leadinginworship

Eternity Sunday Call to Worship

Our call to worship is Psalm 119:50

This is my comfort in my distress,
   that your promise gives me life.

Let’s pray:
We come to worship you, God,
and we long for comfort.
In your arms, this morning,
can our distress subside?
In the name of Jesus,
you hold us as your children
and you promise us life,
life eternal, life with you.
May these promises
guide our thoughts and our prayers
this morning. Amen

Call to Worship for a Virtual Service

Our call to worship is from Micah 6:8

God has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God? 

Let’s pray:

It is good to be together, God,
on these screens, with these people,
together listening for your voice,
united by your Spirit.
In this time of worship
tell us about your kingdom of kindness
so that we can seek it.
Show us your justice.
We want to walk with you,
humbly, closely, daily.

Easter Pandemic Prayer

Jesus died.
He was buried.
On the third day
he rose.
Thank you, God,
for hope
when hope was lost
and for life
when death had won.
In these pandemic times
when so many
are suffering and dying
resurrect within our world
the faith and hope and love
we need to survive.
This Easter,
accept our humble hosannas,
which are linked
with our deepest prayers
for relief from this virus.
Healer of our every ill,
we need you now.
With Christians around the world
and the angels in heaven
we proclaim the mystery of our faith;
Christ has died,
Christ is risen,
Christ will come again.

Tender Call to Worship

Our call to worship comes from Luke 1:78-79

By the tender mercy of our God,
   the dawn from on high will break upon us,
 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
   to guide our feet into the way of peace.’   [NRSV]

Let’s pray:

Merciful God:
We come together to worship longing for tenderness
because this world can be hard.
We come longing for light
because our lives are crowded with shadows.
We come desperately needing direction.
Fill us this morning with your peace:
your spirit is our peace and our path.

Call to Worship Micah 6:8

Our call to worship is from Micah 6:8:
                God has told you, O mortal, what is good;
                and what does the Lord require of you
                but to do justice, and to love kindness,
                and to walk humbly with your God? 

Let’s pray:

It is good to be together, God,
in this place, with these people, at this time,
together listening for your voice.
In this hour of worship
tell us about your kingdom of kindness
so that we can seek it.
Show us your justice.
We want to walk with you,
humbly, closely, daily.
Amen.

Free Call to Worship: John 8:32

Our call to worship is from John 8:32

“If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples;
and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:32

God of heaven and earth,
we long to be truly free.
In this hour of worship,
help us to grasp the freedom that comes 
from seeing you more clearly,
loving you more dearly,
and following you more nearly.
Day by day, give us strength and courage
to be your people in this time, in this place.  Amen.

Journey Call to Worship

God of the open road,
God of the twisting path,
God of the narrow and upward way,
your people are gathered for worship!
In this hour, give us provision for the journey,
courage and faith and compassion,
and endurance to face any hardship.
Open our eyes to see you walking beside us,
protecting us, encouraging us, loving us.
We pray this in the name of Jesus,
who moves us, Amen

And now...Call to Worship

And now bless the God of all,
who everywhere works great wonders,
who fosters our growth from birth,
   and deals with us according to his mercy.
May he give us gladness of heart,
   and may there be peace in our days
   in Israel, as in the days of old.
May he entrust to us his mercy,
   and may he deliver us in our days!  Ecclesiasticus 50:22-24 

And now we come to worship.
And now we are gathered as one.
And now we turn our hearts.
And now we bless the God of all,
who everywhere works great wonders.
Great God, we long for your deliverance
from this world's sorrows and troubles:
in your mercy give us gladness and peace, Amen.

Holy Day Call to Worship

This morning, God,
we want everything to be for your glory.
We want our thoughts, our words, our songs,
our church, our community,
our resources, our time, our lives--
all to be for you.
Everything ours is yours,
and we come together to declare this to be so,
on this Sunday, your holy day.
Bless our time together with your holy presence, Amen

 

Delightful Call to Worship

God, let this be a fruitful day!
In this hour of worship,
open our eyes to beauty,
tune our ears to harmony.
The fragrance of your love
permeating every moment.
The touch of your hand
guiding all we do.
Together, we want to taste with delight
the joy of your presence here today.

In the Name of Christ Litany

1.          In the name of Christ, First Born of all Creation,
2.          in the name of Jesus, the Second Adam, born of Mary,
3.          in the name of Immanuel, the Nazarene, who lived among us, 
1.          in the name of Christ, the Baptized One, first in obedience,
2.          in the name of Jesus, Wilderness Dweller, tried and tested,
3.          in the name of Immanuel, Word of Love for all people,
1.          in the name of Christ, Healer of our Every Ill,
2.          in the name of Jesus, Welcomer of Children,
3.          in the name of Immanuel, Beloved Teacher,
1.          in the name of Christ, Transfigured Son of God,
2.          in the name of Jesus, Bread of Life for the whole word,
3.          in the name of Immanuel, Bearer of our Sins, even unto death,
1.          in the name of Christ, the Resurrected One,
2.         in the name of Jesus, First Born from the Dead,
3.         in the name of Immanuel, the Morning Star,
                    seated at the right hand of God,
All:      in the power of these holy names we stand.
1.         Lies be gone, you cannot stay, Christ reigns here.
2.        Shame be gone, you cannot stay, Jesus reigns here.
3.        Hate be gone, you cannot stay, Immanuel reigns here.
1.        Where Christ reigns, there is on earth peace.
2.        Where Jesus reigns, there is on earth love.
3.        Where Immanuel reigns, there is on earth hope.
All:     Christ reigns here!
1.         Amen!
2.        Amen!
3.        Amen!

Jesus is Coming Palm Sunday Call to Worship

Do not be afraid, Jesus is coming!
Jesus is coming to parties where people celebrate.
Jesus is coming to hillsides where people listen.
Jesus is coming to sickrooms where people suffer.
Jesus is coming to an occupied territory where people long to be free.
Today we join with crowds
cheering for the heir of David on the road to Jerusalem.
Our hearts cry, “Hosanna,” as we meet Jesus in worship today.
“Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.”

God our Provider Call to Worship Prayer

God our Provider,
we walked into church today
needing you in different ways.
Some of us need strength
because we are facing a big challenge.
Some of us need hope,
because we are feel like giving up.
Some of us need love
because we are feeling alone.
We trust that you will provide for us,
whether through words or music,
or in a quiet moment of reflection.
You are here,
you are with us.
Amen.

Beauty of Holiness Call to Worship

Come, worship the Lord
in the beauty of holiness.
Holiness present in the silent pulse
of the earth beneath us.
Holiness present in the beating
of the sun and stars.
Holiness present in the chorus of life,
breathing together, even here in this room.
God of creation,
open us to the beauty in and around us
in this hour of worship

Open Call to Worship - Responsive

Open our ears
to hear your word.             
Open our eyes            
to see your presence.
Open our arms
to the embrace of community.
Open our minds
to the beauty of truth.
Open our hearts
to the joy of new life.

Longing for Peace Call to Worship

Welcome to worship 
at this turn of the season. 
As the temperatures dip
we gather in the warmth
of God’s presence,
as the darkness grows
we seek Gods light,
as the earth rests from its labours
we long for God’s peace.
Come, let us worship the Lord!

Easter Morning Call to Worship

Early in the morning we come to you, Lord,
with gratefulness and wonder,
with awe at your power to save us.
This morning we want to follow the women to the tomb.
We want to hear the surprising words, “He is not here!”
We want to kneel before Christ with joy and thankfulness.
And we want to leave here bursting with good tidings of great joy
which shall be for all people.
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Shining Call to Worship

Great God of heaven and earth;
we come to sing of your mighty power this morning,
your wisdom, your goodness, your strength flaming out.
We come to give thanks for great gifts.
This morning, we ask that you would resurrect us,
opening us petal by petal, with your shining love,
warming us into life
even in the places where we feel cold and dead.
Shine in our hearts, Lord Jesus!

 

Good Friday Darkness Call to Worship

God of grace,
we have dragged ourselves to church with heavy hearts.
We are reluctant to hear this story of Jesus’ suffering,
we would rather skip this somber day and go straight to Easter.
We long for happy hymns that speak of your victory over death.
But that is not for today.
Help us, today, to stay with Jesus,
to watch as he is handed over and condemned,
to not turn away as he is tortured and killed.
He will love us to the end.
On this day where the sins of the world are gathered,
and the sorrow of a Saviour breaks our hearts,
we turn to you.
Hold us in this Good Friday darkness.
We pray this in the precious name of Jesus, Amen.

Upright Call to Worship

Our call to worship is from Psalm 68:8-9:
"Bless our God, O people,
let the sound of God’s praise be heard,
who has kept us among the land of the living,
and has not let our feet slip."

Let's pray:
Here we are Lord,
filled with life and breath,
citizens in the land of the living,
by your grace.
You know our paths,
and the help we will need
to keep our feet firm.
In this time of worship,
equip us to be your upright followers,
in Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.