Home Equipping Leaders African American 21st Century Worship Resources for the Second Sunday after Pentecost, Year B

21st Century Worship Resources for the Second Sunday after Pentecost, Year B

Call to Worship/Call to Confession
(Inspired by the anointing of Saul as King of Israel, 1 Samuel 8:4-20)

Leader: God forgive us.

All:We have left undone the work in the Kingdom you asked us to do.

Leader: God forgive the clergy.

Pastor: I have spoken trite words keeping peace rather than waging reconciliation.
I have run like Jonah, away in the Word of the Lord, out of fear.

Leader: God forgive the laity.

People: We have allowed the vocal few to out-voice the Spirit-led.
We have asked for like-minded leaders instead of prophetic challenge to change.

Leader: God forgive us.

All: We listen to a million voices but do not consult you, your Word, your Way when it comes to our actions, our voices, our votes, and our gifts.
God forgive us.

Leader (after a time of silence): And God saw our contrite hearts, heard our cries, and forgave us all.

People to one another:
God forgives you; I forgive you. Please forgive me!
(Say this to more than one person)

Leader: Amen!

All: Amen. Glory to God! Amen!

(Written by Nathan Decker)

Pastoral Prayer of Confession
(Inspired by 1 Samuel 8:4-20)

Oh God,
When we look at the history of God's people, we are amazed
At how we have yet to learn
That your way is perfect,
That your timing is impeccable,
And that your plans for us are flawless.

We, like the people of ancient Israel,
Often insist that we know the way, we know the time, and we have clamored for a
plan that we thought best for us, only later to learn that we ask amiss.

Forgive us, Lord.

(silence)

God, we give thanks that you, in your mercy,
Have often turned a deaf ear to our clamoring.
Help us, O God,
To trust you enough to wait quietly – even when we are unsure of the outcome.
And to love you enough to remain peaceful as you are working things out for our good. Amen.

(Written by Safiyah Fosua)

Call to Worship
(Based on Mark 3:31-35)

Leader: Who is my mother and who are my brothers and sisters? Look around you, and you will see them. They are not always the people you grew up with. They are the people who have joined the journey to learn more about God and the ways of God's people.

People: They are the people who abandon houses and land, fame and fortune -- for the sake of the gospel.

Leader: They are the people who pray through the night for the safety of someone else's child or for the healing of someone else's loved one.

People: They are the ones who offer a cold cup of water to people considered outcast. They do so in the name of Christ.

Leader: Who are my brothers; who are my sisters; where is my family?

People: Jesus said that Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother. (Mark 3:35, NRSV)

Leader: Welcome to worship, family!

All: We gather to worship the God who has made us kin!

(Written by Safiyah Fosua)


The Rev. Nathan Decker is the pastor of the South Sussex Charge of the James River District of the Virginia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Nathan has great love for the diversity and inspiration of God's creative nature in worship.

The Rev. Safiyah Fosua is a staff member of the Discipleship Ministries.

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