Come! Let Us Praise the Lord! A 21st Century Africana Resource for Easter 2A

Call to Worship
(Based on Psalm 16)

One Voice: Come! Let us praise the Lord who counsels.

Many Voices: Let us praise the Lord, who speaks in the night.

One Voice: Let us praise the Lord, who calls in the day

Many Voices: Let us praise the Lord and not be shaken.

ALL: Let us praise the Lord forever more!

Litany
(Based loosely on Acts 2:14a, 22-32)

One Voice: Ever felt abandoned to the grave? Left to languish in places and situations that did not speak life?

Many Voices: It was impossible for death to hold Jesus; it's impossible for death to hold us.

One Voice: In the face of poverty and lack, in the face of unjust governmental systems and religious institutions that don't respond:

Many Voices: It was impossible for death to hold Jesus; it's impossible for death to hold us.

One Voice: In the face of sadness as disease, death, and hopelessness threaten our very existence

Many Voices: It was impossible for death to hold Jesus; it's impossible for death to hold us.

One Voice: Where is the voice of the prophet? Where is the call to hope?

Many Voices: This is our prophetic hope: It was impossible for death to hold Jesus; it's impossible for death to hold us.

Call to Confession
Friends, God moves among us, sometimes blatantly, sometimes hidden, but we fail to recognize God's movement and fail to live as faithful witnesses of this movement. Come, let us confess our sins before God and one another and be chastised, strengthened, and forgiven.

Words of Assurance
Sisters and brothers believe the good news: God did not abandon Christ to the grave and will not abandon us to our many and several deaths. We are participants in Jesus' death and in his resurrection. In Christ, we are raised to life and are witnesses of God's miraculous power. We are forgiven and sworn in to give testimony. Amen.

Prayer for Illumination for the Sermon
God, in Christ Jesus, you appeared to your disciples after the resurrection — behind closed doors, needing a word from you. Speak peace to us, now, and let us hear your voice in the proclamation of your truth. Help our doubt in this hour, even as you extend proof of your presencescarred hands and a healing heart. Amen.

Valerie Bridgeman Davis, Ph.D., Biblical Studies (Hebrew Bible), teaches preaching and worship at Memphis Theological Seminary. Dr. Bridgeman Davis is a consultant for the 21st Century Africana Worship Resource Project.

"21st Century Africana Liturgy Resources for the Second Sunday of Easter" Copyright © 2005 The Rev. Dr. Valerie Bridgeman Davis. Used with permission.