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

Gathering Meditation
All-Knowing God,
John the Baptizer was willing to give up his life to serve you.
Jesus was willing to give up his life for us.
Paul encouraged Christians everywhere
to present themselves as living sacrifices to God.

Yet some of us struggle to sacrifice TV or tennis, pleasures or pastimes For a few minutes of weekly worship.

Teach us to value the faith enough to invest in it.
Teach us to love you
more than we love pleasure or comfort or safety.
Make us ready to speak truth to power,
and to defend justice and righteousness regardless of the cost.
Just like John.

Amen.

(Safiyah Fosua)

Call to Worship
Who will be a witness for the Lord?
We lift our heads and hearts in praise to the Lord.

Who is willing to offer an undignified shout to our God, creator of heaven and earth?
We lift our heads and hearts in praise to the Lord!

Then stand up, get into the aisles, sing about the love of the Lord and testify about God's goodness!
Lift joyful praise in the presence of the Almighty!
Extol the name of the one who knows all and hears all of our petitions!
We lift our heads and hearts in praise to the Lord! (with lifted hands)

Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the God of glory may come in. (Psalm 24:7, NRSV)
Who is this God of glory? The LORD of hosts, that One is the God of glory (Psalm 24:10). We lift our heads and hearts to the God of Glory! (with praise and applause) Opening Hymn: "Oh How I Love Jesus" (United Methodist Hymnal, 170)

Offertory Prayer
O God, how wondrous is your name in all the earth. The heavens exalt your name, and we lift our hearts to worship and adore you. There is none like you. We give you thanks for the gifts that you have so graciously allowed us to use. Speak to our hearts as we remember that kingdom building is our assignment. Help us to remember those who constantly go without life's basic necessities while others live lives of luxury. Soften our hearts to the everyday needs of people. You are the owner of all things, and we want to work in your will to provide for the community. Remind us that no one should suffer in order to provide bounty for the privileged. Amen.

Closing Prayer
God, grant us the ability to discern what is pleasing in your sight as we leave this place of comfort, care, and love. Help us as followers of Christ to remember that we are no greater than the one who sent us. Remind us that we need your wisdom and grace. Fill us with the power of your Spirit. Strengthen our hearts and minds so that we can lovingly distinguish between what we are called to do and what we would like to do. We go forth into the world, not as perfect vessels, but as willing vessels. Help us to live this life fully so that we can live into the promises that you have given to those who are willing to live as your chosen people in Christ. Amen.

Closing Hymn: "Here I Am, Lord" (United Methodist Hymnal, 593)
or Hezekiah Walker's "I Need You to Survive"

About the Author: Theon Johnson III is a senior at Millsaps College, majoring in philosophy-religious studies with a minor in education. Theon serves as a member of the National United Methodist Student Movement Steering Committee (GBHEM) and as a member of the Division with Ministries on Young People (Discipleship Ministries). He has served as musician at Canton United Methodist Church for the past seven years.