God,
I’m tired
Of praying
For peace.
God,
I’m tired
Of praying.
God,
I’m tired.
God.
Amen.
Feel free to use/adapt/share with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta
Category: Liturgy
Feb 27 Man Born Blind
Reflection by Rev. Dr. Barb Hedges-Goettl
Call to Worship
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life, whom shall I fear?
One thing I seek, to live in the house of the Lord forever.
Come, let us seek the Lord together.
Prayer of Confession: God I confess that I worry that my body is not perfect, or I am not perfect, because I have sinned. Too often I buy into the myth of health and wealth. I think that you reward those who do not sin with perfection. Yet you remind us, again, and again, that isn’t how grace works. You remind us that every single body works differently, and we are beloved, and forgiven no matter what. Glorify us exactly as we are we pray. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: Remind us that your forgiveness is unconditional, tell us the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication/Day: God, remind us that you bless our very mundane bodies with the very simple dirt and mud of the earth, knowing that our bodies are limited, we are also blessed. Bless us today we pray. Amen.
With Children: Talk about the Olympics and the reality about the amazingness and very real limits of our bodies and how each of our bodies are so very different and yet so very beautiful and how each and every one of us are somehow made in the image of God, including those of us with disabilities, discuss how Jesus had holes in his arms and ankles after the crucifixion. Discourage ableism. Glorify all bodies.
Hymns: Here I am Lord, A Mighty Fortress is Our God, Amazing Grace,
Burying Jesus, Good Friday Worship: Virtual or in Person
Supplies: Communion, Nail nailed to wood or a cross, Cross and black cloth, Aloe Hand Sanitizer, Dirt, a lit candle
If doing the worship at virtually, Send home 1 nail, 1 packet of aloe sanitizer, and 1 candle to light. Ask the congregant to be ready to bury the nail at the end of worship. Ask them to light their candle at the beginning of worship. Do the removal of nails and the covering of the cross with a black cross from your main location onscreen.
We will be symbolically burying Jesus by burying nails,
Read John 19:30-33: Remove the nails and pass one out (have each congregant pick one up from by their seat depending upon your Covid Proticols) to each congregant (symbolically you can just remove 6 nails while the nails are being passed out)
Were You There When They Crucified the Lord (v 1)
Read John 19:38: Remove the Cross, Cover it in Black cloth
Read John 19:39-40: Have each congregant use the aloe Sanitizer for their hands and their nail
Were You There When the Nailed Him to the Tree (v. 2)
Celebrate Communion (optional)
Read John 19:40-42: Have each congregant come up and drop the nails in the dirt and then bury them, or have them symbolically do it at home.
Were You There When they Laid Him in a Tomb? (v. 3)
Blow out the Candle
Please support my writing: Katy’s Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Seminary.
For Word versions of the Liturgy email me at Katyandtheword at gmail
April 17th Resurrection: Hope Seeing Resurrected Jesus
April 17th Resurrection: Hope Seeing Resurrected Jesus
Call to Worship
Christ is Risen
He is Risen indeed
The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone
Look the Lord’s doing wondrous things before our eyes
This is the day that the Lord has made
Let us rejoice and be glad in it!
Call to Confession: God sees us exactly as we are and loves us, so come let us confess ourselves to God.
Confession: Jesus, we confess that sometimes we are blinded by tears or turned away, and it is hard to recognize you. We confess that all too often we do not practice or believe in the power of resurrection, so it sneaks by us. Forgive us, teach us to see the seeds you are planting, for you are, after all, the original gardener, and help us to co-create and tend the seeds of resurrection so that they grow, we pray in the name of the resurrection Jesus. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: Christ is risen, so you are forgiven. Know the truth: In Jesus Christ we are Forgiven.
Prayer of the Day/Dedication: We are an Easter people, a Resurrection People, let us name it and claim it we pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Please support my writing: Katy’s Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Seminary.
For Word versions of the Liturgy email me at Katyandtheword at gmail
April 24th Thomas: Disability Glorified
Sermon Ideas:
Topical Prayer: Disability Glorified
Call to Worship
God we are ready to see you
So we think
God we want to see you
Be present with us here today
Call to Confession: God we are so glad Jesus is ready to hear our full selves. Come let us sit with Jesus and confess.
Confession: Jesus we confess that it is sometimes hard to believe that you will glorify all things. Sometimes the questions Thomas has about the holes in Jesus’s body, the questions about disabilities or differences or even the vast varieties that we see around us are just too much for our human brains to process. We confess that we are a lot like Thomas–we are often just not brave enough to voice our doubts and misgivings out loud. Forgive us, and remind us that you glorify all things, and somehow do not take away one iota of who we truly are. Remind us with the Holy Spirit we pray. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: If Christ is for us, who can be against us? Know and feel and taste the truth on your tongue: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Prayer of the Day/Dedication: Walk with us Christ, remind us when we falter or feel alone that you are with us we pray. Amen.
Children: Talk about what you think Thomas’s reaction was when he saw Jesus, it is not actually described. Did they hug? Did he actually put his hand through the holes? Did they cry?
Hymns: We Walk By Faith and Not By Sight, Invisible Immortal God Only Wise, Lift High the Cross, Christ is Made the Sure Foundation, God of Grace and God of Glory, Lord Whose Love through Humble Service
Please support my writing: Katy’s Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Seminary.
For Word versions of the Liturgy email me at Katyandtheword at gmail
April 3rd Jesus Condemned: Lament for sin
Jesus Condemned: Lament for sin
Call to Worship
Our hope is the Lord our God
God made heaven and the earth, the sea and all that is in them
God keeps faith forever
Come let us praise the Lord!
Call to Confession: Come all you who are heavy burdened, and Jesus will give you rest. Come let us confess ourselves.
Confession: God we confess that we are frightened by the angry mobs of people, by death cults, by those who threaten violence when they lose their privilege. We confess it is frightening because we are afraid that we will will be caught up either in the mob, or be caught up and trampled by it. Avoiding it did not stop the violence, as your disciples can testify. Forgive us, God, for we do not know what we are doing, still. Teach us stop the crime of “crucify” and transform them into the grace and freedom that Pilate tries to enact. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: God loves us, today, tomorrow and forever, nothing can separate us from that love. Thus we can tell one another the truth in that love: In Jesus Christ we are Forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God teach us true freedom, not that of mobs, but the freedom that grace provides. Let us walk away in grace we pray. Amen.
Children: Talk about 2nd Thoughts, why Pilate was having them, why it’s hard to have 2nd thoughts in a crowd/group/mob. Talk about why parents always say “if everyone jumped off a cliff would you” (I would say this very much as an inside joke that the kids all know). Talk about bravery, and the power of grace, and how true freedom means being able to have a difference of opinion and how Jesus wants us to be able to be free to love and protect one another first and foremost.
Hymns: Were You There, He Never Said a Mumblin’ Word, When I survey the Wondrous Cross, Amazing Grace, Jesu Lover of My Soul
Please support my writing: Katy’s Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Seminary.
For Word versions of the Liturgy email me at Katyandtheword at gmail
March 27th Jesus and Pilate: Hope of the Kin(g)dom
Jesus and Pilate
Call to Worship:
God is faithful in all of their words, and gracious in all of their deeds
My mouth will speak the praise of God
Come let us praise the Trinity
Let all flesh bless God’s holy name forever and ever
Call to Confession: You send the Holy Spirit to encourage us and inspire us to be brave in our confession, so let us confess ourselves to you God.
Prayer of Confession: God we confess that we too often confuse earthly power with heavenly power. We think power is about wealth and politics and stuff, when really you show again and again that it grace and love and mercy given in abundance. Continue to teach us by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: God loves us and forgives us, hear the good news: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Prayer of the Day/Dedication: Jesus Christ you are the truth, and the life and the hope everlasting. Let us hold onto that as we go about the world we pray. Amen.
Children: Talk about “The Lord’s Prayer’ “Thy Kin(g)dom Come” and the King and Kingdom that Jesus and PIlate are talking about with Pilate, why is Pilate so Confused? What are we praying for when we are praying “Thy Kin(g)dom Come?”
Hymns: Lead On O King Eternal, Lord Dismiss Us With Thy Blessing, Holy Holy Holy Lord God Almighty, Live Into Hope, Glory Be to the Father, Our Father Lord of Heaven and Earth, And He Never Said a Mumblin’ Word
Please support my writing: Katy’s Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Seminary.
For Word versions of the Liturgy email me at Katyandtheword at gmail
March 13 Jesus Washes Feet: Hope of Serving
Jesus Washes Feet: Hope of Serving
Call to Worship
God we gather to serve
For you first served us, the one who taught the first will be last
Jesus we long to be near you
Come let us worship the alpha and omega
Call to Confession: God calls all those who are in relationship with God to come into God’s presence for confession, come let us confess ourselves to God and each other
Prayer of Confession: God, I confess that I am like Peter crying out create in me a clean heart God, clean my feet and my hands and my whole body! Because some days I understand all too well all of my imperfections, and they seem to scream at me, from my body and my personality and my accomplishments. Remind me God, that you sent Jesus to show us how to love and serve one another, no more, no less, and that your grace is infinite. Remind us, we pray in your most Holy name. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: God always restore us to the joy of salvation, hear the good news of the gospel: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God we come to you fully confessing ourselves and ready to be washed clean. Let us go forth rejoicing and ready to serve our God. Amen.
Children: Discuss Baptism and how Confession is a renewal of Baptism
Hymns: Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Create in Me a Clean Heart, Jesu Jesu Fill Us with Your Love, I’m Gonna Live So God Can Use Me
Please support my writing: Katy’s Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing at Pittsburgh Seminary.
For Word versions of the Liturgy email me at Katyandtheword at gmail
Living Water
Signs of God: Baptism/Holy Spirit
Call to Worship
Praise to Our God, it is Good to praise our God who Gracious
God heals the broken-hearted, and binds up their wounds
God determines the number of the stars, and gives them their names, our God is abundant in power, and has an understanding beyond measure.
Come let us praise our glorious God!
Call to Confession: God we confess that we are tired and in need of the nourishment you promise. Please give us that nourishment today. Let that living water flow from our hearts as promised we pray.
Assurance of Pardon: Hear and Know God is here with us, sustaining us. Know the good news In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Prayer of the Day/Dedicaiton: Jesus you promise that the living water, the Holy Spirt, will come from your followers hearts, help that to happen today and everyday we pray. Amen.
Children: Holy Spirit talk about all the meanings of the Holy Spirit: Wind, Water, Fire, Inspiration, Breath. Talk about which image might be their favorite and why. Discuss how Jesus talks about how their is a piece of the Holy Spirit in every single human being to help comfort, sustain and inspire us, and that’s what today’s story is about!
Hymn: I’ve Got Peace Like a River, Breathe On Me Breath of God, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Out of Deep Unordered Water, Stand Up and Bless the Lord
If you find my work useful, please consider giving to my Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing https://gofund.me/70a114f9. It is a “working theologian’s” doctorate where I preach, write and share my work with the world all at the same time. If your church uses my work extensively and could use a receipt email me at katyandtheword at gmail and let me know!
Pentecost Prayers
Call to Worship
Spirit of the living God, visit us on this day of Pentecost.
Come, Holy Spirit.
With rushing wind that sweeps away all barriers,
Come, Holy Spirit.
With love that overlaps the boundaries of race and nation,
Come, Holy Spirit.
With power from above to make our weakness strong,
Come, Holy Spirit.
Call to Worship
What are your dreams people of God?
To be filled with laughter, To cry with joy, not sorrow.
What are your hopes, people of God?
To be free of the chains that bind us
Rejoice, God makes our hopes and dreams come true.
Let us rejoice in God!
Based on: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/11/contemporary-call-to-worship-psalm-126.html
Prayer of Confession: Almighty God, you poured your Spirit upon gathered disciples creating tongues, open ears, and a new community of faith. We confess that we hold back the force of your Spirit among us. We do not listen to your word of grace, speak the good news of your love, or live as a people made one in Christ. Have mercy on us, O God. Transform our timid lives by the power of your Spirit, and fill us with a flaming desire to be your faithful people, doing your will for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. (Silent Confession) Amen
From the Book of Common Worship (1993), of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Prayer of Confession: God we confess we have been too tired to prophesy or have visions or dream dreams. Instead we are in survival mode. Please breathe on us some of you energy and inspiration as we go into the world. Help us to see the future through your Holy Spirit we pray
Assurance of Pardon: Friends the Good News of the Gospel: In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication: God, we pray that we might rededicate our lives to you. Send your Holy Spirit among us to inspire and sustain us. Holy Spirit Come, we pray. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication: God send your Holy Spirit upon us to love us and sustain us. Refresh us in the Holy Spirit we pray in Your Son’s most Holy Name Jesus Christ. Amen.
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