Be on the Lookout: 21st Century Worship Resources for the Sixth Sunday of Pentecost, Year B

Gathering Meditation: Be on the Lookout
(Based on 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10)

When it comes to spiritual leadership, people know, the Body of Christ knows when God raises a spiritual leader. The church is full of people who recognize the activity of the Holy Spirit in another person's life. When the church gathers, it gathers for more than worship and fellowship. The church gathers to see evidence of God's activity.

Dust off your glasses and look. Quiet the noise within and listen. Take the spiritual pulse of the moment and feel God flowing through the people. Who knows, God may be introducing you to the next spiritual leader for your church or for the world.

Call to Worship

One: Gather in God's name.
Many: We gather to worship the Lord.
One: How shall we worship our God?
Many: With feet that walk where you direct. With eyes that see the needy.
One: How shall we worship our God?
Many: With outstretched hands and thankful hearts. With lips that pause to praise you.
One: How shall we worship our God?
Many: With lives that turn from wicked ways, with lives that choose to please you.
One: How shall we worship our Lord?
Many: With silent souls that dare to say, "Yes."
All: God, to you, we say, "Yes to your will and yes to your way."

Pastoral Prayer
(Based on 2 Corinthians 12:2-10)

Lord, we are blessed. We may not always think so, but we're blessed. When we endure hardships and calamities, weaknesses and insults for Christ's sake -- we're blessed. If we're tempted to complain about tough times, remind us that others would love to choose what to eat rather than eat what others chose to throw away. Remind us that many would love to sleep in a house rather than lie half-awake on the streets. Remind us that what we charge on our credit cards in a day is more than countless souls spend in a year. Each day, remind us that we're simply blessed. Then teach us now to live simply so others can simply live. Amen.

The Rev. Dr. Kwasi I. Kena is a former staff member of Discipleship Ministries, currently serving as Assistant Professor of Christian Ministry at Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University. Kena is a clergy member of the Greater New Jersey Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.