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 about God guiding us?” Play them on Spotify, sing them acapella, 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:
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26, Psalm 1, 1 John 5:9-13, John 17:6-19
You can decide who will lead the different movements of this gathering. It would be great for every person to have a part.
Gathering
Call to Worship
Leader: Come and celebrate!
Shout joyfully to the Lord, our God!
Glorify God with our praise!
All: Everything on earth will worship you, O God;
The whole earth will sing your praises,
shouting your name in joyful songs.
Leader: Come and see what our God has done,
what marvelous things God has done for us!
All: Let the whole world bless our God and sing God’s praise.
For our lives are in God’s hands,
and God keeps our feet from stumbling.
Leader: Come and celebrate! Let us worship God together!
Song of Praise
Sing one song that focuses on God’s love and God’s call.
Some suggestions:
Holy Spirit You are Welcome Here
He’s Alive, He’s Alive (for kids)
For other song ideas click here.
New Testament Reading
It says in 1 John chapter 5 (CEB), 9 If we receive human testimony, God’s testimony is greater, because this is what God testified: he has testified about his Son. 10 The one who believes in God’s Son has the testimony within; the one who doesn’t believe God has made God a liar, because that one has not believed the testimony that God gave about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God gave eternal life to us, and this life is in his Son. 12 The one who has the Son has life. The one who doesn’t have God’s Son does not have life. 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of God’s Son so that you can know that you have eternal life.
Prayer for Illumination
God of Love,
We offer this time of worship to you,
praying that it may reflect our praise and thanksgiving
for the gifts of creation and for all that Jesus has done for us.
Now, by your Spirit,
Open our eyes and ears
That we might recognize what you are saying to us. 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.)
A reading from Psalm 1 (NRSV),
Happy are those
who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread,
or sit in the seat of scoffers;
2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law they meditate day and night.
3 They are like trees
planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
And a reading from John 17 (CEB), 6 “I have revealed your name to the people you gave me from this world. They were yours and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 This is because I gave them the words that you gave me, and they received them. They truly understood that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 “I’m praying for them. I’m not praying for the world but for those you gave me, because they are yours. 10 Everything that is mine is yours and everything that is yours is mine; I have been glorified in them. 11 I’m no longer in the world, but they are in the world, even as I’m coming to you. Holy Father, watch over them in your name, the name you gave me, that they will be one just as we are one. 12 When I was with them, I watched over them in your name, the name you gave to me, and I kept them safe. None of them were lost, except the one who was destined for destruction, so that scripture would be fulfilled. 13 Now I’m coming to you and I say these things while I’m in the world so that they can share completely in my joy. 14 I gave your word to them and the world hated them, because they don’t belong to this world, just as I don’t belong to this world. 15 I’m not asking that you take them out of this world but that you keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They don’t belong to this world, just as I don’t belong to this world. 17 Make them holy in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 I made myself holy on their behalf so that they also would be made holy in the truth.
Re-Telling
Let’s remember together what was said in these readings. What was said first? What happened next? (Go around the circle and tell the story to each other. Try to remember as many details as possible.).
Paying Attention
What part of the scripture grabbed your attention? Why do you think that part stood out?
Let each person in the circle take a turn to wonder about something in this text . . . .a word, a phrase, something that happened in the text, something that you’re thinking about. Start out by saying “As we read these texts, it made me wonder . . . ”
In what ways have you found yourself delighting in the law of the Lord? What does that look like for you?
Is there something we should remember for this coming week from what we heard from the scriptures?
How can we pray for each other?
Responding
Prayers of the People
Hear us, we pray, O God,
Guide us by your presence,
As we lift up our heart’s desires,
Our soul’s deep needs,
Our hungers, fears and failures.
We pray for those around us who need your care,
and ask that you would make of us your instruments
of healing, peace and redemption.
We pray especially for those we name to you today,
and others we lift to you in the silence of our hearts. (pause)
We pray for your world for peace and justice and healing. (pause)
Powerful God, we pray that you would be with those we pray for today and with us,
That as people of renewed faith and life,
We may be empowered to serve your world,
And so give glory to you;
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
now and forever.
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
Dear Friends,
Go with this blessing.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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