a community creating for the relentless return of Sunday
Come, Spirit of Truth,
and guide us in all truth.
As we read and meditate on this scripture,
help us hear and receive the Word of God,
for Christ’s glory. Amen.
submitted by Rev. Nathan Williams (he/him), Covenant Presbyterian Church, West Des Moines, IA
You raise your hand
and gently begin
the concerto of creation:
birds carry the melody
while stars keep the beat;
mountains dance in merriment
and little children clap
their hands with joy.
Love’s Composer,
our new songs are lifted to you.
The old, old song
is made new in our hearts:
Christ is Risen!
Sing Alleluia!
You invite us to sing to a world
deafened by despair
and haunted by the tunes of fear.
Lord of the Dance,
our new songs are lifted to you.
Believing we cannot
carry a tune,
we hesitate to join in
the chorus of praise
sung by all creation.
So, you softly and gently
hum the melody in our hearts
until they burst with you,
raising a rousing chorus
of Amazing Grace.
Music-making Spirit,
our new songs are lifted to you.
Every song, old and new, is offered to you,
God in Community, Holy in One,
even as we lift the prayer Jesus teaches,
Our Father . . .
Submitted by Rev. Thom Shuman, author of Lectionary Liturgies.
Living God,
speak to us anew of your love in Jesus Christ,
that we too might live in love every day
and show that love to all the world.
Amen.
Submitted by Rev. Andy James, First Presbyterian Church, Whitestone, NY
Yes…Sunday is relentless, isn’t it!? The season of Easter continues to wind it’s way towards Pentecost as we are also faced with milestones in the calendar that have become a part of our life together.
This is graduation time! Is your congregation doing anything special to recognize and celebrate graduates? Share your creative ideas here! How does your congregation handle the inevitable oozing of the sacred Hallmark holiday of Mother’s Day into your worship? What do you do (or don’t do) to celebrate and not alienate?
The Scriptures this week give us a chance to explore the call for the entire world to celebrate the goodness of God, who restores life as it is intended and brings justice to all the earth (Psalm 98), our responsibility to love one another in the same way that the Christ has loved (aka, loves) us (John 15:9-17), the truth that God speaks in and through whomever God chooses, despite our own preconceived notions to the contrary (Acts:10:44-48), and the undeniable life-ness and light-ness of God (1 John 5:1-6).
What are you doing with these Scriptures? How are you using them in worship? What creative avenues are you taking? Remember to share your thoughts and liturgy here!
recent comments