A Collection of Litanies and Prayers
based on the Biblical Texts
Litanies and Prayers are posted as pdf files. Please feel free to use and adapt, giving credit to Katherine Hawker. Most of the referenced texts are included in the Revised Common Lectionary. The entire (32) page text, "Litanies based on Biblical Texts", may also be downloaded as a pdf file.
Chapter Titles/Links (Chapters are described in more detail below.)
Gensis Exodus-Leviticus-Joshua-Judges 1-2 Samuel 1-2 Kings Nehemiah-Job Psalms Isaiah-Jeremiah Jonah-Micah-Joel-Habbakuk Matthew Mark Luke John Acts-Corinthians-Hebrews James-John-Revelation
Chapter Titles with Detail
Genesis 1:1 - In the Beginning Genesis 11 and Acts 2 - Babel Genesis - Patriarchs Genesis 19 - Parable of the Sower meets Lot in Sodom Genesis 19:24-26 - Salt - various texts Genesis 32 - Wrestling Genesis 45 - Broken hearts
EXODUS-LEVITICUS-JOSHUA-JUDGES
Exodus - Moses Stories Exodus 14 - Crossing the Sea Exodus 16 - Promised Land Exodus 20 and Matthew 22- Ten Commandments Leviticus 2:13 - see Genesis 19:24-26- Salt Joshua 24 - As for me and my houseÉ Judges 9:45 - see Genesis 19:24-26- Salt
1 Samuel 1- Hannah's Prayer 1 Samuel 17 and Mark 4:35-41 - Jesus/David 1 Samuel 17:1-58 - Strength - various texts 1 and 2 Samuel - David Stories
1 Kings 8:41-43 and John 6:59ff - Give to them 1 Kings 17-18 -Elijah 1 Kings 19 - Seeking God 2 Kings 2:19-22 - see Genesis 19:24-26 -Salt 2 Kings 5 - Naaman's Story
Nehemiah 8 - The Book Job 1-2 - "beware the sons of god" Job 38 - God Beyond our Knowing
Psalm 8 - with quotes from Thich Nhat Hanh Psalm 22:1-5 - My God, My God Psalm 23 - Contemporary Responses Psalm 66 - Awesome God
Isaiah 2:4 and Mark 13:8 - Swords and Plowshares Isaiah 2:1-5, 11:1-10, 35:1-10, and 7:10-16 - Advent Isaiah 40:21-31 - Eagles' Wings Isaiah 43 - We are Witnesses Isaiah 61 - see Luke 4 Jeremiah 1 and Acts 9 - Welcoming Examples Jeremiah 29 - Shalom Jeremiah 33 - see Zephaniah 3- Advent Prayer
Jonah - Undesirable Calls Micah 4:3 - see Isaiah 2:4 Micah 5 - see Zephaniah 3- Advent Prayer Joel 3:10 - see Isaiah 2:4 Joel 2:28-29 and "Send Down" (Marty Haugen) Habakkuk 2:1-4 - Write the Vision Zephaniah 3 and Jer 33, Bar 5, Mic 5 - Advent Prayer Baruch 5 - see Zephaniah 3 - Advent Prayer
Matthew - Parables Matthew 5 - see 1 Samuel 17:1-58 - Strength Matthew 6:9-13 - see Luke 11:2-4 - Lord's Prayer Matthew 6:25-27 - Birds of the Air Matthew 9:9-13- Jesus Calls Matthew 10:34 -Swords and Plowshares Matthew 10:40 - Whoever Welcomes Matthew 11:15-17 - Listen Matthew 13:1ff and Luke 8:4ff, Mark 4:1ff Matthew 13:3-9 - see Genesis 19 - Sower meets Lot Matthew 13:31 - Litany of Parables Matthew 15:21-28 - see Mark 7:24-30 Matthew 16:13-20 - see Mark 8:27-33 Matthew 16:25 (also Mark 8:35) - Losing One's Life Matthew 17:1-6- Transfiguration Matthew 18 - Bound - Reflection Matthew 18 - Bound - Litany Matthew 18:21-35 - Forgiven and Unforgiving Matthew 20:1-16 - Vineyard Labor Matthew 20:1-16 (with echoes of Micah 6:8) Matthew 18:1-3 -Greatness - Matt 23:12, Luke 14, 10 Matthew 22:1-10 - Wedding Banquet Matthew 22 - see Exodus 20 - Ten Commandments Matthew 22:34-40 -Mk 12, Lk 10 - Commands Matthew 23:1-11 - see Matthew 18:1-3 - Greatness Matthew 23:12 - Searching for Greatness Matthew 25:1-13 - Ten Lamps Matthew 25:14-30 - Talent Matthew 25:31-46 - Looking for Christ
Mark 1:40-45 - Make me Clean Mark 2:1-12 - Empowering, Enabling God Mark 4:1ff - see Matthew 13:1ff Mark 4:3-9 - see Genesis 19 - Sower meets Lot Mark 4:31 - Mustard Seed Mark 4:35-41 - see 1 Samuel 17 Mark 6:30ff - Sabbath Rest Mark 7:24-30 and Matthew 15:21-28 - Uppity Woman Mark 8:27-33 - ÒWho do you say?Ó Mark 9:1-8 - see Matthew 17:1-6- Transfiguration Mark 9:30-37 - First and Last Mark 9:49-50 - Salt, Invocation Mark 9:49-50 - Salt, Dedication Mark 10 - Treasure Mark 10:4-52 - Beggar Cries Mark 12:28-34 - see Matthew 22:34-40 Mark 12:38 - Two Copper Coins Mark 13:8 - see Isaiah 2:4
Luke 3:17- Winnowing Luke 4:21-30 - Joseph's Boy Luke 4 and Isaiah 61 - Spirit of the Lord Luke 6 - Beatitudes Luke 6 - see 1 Samuel 17:1-58 - Strength Luke 7 - Drop of Water Luke 8:4-8 - see Genesis 19 -Sower meets Lot Luke 8:4 - see Matthew 13:1ff Luke 9:18-22 - see Mark 8:27-33 - ÒWho do you say?Ó Luke 9:28-36 - see Matthew 17:1-6 - Transfiguration Luke 10 - Luggage Luke 10:25-37 - Preoccupied and Helpless Luke 10:25ff - see Matthew 22:34-40 Luke 11:2-4 (and Matthew 6:9-13)- Lord's Prayer Luke 12:51 - see Matthew 10:34 Luke 14:7-10 - see Matthew 18:1-3 -Greatness Luke 16 - Masters Luke 18:9-14 - see Matthew 18:1-3 -Greatness Luke 21 and Acts 4 - Dueling Motives (Starhawk) Luke 24 - Sacred Texts, Call to Worship Luke 24 - Sacred Texts, Prayer of Dedication
John 1 - In the Beginning, Choral Reading John 3:1-17 - God Loves the World John 6:1-15 - Loaves and Fish, Scarcity Redeemed John 6:59ff - see 1 Kings 8:41-43 John 13:34-35 - Commanded to Love John 14:15-21 - Jesus as the Boy Next Door John 15:1-8 - Abide in Me John 15:1-8 - We are the Vines John 21:15-19 - Feed My Children, 1 John 21:15-19 - Feed my Children, 2
ACTS- CORINTHIANS - COLOSSIANS - HEBREWS
Acts 2 - see Genesis 11 Acts 4 - see Luke 21 Acts 9 - see Jeremiah 1 1 Corinthians 1 - Community 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 - Knowing and Understanding 1 Corinthians 13 - for congregational reading
Colossians 4:6 - see Genesis 19:24-26 - Salt Hebrews 11 - Faith IsÉ James 1:18 - World is Heavy James 2 - Come, Come, Come James 5 - Suffering or Cheerful or Sick 1 John 4:7 - Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer 1 John 4:7 - Beloved, Let us Love Revelation 1:4 - Grace to You and Peace