Please Support my Writing, I am Funding some of my Doctorate in Creative Writing as a Public Theologian through donations https://gofund.me/554d36e3 Thank you to all those who have donated, I have successfully completed 2 years thanks to your support.
If you need a doc version of these resources-please email and I will get it to you as much as I have completed* (I have medical leave so things may slow a bit)
Call to Worship (based on Micah 1) Lo, look, God promises, that God will come and tread upon the earth All this labor is not in vain, the Lord promises Peace, God promises, there shall be one peace Come let us be fed on the strength of the Lord
all to Confession: Who is ready to pour oneself out to one who is always merciful and listening, Come let us confess ourselves to God
Prayer of Confession: God we confess that sometimes we want change so badly that we promise ridiculous things. What can i give God? Do I need to sacrifice my firstborn? Do you need all of my riches, the work of my hands? What can I do to negate the sin and evil that I feel upon the earth? I confess God that it all feels to heavy for me. Yet you promise that small steps of mercy, loving acts of justice, humbly walking with God is enough. I confess that it is hard for me to hang onto that some days. Light the candle when my fire goes out, so the I might learn your mercy I pray. Amen.
Hear the good news, God’s mercies renew every morning, so we know the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven
Prayer of the Day/Dedication: Let us go in the world remember that God has already lit the way for us—and the path is lit with mercy. Come let us walk the path together as we go. Amen.
Hymns: A Balm in Gilead, What Does the Lord Require, O For a Closer Walk With God, Heave Mercy Lord on Me Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us, O For a World
With Children: Talk about respecting innate Humanity not out of pity, but because we are all made in God’s image. “The Day You Begin” by Jacqueline Woodson
Please Support my Writing, I am Funding some of my Doctorate in Creative Writing as a Public Theologian through donations https://gofund.me/554d36e3 Thank you to all those who have donated, I have successfully completed 2 years thanks to your support.
God, Solomon thinks he is wise to trick a ruling out of two women
He thinks he is powerful– to Lord it over two women who have to sell their bodies For money
But all I can see Is red flags
All I can think is how I knew this story at five or six
I maybe knew what prostitution was, I definitely did not know what appropriation was and how it made fostering and adoption messy.. I had some idea of what feminism meant
but I did understand grief– and that it can get really complicated really fast
However, I knew then, and I know now that one woman went home empty-handed
Where was the chaplain that day God?
Where were the midwives? The healers? The other women? This so called wisdom falls hard on my ears today God.
I find it, as my kids say, sus. Is this about wisdom–or something else
Do the women need wisdom? Or does Solomon need compassion
Holy Comforter, I know why you put a story of prostitution in the Bible Its not so the King can teach the whores
God forbid
Jesus bless the sex workers Because we should treat them Like the human beings No matter what and not use any excuse to judge them
And God bless all those who mourn Help those whose arms feel empty Please, reach out to all those who are grieving in unhealthy and unhelpful ways. Walk with them.
Please, remind us that you are not Solomon, You will never slash our beloved things in half, or send us home empty-handed
You will instead, reunite us with our sisters and friends Restore us to our beloved And whisper in our ears that its ok to be sad
Walk with us in our unhappiness we pray.
Amen.
Feel Free to use/share/adapt with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta
Nov 27 Hope Candle Faith as a Way of Life Habakkuk 1:1-7; 2:1-4 3: [3B-6], 17-19 Prophet grieved by injustice: Faith as a way, not an answer Matt 26: 36-38 Gethsemane Jesus is grieved, asks Disciples to watch Hope
God, what does hope taste like? Does it taste like clear cool water after a faithful run God says, faith is a path. God light our path with Hope Help us tp the light the Hope candle So we might find your justice, mercy and light.
Suggested Hymn V. 1 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence or V. 1 O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Dec. 4 Esther Love Candle Esther 4:1-17 For Such a Time as This, Esther was Made Queen
Salt and Light
Too often we feel in our souls the meaning of for such a time as this! We need love candles, to light our way. God sends the Esthers, to love us in terrible times. God light our path with Love Help us to light the Love candle So we might find your justice, mercy and light.
Suggested Hymn V. 2 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence or V. 3 O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Dec 11 Joy Candle Light of Nations Isaiah 42:1-9 Through Spirit bring Release to Prisoners Matthew 12:15-21 Spirit of justice, fulfilling the prophecy
Light of Nations, how we desire you We long for the taste of freedom God sends the Holy Spirit to free all prisoners God light the path to freedom with Joy Help us to light the Joy candle So we might find your justice, mercy and light.
Suggested Hymn V. 3 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence or V. 2 O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Dec 18th Peace Candle Jesus as Immanuel Matthew 1:18-25 fPsalm 23:14
Holy Spirit, we cannot even fully conceive your peace But how we need the fullness of God’s Shalom in our souls God be with us, our Emmanuel, tell us the story until it lives in us God light our path to Peace Help us to light the Peace candle So we might find your justice, mercy and light.
Suggested Hymn V. 4 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence or V. 1 O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Dec 24 Christ Candle Birth of Jesus Luke 2:1-14 [15-20] Psalm 96 (10-13) God, you are coming to us in Christ We long to fill your presence here God what a miracle you become, a baby a human translation of God’s love Come let us welcome Christ Come let us find you in justice, mercy and light
Suggested Hymn It Came Upon A Midnight Clear or O Holy Night
Feel free to use/adapt/share with credit to Pastor Katy Stenta
If you enjoy my work please consider giving to my Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing https://gofund.me/554d36e3
If you would like to support my work, please give to my gofundme for my D. Min in Creative Writing or in an exciting new prospect become a Patron for only $3 a month!
Call to Worship (based on Psalm 41) Bless is the Lord, the God of Israel God is from everlasting to everlasting God we love to be in your presence Come let us worship God
Call to Confession: We come to God to confess those things that still hurt and need healing
Confession: God be gracious to me and heal me for I have sinned against you. I know you consider the poor and the sick and care for them. God, I know there is all kinds of healing in the world, and that you are a healing God. Help us to heal and to continue whatever healing you are doing in the world. We pray this in the name of your son Jesus Christ. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: God you are gracious and promise to raise us up and to heal all sins, so we know the good news In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God you empower us, like Naaman to pursue healing. We pray this in the name of your son Jesus Christ. Amen.
Hymns: There is a Balm in Gilead, I’ve Got Peace Like a River, O Christ the Healer, Lord I Want to Be a Christian, Today We All Are Called to Be Disciples, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Children: Talk about Baptism and how it cleans sin permanently with the help of confession—its kind of like a bath. Talk about Naaman and how he wants to be special but he just needs a bath. The Pigeon Needs a Bath by mo willems or Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day
If you would like to support my work, please give to my gofundme for my D. Min in Creative Writing or in an exciting new prospect become a Patron for only $3 a month!
If you would like to support my work, please give to my gofundme for my D. Min in Creative Writing or in an exciting new prospect become a Patron for only $3 a month!
Call to Worship I bless the Lord, who is always before more God is is in my heart, instructing me Be glad, my soul rejoices My body also rests secure Come let us go to God Let us worship God
Call to Confession: God calls us to the wisdom and knowledge, come let us give ourselves to God through confession.
Prayer of Confession God we come to you praying for wisdom. We confess that we do not always know who is right or who is telling the truth. We confess that we are attracted to power or money instead of acting justly or loving mercy. But you hold fast to the boundary, even when we lose it. God is always before us, and show us the path of life and remind us how to walk humbly with you we pray. Amen
Assurance of Pardon: In God we can rest secure, and let us proclaim and rejoice in the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Prayer of the Day/Dedication: Teach us to pray and live into wisdom, so the paths of truth and healing may unfold before us. Help to know your ways as we go God. Amen.
Hymns: A Mighty Fortress is Our God, When at Night I Meditate, My Shepherd Will Supply My Name, Invisible Immortal God Only Wise, In You Lord I Have Put My Trust, Within Your Shelter Loving God, Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah
Children: Talk about asking questions and how God is ok with questions. Talk about how “I don’t know” is a legitimate answer and how God is full of mystery. What If by Samantha Berger Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcake
If you would like to support my work, please give to my gofundme for my D. Min in Creative Writing or in an exciting new prospect become a Patron for only $3 a month!
If you would like to support my work, please give to my gofundme for my D. Min in Creative Writing or in an exciting new prospect become a Patron for only $3 a month!
God we are here for your steadfast love Your steadfast love endures forever God we are here for your mercies They are new every morning Let us worship our loving and merciful God Come let us worship our amazing God!
Call to Confession: God it is good to know ourselves in you—for then we know we are whole and wholly beloved, come let us confess ourselves to God.
Confession: God, we confess that we do not always recognize ourselves. Sometimes the stories of our lives sneak up on ourselves, like David. Sometimes we condemn something and then realize that we too have sinned in that fashion. Forgive us and our judgmental ways. Teach us grace, forgiveness and the hope of the resurrection we pray. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: God promises restoration and resurrection, so we know that when we confess grace is assured, let us proclaim the good news: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God is with us, even when we become unrecognizable, God finds us and greets and sits with us. Let us go into the day, the week and the world remembering that this God will be with us no matter what. Amen.
Hymns: Amazing Grace, What a Friend We Have in Jesus, Why Has God Forsaken Me, Have Mercy On US Living Lord, O For a Closer Walk with God, Jesus Thy Boundless Love to Me
Children: Talk about wearing costumes and masks so much that we might not recognize ourselves but God recognizes us, and that we cannot hide from God. Runaway Bunny, The Goblin and Empty Chair
If you would like to support my work, please give to my gofundme for my D. Min in Creative Writing or in an exciting new prospect become a Patron for only $3 a month!
If you want a document version of this entire series for easy viewing and formatting just email me at Katyandtheword at gmail and title it Narrative Lectionary and I will be happy to send it to you.
If you would like to support my work, please give to my gofundme for my D. Min in Creative Writing or in an exciting new prospect become a Patron for only $3 a month!
Call to Confession: Come let us confess our Hope in God
Confession: God, we confess that sometimes it is hard to hope for rainbows. We do not believe that every storm will run out of rain, we have trouble remembering that you are not a violent God when people who call themselves Christians scream hate. Stop their hate, Protect us, and help us to see the rainbow we pray. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: Nothing Can Separate you from the Love of Christ: Not height nor depth nor floods nor hate. Know the truth and affirm it to one another: In Jesus Christ we are always beloved and always forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication: God, let us be proud of you as the rainbow God, and stand proud that before we knew, you knew the full meaning of the rainbow. Thank you. Amen.
We are Stardust, Praise be to God, the Creator of Stars!
Call to Confession: Come, let us confess and sparkle to God
Prayer of Confession: God, we confess that we sparkle and glitter, but sometimes it does not feel like we are wonderfully and fiercely made. Help us when we forget. Show us the stars. Remind us that we are beautiful and everything we do counts, just like every star in the sky counts. Amen
Assurance of Pardon: You loved us into being, just as when you created the magnificent heavens, so we know the truth: In Jesus Christ we are always beloved and always forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication: God, remind us that like stars, our sparkles count. Help us to glitter we pray. Amen.
Call to Worship God you anoint the outside The outcast from their family: the queer, gay, nonbinary, lesbian, ace—you will go with them on their journey to find a home.
God, you promise to be with them, no matter what
God be with us
Imprisoned, Abused, Lied about, False witness, You promise, You will still be our God
God be with us
There are no empty footsteps in the Sand for Joseph, You will still be in our dreams, you promise
God, be with us today.
Call to Confession: God, let us confess and be our full selves with ourselves today.
Confession: God, we confess that it is hard to be our full selves. We are ignored, mocked, sold into slavery, imprisoned and abused. We confess that even though you know what we go through, we feel ashamed, less, alone. Help us when we are broken. Remind us that we do not need to be forgiven for who we are—that Joseph wore women’s clothes and ran away from sex with a woman way before Jesus was even born, and was beloved, by his father, his brother, the King and you. May safe spaces be formed for all people we pray. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: Jesus longs for this to be a safe space of forgiveness for all, though we may not have achieved that yet, know that one thing is always true: In Jesus Christ we are always beloved and always forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication: Let us go into the world our full selves, proud, loud and beloved children of God. Amen.
Call to Confession: Come let us rest with God today
Prayer of Confession: God, we confess that it is hard to believe that you would part the ocean for me. Don’t I complain too much? Is it not too much work? Are you sure that I am worth it? Yet I look at the complaints of the Hebrews, and am reassured that you want not only to rescue me, but to listen to my worries and complaints. Help me when I am troubled an in trouble I pray. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: God longs whisper the good news to you, so let us whisper it to one another and be reassured of its truth: In Jesus Christ we are always beloved and always forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication: God extend your protection into the world with us as we go we pray. Amen.
God let us hear your commands as promises of hope, not hammers or laws
Come, let us feel God’s grace
Call to Confession: Let us confess ourselves to the Graciousness of God
Prayer of Confession: God, you know I don’t like rules—they are weapons of hurt instead of tools of justice. We humans cannot be trusted with them. Grace is but a trickle in my life, and I am still looking for that cup overflowing you promised. I confess, the moment you lift me up on Eagle’s Wings will not be too soon. Please help us to lift each other up, and to treat each other with the grace we long for. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: God is full of grace, your forgiveness has already been made complete as soon as you confessed yourself. Now we get the opportunity to practice that grace together and say: In Jesus Christ we are always beloved and always forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication: God, give us grace as we go. Send it on the wings of your Holy Spirit, touch it to our brows we pray. Amen.
God, you are fully God, today, tomorrow and everyday
Come, let us renew our relationship with God.
Call to Confession: It is good to be with God, come let us be present with God today
Confession: God, we confess that sometimes its a lot to be our full selves. It takes time and work to integrate who we are, with the mystery of who you are. Does anyone ever have a full handle on that? Please help us to do this as a community, so that we might have a fuller and richer perspective of your Godhood we pray. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: God is our God, no matter what, so we know the truth: In Jesus Christ we are always beloved and always forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication: God please help us to renew our relationship with you and with ourselves as often as we need to so that we might fully know who we are and who you are as we go about the world. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ who was somehow fully God and fully human. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: God longs to wrap you under her wing and assure you that you are safe and forgiven, so know the good news: In Jesus Christ we are always beloved and always forgiven. Amen.
If you want a document version of this entire series for easy viewing and formatting just email me at Katyandtheword at gmail and title it Narrative Lectionary and I will be happy to send it to you.
If you would like to support my work, please give to my GoFundMe for my D. Min in Creative Writing or you can support me via Venmo @Katy-Stenta (last four 7841), Paypal @KatyStenta, Google Pay Katyandtheword at gmail, Cash App $bookkats
If you want a document version of this entire series for easy viewing and formatting just email me at Katyandtheword at gmail and title it Narrative Lectionary and I will be happy to send it to you.
If you would like to support my work, please give to my gofundme for my D. Min in Creative Writing or in an exciting new prospect become a Patron for only $3 a month!
Call to Worship
Come let us serve God
We want to serve the one who created us, blessed us and freed us.
Come let us worship the God of Potent Promises
Come let us Praise God’s Holy name
Call to Worship (based on Psalm 27)
The Lord is my Salvation, whom shall I fear
When evildoers assail me, they shall stumble and fall.
One day I ask, to live in the house of the Lord for all the days of my life
I long to behold the beauty of the Lord, and inquire in God’s temple.
Come let us seek the Lord,
Come let us worship the God of our Salvation!
Call to Confession: Let us give ourselves to God’s promise that God will listen to anything we have to confess
Confession: God I confess that I do not always believe the promises that are uncovered in rainbows and stars and the grains of sands. Sometimes, I do not feel blessed to be a blessing, and I try to measure things, instead of telling the stories of your promises. Forgive me. Help me to remember that your promises unfold across generations and in unexpected ways. Help me to see your potent promises I pray. (Silent Confession) Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: Hear the Good News, Jesus promises forgiveness, every time we confess our sins. Let us proclaim the good news to one another: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Amen.
Prayer of the Day: God help us to find your promises in all the unexpected places, give us the eyes to see and the ears to hear them we pray. Amen.
Hymns: Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken, Great God We Sing That Mighty Hand, When in Our Music God is Glorified, God Who Stretched the Spangled Heavens (remembering Abrahamic Covenant), Many and Great O God Are Thy Things, O God the Creator, Great is Thy Faithfulness
Children: Talk about Renewal or Drafts and that we have to work on our promises to God and do them many, many times and keep working on ourselves before we get it right. This is why Joshua Renews the Covenant with God—and Jesus does it again. Book Suggestion: “The Book of Mistakes” Corinna Lukyen or “Harold and the Purple Crayon”
If you want a document version of this entire series for easy viewing and formatting just email me at Katyandtheword at gmail and title it Narrative Lectionary and I will be happy to send it to you.
If you would like to support my work, please give to my gofundme for my D. Min in Creative Writing or in an exciting new prospect become a Patron for only $3 a month!
You who live in the shelter of the Most High, Trust in God
We abide in God’s shadow, for God delivers us
God will us with her pinions—nestling us to her breast
We can always find refuge under her wings
Come let us praise the Holy Spirit, who lifts us and protects us.
Come, Holy Spirit, Come.
Call to Confession: God calls us, comforts us and forgives us. Come let us confess ourselves to God.
Prayer of Confession: God we confess that we do not know exactly what it means when you say that you have fulfilled the law or even that we are free. We confess that we love to judge one another, and that we humans do not do well with concepts such as grace or freedom. We do better with rules and judgement. Forgive us, love us to a new covenant we pray. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: God loved us before anything else, and so we can be certain of the Good News of the Gospel: In Jesus Christ we are Forgiven. Amen
Prayer of Dedication: God, may we come to you to find shelter whenever we are afraid, or stumble or fall. May we remember that no matter what. Amen.
Hymns: Immortal Invisible God Only Wise, Amazing Grace, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Morning Has Broken, If Thou But Trust In God to Guide Thee, O God What You Ordain is Right.
Children: Explain that God gives us rules to keep us safe, but always forgives us. Perhaps talk about the “kitchen light” concept where one family always has the kitchen light on in their house so their kids know no matter what they can always come home. God always has the kitchen light on for us. Book Suggestion: “The Book of Rules” by Brian GehrleinOr perhaps explain how sometimes following the rules or doing something that is asked is very hard and you have to be very brave to do it (that happens a lot in the Bible) Book Suggestion: “The Monster at the End of This Book”
katyandtheword 
