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