Call to Worship
Litany in the Time of COVID-19
The litany below was written in a time of COVID-19. It can be used as is or adapted for use as a call to worship, opening prayer, pastoral prayer, etc. Let us pray: Paul wrote these words so long ago: “We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit intercedes for us through wordless groans. [Rom. 8:26-NIV] And surely, we are the ones without words, silent before the immensity of the pandemic. We offer our despair at the suffering of millions of people all over the world We offer our grief for the many thousands who have died...
read moreX-mas Eve Reading: Darkness/Light
Here is a dramatic reading for a Christmas Eve service of worship inspired by John 1. A cantor and three readers (Darkness 1, Darkness 2 & Light) are needed. Hymn tune for cantor part is the traditional, “Coventry Carol” The reading is in two parts: 1) Darkness, 2) Light. The first part could be used as a Call to Worship or a “cold opening” before a prelude. The 2nd part is meant to be read towards the end of the service (e.g. perhaps as the last of the lessons and carols). Darkness/Light: Darkness...
read moreWorld Communion Sunday 2019
SERVICE PRAYERS Call to Worship Women/Girls: We worship our God in Christ this morning, mindful that we’re not alone. Men/Boys: Old and young, near and far, different and the same, gather like this to sing, pray, listen, and commune. Left-Side: God of unity and diversity, join us. Right-Side: Christ of unity and diversity, love us. Pastor: Spirit, of unity and diversity, inspire us. Widening Prayer Provincial. Sectarian. Narrow and small. We confess these words are part of our stories, part of our behaviors, part of us. ...
read moreRe-Gathering
During the summer months in our church, like so many others churches, our people attend worship less frequently. Vacations, visitors, calls from the mountains to go hiking, nice weather, or one of 1000 other things keep people out of the sanctuary on Sunday mornings. In early September though, as the school year begins and our program year starts anew, more people attend worship more often. To visibly mark this change of seasons and the regathering of our community, we have developed a ritual using our leftover dried palms from the previous...
read moreUnfolding
Here is a prayer-poem that was written as a Call to Worship for a morning worship service. It could be adapted for use in almost any worship setting. good morning earth and cooing doves and the many risings of this day I surrender to your unfolding anticipating? yes expecting? yes longing? yes hoping, yes that I can welcome what unfolds and be unfolded too © Rev. Kevin Goldenbogen, 2019 Kevin Goldenbogen is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ...
read morePentecost 2019
A simple prayer for Pentecost that could be used as a greetings, call to worship, etc. The version below leads into the Lord’s Prayer. Skin to feel the breath of God; ears to hear the blowing Wind of God; eyes to see the flames of God; noses to smell the aroma of God; tongues to taste the goodness of God; hands to respond to the love of God; time to pray like this: Our (Mother) Father (Creator) who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.Thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day...
read moreAdvent Wreath 2018
“Silent Night, Holy Night” was first performed on 12/24 1818 at St. Nicholas church of Oberndorf. It was performed by Franz Xaver Gruber (composed tune) and Joseph Mohr (wrote lyrics). That means that the hymn celebrates its 200th anniversary in 2018!! To commemorate this anniversary, here is an Advent Wreath lighting liturgy for all four Sundays in Advent and for Christmas Eve. Advent 1: Hope Word of Hope: Psalm 25:1-10 One: Lift up our souls. MANY: As your beloved, we ask: do not remember our failings. One: But lead us in...
read moreTime to Heal
Here is a greeting and welcome or call to worship that could be used with call and response format. It may be more effective to simply have the worship leader recite it from memory. Time to Heal not the bells, but the ringing not the song, but the singing not the candles, but the fire burning Spirit who inspires not the words, but the tilling not the silence, but the stilling none here strangers, all are neighbors time to heal now from our labors © Rev. Kevin Goldenbogen, 2018 Kevin Goldenbogen is an ordained minister in the United Church of...
read moreIf the World Has a Heartbeat
The following could be used as a brief Greeting & Welcome or a Call to Worship. It was written in June 2018 as the United States Government, citing Scripture as justification, was separating children from their parents and guardians at the southern border. This is a reminder that we are compelled by our faith in Christ to offer radical hospitality and to welcome the stranger. (Biblical citations below are from the New Revised Standard Version). If the world has a heartbeat it’s this: welcome the stranger. None of us know the mind of...
read moreEaster 2018
Here are selected resources to assist you with your Easter Sunday planning. Though I have separated the resources for Sunrise and Later Morning Service, you could use any of the resources at either service. EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE Call to Worship One: We are standing on holy ground. We have entered a day of miracle and mystery. We are unsure of what it all means. Many: Don’t be alarmed! One: How can it be? How can the dead live again? How can a cross become and empty tomb? Many: Jesus has risen! One: Today is a day to experience. Today is a...
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