House of the Lord

A Call to Worship 
Written for Fall 2015

We gather this morning to sing and pray as the family of God.

Welcome to the house of the Lord!

We gather to hear God’s Word and to share in God’s Meal.

Welcome to the house of the Lord!

We gather as unique individuals, carrying joys and burdens we don’t know how to share.

Welcome to the house of the Lord!

We gather, young and old, rich and poor, gay and straight, tired and full of energy.

Welcome to the house of the Lord!

We gather, not to stay here, but to be sent with inspiration to serve all of God’s world!

Welcome to the house of the Lord!

Current Events

A Call to Worship
Based on current events in late June/early July 2015, and Psalm 123
For Pentecost 6B, 7/5/15

When we celebrate a Supreme Court ruling that says that all people’s love is created equal, we turn to our God.

To you, O Lord, we lift up our eyes. Show us your mercy. Bless all people.

When we grieve the senseless death of sisters and brothers, based on nothing but the color of their skin, we turn to our God.

To you, O Lord, we lift up our eyes. Show us your mercy. Bless all people.

When we see women belittled because of their sex, denied pay raises and treated disrespectfully, we turn to our God.

To you, O Lord, we lift up our eyes. Show us your mercy. Bless all people.

When we rejoice at the generosity of people, who provide housing and assistance to those who are in need, we turn to our God.

To you, O Lord, we lift up our eyes. Show us your mercy. Bless all people.

Thanks and Praise

A Call to Worship
Written for the Third Sunday after Pentecost, year B, 6/14/15
Using Psalm 92

We gather as God’s people, one family, from many walks of life.

Give thanks to the Lord! Sing praise to God’s name!

We gather to sing, to pray, to listen, to speak, to touch, to eat, to be healed.

Give thanks to the Lord! Sing praise to God’s name!

We know we’re not perfect, and we give thanks that God still welcomes us.

Give thanks to the Lord! Sing praise to God’s name!

In good times and bad, we know that God works to make us flourish.
Shout for joy at the works of God’s hands!

We Wait for the Lord

A Call to Worship
Written for the Second Sunday after Pentecost, year B, 6/7/15
Using Psalm 130

We gather as God’s people, one family, from many walks of life.
We wait for the Lord. Our hope is in God.

We gather to sing, to pray, to listen, to speak, to touch, to eat, to be healed.

We wait for the Lord. Our hope is in God.

We know we aren’t perfect, and we give thanks that God still welcomes us.

We wait for the Lord. Our hope is in God.

In good times and bad, we know that God is with us and redeems us.

God’s steadfast love is with us. Thanks be to God!

Let Us Love Others

A Call to Worship
Written for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, year B, 4/26/15
Based on 1 John 3:16-24

Christ is risen!

Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Let us love others

In truth and action.

Let us love others

As God commanded us.

Let us love others

By laying down our lives.

Christ is risen!

Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Easter Fellowship

A Call to Worship
Written for the Second Sunday of Easter, year B, 4/12/15
Based on Acts 4:32-35; Psalm 133; 1 John 1:1-2:2

Christ is risen!

Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

God is light.

In God there is no darkness at all.

We live in fellowship with God,

and with one another.

How good and pleasant it is

when kindred dwell together in unity!

Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Rejoice, Give Praise!

A Call to Worship

Written for the service of installation of a pastor to a congregation 

Based on Psalms 96 and 118

This is the day that the Lord has made,

Let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,

God is to be worshipped above all else.

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,

Let the sea roar and let the field give praise,

Give thanks to the Lord, for God is good,

Let everything that lives in all the earth give praise to God!

Know! Hear!

A Call to Worship
Based on Isaiah 40:21-31

Do you not know? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the one who sits enthroned above the earth, who stretches out the heavens like a canopy.

Do you not know? Have you not heard?

The Holy One brings princes to naught, and reduces world leaders to nothing.

Do you not know? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth.

Lift up your eyes to the heavens and see:

The Holy One created the stars and all creatures, calling them all by name, and not one of them is missing. Thanks be to God!