: 21-25)

We go with God
Christ himself suffered for us and left us an example,
so that we would follow in his steps.

He committed no sin,
and no one ever heard a lie come from his lips.

When he was insulted, he did not answer back with an insult;
when he suffered, he did not threaten,
but placed his hope in God, the righteous judge.

Christ himself carried our sins in his body to the cross,
so that we might die to sin and live for righteousness.

It is by his wounds that we have been healed.
We were like sheep that had lost their way,
but now we have been brought back to follow the shepherd and keeper
of our souls. (1 Peter 2:21–25)

Christ our crucified Saviour draw you to himself,
so that you may find in him
the assurance of sins forgiven and the gift of eternal life.
And the blessing of almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with us now and always.  Amen.

Psalm 23 Prayer: Urban Shepherd

Here’s a contemporary re-working of Psalm 23 from Mike Riddell. It was posted on Jonny Baker’s Worship Tricks blog.

Prayer: Urban Shepherd
(based on Psalm 23)

urban shepherd
you lead us through skyscraper canyons
past carbon monoxide
and mirror glass
and busker
you make us to lie down on park benches
and rest beside sewage settlement ponds
you keep our feet on pavement and escalator and lift shaft
and guide us through the back alleys
of our city

though we enter the concrete crevasse
we will not fear the chaos
for you are with us
you grant us a site in the sun
at a sidewalk cafe
where we drink cappuccino and are glad
you give us doughnut stalls
and film festivals and neon signs

surely your goodness and poverty
will follow us all the days of our lives
and we will come at last to the holy city

~ written by Mike Riddell, and posted on Jonny Baker Worship Tricks. http://jonnybaker.blogs.com/jonnybaker/2004/10/fractals_.html

Psalm 23 Prayer

Here’s a beautiful setting of Psalm 23 by Sonya Dyer.  It was posted on the Seekers Church website.

 

Prayer

(inspired by Psalm 23)

 
Holy God,
you are our shepherd,
we shall want for nothing that truly matters.

In green pastures you give us rest
and beside deep, still waters you lead us.
You promise to be with us always,
offering freedom from the frictions of hatred, anxiety, fear and pain.

You give us living water to satisfy our thirst for peace.
We praise you and wonder
if this is for all people.
You refresh and restore our souls
and guide us in right paths
for the sake of your name.

When we are cast down
we have been shown ways to bring a new creation
to life in our world.
Your unique plan for all of life and for each life
is written into our very essence.
May we believe it is a plan
filled with hope,
grown out of love.
Help our unbelief.

Even though we walk in the dark valley,
we will fear no danger
for you, God, are at our side,
with rod and staff to give us courage.
Each life, every nation, has its share of valleys.
Some seem to have more than is right.
You are a constant companion in the darkness.
When violence, pain and loss are heavy
you comfort.
When we are aching, lost and discouraged,
you seek us out.
When we go astray,
your compassionate judgment draws us back.
Receive our gratitude. Know our darkness.

You spread the table before us in the sight of our enemies
and richly bathe our heads with oil.
Our cups overflow.
O holy one,  
you are our host as well as our shepherd.
You invite us to the banquet,
the banquet of life.
All parts of the world are invited -
enemies and friends,
the alienated and powerful,
those close at hand and those far off.
You offer the abundance and lavishness
of bread broken and shared
and the cup of refreshment that leads to new life.

We praise and thank you for your abundant spirit.
Goodness and love unfailing,
these will follow us all the days of our lives,
and we shall dwell in the home of our God
for all eternity.

~ from Sonya Dyer’s Prayerbook, posted on the Seekers Church website. http://www.seekerschurch.org/

Blessing: Psalm 23

Here’s a blessing based on Psalm 23 from Roddy Hamilton.  It was posted on Mucky Paws.

Psalm 23 Blessing

In the lush pastures of life that hold meeting places with love,
may your feet know the way to find them.

By the still waters of the running stream,
may your hands shape a cup it and drink deep from it.

In the valley of death’s shadow that ever threatens,
may your sense of life find the way through.

At the banqueting table set before your enemies,
may your cup be full and overrunning.

Like the anointing oil that runs down your head,
may the blessing that is you spill into the world with eternal promise.

In the way a shepherd’s staff warms off lameness from fear,
may trust be your protective companion on the way.

Through each day’s living as it unfolds,
may goodness and mercy make their way into every moment.

At the doorway to the house of the Lord of life,
may you recognise your home and your hearth.

And in the song that makes a dwelling-place in your heart,
may its music rise in your soul.

~ written by Roddy Hamilton, and posted on Mucky Paws. http://www.nkchurch.org.uk/index.php/mucky-paws

Psalm 23: Prayer of Dedication

Here’s a prayer of commitment and dedication inspired by the 23rd Psalm.  It was written by Katherine Hawker.

Prayer of Dedication
(inspired by Psalm 23)

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;
We believe in the goodness of God.
We believe God hears and responds to our needs.
We believe God responds to all children everywhere.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters,
he restores my soul.
We are grateful that we've been blessed with enough water.
But we know that many do not have enough.
Not enough water, not enough food, not enough peace.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Too many children do not see God's righteousness.
Too many children watch violence, taste hunger, feel fear.
Too many children cry from the unspeakable horror of war.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

To become involved is risky. Pain is often contagious.
Our hearts may be broken and our lives may be threatened.
Yet we hear God calling
and we can no longer hide.

Thou preparest a table for me in the presence of my enemies;
thou annointest my head with oil, my cup overflows.
Our steps may be small and timid.
We may read a book, write a letter, or make a gift.
But each tiny step is blessed by God and multiplies.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; 
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
God is more relentless than war.
God is more pervasive than hatred.
God is more insistent than despair.

Amen. Amen.

~ written by Katherine Hawker in 1994, and posted on Liturgies Outside website. http://www.liturgyoutside.net/Biblical.Psalms.pdf

Psalm 23: The Soul Shepherding Psalm

Here’s a paraphrase of Psalm 23 from Bill and Kristi Gaultiere.

The Soul Shepherding Psalm:
Psalm 23

The Lord Jesus is my Soul Shepherd
who meets all my needs and makes me smile
He gets me to stop working and to relax
with him in his Father’s loving arms
He takes me into a quiet place
to be still and know that he is God and I am loved
He heals and rejuvenates my whole being
with his grace from the inside out
He holds my hand at the crossroads
and walks me onto the path of life

Even though I go through dark and difficult times
I don’t fear anything bad because you are with me
You discipline me in love and converse patiently with me
to bring out the best in me
You prepare a celebration to bless and honor me
right in front of my enemies
You anoint me with your Spirit to minister to others
out of the overflow of your love to me
I can count on your generous favor and tender mercy
coming to me wherever I go

I will live in the presence of Christ as his beloved
in all things and at all times

~ written by Bill Gaultiere and Kristi Gaultiere.  Posted on Soul Shepherding. http://www.soulshepherding.org

Litany: Sing a New Song!

Here’s a scripture collage (or responsive call to worship) I put together for a service this coming Sunday.  It draws on verses from the Psalms.

Litany: Sing a New Song!
(based on verses from Psalms 30, 89, 92, 95, 96, and 100)

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before God with thanksgiving—
with music and song!

It is good to sing praise to You,
and make music to Your name, O Most High;
to proclaim Your love in the morning
and Your faithfulness at night.
For You make us glad by Your deeds, O God;
we sing for joy at the work of Your hands.

Worship God with gladness;
come into God’s presence with joyful songs—
with thanksgiving and praise!
For God has taken away our garments of sadness,
and clothed us with joy,
that we might sing praise, and not be silent!

We will sing of God’s love forever!
Young and old will hear, and rejoice.
For Your unfailing love lasts forever;
Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens above.

Sing new songs to God!  Praise God’s name!
Each day proclaim the good news of God’s salvation.
Tell everyone about the amazing things God has done.

May Your ways be known throughout the earth, O God;
Your saving power among people everywhere.
May the nations praise You and sing for joy,
for You govern them with justice,
and guide the actions of the whole world.

~ from the Psalms

Blessing and Commissioning for Graduates

Here’s a prayer of commissioning and blessing for graduates from Prof. David Balzer at Canadian Mennonite University. It draws inspiration from N.T. Wright’s Surprised by Hope.

Graduation Prayer

O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth. (Psalm 8:1)

With the Psalmist we stand in awe and humility, O God our Creator,
of the good gifts you have given us in these graduates. 

You have instilled in them an insatiable curiosity
about your world, your people and your earth. 
This curiosity, this thirst for truth
has led them here to this place,
and we are so grateful for the privileged years of friendship,
of diligence and struggle, of new insight and discovery.

And now, as they go from here
we ask that you would graciously continue to fill them
with a deep and abiding knowledge of your love for them. 

And we ask that, by your Spirit,
they may tend to the world and help set it right once again. 
Give them open hearts to feel its pain,
and courage enough not to be overwhelmed by its suffering. 
May they taste the joy of seeing your kingdom come
in every corner of this planet. 

And we ask that, by your Spirit,
they would add to the beauty in your world. 
Fuel them with an imagination as artisans of word, song and deed,
that comes to terms with both the wounds of the world
and the promise of the resurrection. 

And we ask that, by your Spirit,
they may be nourished and renewed by hope,
the good news that God is God, that Jesus is Lord,
and that the powers of evil have been defeated,
and that God’s new world has begun.

May mercy, beauty and hope be theirs, in this world for your glory.

And now we speak this blessing on them:

Numbers 6:25-26
The Lord bless youand keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on youand be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward youand give you peace.

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

~ written by David Balzer (Assistant Professor of Communications and Media), for the 2014 Convocation at Canadian Mennonite University, with inspiration from N.T. Wright’s Surprised by Hope (2008).

Emmaus Road Poem

Here’s a poem inspired by Luke 24: 13-35, where Jesus encounters two disciples on the road to Emmaus.  It was written by Carol Penner, and posted on Leading in Worship.

Emmaus Road Poem
(inspired by Luke 24: 13-35)

Two travelers trudging
the long road from Jerusalem.
Their sorry faces are bent,
reliving the sad event
that sent them scurrying.
What next? they wonder.

The stranger comes alongside,
and he is told the sad tale,
but far from sympathizing
he starts scolding them;
too slow of heart,
too slow on the uptake,
not enough faith.

They did not know him;
but their hearts burned.
What quality was in that man
that sparked interest
rather than resentment;
hope rather than anger?

Only at the dinner table
is the unseen traveler
on every road revealed;
Jesus stands among us.

Suddenly fortified,
the travelers take to the road
fueled with good news,
for all generations:
We have seen the Lord!
We have seen the Lord!

~ written by Carol Penner, and posted on Leading in Worship. http://carolpenner.typepad.com/

A Prayer on Graduation Day

Here’s a prayer of commitment for graduating students, inspired by some of Jesus' teachings about what it means to live as Christ-followers. The prayer comes from the Catholic Online website.

A Prayer on Graduation Day
(inspired by Matthew 5: 13-16, Matthew 13: 33, Matthew 25:14-30, Luke 19: 12-28)

Light

Lord Jesus,
you have said that your followers must be the light to the world.
Light propagates itself, dispels darkness.
It sows rays of joy and hope. It is life-giving.

Help me, Lord, to be a light to this world,
so that my life radiates your message of love, hope, and joy.
May I be the beacon leading to You those who seek truth.

Salt

You also said, Lord Jesus,
that your disciples must be the salt to this earth.
Salt gives taste to food.
It retards spoilage.
It is also a healing agent.

Lord, may I be the salt
that takes away the blandness in the routine of living,
that prevents the rottenness of hatred and greed
from expanding around me,
that brings compassionate healing to anguished souls I encounter.
Lord, help me to be "worth my salt."
And infuse your "saltiness" in me,
so that I do not become "flat" and useless.

Leaven

"Be the leaven to the world," said You to your friends.
Bread, a staple of life, and cakes, always present at celebrations,
would be dull and lifeless without the tiny bit of yeast.
Without it, the dough remains inert, hard.

Elsewhere, You also told us to multiply our talents.
You expect that we use the talents you gave us
as the leaven to this world.

Teach me, Lord Jesus, that alone I am insignificant,
but mixed with the talents of my brothers and sisters,
I can lift this world out of its insipid mediocrity.
May I be a bit of leaven in the Bread of Life,
and a sign of Your celebration in this life and life eternal.

Commitment

Lord, on this "commencement" day,
let there be a new beginning of my life.
In the days of darkness, be my Light,
so that in turn I can radiate your truth 
and your message of love, hope, and joy.

In the days of blandness and of blahs, Lord,
be my Salt, so that in turn I can fend off the corruption,
the staleness, the mediocrity around me.

In the days when I am flat on my back or fall flat on my face,
Lord, be my Leaven, so that not only can I rise again,
but also raise the downhearted to the celebration of your Love. 

Amen.

~ posted on the Catholic Online website. http://www.catholic.org/

Blessing of Graduates

Here’s a graduation blessing from the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry.

Graduation Blessing

Before you were even formed, God knew you.
While in your Mother's womb, God named you.
At your birth, God's breath filled you with life.

Today we celebrate what you have become
at this moment in time.
And so we pray,

God of our beginnings,
We thank you for the gifts of these graduates;
their excitement, their awesome wonder and curiosity,
their open speech and encouraging words.
Their contributions have blessed and challenged us,
and we have become a richer
and more diverse community because of them.

As they step forward into the world that awaits,
comfort their fears with the full knowledge of your divine presence.

Strengthen their resolve to walk in the footsteps of Jesus
as modern-day disciples in a world that needs their spirit.

Guide their feet as they move through life,
protecting them from the pitfalls of darkness
while they help to lead future generations
into the warmth and promise of your light.

We ask this blessing upon each of them,
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

~ from the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry. http://www.nfcym.org/ 

High School Graduation Prayer

Here’s a prayer for high school graduates from Lord’s Prayer Words.

Graduation Prayer

Father, we thank you for our time here together
for all the friends we have made
for all the days of laughter and fun
and for all the times of great discovery and learning.
We thank You for all who have given of their energy and skill
so that we can graduate today:
our teachers and mentors
our family and loved ones.
We thank You for them and give them all to You in prayer.

As this chapter on our lives closes, a new one begins.
We present ourselves like an open book before You.
Come and inscribe Your words of life into our lives.
Fill our minds with Your thoughts,
fill our bodies with Your strength,
fill our hearts with Your dreams,
that we might love and serve You
this day and every day.

We ask all this in the glorious name of Jesus,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
world without end.  Amen.

A Reflection on Luke 24: 13-35

Here’s a reflection on Luke 24: 13-35, where Jesus meets the disciples on the road to Emmaus.  It was written by William Loader.

Reflection:
He made himself known in the breaking of the bread
(inspired by Luke 24: 13-35)

When the giant rock split,
there at its heart was a miracle:
a tiny creature millions of years old
saw the light that once shone on its soft skin,
the mysterious treasure of an ancient fossil.

The freshly baked loaf crackled and split,
its warm soft whiteness filling the room
with appetite and fingers reaching out
to pull strips of warm yeast laden bread,
break off crisp and crunchy crusts
or cut fresh slices for melting butter.

The broken heart offers no such delights:
lives turn grey with suffering,
eyes sullen with pain,
hope withdrawn into deep sockets,
shrunken bodies seeking dissolution
and hope far, far away.

Yet into our darkness shines a new light:
a life poured out many times
before its final brokenness,
a giving much more generous than soldiers could take;
eyes which loved with divine love,
compassion that crossed the boundaries.

We take his life in our hands,
we break and wonder.
The miracle of ancient life becomes contemporary,
rising from the stone.
The brokenness offers risen life,
crosses our forbidden boundaries,
and takes our life in his hands.

And our hearts burn within us on the way
as we see millions of years into the heart of God.

~ written by William Loader, and posted on Bill Loader’s Home Page. http://wwwstaff.murdoch.edu.au/~loader/BreakingBread.htm

Emmaus Offering Prayer

Here’s a prayer for the offering inspired by Luke 24:13-35 (where Jesus meets the disciples on the road to Emmaus).  It was written by Carol Penner, and posted on Leading in Worship.

Prayer for the Offering
(inspired by Luke 24: 13-35)

Like the disciples at Emmaus,
we offer what we have.
They offered their company,
their table, their bread.
We invite you to be with us
as we offer you our love,
our devotion, these gifts.
May our eyes be opened
to your holy presence, now and always.
Amen.

~ written by Carol Penner, and posted on Leading in Worship. http://carolpenner.typepad.com/

Emmaus Prayer: Luke 24: 13-35

Here’s a prayer inspired by Luke 24:13-35, where Jesus meets the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.  It comes from the Church of Ireland website.

Emmaus Prayer
(inspired by Luke 24:13-35)

Risen One,
like those disciples on the road to Emmaus,
we struggle to recognize you in the everyday journey of our lives.
We seek your wisdom in the midst of the questions we have
about the circumstances we find ourselves in—
circumstances sometimes beyond our control,
but often of our own making.

Open our eyes, Light of the World,
to your work of transformation in and around us.
As we walk with you day by day,
may your new life be made manifest in what we say to others.
Help us to understand the power of our words to hurt or to heal;
give us the graciousness to make all our conversations holy.
Just as we desire that our speaking be holy,
may our seeing be holy as well.
We are bombarded with images everyday, O Christ,
that shape our attitudes and behaviors.

As you opened the scriptures to the disciples
and taught them everything,
open our eyes to behold you in your Word,
in the beauty of nature,
the beauty of another human being
and the beauty of sacred art.

And in our seeing,
help us to recognize and welcome the stranger in our midst.
May our welcome be a celebration of the gifts and graces
of persons who are different from us
and not merely some token tolerance of an outsider.

You were known to the disciples in the breaking of the bread.
May your resurrection presence guide us in the decisions we make
about what we take into our bodies—
especially what we eat and what we drink.
Help us to understand our eating and drinking as sacred events,
not to be abused or approached mindlessly.

So often we forget, Holy One,
that you invite us to abide with you;
to have our lives hidden in you.
We thank you that you travel with us in our joys and our concerns. Amen.

~ posted on The Church of Ireland website. http://www.churchnewsireland.org/wp-content/uploads/Easter-3-.pdf

Psalm 116 in Paraphrase

Here’s a re-working of Psalm 116: 1-8, 12-14, 17-18 from Calvin Seerfeld.  It was published in "Voicing God's Psalms."

Psalm Paraphrase:
Psalm 116

I love the Lord because God hears me when I cry and pray,
Yes, God bent God’s ear down to me,
and I’ll talk about it the rest of my life!

I was caught in a dead end.
The cramp of the grave had a hold on me;
pain and trouble kept hurting.
So I called out loud on the name of the Lord:
Lord God, please! Get me out—save my life!

Full of mercy is the Lord God, just—yes—
but our God spills compassion over!

The Lord God takes loving care of those open to temptation—
when I was cut down to size, God took care of me—
so calm down, fellow; the Lord has given you what was good!

That’s so.
You got me out of the dead end.
You have stopped my eyes from filling with tears!
You have kept me from walking into ruin—Yes!

What shall I give the Lord God?
So many lovely surprises God has given me.
I know, I shall toast the Lord with the cup of victory—
Cheers for the Lord God!
I will do what I vowed the Lord God I would too,
and I’ll do it right among God’s people.

Yes, I will really offer thanksgiving to you:
Cheers for the Lord God!
I mean it, I will do what I vowed to God,
and I’ll do it among the faithful,
near the house of the Lord God,
right in the middle of Jerusalem—
Glory, Hallelujah!

~ Calvin Seerveld, Voicing God’s Psalms. Available from Eerdmanns Publishing.

Prayer: Living Hope

Here’s a prayer from Christian Aid’s “Monthly Prayers” page.  It was inspired by John 20: 19-20.

 

Prayer: Living Hope

 

“Jesus came and stood among them and said,

‘Peace be with you.’

After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side.” John 20:19-20


Living God, 
You appeared to your disciples in their hour of fear, 
and offered them your peace to still their hearts. 
May we open our arms 
to be living hope in the world today, 
bringing peace to those in living in fear. 
Give us courage to be bold in what we believe; 
may we hold firm to your promise of life and hope, 
and strive for a new world, free from poverty, injustice and conflict. 

~ from the Monthly Prayers page of the Christian Aid website. http://www.christianaid.org.uk/

Prayer: In the Wake of Easter

Here’s a prayer for the season after East from Preacher Musings.

Prayer

May we, our God,
in the wake of Easter,
ride a wave of irrepressible hope—
rising from the deep
following the trajectory of love
over the turbulences of our living
and through the currents.

So within joy,
may we sense Your presence
hovering ever with us—
ever speaking
new creation—
ever calling us into possibility.
Amen.

~ written by John Ballenger, and posted on Preacher Musings. http://preachermusings.wordpress.com/