Meditation for Worship

Around for a Long Time
(Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31)

I’ve been around a long time
Before the shade tree was a seed in Big Mama’s backyard
Before the spring flowed with cool sweet water
Before the sky learned to paint a rainbow

Before the stars began to shine at night.

I’ve been around a long time
Before people learned to hate
Before nations learned to war. Before lying became an art form
Before cursing became common.

I’ve been around a long time
Calling out
In bar rooms
And board rooms
In simple homes
And magnificent mansions.

I’ve been around a long time
Hoping someone will hear me and answer with understanding.
My name is Wisdom
And I’ve been around for a long time.

Kwasi Kena, The Africana Worship Book, Year C, edited by Valerie Bridgeman Davis and Safiyah Fosua, Discipleship Resources, 2008, 42.

Call to Worship Litany

(inspired by Proverbs 8)

Listen! Wisdom is calling!
Before all began,
God, Word, and Wisdom
Creating, calling,
from the foundations of the deep

Listen! Wisdom is calling!
From the mountain tops
Earth, fields and sea
Creating, calling
From the foundations of the deep

Listen! Wisdom is calling!
To those who suffer
God’s love is given
Endurance blossoms
From the foundations of the deep

Listen! Wisdom is calling!
Daily, God’s delight
You, me, every one
Given hope, grace, love
As the foundation of our lives

Listen! Wisdom is calling!
Poured into our hearts
That we may become
Christ’s hand and heart, love
As the foundation of our lives

Listen! Wisdom is calling!

Written by Terri, and posted on RevGalBlogPals. http://revgalblogpals.blogspot.ca/. Reposted: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2013/04/call-to-worship-listen-wisdom-is-calling.html.

Prayer

Lord, we confess that we have not always listened to you. We worry about trivial things and crowd out your cry. Lord, we confess that we’re not eager to hear what you have to say to us. We think we know a better way to do most everything. Lord, we confess that we’ve ignored your Holy Spirit more than once today. Lord, we confess our faults as ask you to speak to us again. Send your Spirit of Truth and speak to all that is false within us. We will receive your words and follow your ways.

Kwasi Kena, The Africana Worship Book, Year C, edited by Valerie Bridgeman Davis and Safiyah Fosua, Discipleship Resources, 2008, 159.

Benediction

(based on John 16:7-15, Psalm 1)

May God protect you through your time of trial.
May the love of Christ,
seen in what he did, and
heard in what he said,
fill you with joy and hope.
May the Holy Spirit advocate for you,
leading into all truth,
lighting the way of faith, and
strengthening you to follow Jesus,
so that you will become
like a strong, young tree,
growing deep and
bearing much fruit.
Amen.

Written by Peter L. Haynes, and posted on the Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren website. http://rockhay.tripod.com/. Reposted: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/04/benediction-easter-7-b.html.