Litany for 2014-11-23

Call to Worship for November 23, 2014     

Proper 29

One: Oh God, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food?
All: When did we see you thirsty and give you something to drink?
One: When was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you?
All: When did we see you naked and give you clothing?
One: When was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?
All: Just as we do it for one of the least of these, we do it for you.

              Matthew 25: 37-40

                     Call to Worship by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for Proper 29 Year A, 2013-11-23

One: Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth.

All: Worship God with gladness! Come into God's presence with singing!

One: Know that God has made us, and we belong to God; 

All: We are God's people, and the sheep of God's pastures.

One: Enter the gates with thanksgiving, and the courts with praise. 

All: Give thanks to God! Bless God's name!

One: For God is good. God's steadfast love endures forever, and God's faithfulness to all generations.

All: God is good!

              from Psalm 100

                   Call to Worship by K. K. Hudson- Bates

Litany for Proper 15 Year A

One: Jesus reaches across cultural barriers,

All: By speaking with the woman at the well

One: By healing the Canaanite Woman's daughter,

All: By teaching of the love of the Good Samaritan.

One: Open our hearts to any who are in need.

All: Open our minds to people who are different.

      Enbolden us to dare to throw open our doors for all to enter!

                    from Matthew 15:21-28

                                 Call to Celebration by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for All Saints Day, Year A

One: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for what is right,
All: for they will be filled.
One: Blessed are the pure in heart,
All: for they will see God.
One: Blessed are the peacemakers,
All: for they will be called children of God.
One: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.
All: Lend to those in need, expecting nothing in return.
All: And show mercy, just as God is merciful. Amen.
              from Matthew 5:1-12

Litany for Proper 20 Year A

One: God loves with a great love.
All: By God's grace we are saved.
One: Like the landowner who paid the workers who were not employed for a full day as much as the workers who were,
All: God's love is extravagant.
One: God loves with a great love.
All: Let us be extravagant with our love, too!
           themes from Matthew 20:1-14 and Ephesians 2:4-10

Litany for Proper 23 - 12 October 2014

Call to Worship 2014-10-12
Proper 23

One: O God, you are our God. We praise your name!

All: You are faithful and sure. You have done wonderful things!

One: You have been a refuge to the poor,

All: And a refuge to the needy in their distress.

One: You have been a shelter from the rainstorm,

All: And a shade from the heat.

One: You even wipe away the tears from our faces.

All: We praise your name!

from Isaiah 25:1-9

                  Call to Celebration by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for Proper 22 - 5 October 2014

Call to Worship 2014-10-05
Proper 22

One: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts

All: Be acceptable to you, God.

One: By the mercy of God, present yourself to God, holy and acceptable.

All: Do not be conformed to this world,

One: But be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

All: Work as one body, sharing generously according to the grace given you.

One: Let the heavens tell the glory of God,

All: And the firmament proclaim God’s handiwork!

                from Psalm 19

Calls to Celebration by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for Proper 21 - 28 September 2014

Call to Worship for 2014-09-28
Proper 21

One: Give ear to God’s teaching!

        In ancient times, God worked marvels in the land of Egypt.

All: God divided the sea and let the people pass through it.

One: In the daytime God led them with a cloud,

All: And all night long with a fiery light.

One: God split rocks open in the wilderness,

All: And gave the people drink abundantly as from the deep.

One: We give thanks for all of God's gifts.

All: God, teach us to live generously and with humility.

           from Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16

Call to Worship by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for Proper 20 - 21 September 2014

Call to Worship for 2014-09-21
Proper 20

One: We give our thanks to God.

All: From the beginning of time, God has provided for us.

One: In Genesis, God provided food in abundance to the first humans.

All: In the wilderness, God gave the Israelites quail and holy manna.

One: God opened a rock and made water to gush out for them in the desert.

All: God provides seed for the farmer.

One: And like the owner of the vineyard, who gave a full day's wages to each laborer,

All: God is generous! We sing praise to God!

Psalm 105, Matthew 20:1-16

Call to Celebration by K.K. Hudson-Bates

Litany 14 September 2014 (not lectionary)

Call to Worship for 2014-09-14
(Not from the lectionary readings for this week.)

One: As God speaks to Peter in his dream, God speaks to us today.

All: God calls us to break down barriers in every corner of our lives,

One: To reach out to people around us, people of all kinds and backgrounds.

All: God calls us to make peace with our enemies,

One: To have compassion for all, regardless of who they are.

All: In God, all are worthy of love and acceptance!

from Acts 10:9-28

Call to Celebration by K.K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for Proper 16 - 24 August 2014

Call for August 24, 2014

Proper 16

One: We bow down in your holy temple and give you thanks, O God,

All: For your steadfast love and faithfulness.

One: Sometimes in our pride we think of ourselves more highly than we ought.

All: You remind us to take a sober look at ourselves,

One: That we might recognize our own blind spots.

All: You remind us not to be conformed to the greed of this world,

One: That we might be open to your transforming grace,

All: That we might have a renewed vision of your will. 

       We give you thanks, O God, with our whole heart.

                  from Psalm 138:1-2 and Romans 12:2-3
                         Call to Celebration by K.K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for Proper 15 - 17 August 2014

Ninth Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 15)        

Call to Worship

L: May God be gracious to us and bless us and shine upon us.

P: That God’s way may be known upon earth, God’s saving power among all nations.

L: For just as Joseph showed mercy to his brothers in Egypt,

P: So let us forgive those who have wronged us.

L: And as Joseph provided for and cared for his family,

P: So let us provide for those in need around us.

All: Let the peoples praise you, O God; let the nations be glad and sing for joy,

            from Genesis 45:1-15 and Psalm 67
                   Call to Celebration by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for 10 August 2014

Call to Worship for 10 August 2014

Proper 14

One: Sing to God, sing God's praises; 

All: We tell of all God's wonderful works.

One: O give thanks to God, 

All: We call on God's name!

One: And yet, like Peter, there are times when we doubt.

All: Sometimes we even become afraid.

One: At those times, we can seek strength from God; 

All: We can seek God's presence continually. Thanks be to God!

           Psalm 105:1-4, Matthew 14:22-33

Litany for 3 August 2014

3 Aug 2014 - Proper 13

One: There are times, God, when we struggle to find the right path.

All: Like Jacob we feel alone or adrift,

One: We wrestle to find meaning in our lives.

All: And sometimes we actively resist your direction in our lives.

One: We want you to incline an ear to us,

All: And yet we do not even listen for your answer.

One: Sometimes we even ignore your calls to us.

All: Open our ears, God, that we may listen for your voice in our hearts.

       From Psalm 17:6 and Genesis 32:22-31

            Call to Worship by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for 27 July 2014

27 July 2014 - Proper 12

Call to worship

One: Who will separate us from the love of God? 

All: Will hardship, or distress? 

One: Will persecution, famine, danger or war?

All: No. Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers,

One: Neither things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, 

All: Nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God!

          From Romans 8:26-39

                     Call to Worship by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for 20 July 2014

Litany for Proper 11

20 July 2014

One: O God, You have searched us and known us.

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

One: You read our thoughts from far away;

All: Even before a word is on our tongues, O God, You know it completely.

One: For it was You who formed our inward parts,

All: You who knit us together in our mothers' wombs.

One: We are fearfully and wonderfully made!

All: Wonderful are Your works, O God!

         from Psalm 139

                  Call to Worship by K.K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for 13 July 2014

Call to Worship for Proper 10

2014-07-13

One: God, your word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

All: We remember the story of the farmer who sowed seeds.

One: Some seeds fell on the path and were eaten by birds.

All: Others fell on rocky ground and could not put down roots.

One: Others fell among thorns and were choked.

All: But the seeds that fell on good soil produced food to eat.

One: Let our hearts be like good soil to your word, God,

All: So that we might have life according to your word.

              from Psalm 119:105-112; Mt 13:1-9, 18-23

                    Call to Worship by K.K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for 29 June 2014

Litany for 29 June 2014

Proper 8

(Readings not from the lectionary)

One: In Christ Jesus we are all children of God through our faith.

All: All of us are one in Christ.

One: In Christ, no longer are we divided.

All: There is no longer Black or White, Israeli or Palestinian.

One: No longer is there male and female, gay and straight.

All: All are Abraham's offspring, heirs to God's promise.

     All are children of God.

              Call to Worship by K.K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for 15 June 2014

15 June 2014

First Sunday after Pentecost

Call to Celebration:

One: O God, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

All: When we look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,

One: The moon and the stars that you have established,

All: We wonder, what are human beings that you are mindful of us, that you care for us?

One: You have put us to care for your creation,

All:  For the fish of the sea, and the birds of the air,

One: For the sheep and the oxen, and the wild animals, too.

All: May we truly embrace our role as beings created by you in your image.

            from Psalm 8 and Genesis 1:27

                  Call to Worship by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for 8 June 2014

8 June 2014

Pentecost

Call to Celebration

One: God, you send forth your Spirit,

All: And it is as if a great wind rushes through our gathering,

One: As if tongues of fire rest on each of us.

All: We feel the presence of your Holy Spirit among us, with us,

One: Calling to us each, in a language we can understand,

All: Calling us to share our gifts. Let us be inspired to do Your will.

            from Acts 2:2-8

                  Call by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for 1 June 2014

Call to Worship for 1 June 2014

Seventh Sunday of Easter

(Partially from lectionary for this Sunday)

One: Sing to God! Sing praises to God's name!

All: Lift up a song to the one who rides upon the clouds!

One: Because now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. 

All: The flowers appear on the earth, 

      and the vines are in blossom, giving forth fragrance.

One: The time of singing has come.

All: Sing to God, sing praises to God's name!

          from Psalm 68:1-10 (lectionary for this Sunday) 

            woven with Song of Songs 2:10-13 (not from this lectionary)

                   Call by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for 25 May 2014

25 May 2014

Sixth Sunday after Easter

One: O God of heaven and earth,  

All: O God, who made the world and everything in it, 

One: In you we live and move and have our being.

All: You know us intimately, as we are your offspring,

One: And you make yourself known to us each day.

All: You are never far from us. We raise our voices to worship you.

          from Acts 17:22-31

                Call to Worship by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Lectionary for 4 May 2014

4 May 2014

Third Sunday of Easter

One: In Easter, we search for new meaning.

All: As did the disciples during their walk to Emmaus.

One: In Easter, we hope for renewal.

All: When Jesus was at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.

One: In Easter, we find transformation.

All: And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him.

One: Christ is risen!

All: He is risen indeed!

           from Luke 24:13-35

               Call to Worship by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for 13 April 2014

Call to worship for 13 April 2014

One: Hosanna to the Son of David! 

All: Hosanna in the highest heaven!

One: On a donkey and a colt Jesus came.

All: A crowd spread their cloaks and branches on the road ahead of him.

One: In this way he entered Jerusalem.

All: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 

      Hosanna in the highest heaven! Hosanna!

               Call by K. K. Hudsin-Bates

Litany for 30 March 2014

Call to Worship

One: Do not look on appearances.

All: Do not look at height or stature.

One: For God does not see as we see.

All: God looks instead on the heart.

One: God chose the boy, David, saying, 

All: "Rise and anoint him, for this is the one,"

One: And God's spirit came mightily upon David from that day forward.

All: We pray that we also may look beyond appearances and to the heart.

          Call to worship by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for 3rd Sunday in Lent, Year A

Call to Worship 2014-03-23

One: Just as the Israelites journeyed through wilderness and deserts,

All: So, too, do we go through our own wildernesses.

One: As the Israelites thirsted for water,

All: So, too, do we go through times of great need.

One: And, as the Samaritan woman thirsted for living water,

All: So, too, do we yearn for a connection to the God of Compassion.

  from Exodus 17:1-7 and John 4:5-42

Call to Worship by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for 16 March 2014

16 March 2014

Second Sunday in Lent

One: We lift up our eyes to the hills.

All: Our help comes from God, who made heaven and earth.

One: Just as God told Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred."

All: "I will bless you, and you will be a blessing."

One: And just as Abram went out as he was told,

All: Let us open our hearts to hear where God asks us to go.

         Psalm 121 and Genesis 12:1-4a

Litany for 9 March 2014

One: Our lives are a journey. 
All: We journey through good times and bad.
One: We journey through beautiful landscapes and through wildernesses,
All: Over mountains and into valleys.
One: Along the way, we encounter encouragement,
All: And we encounter despair.
One: Sometimes we are strong and can reach out to help others,
All: And sometimes we succomb to temptations or lose our way.
All: Help us, God, to be open to your guidance in our journey.

Litany for 23 February 2014

Call to Worship 2014-02-23
Seventh Sunday after Epiphany

One: We have prayed, "God, give us understanding, that we may keep your law."

All: And then, "Turn our hearts to your decrees."

One: Yet, now we wonder... 

All: What is God's law? What is God's decree?

One: The Bible tells us, "If anyone wants to take your coat, 

All: Give them your cloak as well."

One: And we read, "Love your enemies."

All: These are not easy laws!

One: And so, we pray once more, 

All: "God, turn our hearts to your decrees." Amen.

           1 Samuel 8:1-18 and Matthew 5:38-48
                    Call to Celebration by K.K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for 2 February 2014

One:​ O God, you are clothed with honor and majesty.

All: ​From your lofty abode you water the mountains;

One: ​You cause the grass to grow for the cattle,

All: ​And plants for people to bring forth food from the earth.

One: ​In your trees the birds build their nests;

All: ​The high mountains are for the wild goats.

All: ​O God, how manifold are your works!

            from Psalm 35:1-10 and Psalm 104:1a,13-24

                          Call to Celebration by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for 26 January 2014

Litany for 2014-01-26

Second Sunday after Epiphany

One: The people who sat in darkness saw a great light.

All: And they rejoiced, as with joy at the harvest.

One: Jesus called them, saying, "Follow me."

All: He called Simon and his brother, Andrew.

One: And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

All: He called James and he called John.

One: And right away they left their boat and their father, and followed him.

All: We are left wondering... What is God calling us to do?

             from Matthew 4:16-22

                         Call by K.K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for 12 January 2014

Litany for 2014-01-12

First Sunday after Epiphany

L: Bring tribute to God, O heavenly beings,

P: Worship God in holy splendor.

L: God gives us as a covenant to the people,

P: A light to the nations,

L: To open eyes that are blind,

P: To bring out prisoners from the dungeon.

L: The voice of the Lord is powerful,

P: The voice of God is full of majesty.

All: Praise be to God!

                        from Psalm 29 and Isaiah 42

                                             Call to Celebration by K.K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for 5 January 2014

Call to worship for 2014-01-05

Based on Epiphany readings

One: When they saw that the star had stopped over Bethlehem,

All: the wise men were overwhelmed with joy.

One: On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother.

All: Then they rejoiced and knelt down.

One: And so, in the words of Isaiah, the nations shall come to see the light,

All: and kings the brightness of the dawn. 

             from Matthew 2:10-11 and Isaiah 60:3

Or, alternate litany for same date:

Call to worship for 2014-01-05

Based on Second Sunday after Christmas readings

L: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

P: The Word became flesh and lived among us.

L: Even in this new year, God continues to live among us.

P: God guides us along a marvelous way; God herself is our shelter by day and a starry flame through the night.

L: Through God, we are redeemed and find new life for a new year.

All: Sing aloud with gladness!  Proclaim the Lord and give praise!

                        taken from the Wisdom of Solomon, chapter 10 and John, chapter 1

                                             Call to Celebration by K.K. Hudson-Bates

Christmas Eve Litany 24 December 2013

Christmas Eve Litany for December 24, 2013

(Read by leader)

Opening:

This advent season has been a time of anticipation, 

of waiting, 

of hope.

It has been a time of preparation.

A time when we remember.

We wonder.

We ready our hearts.

We watch, and we listen.

And now, as Christmas is upon us, 

we celebrate.

We celebrate the birth of a child.

We celebrate the hope that the child brings into our lives.

Candle-Lighting:

Today, we light the Christ candle 

in celebration that the Christ child is born--

for us, and for everyone.

             Litany by K.K. Hudson-Bates

Advent Litany for 22 December 2013

Advent Litany for 22 December 2013

Fourth Sunday in Advent

(Read by leader)

Opening:

Advent is a time of anticipation, of waiting –

of making space in our lives to receive the one who comes.

It is a season of hope,

It is a time when we search for a sign,

when we close our eyes wishing to see 

a child in a manger in Bethlehem so long ago.

And yet, if we open our eyes 

and open our hearts,

we may instead see signs 

of the Christ child in our lives today.

It is a time for preparing our hearts 

to receive this Christ child 

in whatever form he comes to us.

It is a time to watch, and to listen,

for God's sign for us.

Lighting of the candle:

We light the first candle of our Advent wreath,

remembering God's promise of peace for all.

We light the second candle of our Advent wreath,

remembering that Christmas is indeed for everyone.

We light this third candle today,

remembering the path God has laid out for us.

We light the fourth candle of our Advent wreath,

looking ahead to the days that are still yet to come.

And as we do, we wonder...

What do we wait for?

What is our hope?

What will God's sign be in our lives?

Will we see the Christ child this Christmas?

What will the child look like?

And so,

we quiet our hearts to hear.

We try and stay awake to see.

We wait, and we wonder.

Congregational response:

One: Together we quiet our hearts and we pray:

All: Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

            --Advent Litany by K.K. Hudson-Bates

Advent Litany for 15 December 2013

Advent Litany for 15 December 2013

Third Sunday in Advent

(Read by leader)

Opening:

Advent is a time of anticipation, of waiting –

of making space in our lives to receive the one who comes.

It is a season of hope,

It is a time when waters will break out in the wilderness,

and the desert will blossom;

A time when we begin to see our path,

and we know we will no longer be lost in our wilderness.

It is a time for preparing our hearts,

that our spirits might rejoice in God's presence among us.

It is a time to watch, and to listen

and see God's hand in our world,

as the eyes of the blind are opened,

the ears of the deaf hear,

the lame leap like a deer,

the hungry are filled with good things to eat,

and the dry land shall bloom like a crocus.

Lighting of the candle:

We light the first candle of our Advent wreath,

remembering God's promise of peace for all.

We light the second candle of our Advent wreath,

remembering that Christmas is indeed for everyone.

We light this third candle today,

looking ahead to the days that are coming.

And as we do, we wonder...

What do we wait for?

What is our hope?

What path will we take?

Which way would God have us go?

And so,

we quiet our hearts to hear.

We try and stay awake to see.

We wait, and we wonder.

Congregational response:

One: Together we quiet our hearts and we pray:

All: Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

            --Advent Litany by K.K. Hudson-Bates

Advent Litany for 8 December 2013

Advent Litany for 8 December 2013

Second Sunday in Advent

(Read by leader)

Opening:

Advent is a time of anticipation, of waiting –

of making space in our lives to receive the one who comes.

It is a season of hope,

when we see images of what could be,

of a wolf and a lamb living together in peace,

of a little child leading them.

We hear words of love and encouragement

replace words of criticism and prejudice.

It is a time for preparing our hearts,

so we can be ready to receive God’s spirit

of wisdom and understanding.

It is a time to watch, and to listen

for the needs of those around us...

for a child who has no place left to go,

for a family struggling to make ends meet,

for towns hit by a typhoon.

It is a time to trust that God's promise is for all,

that the one whose birth we anticipate comes not only for us, but for everyone. 

Candle-lighting:

We light this first candle of our Advent wreath,

remembering God's promise of peace for all.

We light this second candle of our Advent wreath,

looking ahead to the days that are coming.

And as we do, we wonder...

What do we wait for?

What is our hope?

How will the Christ child come to us?

How do we share God’s message with all?

What would it mean if the earth were full of the knowledge of God?

Will we recognize the Christ child in our lives?

And so,

we quiet our hearts to hear.

We try and stay awake to see.

We wait, and we wonder.

Congregational response:

One: Together we quiet our hearts and we pray:

All: Come, Lord Jesus, come. Amen.

            --Advent Litany by K.K. Hudson-Bates