Pentecost Year C
Call to Worship
Written for the Union Church UCC of Tekonsha, July 9, 1995. Copyright Katherine Hawker.
From fears that paralyze us;
Heal us, O Lord.
From illness that strangles us;
Heal us, O Lord.
From sorrows that weigh us down;
Heal us, O Lord.
From aimlessness that plagues our visions;
Heal us, O Lord.
Call to Worship
Written for Evangelical United Church of Christ, 1998. Copyright Katherine Hawker.
accepting jesus
harsh words of challenge
unreserved generosity
grieving in the garden.
accepting jesus
accepting those who love jesus
auburn, blond and black
scrambling and comfortable
zealous and thoughtful.
accepting jesus
accepting those who love jesus
accepting the god whom jesus loved
passion
power
presence.
let us so love.
Written for the Union Church UCC of Tekonsha, July 1995. Copyright Katherine Hawker.
Call to Worship
Holy God of wind and fire;
Dance through this room today.
Holy God of earthquakes and illness;
Share our tears of sadness and pain.
Holy God of creation and new beginnings;
Show us again your vision of healing and wholeness.
Written for the Union Church UCC of Tekonsha, July 1995. Copyright Katherine Hawker.
Call to Worship
Your people come from many places with different stories to tell;
Show us your steadfast love, O Lord.
Your people come weighed down with their unique bundle of burdens;
Restore us again, O God.
Your people come ready to hear your word proclaimed anew;
Revive us again, so that we may rejoice in You.
Written for the Union Church UCC of Tekonsha, August 1995. Copyright Katherine Hawker.
Call to Worship
We come with our fears about our jobs, our families, our community.
"Come now, let us talk this over," says Yahweh.
We come with our weariness from trying to be all things to all people.
"Come now, let us talk this over," says Yahweh.
We come with our doubts that God even listens to our problems anymore.
"Come now, let us talk this over," says Yahweh.
And so we come.
Invocation
Based upon Hebrews 11. Written for Evangelical United Church of Christ. Copyright Katherine Hawker.
Now faith is
the assurance of things hoped for,
the conviction of things not seen.
We come convinced of many things
but trusting very few.
Holy God of limitless surprises,
meet us here
in this place
as we touch that which we can not see
that which we have not dared to hope.
Invocation
Written for Evangelical United Church of Christ, 1998. Copyright Katherine Hawker.
We bring swords
that you turn into plowshares.
We bring expectations of peace
and you meet us with swords.
God
help us.
Copyright Katherine Hawker.
Call to Worship
Jeremiah was just a young inexperienced boy when he heard God’s call to preach.
ALL ARE WELCOME HERE.
Jesus shared supper with the undesireables in his community.
ALL ARE WELCOME HERE.
Paul was attacking Christians when God spoke to him and changed his life.
ALL ARE WELCOME HERE.
Collect
With different gifts and varied dreams, we come to worship.
We have lost our trust, misplaced our faith, and forgotten our vision.
Yet God welcomes us in this place and enables us to welcome one another.
May we feel the love of God as we worship together. Amen.
Prayer of Dedication
May we dedicate our lives to searching for your treasures, loving God.
Bless these coins we bring today as we prepare to go forth and seek the coins still missing.
Amen.
Copyright Katherine Hawker.
Call to Worship
We come with thanksgiving for the wonders of this warm and sunny season.
Let us praise the God of the harvest.
We come with anticipation for all that lies ahead at home, at church, and in our community.
Let us praise the God of the banquet.
We come with joy in the knowledge that the Spirit remains constant through the seasons of life.
Let us praise the God of the seasons.
Let us sing our praise to God!
Written for Evangelical United Church of Christ, 1998. Copyright Katherine Hawker.
Call to Worship
I come with a hammer.
You come with nail.
He comes with a board.
She comes with plans.
Together we will build a house.
Litany
Hammers can build up... and tear down.
May our work foster the growth of your kindom, O God.
Words can heal… and wound.
May our speech proclaim your love, O God.
Rituals can comfort… and bore.
May our worship reflect your glory, O God.
Based upon Luke 16. Written for Evangelical United Church of Christ, 1998. Copyright Katherine Hawker.
Invocation
Masters,
two and more,
competing for our money
clamoring for our time
creating chaos in our lives.
Master,
one God,
quiet us and draw us near.
Prayer of Dedication
Knowing that many voices clamor and compete,
we pray that these offerings given
may become symbolic of our decision
to serve one master, one God.
Based upon Jeremiah 29. Written for Evangelical United Church of Christ, 1998. Copyright Katherine Hawker.
Litany of Confession and Assurance
But thus says the Lord:
Seek shalom wherever you are, and pray to the Lord
for your shalom shall be found in the shalom of the community.
We find ourselves in exile caused by relationships, economics, and failing health.
But thus says the Lord:
Seek shalom wherever you are, and pray to the Lord
for your shalom shall be found in the shalom of the community.
We feel used by people and systems, sometimes even abused.
But thus says the Lord:
Seek shalom wherever you are, and pray to the Lord
for your shalom shall be found in the shalom of the community.
We thirst for God's promised justice through swift vengeance.
But thus says the Lord:
Seek shalom wherever you are, and pray to the Lord
for your shalom shall be found in the shalom of the community.
We strive to protect our families and our interests from any wrath.
But thus says the Lord:
Seek shalom wherever you are, and pray to the Lord
for your shalom shall be found in the shalom of the community.
We long for the day when passive peace will prevail.
But thus says the Lord:
Seek shalom wherever you are, and pray to the Lord
for your shalom shall be found in the shalom of the community.
May our actions embody our prayers
for the healing of the community
and therein may we find our long awaited wholeness.
Amen.
Pentecost +21 C - Reformation Sunday
Written for Evangelical United Church of Christ, 1998. Copyright Katherine Hawker.
Litany of Confession and Promise
Our youth offer prophesy of challenge and judgement,
We nod politely with clenched teeth and closed eyes.
Invited to dream dreams,
We prefer the familiarity of the past.
Winds of vision swirl around us,
We close the windows and bolt the doors.
Even on us,
Even here,
The Spirit will pour forth.
Come, Holy Spirit, Come.
Based Habakkuk. Written for Evangelical United Church of Christ, 1998. Copyright Katherine Hawker.
Invocation (paraphrase of Habakkuk 2:1-4)
Write the vision,
make it plain
so that it may be read.
For there is still a vision
it speaks of the day of the Lord
and does not lie.
If it seems to tarry,
Wait;
For surely it will come.
Litany of Confession
For ignoring the vision
breathed by the living Spirit
churning deep within our souls;
Lord have mercy,
Lord have mercy,
Have mercy upon us.
For refusing to look at the vision
alive within those
who look or act or sound different from us;
Christ have mercy,
Christ have mercy,
Have mercy upon us.
For choosing familiarity, ease, and comfort
rather than risking the opportunities
afforded in the vision
Lord have mercy,
Lord have mercy,
Have mercy upon us.
Invitation to Pardon
If the vision seems to tarry
wait for it;
it will surely come…
it will surely come…
Written for Evangelical United Church of Christ, 1998. Copyright Katherine Hawker.
Litany of Confession
We are too often stuck in the past,
nursing old wounds, rehearsing sins of long ago
allowing our visions for today and tomorrow to be stalled.
Lord have mercy,
Lord have mercy,
Have mercy upon us.
We are gathering into barns (and bank accounts)
preparing educationally, spiritually, and emotionally for the future;
denying the pleasure of life today with eyes focused on tomorrow.
Christ have mercy,
Christ have mercy,
Have mercy upon us.
We are so intent on caring for our nuclear families
we miss the presence of Christ in the homeless, the aging, the vulnerable
who live just outside our doors.
Lord have mercy,
Lord have mercy,
Have mercy upon us.
Written for Evangelical United Church of Christ, 1998. Copyright Katherine Hawker.
Call to Worship
Soft summer rain falling on parched earth
Waters of God, flow down upon us.
Torrential floods ripping lives into pieces
Waters of God, have mercy upon us.
Soaking waters which nourish the seed
Waters of God, replenish us.
Litany of Confession
For refusing to hear you cry
pouring forth in Honduras and Nicaragua,
Lord have mercy,
Lord have mercy,
Have mercy upon us.
For refusing to hold your hand
held out by the neighbor across the aisle,
Christ have mercy,
Christ have mercy,
Have mercy upon us.
For refusing to wipe your tears
falling on the face of our parent, our child, our partner,
Lord have mercy,
Lord have mercy,
Have mercy upon us.
Written for Evangelical United Church of Christ, October 2001. Copyright Katherine Hawker.
Call to Worship
The Word of God is planted in our hearts.
May our hearts be receptive to the Word.
The Love of God rains down on us.
May our souls soak in the wonder of God’s love.
The Breathe of Godde blows softly within us.
May our minds be stirred by the power of God’s spirit.