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Preparation for Worship
Songs: Ask yourself and the people who will be worshipping with you (kids included), “What are some of the songs we sing that focus on God welcoming us?” Play them on Spotify, sing them a cappella, or create your own instrumental arrangement.
Bible: You will need a Bible to read from the scriptures. You can use this doc or your phone as well, but I’d recommend using an actual Bible.
This week’s liturgy is based on the following texts:
Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18, Romans 6:12-23, Matthew 10:40-42.
You can decide who will lead the different movements of this gathering. It would be great for every person to have a part.
Gathering
Gathering Words
In the Bible, in Matthew 18:20, the scripture says, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I’m there with them.” We believe that the church is not a building. The church is made up of people. So, we have gathered here in the spaces in which we live to be the church. We will worship God together. We trust that God is here with us, and God is at work among us.
Call to Worship
We will sing of the tender mercies of the Lord forever!
We will tell everyone we meet about God’s faithfulness to all generations!
We will declare that God’s love stands firm,
That God’s faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens above!
Blessed are those who hear the joyful call to worship,
For they will walk in the light of God’s presence.
Come, let us worship this great God!
Song of Praise
Sing one song that focuses on giving thanks to God and God’s work in the world.
Some suggestions:
For other song ideas click here.
Psalm Reading
The psalmist writes,
I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever;
with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
2 For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever;
in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”
3 You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one;
I have sworn to David my servant:
4 ‘I will establish your offspring forever,
and build your throne for all generations.’” Selah
Song of Response
Prayer of Preparation
God of our fathers and mothers—
of all the generations who have come before us—
holy is your name.
We gather in awe of your presence.
The faithful love you have shown toward your people,
And the many blessings You have given to us are unceasing.
Your promises are eternal.
Your word is trustworthy.
Open our ears, O God, as we seek to hear from you.
Continue to reveal Yourself to us.
Open our eyes that we may see you here among us.
For surely, you are with us in this place.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray.
Amen.
Listening
(The time of listening is a series of reading the scripture, re-telling the story, and paying attention to where God is stirring your hearts as you listen. Invite everyone to listen to the words of the scriptures and to be ready to re-tell the story.)
Hear the New Testament reading from Romans chapter 6.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Hear the gospel reading from Matthew chapter 10.
40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. 41 The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”
Re-Telling
Start with the New Testament reading, what was said in that reading? Go around the circle and try to retell the text from memory. Turn to the Gospel reading. Retell that text from memory.
Paying Attention
What words or phrases grab your attention?
Do these texts seem to be in conversation with each other? Is there something about both texts that are similar? Where do they differ?
What is challenging about these texts? What is comforting about these texts?
What will we carry into this week from this text?
What can we pray for this week?
Responding
Prayers of the People
Prayer is a conversation with God. We join our hearts and voices to offer our prayers to God.
Leader: Let us bring the needs of the church, the world, and all in need to God’s loving care saying: Hear our prayer.
O God, Enliven the church for its mission. That we may be salt of the earth and light to the world. Breathe fresh life into your people.
God of love and mercy
All: Hear our Prayer
Leader: God, Our Creator, lead us and all people into ways of justice and peace, that we may respect one another in freedom, love, and truth.
God of love and mercy
All: Hear our Prayer
Leader: God of Truth, inspire with your wisdom those whose decisions affect the lives of others, that all may act with integrity and courage.
God of love and mercy
All: Hear our Prayer
Leader: God of Hope, comfort and restore all who are sick and suffering in body, mind, or spirit. May they know the power of your healing power.
God of love and mercy
All: Hear our Prayer
Leader: Eternal God, you created us by your power and redeem us by your love. Guide and strengthen us by your Spirit, that our prayers for ourselves and others may serve your will and show your steadfast love.
God of love and mercy
All: Hear our Prayer
Leader: And now we pray together the prayer you taught us to pray saying,
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.
Sending
Benediction
People of God, Go now, and live before God in love and integrity.
Set your minds on the ways of God,
not clinging to your own life,
but taking up your cross and following Jesus.
And may God give you the grace and courage to live as he has called you;
May Christ Jesus your guide in all things;
And may the Holy Spirit strengthen you in faith
and lead you in the ways of righteousness.
We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
In the name of Christ. Amen.
Closing Song
Living Room Liturgist 