Litanies

Call to Worship:

Celebration of Diversity - NEW 5//31/06

P: We come from many backgrounds

C: We come from many generations

P: We come from many spiritual walks

C: We come from many ethnicities

P: We come from many experiences

P: Let us

C: Celebrate our unity in Christ

P: Let us

C: Celebrate our diversity in Christ.

+ + +

Affirmation of Welcome:

P: As Christ welcomed all who came to him,

A: Regardless of social status, wealth, family,

P: Ethnicity, race, gender,

A: Holiness, righteousness, purity,

P: Illness, disabilities, limitations,

A: Intelligence, mental health, abilities,

P: Religion, faith, or commitment,

C: So do we welcome all who come, all who are sent, all who join us. For God has called us all to be one family in Christ. Amen.

+ + +

P: Things are working toward completion.

The promise of God fulfilled.

We break our covenants

And God mends anew.

The Pastor pours water slowly into the Baptismal Font during the litany.

A: The Waters of Life fountain up daily,

C: To rain upon our parched, dry souls,

A: Running down into the deep wells of emptiness,

C: Swelling the rivers of energy in broken bodies,

A: Bringing new life, new hope.

A. The Waters of Life flow abundantly,

C. To course through every thirsty heart,

A. Rushing into the desolate corners of our existence,

C. Cleansing, restoring, refreshing empty lives,

A. Creating new life, new hope.

P: Things are working toward completion.

The promise of God fulfilled.

+ + +

(spoken over music)

A: There is an ember of hope -

C: The banked fire of creation -

A: The promise of God

C: To Adam

A: To Eve

C: To us.

A: It glows in every heart;

C: In every soul it seeks to burst into flame.

A: Here is the ember of hope:

P: In a story passed on through the ages,

C: In a love surpassing all loves,

A: In a God who sacrifices self,

P: In the birth of a child

C: Who is God,

A: Jesus of Nazareth,

P: Emmanuel, God with us.

C: An ember whose flame will kindle the world.

+ + +

P: In a world filled with hearts frozen with loneliness and fear

C: The Fire of God beckons with the promise of warmth and comfort.

P: In a world paralyzed with hate and injustice

C: The Fire of God dances with joy and love.

P: Come join the dance of life. Come open yourself to the Fire that never dies, that never fails, that supports life now, and forever.

C: Amen. So be it. Come to us now and always, God our Mother and Father, God our Savior and Friend, God our Advocate and Giver of Life.

+ + +

Creation:

LITANY FOR THE EARTH

(spoken over music)

Song: (about creation, stewardship, etc.)

P: (spoken over music) The distant stars chime. Earth's molten core thrums. Jupiter's frigid rings shimmer. Sol's white-hot matter leaps.

C: God's rhythms permeate the universe.

A: The wind whispers. The heavens sing. The skies dance. The thunder frolics.

C: All creation rejoices in God the Maker!

P: Yet, the valley watches. The mountains weep. The grass worries. The ocean pleads.

C: All creation looks to God the Savior!

A: The grouse cringes. The trees ache. The whales cry out. The hawk screams.

C: All creation looks to God the Comforter!

Song: (Refrain or 1 verse of the above song)

P: The Word of the Lord brought all things into being,

C: The world and all living creatures.

A: We are of it and in it, the image of God,

C: Caretakers of this creation.

P: For into our hands has God placed the responsibility.

C: May God lead us, empower us and give us wisdom.

A: For into our hearts has God placed the perception.

C: May God lead us, empower us and give us wisdom.

P: For into our minds has God placed the capacity.

C: May God lead us, empower us and give us wisdom.

Song: (Refrain or 1 verse of the above song)

A: God's very being permeates the universe.

C: Amen.

P: For the universe and all that is in it belongs to God,

C: Amen.

A: Who is Creator, Redeemer, Breath!

C: Amen.

P: So the land exalts.

C: The eagle wheels in joy.

A: The flowers break forth in a symphony of color.

C: Amen. Praise the Lord!

+ + +

Evening:

(The Song is played quietly during the petitions)

P: In the quiet of the night, in the comfort of darkness we come to you, O Lord. We come for peace; we come for comfort; we come for forgiveness and love.

Song "O Lord, Hear My Prayer" vs. 1 (Tune: HEAR MY PRAYER, Text Source: Text: Psalm 102:1-2; adapt. Taize Community, 1982, Music Source: Music: Jacques Berthier, 1923-1994)

O Lord, hear my prayer, . . .

(Silence)

A: In the softness of evening, in the solace of silence we come to you, O Lord. We come for acceptance; we come for community; we come for forgiveness and love.

Song "O Lord, Hear My Prayer" vs. 1 (Tune: HEAR MY PRAYER, Text Source: Text: Psalm 102:1-2; adapt. Taize Community, 1982, Music Source: Music: Jacques Berthier, 1923-1994)

O Lord, hear my prayer, . . .

(Silence)

P: In the serenity of day's end, in the restfulness of worship, we come to you O Lord. We come to you for respite; we come to you for completion; we come to you for forgiveness and love.

Song "O Lord, Hear My Prayer" vs. 1, 2 (Tune: HEAR MY PRAYER, Text Source: Text: Psalm 102:1-2; adapt. Taize Community, 1982, Music Source: Music: Jacques Berthier, 1923-1994)

O Lord, hear my prayer, . . .

(Silence)

A: In the quiet of the night, in the comfort of darkness we come to you, O Lord. We come for peace; we come for comfort; we come for forgiveness and love.

(Pause)

P: We come, O Lord of Light, seeking the illumination of your Word. We come for the path we can't find; we come for the life we don't have. We come to you for our lives are death and you alone have breath and being.

Song "O Lord, Hear My Prayer" (Tune: HEAR MY PRAYER, Text Source: Text: Psalm 102:1-2; adapt. Taize Community, 1982, Music Source: Music: Jacques Berthier, 1923-1994)

O Lord, hear my prayer, . . .

The Lord is my song, . . . .

+ + +

General:

Litany of Praise - NEW 5/31/06

“Oh, Sing to God Above”/"Cantemos al Senor"

Text: Carlos Rosas, b. 1939; tr. With One Voice, 1995

Music: Carlos Rosas, b. 1939

(Spoken over music)

P: There are worlds beyond comprehension

A: Created by God.

C: Praise God for this world of wonder.

P: There are acts of mercy beyond belief

A: Bestowed by God.

C: Praise God for the protections around us.

P: There are powers beyond controlling

A: Set into motion by God.

C: Praise God for the unseen hosts.

P: Praise God for St. Michael and all angels,

A: The princes of this world:

C: Terrible in their power,

P: Terrifying in their presence,

A: Awe-inspiring in their missions.

C: Alight with the radiance of God. Amen.

+ + +

P: The Lord be with you.

C: And also with you.

P: Praise the Lord who reaches out to the hungry of spirit and heart.

C: Blessed be God, our breath and our life.

P: Praise the Lord who is source of all creation, hope and inspiration.

C: Blessed be God, our breath and our life.

P: Praise the Lord who speaks to our needs of mind and soul and body.

C: Blessed be God, our breath and our life.

P: Praise the Lord who is Creator, Savior and Counselor.

C: Amen. Praise the Lord!

+ + +

Gospel Verse (spoken over music)

A: Reclaim us, O Lord of Love.

P: O Ember of God, breathe warmth into us,

C: Enkindling our hearts anew.

A: Transform us, O Lord of Light.

P: O Ember of God, forge lives that are yours,

C: Inviting our deeds for you.

A: Distill us, O Lord of Life.

P: O Ember of God, open eyes that are blind;

C: Revealing your Word to us: the burning essence of life.

+ + +