Litany and Prayer, Thanksgiving, Year A

Call to Worship and Prayer for Thanksgiving, Year A:

One: The earth belongs to God, and all that is in it,

All: The world is indeed God’s, and all of us who live in it.

One: God supplies seed to the sower and bread for food,

All: And God multiplies the seed and increases the harvest.

One: Out of our abundance, God requires that we share,

All: That all may have enough. Thanks be to God for such an indescribable gift!

              From 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray:

Creator God,

You are amazing! Even with our small gifts you are able to do wonderful things! We hear our world suffering from violence and tragedy, and you guide our hands to do your work of caring for others. We see people each day without homes, without food, without basic necessities, and you guide our hearts to feed those who are hungry. We feel helpless in the face of great needs, and you guide our minds to study and be forever watchful for ways to better serve our world. Make us whole so that our hands and hearts and minds might work together to your glory. Amen.

                  Call and Prayer by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany and Prayer for Fourth Sunday in Easter, Year C

Call to Worship:

One: With God as our shepherd,

All: We need nothing more!

One: God leads us to paths at the wetlands,

All: Or by the quiet waters of Cache Creek, for walks that might restore our spirits.

One: God guides us to work for justice,

All: To challenge - in God’s holy name - any wrongs we find in our world.

One: Even in the depths of our misery,

All: Even while walking through our darkest hours,

One: The God of Love is with us, comforting us, chasing away our fears!

All: Let us worship God together!

         from Psalm 23

Community Prayer:

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray:
God of Love,

You are our Loving Shepherd.

Your creation beckons us, calling us to renew our spirits, to reconnect: to spend more time in our gardens, on pathways in nature, at the arboretum, on mountain trails or walking the labyrinth, to restore imbalances caused by too much work, too much screen time, too much time commuting on busy highways. You call us to better serve in our community and world: speaking justice, healing pain, and reaching out in love. We pray that we might answer your calls - to restore our souls so that we are energized, and to do your work in our world. This we pray, O God of All Creation. Amen.

                Litany and Prayer by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany and Prayer - Proper 25

Call to Worship:

One:  O God, Answerer of Prayer! To you all people shall come. 

All: When we are overwhelmed by our own misdeeds, 

One: You forgive our wrong-doing.

All: Time and again, you answer our poor or misguided actions

One: With loving kindness rather than judgement.

All: And because you have clothed us in joy, we shout and sing together in praise of you!

                        From Psalm 65

Community Prayer:

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Let us pray:

God of Our Salvation,

You are the hope of all at the ends of the earth and the farthest seas. We are awed by your signs. But, like the tax collector in Jesus’ story, we are not blameless. We find ourselves turning our backs on people because we are uncomfortable. We judge others as not worthy of our time or money. We procrastinate so that we don’t have to make hard choices. We pray that we might learn to be more humble and caring in our relationships. We pray that we might open our hearts to all peoples, so that we might be avenues for your love in our world. This we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

          from Psalm 65 and Luke 18

               Litany and Prayer by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany and Prayer for Proper 18, Year C

Call to Worship:

One: Loving Creator, you have searched us and known us,

All: You know when we sit down and when we rise up.

One: It was you who formed our inward parts,

All: And we are fearfully and wonderfully made!

One: In our lives today, we have choices that are before us.

All: We can choose between life and death.

One: We can choose between good and evil.

All: And because we have known you, God, we can choose to love as you have loved us,

One: And we can choose to walk in your ways.

All: Let us choose life so that we and our world might live abundantly! Amen.

                       from Deuteronomy 30.19-20 and Psalm 139

Community Prayer:

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray:
God of Many Possibilities,

You know us from the inside out. You know our intentions and our difficult choices. You have been with us from the moment we were formed. You know when we are hurting and when we may have hurt others, when we need a healing touch and when we can give a healing touch to another. You know the anguish we feel when we see injustice, and you are with us when we search for ways to respond to that injustice. We pray that our hearts will be open as your Spirit nudges us always in the direction that leads to abundant life. This we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Call to Worship and Prayer by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany and Prayer for the Sixth Sunday in Easter, Year A

Call to Worship:

One: May God be gracious to you and bless you.

All: May God’s face shine on you!

One: God has given us an Advocate, a Spirit of truth.

All: God is with us. We are not left orphaned;

One: God truly listens, and gives heed to the words of our prayers.

All: Through the many trials in our lives,

One: God’s loving Advocate, God’s Spirit of truth, remains with us always.

All: Let us all sing for joy and praise God! Amen.

                    from Psalm 67 and John 14:16-21

Community Prayer:

God of Spirit and Truth,

You have indeed given us an Advocate. Your Holy Spirit continues to reach out to us, teaching us, reminding us, guiding us. Your Spirit of truth is with us through drought and forest fires, through hunger, through the daily violence that shatters our world and lives, and through day to day conflicts that wear away at our center of balance. Your Spirit of truth nudges us to recognize the ways we are complicit in the causes of drought, violence, hunger, and daily conflicts. We pray that you help us loosen our tight grasp on the ways of the world, and open our hearts and minds to your way, that you might fill us with your peace and a clearer vision of your love for us and our world. This we pray, O Holy Spirit. Amen.

                            Call and Prayer by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for Third Sunday of Lent, Year A

Call to Worship:

One: Come! Let us make a joyful noise to God!

All: Let us come into God’s presence with thanksgiving!

One: For God reaches across oceans, across cultures, across all barriers,

All: To bring us into closer relationships.

One: When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well,

All: He saw a woman needing acceptance and forgiveness.

One: Like the woman at the well, we too yearn for a connection to God.

All: Let us join our hearts to worship the God of Compassion.

           from John 4:1-15, 19-30 and Psalm 95

Community Prayer:

God of the Living Water,

You who know our very being, you see beyond our nationality and our culture. Like Jesus did with the woman at the well, you look through our mistakes and see us at the center of who we are. You push us to let go of cultural norms and biases that keep us from freely sharing your radical love. We pray for your continued presence in our lives as we struggle with our own prejudices and blind spots. We pray that we may be receptive of your nudging toward openness and inclusion. This we pray, O God of Spirit and Truth. Amen.

              Prayer and Call to Worship by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany and Prayer for Second Sunday in Lent, Year C

Call to Worship:

One: God is our light and our salvation.

All: Whom shall we fear?

One: God is the stronghold of our life.

All: Of whom shall we be afraid?

One: Let us not worry about what is behind,

All: Let us turn instead to what lies ahead.

One: Let us press on toward the goal of God’s call,

All: And keep our eyes on the prize!

One: And - let us sing!

All: Let us sing and make melody to God! Amen.

Community Prayer:

O God, Our Light and Guide,

You are with us each and every step we take in our lives. As Paul did for the church in Philippi, you care about us as we encounter obstacles and difficulties in our lives. You encourage us to lift our heads and look forward when we falter and or feel overwhelmed. When we are tempted to respect more those with money or power, you challenge us to instead lift up those without. In times when we feel worried or frightened, you comfort us and teach us to hold fast to what we know is right. Guide us as we try likewise to encourage, challenge and comfort those we encounter in our daily living. This we pray, O Loving God. Amen.

Prayer and Call to Worship by K. K. Hudson-Bates