Let My People Go: A 21st Century Africana Resource for the Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost, Year A

Revised Common Lectionary Readings
Exodus 3:1-15
Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c (UMH 828)
Romans 12:9-21
Matthew 16:21-28

Musical Litany Based on Exodus 3:1-15
Choir Sing:
When Israel was in Egypt's Land,
Let my people go,
Oppressed so hard they could not stand, Let my people go.

Congregation Sing:
Go down, Moses,
Way down in Egypt's Land.
Tell ol' Pharaoh,
Let my people go.

Leader Speak:
From the bondage of unwarranted suffering,
From bondage to comfort and ease

People Speak:
From bondage to poverty
From bondage to wealth
From bondage to self-ambition
From bondage to mediocrity

Choir Sing:
No more shall they in bondage toil,
Let my people go,
Let them come out with Egypt's spoil,
Let my people go.

Congregation Sing:
Go down, Moses,
Way down in Egypt's Land.
Tell ol' Pharaoh,
Let my people go.

Leader:
From bondage to self-centeredness
From bondage to self-hatred

People:
From bondage to individualism
From bondage to addictions
From bondage to celebrity worship
From bondage to a consumerist culture
From bondage to apathy

Choir Sing:
O let us all from bondage flee,
Let my people go,
And let us all in Christ be free,
Let my people go.

Congregation Sing:
Go down, Moses,
Way down in Egypt's Land.
Tell ol' Pharaoh,
Let my people go.

Leader:
Rise; let us enter the promised land of community.

People:
The promised land of sacrifice for others
The promised land of self-control
The promised land of transformation

Choir Sing:
Your foes shall not before you stand,
Let my people go,
And you'll possess fair Canaan's land,
Let my people go.

Congregation Sing:
Go down, Moses,
Way down in Egypt's Land.
Tell ol' Pharaoh,
Let my people go.

Leader:
To the promised land of salvation

People:
To the promised land of the reign of God

Choir Sing:
We need not always weep and mourn,
Let my people go,
And wear these slavery chains forlorn,
Let my people go.

Congregation Sing:
Go down, Moses,
Way down in Egypt's Land.
Tell ol' Pharaoh,
Let my people go.

All Sing:
Go down, Moses,
Way down in Egypt's Land.
Tell ol' Pharaoh,
Let my people go.

Pastoral Prayer
Lord, free your people from false beliefs.

Free your people from the false belief that you love some of us more than others.
That if someone has more or better "stuff," like:
Money
Family
Health
Ease
Peace and quiet
Comfort
It's because you love them more.

Free your people from the false belief that we are defective beyond repair.
That you are waiting for an opportunity to punish us…
That you don't care about sinners…
That you can't see past our sin to love us.

Free your people from the false belief that suffering cannot be redemptive
That we suffer because we did something wrong.

Free your people from the false belief that we've been good long enough.
That what we do in private doesn't matter…
That following Jesus is nothing if it doesn't make us feel better…
That we deserve to indulge ourselves.

Free your people from the false belief that celebrity is better than salvation
That high-profile Christians are better at following Jesus…
That those who do not agree with Christians in the media are not good Christians.

Free your people from the false belief that we can get along fine without you.

Free us from the false beliefs that hold us captive; and teach us
That You love us all,
No one is beyond repair,
Sometimes, even good people suffer,
You love those who follow righteousness,
You alone are our salvation,
And that each of us needs you. Amen.

• • • •

Tony Peterson is a former staff member of the Discipleship Ministries.