Pentecost Year B
Invocation 2006
Call to Worship 2006Weary God
you who crept into human skin
skin that was tired and weak
skin that needed Sabbath rest
skin that felt harried and pained...
Weary God
be gentle with us
as we gather in our neediness.
Prayer of Dedication - Based on Psalm 23. Written for the Union Church UCC of Tekonsha, 1994. Copyright Katherine Hawker.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;
We believe in the goodness of God.
We believe God hears and responds to our needs.
We believe God responds to all children everywhere.He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul.
We are grateful that we've been blessed with enough water.
But we know that many do not have enough.
Not enough water, not enough food, not enough peace.He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Too many children do not see God's righteousness.
Too many children watch violence, taste hunger, feel fear.
Too many children cry from the unspeakable horror of war.Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
To become involved is risky. Pain is often contagious.
Our hearts may be broken and our lives may be threatened.
Yet we hear God calling and we can no longer hide.Thou preparest a table for me in the presence of my enemies;
thou annointest me head with oil, my cup overflows.
Our steps may be small and timid.
We may read a book, write a letter, or make a gift.
But each tiny step is blessed by God and multiplies.Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
God is more relentless than war.
God is more pervasive than hatred.
God is more insistent than despair.Amen. Amen.
Healing Prayers:
Call to Worship- Based on Luke 10
Carrying the myriad of relationships which define us,
Lugging complicated family relationships that we'd rather not mention,We come to God's table of welcome and healing.
Bearing God's image in our physical beings,
Dragging painful medical histories that threaten our welcome,We come to God's table of welcome and healing.
Holding the promise of life before us,
Grasping at the frayed edges of our youthful dreams,We come to God's table of welcome and healing.
Call to Worship
Written for the Union Church UCC of Tekonsha, July 9, 1995. Copyright Katherine Hawker.
From fears that paralyze us;
Heal us, O Lord.
From illness that strangles us;
Heal us, O Lord.
From sorrows that weigh us down;
Heal us, O Lord.
From aimlessness that plagues our visions;
Heal us, O Lord.
Summer Year B - Reflections on the David Story
These prayers written for the summer cycles which includes the amazing stories of David. Written for Evangelical United Church of Christ, 2000. Copyright Katherine Hawker.
Invocation
God of Bathseba, we come yearning for
wisdom to embrace life
despite its tragic complexity.
God of Tamar, we come in search of
strength to endure
the horrific consequences of untamed greed.
God of Michal, we come claiming
courage to name the insults offered even now
that belie your goodness.
God of the Story, meet us today
with living waters abundant
to quench your thirst.
Litany of Confession and Promise
David loved Jonathon
yet he wore the uniform of Jonathon's killer.
David danced for joy in the streets
while Michal bore witness to his drunken excess.
David's power and status grew
as did his scorn of the blind and the lame.
David wanted to build a temple
thus proving his devotion.
David built a legacy of broken lives
thus proving his culpability.
We are David,
mourning the loss of our love and our innocence.
We are David,
guilty of exploiting those entrusted to our care.
We are David,
unexpected hero and unrepentant scoundrel.
We are David,
we belong to God.
Prayer of Dedication
Gather the gifts of our hands and hearts, living Spirit.
Use these gifts to build not monuments to your distant glory,
but testaments to your intimate love. Amen.