21st Century Worship Resources for the Third Sunday after Pentecost, Year C

Call to Worship: We Have a Testimony!

(Based on Galatians 1:11-24)

One Voice: Come, you have a story to tell.

Many Voices: Once we were lost and could not find our way
But Jesus, who came to seek and save the lost, found us!

One Voice: Come you have a story to tell.

Many Voices: Of being in prison, held by someone or something that would not let go
Then, one day, the dungeon shook the chains fell off and God set us free!

One Voice: Come, you have a story to tell.
Of rescue, of provision, of healing, of a vision of the Living God.

All Voices: We come to worship;
We come to pray;
We come to sing;
We come to praise;
We have a testimony!

Holy God, we come today remembering that the dead continue to walk among us ...
waiting for a change to come.
Give us an eye for the many ways you return the dead to life
those dead in trespasses and sins
those dead to their families
the living dead held by the strong hold
of a pill or a rock
a needle or a bottle.
Make us like Jesus,
daring enough to speak their names aloud
daring enough to proclaim
that Death is not strong enough to hold them down.
(Turning to a door or a window opened to your community)

In the Name of Jesus, we say, ARISE!!!

(Have worshippers on the right side and LEFT SIDE of your worship space face each other and speak to each other.)

Leader: Once, there were two widows.

Right Side: One was from Zarephath.

LEFT SIDE: THE OTHER WAS FROM NAIN.

Right Side: One was hanging on to life by a thread.

LEFT SIDE: THE OTHER HAD JUST LOST HER HOPE.

Right Side: I have no money, I have no food, I am about to die.

LEFT SIDE: I HAVE LOST MY SON, I HAVE LOST MY LIFE, I AM AS GOOD AS DEAD.

Leader: Both were in trouble with nowhere to turn.

Leader: Once, there were two widows.

Right Side: One was from Zarephath.

LEFT SIDE: THE OTHER WAS FROM NAIN.

Leader: They each had an encounter with the Spirit of God.

Right Side: Elijah spoke to one woman.

LEFT SIDE: JESUS SPOKE TO THE OTHER.

Right Side: Take a risk; use what you have; give it a try!

LEFT SIDE: DONíT GIVE UP; DEATH IS NOT THE END;
HOPE IS NEVER GONE!

All: Nothing is finished until God declares it so!