Call to Worship–Psalm 46

Call to Worship (based on Psalm 46): The earth shakes, the mountains quake — tempting our hearts to fear. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Storms rage, winds swirl–destroying schools, hospitals, homes. Still, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Violence comes to light…

Prayer for Moore, Oklahoma

Almighty Creator, We come before you in shock, in brokenness, in sorrow, in the wake of the mighty winds that devastated schools and hospital, homes and businesses; in the wake of this tragedy that has shifted the earth beneath our feet. We come before you because the tide of our grief roars and foams and…

Preparing for Pentecost

Here is an excerpt from a Pentecost sermon I preached a couple of years ago. You might also be interested in this Call to Worship and Benediction written for Pentecost. – – – – – – – At one point Jesus says to the gathered believers, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift…

Call to Worship from 2 Peter 1:3-4

Continuing with the virtues from 2 Peter 1, here is this week’s call to worship: God’s divine power has given us everything everything we need for life everything we need for godliness everything we need. We are called by God’s glory. We are called by God’s goodness. And we are here receive God’s promises. God’s…

Call to Worship: Romans 5:1-5

At Peace this week, we will continue to talk about the virtues listed in 2 Peter 1. We’re on endurance/perseverance/patience. Our opening scripture is Romans 5:1-5, and here’s the call to worship that the passage inspired. In the midst of our failures, We stand in God’s grace. In the midst of our struggles, We boast…

Call to Worship for a Tragic Week

Sometimes, it’s just too much. The death and injuries caused by the bombs at the Boston marathon are heartbreaking. The talk of terrorist plots is deeply frightening–both because of what it means might happen to “us,” and what such talk might lead “us” to do to “them”–whoever “they” are. And then there was an earthquake…

Easter Calls to Worship

With Matthew  28:1-10 The earth is shaking. Are angels descending? The tomb is before us. Is the stone rolling back? It’s bright as lightning, blinding as the sun reflecting off of snow. Of course we are afraid. But we need not tremble. We need not become like the dead. Because the tomb is empty and…

Good Friday Worship

This is the Good Friday service I put together for this year. We will again be using a script put together by a church member that simply pulls out the dialog of the passion story. I find this to be a powerful reading, though it could be confusing for people unfamiliar with the story. You…