Litany for Fourth Sunday in Advent 2015

Candlelighting Reading for

Dec 20 (4^th Sunday in Advent):

Leader:

This is the season of Joy.

We remember the joy Elizabeth felt when she heard Mary’s greeting:

Her child leaped in her womb, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Mary, too, is filled with joy, saying,

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God!”

Even in difficult times, we can find reasons for joy.

We see the first green leaves to appear after a time of drought,

We hear a bird chirping in the crisp morning air.

We know people who, even in their own times of trial,

reach out to others with love and caring.

And we wonder...

How do we listen, especially during these dark days, for God’s word?

How can we open our heavy hearts to the joy of Christmas?

What do we do to share that joy with others?

Can we simply allow ourselves to shout out, “Glory be to God!”

We light the first Advent candle,

Remembering our hope for justice and peace for our world.

We light the second Advent candle,

Wishing for freedom from fear for all God’s people.

We light the third Advent candle,

Praying for what is right and fair for all in our world.

We light this fourth Advent candle today,

Opening our hearts to receive the joy of Christmas.

One: In hope, we anticipate the One who is to be born, and together we pray.

All: Come, Emmanuel, Come!

                                Litany by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for Third Sunday in Advent 2015

Candlelighting Reading for

Dec 13 (3^rd Sunday in Advent):

Leader:

John the Baptist told the crowds who came to be baptized,

“Whoever has two coats must share

with anyone who has none.”

“Whoever has food must do likewise.”

He exhorted tax collectors not to be corrupt,

and soldiers not to cheat or harass people.

In our world today, we think of families without homes,

of children who grow up hungry or malnourished.

We think of the recent revelations of police mistreatment of people of color.

We remember women who feel trapped or powerless against abuse.

We think of politicians corrupted by their power,

of corporations that pillage our environment because of greed.

And we wonder...

What do John’s words mean for us?

What would John the Baptist be saying today?

What can we do to change structures of power?

Where can we most make a difference in the lives of those who hunger or are powerless?

How do we build a world that is fair and just?

We light the first Advent candle,

Remembering our hope for justice and peace for our world.

We light the second Advent candle,

Wishing for freedom from fear for all God’s people.

We light this third Advent candle today,

Praying for what is right and fair for all in our world.

One: In hope, we anticipate the One who is to be born, and together we pray.

All: Come, Emmanuel, Come!

                                Litany by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for Second Sunday in Advent 2015

Candlelighting Reading for

Dec 6 (2^nd Sunday in Advent):

Leader:

In today’s scriptures,

Luke speaks of a light brought to those who sit in darkness,

We wonder…

Who are God’s people today?

In what darkness and shadow of death are they sitting?

How will God bring them freedom?

We think of refugees fleeing violence in our world.

We think of families broken by violent deaths here and around the globe.

We think of people in prisons, people in war-torn places, people in fear.

We light the first Advent candle,

Remembering our hope for justice and peace for our world.

We light this second Advent candle,

Wishing for freedom from fear for all God’s people.

And we wonder...

How can we be God’s light?

Can we bring new dawn to the lives of people living in fear?

Can we help people find safety?

Can we help guide the world into the way of peace?

One: In hope we anticipate the One who is to be born, and together we pray.

All: Come, Emmanuel, Come!

                                Litany by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for First Sunday in Advent 2015

Candle-lighting Litany 

Nov 29 (1^st Sunday in Advent):

Leader:

In those days there will be signs--

In the sun, in the moon, in the stars,

There will be distress among nations on earth,

And confusion from the roaring of the sea and the waves.

And yet, God says, "I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel.

I will cause a righteous branch to spring up.

And this branch will bring justice and righteousness into the land."

Then, everyone born will find a place at the table,

And for everyone born, a star will shine overhead.

We in 2015 live in a time of distress among nations...

We see violence and injustice in our world,

We see hunger and hurting across the earth.

As we light this first Advent candle,

We hope for justice and peace for our world.

And yet we wonder...

Are we to be God's branch?

Is God calling us to be creators of justice and joy?

What will God's signs for us be?

What light will shine our way?

Leader: In hope we anticipate the One who is to be born, and together we pray.

All: Come, Emmanuel, Come!

                                Litany by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for Thanksgiving Day 2015

Year B Thanksgiving Day: Matthew 6:25-34

One: God, make us instruments of your peace;

All: Where there is hatred, let us sow love;

One: Where there is injury, pardon;

All: Where there is doubt, faith;

One: Where there is despair, hope;
All: Where there is darkness, light;
One: And where there is sadness, joy.
All: We pray that we may be instruments of your peace, O God.
Amen.

                                Litany by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for All Saints Day

Nov 1, 2015 - All Saints Day lectionary:

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

All: God is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.

One: And still, God reaches out to wipe away tears from our faces.

All: God cares deeply about each of us.

One: In the Lazarus story, Jesus was deeply moved by Lazarus’ death.

All: Jesus wept.

One: God is Alpha and Omega,

All: God is the beginning and the end. Let us worship God.

                                Litany by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for Year C Proper 14 or 15

From Lectionary Readings for:

Year C Proper 14: Hebrews 11:8-12

Year C Proper 15: Hebrews 12:1-2

One: For all the saints, who rest from their labor,

All: We remember all they have done through their faith in God.

One: By faith, Abraham obeyed when God called, living in tents in an unknown land.

All: And by faith, Noah built an ark to save his household.

One: By faith, Moses led the people out of Egypt,

All: And by faith the saints of our own church have been God’s hands in our community.

One: We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses!

All: We pray that we may also run with perseverance the race You set before us. Amen.

            from Hebrews 11:8-12 and 12:1-2

                                Litany by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for 2015-10-11 Proper 23

Call to Worship for October 11, 2015
Year B Proper 23

One: How many times have we done nothing because we feared we could not do enough?

All: How many times have we failed to share for fear we might later need it ourselves?

One: How many times have we been reluctant to try a new way to live our lives?

All: Shake us from our complacency.

One: Teach us to let go of what we hold fast.

All: Teach us to count our days with your joy that we may gain a wise heart.

One: Satisfy us with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad.

All: We open our hearts to worship you, O God.

             from Psalm 90:12-14
Litany by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for 13 Sept 2015, Proper 26

Call to Worship

One: What is the most important commandment?

All: Love God with all your heart!

One: And love your neighbor as yourself.

All: Give food to the hungry and set prisoners free.

One: Watch over the stranger as God watched over Ruth.

All: Uphold the orphan and the widow, as God upheld Naomi.

One: Lift up those who are bowed down.

All: Let us worship God with our hearts and minds and strength!

          from Mark 12:28-34, Psalm 146:1-10 and Ruth 1:1-18

Litany - Year C Second Sunday of Easter

One: Let us praise God in this sanctuary;

All: Praise God with a trumpet sound;

One: Praise God with lute and harp!

All: Praise God with tambourine and dance;

One: Praise God with strings and pipe!

All: Praise God with loud clashing cymbals!

One: Praise God in all God’s mighty creation!

All: Let everything that breathes praise God! Amen!

Litany for 27 Sept 2015

One: God’s law is perfect -- it revives the soul.

All: God’s decrees are sure -- they give us wisdom,

One: the wisdom Queen Esther showed in saving her people.

All: God’s precepts are right -- they make our hearts rejoice.

One: God’s commandment is clear -- it enlightens our eyes, as it did

        with King Ahasuerus when Queen Esther spoke to him.

All: Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you, O God, our rock and our redeemer.

from Psalm 19:7-9 and Esther 7:1-6

Litany for Proper 17, Year B

Call to Worship

One: For every generous act of giving, every perfect gift,

All: Is from above, coming down from God.

One: Be quick to listen, but do not merely hear.

All: Be also doers of the word, so that in your doing

     you will be blessed and will bless others.

One: Care for orphans and widows in their distress,

All: Take care of the homeless and feed the hungry.

One: For, every generous act of giving, and every perfect gift, is from God.

All: We lift our praises to God!

from James 1:17-27

Call to Worship by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for Year B, Proper 11

Call to Worship 2015-07-19

One: Come away -- to a deserted place -- and rest a while,
All: From the comings and goings, from the busy-ness of life...
One: Come away -- by green pastures and still waters -- and restore your soul.
All: Find a quiet place in which to center yourself.
One: Come away and prepare your hearts to do God's healing work in our world.
All: We center ourselves, and find a quietness where we can worship God. Amen.

           from Mark 6:30-34; 53-56

                Call to Celebration by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for Year C Proper 16 (or Year B Proper 3 or Year A Proper 19)

Call to Worship

L: Bless God with our souls and all that is within us.

P:  Bless God’s holy name. 

L: Do not forget who forgives all your sins, who heals your diseases,

P: Do not forget who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

L: And who satisfies you with good as long as you live 

P: So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

L: God works justice for all who are oppressed.

All: God is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Let us worship God.

        from Psalm 103:1-8

               Call to celebration by K.K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for Proper 7, Year C

Litany for Proper 7, Year C

One: God created humankind in God's own image,
All: In the image of God we are created.

One: God created humans as male and female in God's own image.

All: And in Christ Jesus all are children of God through faith.

One: There is no longer Jew or Greek.

All: There is no longer slave or free

One: There is no longer male or female;

All: For all are one in Christ Jesus. Let us worship together.

                from Galatians 3:23-29 (and Genesis 1:26-31)

Call to Celebration by K.K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for Second Sunday in Lent, Year B

Call to Worship for Second Sunday in Lent, 2015

One: Abram was very old and his wife was barren when God appeared to him.

All: God made a covenant with Abram.

One: God told Abram he would be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. 

All: God said Sarai would give rise to nations, that kings would come from her.

One: God made an everlasting covenant between God and Abram and all of Abram’s offspring.

All: God promised to be Abram's God,

One: God promised to be God to Abram’s children and grandchildren throughout the generations.

All: And future generations will know and will worship God. All praise be to God! Let us worship.

           From Genesis 17:1-7, 15-17

                   Call to Celebration by K. K. Hudson-Bates 

Litany for Third Sunday in Lent, Year B

Call to Worship for Third Sunday in Lent, 2015

One: The heavens are telling the glory of God!

All: The firmament proclaims God’s handiwork!

One: God’s voice goes out through all the earth,

All. God’s words to the end of the world.

One: Yet too often we do not listen, God’s voice is not heard.

All: Too often we defile God's temple, we worship other idols.

One: God, open our ears that we might know your Glory,

All: and our eyes that we might receive your word! 

All: Let us worship God!             

          Exodus 20:1-17, Psalm 19

                  Call to Celebration by K. K. Hudson- Bates

Litany for Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year B

Call to Worship for Fourth Sunday in Lent, 2015

One: O, give thanks to God, for God is good.

All: God’s steadfast love endures forever.

One: As some became sick through their sinful ways,

All: And because of their iniquities, endured affliction,

One: They cried out to God, and God saved them and healed them.

All: Let us offer thanksgiving and sing songs of joy! Amen.

         from Psalm 107

                  Call to Celebration by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year B

Fifth Sunday in Lent, 2015
One: God, you make a new covenant with us.
All: You put your law within each of us.
One: You write it on our hearts.
All: You are our God and we are your people.
One: Let us worship God.
All: Amen.
          Jeremiah 31:31-34
                Call to Celebration by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for Second Sunday of Easter, 2015

Call to Worship for Second Sunday of Easter
One: With great power the apostles gave their testimony,
All: and great grace was upon them all.
One: They lived in community,
All: without a needy person among them.
One: Let us follow their example, each of us to the best of our ability.
All: With grace, let us share what we have and testify to God's love.
All: We worship together with one heart and one soul. Amen.
         Acts 4:32-35
              Call to Celebration by K. K. Hudson-Bates 

Litany for Proper 21, Season after Pentecost, 2015

Call to Worship for Proper 21, Year B

One: God hears us when we call.

All: When we are disturbed, let us pray to God,

One: For God brings us peace of mind. 

All: When we are joyful, let us sing songs of praise!

One: For then, God rejoices with us.

All: Let us put our trust in God. Amen.

        From James 5:13-20 and Psalm 4

                Call to Celebration by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for the Third Sunday of Easter, 2015

Call to Worship for Third Sunday of Easter, Year B

One: Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."

All: They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost.

One: He said to them, "Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; 

All: Yet, in their joy they were still disbelieving and wondering.

One: Then, in their presence he ate and he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.

All: Let us open our hearts and minds to worship God. Amen.

             From Luke 24:36b-48

                   Call to Celebration by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, 2015

Call to Worship for Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year B

One: The priests asked Peter, "By what power or by what name did you heal this man?"

All: And Peter said, "This man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth."

One: Those who do what is true come to the light,

All: So that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.

One: All of the people praised God for what had happened. 

All: For the man on whom this sign of healing had been performed was now standing before them, fully healed. Let us worship God!

         From Acts 4:5-12 and John 3:16-24

              Call to Celebration by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, 2015

Call to Worship for the Fifth Sunday of Easter

One: In today's scripture, Philip is sent to speak with an Ethiopian court official.

All: Philip proclaims good news to the official,

One: and the official is overjoyed.

All: Let us likewise share Jesus' good news,

One: good news for a world crying out in need,

All: a world that is suffering and trapped by fear.

One: May we, like Philip, and like Jesus, respond to God's call.

All: We lift our hearts and voices to worship God!

         From Acts 8:26-40

                   Call to Worship by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for First Sunday in Lent, Year B

Call to Worship for 2015-02-22

One: In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee.

All: He was baptized by John in the Jordan.

One: And just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, 

All: He saw the heavens torn apart, and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.

One: A voice came from heaven saying, 

All: "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

One: And so Jesus began proclaiming the Good News saying, 

All: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near." 

       Let us worship God together. Amen.

               Mark 9:1-15

                      Call to Worship by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for Fifth Sunday After Epiphany, Year B

Call to Worship for 2015-02-08

One: Sing praises to God,

All: for God gathers the outcasts of Israel.

One: God heals the brokenhearted

All: and binds up their wounds.

One: And through Jesus, God cures the sick 

All: and casts out demons.

One: God lifts up the downtrodden

All: and covers the heavens with clouds, preparing rain for the earth.

One: Praise be to God! 

All: Make a melody to our God on the lyre.

All: Let us join our hearts in worship.

              From Mark 1:29-39

                       Call to Worship by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for Epiphany, Baptism of the Lord - Year A

One: We remember the story of Jesus' baptism, when the heavens were opened to him,

All: And he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.

One: When the voice from heaven said, 

All: "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."

One: We remember the many times Jesus went out to quiet places to pray,

All: With Jesus as our example, we pray that we may learn to open our souls,

       that we might know God's touch in our own lives. Amen.

                 From Matthew 3:13-17

                          Call to Worship by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for Third Sunday in Epiphany, Year C

One: Jesus says God's spirit has anointed him to bring good news to the poor,

All: release to the captives and freedom for the oppressed.

One: but, Jesus also calls us.

All: How can we be a part of this movement begun by Jesus?

One: We pray for open ears, that we might better listen, 

All: to each other and for Jesus' call to us.

One: We pray for open hearts to engage in the passion of Jesus' ministry,

All: and for open minds that we might grow in our understanding.

       Let us join our hearts and ears and minds in worship.

                  From Luke 4:14-21

                          Call to Worship by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Note about recent litanies

Our church has not been following the lectionary as much recently, so my litanies have been really jumping around the lectionary... Sorry.

Litany for Proper 6, Year C

Call to Worship for 4th Sunday After Pentecost

Proper 6, Year C

One: As we read in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus was once approached by a woman burdened by her own sins.

All: And as Jesus forgave her sins, she was overwhelmed with gratefulness.

One: Jesus tells us he is anointed to bring good news to the poor,

All: and to let the oppressed go free.

One: What does he mean? 

All: What does Jesus want us to do?

One: We pray for open hearts,

All: that we might more fully engage in the passion of Jesus' ministry,

One: and for open minds that we might grow in our understanding.

All: Let us join our hearts and minds in worship.

             reference from Luke 7:36-50

                   Call to Worship by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for the First Sunday After Christmas, Year C

First Sunday After Christmas, Year C

One: The gospel of Luke tells us about Jesus as a child, 

All: how he was so eager to learn from teachers at the temple that he got left behind.

One: Later in Luke, we hear parables told by the adult Jesus,

All: parables, such as The Good Samaritan, that teach a new way of thinking.

One: But we wonder, why did Jesus teach with parables? 

All: What did he want us to learn?

One: We pray for open minds, that we might grow in our understanding.

All: Let us join our hearts in worship.

            From Luke 2:41-52

                    Call to Worship by K. K. Hudson-Bates

Litany for Year C Proper 15

From Lectionary Year C Proper 15 - for Sunday after All Saints Day

One: For all the saints, who from their labor rest,

All: Who Thee by faith before the world confessed.

One: By faith, Noah built an ark to save his household.

All: And by faith, Abraham obeyed, living in tents in an unknown land.

One: By faith, Moses led the people out of Egypt,

All: And by faith the saints of our own church have been Christ's hands in our community.

One: We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses!

All: We pray that we may also run with perseverance the race that is set before us. Amen.

                    From Hebrews 11:7-12:2

Litany for 2014-12-28

Call to Worship for December 28, 2014

One: In the beginning was the Word, And the Word was with God,

All: And the Word was God.

One: All things came into being through the Word.

All: What has come into being through the Word was life,

One: And the life was the light of all people.

All: The Word became flesh and lived among us,

One: And through Christ we have seen God's glory and experienced joy.

All: May the words of our mouths always be a light for those around us.      

                     from John 1:1-18

                           Call to Celebration by K. K. Hudson-Bates