21st Century Africana Liturgy Resources for the Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Pentecost, Year B (Blair)

Call to Worship
Leader: Servants of the Lord! Come; let us praise the name of the Lord.

People: Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Leader: Servants of the Lord! Whose name is worthy of our praise?

People: Blessed be the name of the lord!

Leader: Servants of the Lord! Come; let us give thanks, for God has done great things for us.

People: Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Leader: Servants of the Lord! Come; let us greet God with our hymn of praise!

Opening Hymn: "Blessed be the Name," 63, United Methodist Hymnal

A Prayer of Preparation for Thanksgiving Day
We made it to worship today, Loving One. Some of us were rushed, some of us scurried, some of us started not to come, some of us are not sure why we came, and some of us may not want to be here! As we enter into your presence, you are already here to meet us. God of grace and love, we come before you, offering what we have, feeble as it is. Hear us anyway, and receive our prayers and praise. Prepare our hearts, minds, hands, and our very lives to be more open to what you have for us, so that we may willingly and freely give it back to others. Make us ever mindful of the great gifts you give us all the days of our lives.

Pause for silent reflection on God's gifts to us.

Beginning today, let everyday be Thanksgiving Day ?? a day of celebration and thanks. Forgive us for our selfish, sinful, and thoughtless actions, words, and plans. Remind us that we need you and we need one another to bring the Kingdom of God here to earth as it is in heaven. This, we pray, in the name of Jesus the Christ, who has died, risen, and will come again. Amen. Leader: To all our prayers let the people say, Amen.

About the Author: Eugene Blair is a clergy member of the Detroit Annual Conference, where he serves as the Director of the Office of African American Spiritual Formation. Dr. Blair is a former Dean of The Upper Room Chapel.