call to worship – Page 6

March 6th Jesus Raises Lazarus. Jesus Wept, The Lament

March 6

Jesus Raises Lazarus, Jesus Wept: the Lament

John 11:1-44

Psalm 104:27-30

Call to Worship

Jesus we are wracked by tears

Sit with us in our weeping

Renew us, we pray

God, help us to gather in your name.

Call to Confession: God calls us to confession, so that we can claim our full selves with God, come let us confess ourselves to God.

Prayer of Confession: God, we confess that we are not a culture that grieves well. We would rather ignore our sadness, or feel angry. Sadness feel so lonely. We do not want to admit the loneliness of grief. Remind us that we are not alone in our lamenting, we pray. And sit with us, Jesus. We pray this in the name of the Christ who weeps. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: Christ loves us, Christ sits with us, Christ redeems us, Sit in confidence of the truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: Holy Spirit, come and dwell with use, for we admit that sometimes we are overwhelmed with emotions, and at those times we do not know what to do, or we take on too much, or we are unable to move. Remind us to breathe, and that you know us and love us, and that its ok to feel whatever we are feeling. Breathe us through whatever we are feeling we pray. Amen.

With Children: “You are My I Love You” “Be is for Breathe,” Do a breath prayer as a an exercise for when you feel overwhelmed or scared or need a break.

Hymns: Breathe on me Breath of God, I love the Lord Who Heard My Cry, There is a Balm in Gilead, O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go, O Jesus I Have Promised, Precious Lord, Take My Hand

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

From Lament to Hope Full Resources

Living Water

Signs of God: Baptism/Holy Spirit

Psalm 147:1-11

John 7:37-52

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!

Bread of Life

Food for the Hungry

Psalm 34:1-19

John 6:35-59

Call to Worship

I will bless the Lord at all times

Come bless the Lord with me

Jesus says, I am the everlasting bread of life

Come, let us praise God who gives us life

Prayer of Confession: God, I confess that I hunger to be nourished. There are times I truly need to taste and see that the Lord is good, because I am stumbling and falling, because the world is full of so many not good things. Save us, please we pray. Show us the good.

Assurance of Pardon Hear the good news, God is good all the time, an so we know the Gospel truth In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God let us go into the world knowing you want every single person to be fed. Let us all work to make that happen today and everyday we pray. Amen.

Hymns: Here I Am Lord, O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go, O Jesus I Have Promised, O Jesus I Have Promised,

Children: https://www.ted.com/talks/peter_reinhart_the_art_and_craft_of_bread?language=en

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!

Jan/Feb 2022 Narrative Lectionary

Signs of God

January 9th Wedding at Cana: Hospitality as Ministry

John 2:1-11

Psalm 104:14- 16

January 16th Jesus Cleanses the Temple: Making a Sanctuary

Psalm 127:1-2

John 2:13-25

January 23 Nicodemus: Love and Rebirth (We belong to God)

Psalm 139:13-18

John 3:1-21

January 30th Woman at the Well: Jesus Meets You Where You Are

Psalm 42:1-3

John 4:1-42

February 6th Healing Stories: Healing

Psalm 40:1-5

John 4:46-54 [5:1-18]

February 13 Bread of Life: Food for the Hungry

Psalm 34:1-19

John 6:35-59

Feb 20 Living Water: Baptism/Holy Spirit

Psalm 147:1-11

John 7:37-52

Feb 27 The Man Born Blind

Psalm 27:1-4

John 9:1-41

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Signs of God: Making Sanctuary

Psalm 127:1-2

John 2:13-25

Call to Worship

God you make this a sanctuary for us

Giving bread to the hungry, Rest for the weary

Surely those who look, will find God

Come, let us build a house of justice and sanctuary for God

Confession: God we confess that we often confuse peace with being subdued or quiet. We forget that true sanctuary means a place to not just feel but be safe. Help us to be safe with one another we pray. Help us to build your sanctuary, we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon. God’s peace is from everlasting to everlasting, know the good news: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God’s mercies are renewed every morning. God’s mercies never come to an end. Let us go into the world renewed by God. Amen.

Hymns: Be Thou My Vision, Room at the Table, Great is Thy Faithfulness, Because He Lives, Worthy is The Lamb,

With Children: Chalk and Eraser Board Jesus can cleanse you every single time you make a mistake. Jesus wants you to keep trying!

Advent 4 Full of God’s Word Narrative Lectionary Year 4

Luke 2:1-14 [15-20]

Psalm 96:7-10

Call to Worship

Ascribe to the Lord , O families of people!

We will ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!

Ascribe to the Lord, all the glory due God’s Name!

We will Worship God in holy splendor with all the earth!

Prayer of Confession: God, we confess that we are not always full of the good news. Sometimes we stop short of sharing God with others. We are uncertain about how to share, or are afraid of how to frame our faith. Teach us to share Christ in a loving and compassionate way we pray, Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: God is good, all the time. Hear the good news: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God, teach us the good news, remind us of it everyday we pray. Amen.

Hymns: See Advent Candle Suggestions

Children: What do you good with good news? Who would you tell the good news to first? How is good news spread? Also a great Resource: An Unexpected Christmas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM1XusYVqNY

If you find these resources useful please consider contributing to my Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing!

Advent 3 Full of God’s Word Narrative Lectionary Year 4

J ohn 1:1-18

Psalm 130:5-8

Call to Worship

I wait for the Lord

My soul waits, for with God is the power to redeem!

I wait for God, more than those who are waiting for the morning

Come, let us wait for the joy that comes with God!

Confession: God, I confess that sometimes I confuse abiding joy with the fleeting feeling of happiness. Sometimes I forget the you are working for joy to the entire world. You want every single person to be able to experience security–food, shelter, companionship. I confess that I am not always working towards that goal. Help me to build a kingdom where everyone can experience deep and abiding joy. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: God loves us and forgives us. Let proclaim the joy with truth: In Jesus Christ we are forgive.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God, let us remember that our God is a God of Joy. Our God does not dictate unnecessary suffering, but instead wants love and peace. Help us to hold onto that we pray. Amen.

Hymns: See Advent Candle Suggestions

Children: Talk about the difference between Joy and Happiness. Talk about who might be good examples of people who have joy.

If you find these resources useful please consider contributing to my Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing!

Advent 2 Full of Purpose Narrative Lectionary Year 4

Full Bulletin by Rev. Dr. Barb Hedges-Goettl

Isaiah 55:1-13

J ohn 4:13-14

Call to Worship:

God we are thirsty for you.

Come Holy Spirit, fill us up.

God we long for peace

Come Christ, we long for your Peace.

God we are ready.

Come let us spend some time with God today.

Jesus we are here longing for you

Prayer of Confession: God we are thirsty for your presence, because we know when we get it our purpose will become clear, and our need to pursue and accumulate anything and everything will disappear, and we will finally, finally be at peace. But God, we confess, we are not at peace yet, we continue to thirst for more, we continue long for all that we do not yet possess. Forgive us, and help us to see the feast you set before us and to be satisfied, we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: Christ’s mercy is from everlasting to everlasting, we are already forgiven. Let us glory in the good news; In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of Dedication/Day: God you are enough. Let us remember and dedicate ourselves to you today and everyday we pray. Amen.

Hymns: See Advent Candle Suggestions

Children

If you find these resources useful please consider contributing to my Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing!

Advent 1 Full of Prophesy/Life Narrative Lectionary Year 4

Call to Worship

Ezekiel 37:1-15

John 11:25-26

Call to Worship

God you know our questions before we even ask them, we are struggling this year, can these bones live, only you know

And you reassure us, saying that you will send us the Word we need

Give us the word of Hope, we need

Come let us gather around the Word of the Lord

Confession: God, we confess that we do not know if these bones can live. Sometimes, we cannot even ask the questions about resurrection. We are too busy struggling along. We confess that we are weary to bone. Weary of the evils of the weary, weary of injustice, weary of illness, weary of sorry. We confess that we forget to ask for hope. Forgive us, and teach us to see and know that you are already at work in the world. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: Jesus Christ is the Hope of the World, assuring us of the truth that we can tell one another: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God, the struggle is real, because you are already here, making things happen. Remind us of your presence, from our first breath. Inspire us with your Holy Spirit, and encourage us as we need it we pray. Amen.

Hymns: See Advent Candle Suggestions

Children: Read Emily Dickon’s Hope is a many feathered Thing Poem. Discuss what kids Hope for.

More resources.

If you find these resources useful please consider contributing to my Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing!

Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14

John 14:27

Call to Worship

Our God is the God of Resurrection

God will never leave us

Our God is the God of peace

Come let us worship God!

Prayer of Confession: God we confess that sometimes your instructions confuse us. You tell us both to live our lives and to look towards heaven. You know we are only human, so it is difficult for us to do both at the same time. Forgive us when we get distracted or confuse. Remind us that practicing hope, and peace here on earth is worth it. And help us when we go astray, we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: God’s love is from everlasting to everlasting, know the truth in your heart: In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.

Prayer of the Day/Dedication: God it is a good thing you are the Prince of peace, and that you leave pieces of it for us to follow, because we definitely need help on that. Guide us to your peace today and everyday we pray. Amen.

Hymns: Take My Life, My Hope is Built on Nothing Less, O For a Closer Walk with God, Abide with Me, Lord Make Us Servants of Your Peace

Children: God promises peace. Ask the children to imagine what peace is like–help them to imagine peace as creativity not just silence or stillness. Discuss how we might practice peace now.

If you find these resources useful please consider contributing to my Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing!

M ore Narrative Lectionary Year 4