Call to Worship
Advent 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...
read moreMLK 2018
Below is a call and response prayer that could be used as a Call to Worship, Pastoral Prayer, Benediction, etc. The text is taken from various MLK quotes and the congregational response is from King’s “I Have a Dream” Speech, after the prophet Amos. One: We now raise the voice of the prophet Martin Luther King whose voice we still need so much: “I have the audacity,” King said, “to believe that peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds,...
read moreFrom Summer
In September, many congregations regather to begin a new program year (e.g. “Rally Sunday,” “Gathering Sunday,” etc.). To mark this change of congregational rhythm in the context of worship, below is a call to worship and opening prayer that can be adapted for use in your setting. Supplies Needed: 1) Map (any kind will do), 2) bed pillow, 3) Bible, 4) something to symbolize the spirit (dove, blowing fan, etc.), 5) cross Personnel: 5 people, 1 to carry each of the above items (inter-generational mix would work nicely)....
read moreEmmaus: Call & Prayers
Below you will find a Call to Worship, Prayer of Confession, Assurance of Pardon and a Prayer of Dedication to be used in a service that draws upon Luke 24:13-15 and the story of the post-resurrection walk to Emmaus. May your “hearts burn” as you open the Scriptures in worship! CALL TO WORSHIP Leader: The road was sandy. Our feet were tired. People: We talked about many things. We just wanted to get home. Leader: We missed Jesus. People: We were scared. We hoped it was true. Leader: We did not know what to...
read moreKeep Calm, See God: Ash Wed. 2017
Below is an order of worship for an ecumenical Ash Wednesday service for 2017. This service was conceived by Rev. John H.D. Lucy (Jericho United Methodist Church), Rev. Steve Anderson (Covenant Community Church) & Rev. Kevin Goldenbogen (United Church of Underhill), and designed by Rev. Lucy. “Keep Calm and See God “- Ecumenical Ash Wednesday Service, 2017 ~ DEATH WITH GOD Welcome Unison Prayer Scripture Reading: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 Hymn: “Sunday’s Palms Are Wednesday’s Ashes,” words, E. E. Whitney, music,...
read moreTransfiguration: Holy Ground
Below you will find a Call to Worship and a Prayer for Illumination for Transfiguration Sunday. The Call to Worship weaves in Matthew 17:1-9 and is most appropriate for Lectionary Year A. The Prayer for Illumination is appropriate any year. (Note: the Bible translation used below the Common English Bible but any could be used). CALL TO WORSHIP (Matthew 17:1-9) One: Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them to the top of a very high mountain. He was transformed, transfigured, in front of...
read moreTransfiguration: Still Glowing
Our congregation often begins worship with a spoken call to worship….maybe yours does too. To enter into Transfiguration Sunday in a different way, you may consider the simple Call to Worship below. It weaves together Scripture, song and prayer. The Scripture is from Mark 9:2-8 (Common English Bible translation). The song is “Bless the Lord,” by John Bell. See more info about song here. Others songs could certainly be used. MANY: [SING] Bless the Lord… One: “Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and brought...
read more