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

Call to Worship
(Inspired by Psalm 48)
Leader: The Lord is great, and we have come to celebrate!

People: Yes, let's celebrate for all that God is doing, has done, and will do. We will lift up praise everywhere we go!

Leader: As we reflect on our lives, we know that only a great God could have protected us and our ancestors. Only a great God is gracious and merciful enough to sustain us for generations to come.

ALL: Amen! The Lord is great and brings joy to the whole world. God is our God, forever and ever!

Prayer of Confession
Lord, you know us
and yet you love us more than we can ever describe.

In our darkest moments,
when we didn't know which way to turn,
or if we should stand still, walk away or run,
you were there to direct our paths.

In happy times when everything was going right,
when we forgot to pray,
when we took all the glory and praise,
you still kept blessing us.

You never give up on us.

Forgive us, Lord,
for our selfish ways
for forgetting to give thanks
for neglecting to give you credit.

Thank you, Lord,
for loving us and blessing us
in spite of our faults, our failures, and our shortcomings.

Lord, you are our hope, our rock, our everything!

Benediction
(Inspired by Mark 6:1-13)
Lord, we are your prophets. We are ready today to witness to your goodness in every place. We will not be bound by fear, by discouragement, by unbelievers, and by those who knew us before we knew you. We go forth to preach, testify, heal, listen, touch, welcome, and change hearts and lives in your name. Amen.

Closing Music

• "We're Marching to Zion," 733, United Methodist Hymnal
• "Certainly, Lord," 161, Songs of Zion

Additional Worship Music Suggestions

• "Give me a Clean Heart," 182, Songs of Zion
• "Victory in Jesus," 370, United Methodist Hymnal
• "I Need Thee Every Hour," 397, United Methodist Hymnal
• "What a Friend We Have in Jesus," 526, United Methodist Hymnal
• "Sweet, Sweet Spirit," 334, United Methodist Hymnal
• "How Great Thou Art," 77, United Methodist Hymnal
• "This Morning When I Rose" (As sung by Mosie Burks and the Mississippi Mass Choir)

About the Author: Cynthia A. Bond Hopson, Ph.D., is Assistant General Secretary of the Black College Fund and Ethnic Concerns for the United Methodist General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and author of Bad Hair Days, Rainy Days, and Mondays.