This coming Sunday, we are beginning a worship series on Jesus’ disciples–so I’m starting it off with the call stories in Matthew 4:18-22 and 9:9.  The idea in the first responsive line in the call to worship is to have each person say his or her own name. This will take some prior explanation by the worship leader, so we’ll see how it goes. (And yes, I know, I ended a sentence with a preposition. Thus the following prayer of confession 🙂

Call to Worship:

Jesus comes along side us and calls us by name:
“[your name], follow me.”
A simple call. A hard call.
Because following requires leaving.
And we look around to see who else Jesus could be talking to.
And we look around to see the trappings of the life we know.
It’s hard to leave our nets and walk away from the lake.
But we have come this far,
to this place
where we can listen
and be transformed.

Prayer of Confession:

Christ Jesus,
We hear your invitation: “Follow me.”
And we want to follow,
but we also want to stay where we are.
We want to receive what you offer,
but we also want to cling to what we already have.
And so we are stuck.

[silence]

Holy One,
Calm our fears.
Forgive our selfishness.
Loosen our grip and liven our feet.

Assurance of Pardon (from Matthew 11:28-29)

Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” May your souls rest in the assurance that, through Jesus Christ, you are forgiven.