21st Century Africana Liturgy Resources for the Ninth Sunday After Pentecost, Year B

Gathering Meditation: Nathan's Dilemma
(Based on 2 Samuel 11:26-12:13a) No one thought I'd do anything.
I was a nobody.
But when I learned what happened, I changed.
Something inside me roared ?? NOOOOOOOO!
I was brave temporarily.
People said I must have been crazy to speak up.
True, but saying nothing seemed crazier.
I saw the suffering.
I heard the mourning.
I felt disgusted.
Everyday, Truth strolled the streets but no one dared to look.
People whispered…
Stood silent…
Shook heads…
But did nothing.
So, with God's help,
I grabbed Truth by the neck
And dangled it before the king
until he saw what broke God's heart.

Call to Worship
We hunger for what mere food cannot satisfy.
Bread of Heaven. Bread of Heaven. Feed us til we want no more.

We work for food that perishes and wonder why we're never content.
Bread of Heaven. Bread of Heaven. Feed us 'til we want no more.

The faith we profess today will be tested tomorrow.
Bread of Heaven. Bread of Heaven. Feed us 'til we want no more.

We want to do the works of God, but our souls look like heaps of dry bones.
Bread of Heaven. Bread of Heaven. Feed us 'til we want no more.

As you fed the Hebrews in the wilderness, feed us your daily bread.
Bread of Heaven. Bread of Heaven. Feed us 'til we want no more.

Despite our many wants, feed us the only food that feeds our souls.
Bread of Heaven. Bread of Heaven. Feed us 'til we want no more.

Pastoral Prayer
Equip us, God, for the work of ministry ... for the work involved with building unity of purpose and vision. Equip us with saints who will say 'yes' to your will and 'yes' to your way. Equip us, God, to journey with Jesus through life's uncertain paths. Equip us, God, with maturity that comes from knowing you. Equip us, God, to speak the truth in love even when it's uncomfortable. Equip us to move beyond a childish faith that whines for more while giving less. Equip us, O God, for the work of ministry that you have called us to do.

Benediction
May we go from this place strengthened by God's daily bread to speak truth to power, unity to the scattered, and maturity to the childish. To the only God who feeds us and sustains, to this God, our Lord and Savior be all power, glory, and dominion, now and forevermore. Amen.

About the Author: Kwasi I. Kena is a former staff member of Discipleship Ministries.