An Outline for Worship with Examples and Options for Adaptation and Use
Prepared by the National Council of the Churches of Christ
Invocations/Calls to Worship
Prayer
Leader:
O Supreme Lord of the Universe,
You fill and sustain everything around us;
With the touch of your hand you turned chaos into order, darkness into light.
People: We adore you, we love you, we praise you.
Leader: From you burst forth the splendor of the sun, and the mild radiance of the moon.
Stars and planets without number you set in ordered movement.
You are the source of the fire's heat and the wind's might, of the water's coolness and the earth's stability.
People: We adore you, we love you, we praise you.
Leader: Deep and wonderful are the mysteries of your creation.
We adore you, we love you, we praise you.
You are beyond all form, you give life and hope to all,
You are the Lord of all creation.
(Source: World Council of Churches. Used by permission.)
Come, Holy Spirit--Renew the Whole Creation
O God, the Holy Spirit,
come to us, and among us;
come as the wind, and cleanse us;
come as the fire, and burn;
come as the dew, and refresh;
convict, convert, and consecrate
many hearts and lives
to our great good
and thy greater glory,
and this we ask for Jesus Christ's sake.
(Source: "In Spirit and In Truth: A Worship Book," World Council of Churches' Seventh Assembly, Canberra, Australia, p. 3. Used by permission.)
For Knowledge of God's Creation
Almighty and everlasting God, you made the universe with all its marvelous order, its atoms, worlds, and galaxies, and the infinite complexity of living creatures: Grant that, as we probe the mysteries of your creation, we may come to know you more truly, and more surely fulfill our role in your eternal purpose; in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Source: "The Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church." Used by permission.)
For the Conservation of Natural Resources
Almighty God, in giving us dominion over things on earth, you made us fellow workers in your creation: Give us wisdom and reverence so to use the resources of nature that no one may suffer from our abuse of them, and that generations yet to come may continue to praise you for your bounty; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Source: "The Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church." Used by permission.)
Giver of Life--Sustain Your Creation
We praise you, Holy Spirit, our Advocate and Comforter. Help us to affirm life in the midst of death, supporting us as we confront the power of destruction, urging us to hammer swords into plowshares and spears into pruning knives;
So that wolves and sheep live together in peace, life is celebrated, creation is restored as the Sphere of the living.
Holy Spirit, we praise you; help us to affirm life in the midst of death. Amen.
(Source: World Council of Churches. Used by permission.)
Prayer for Creation
Let us pray:
Eternal God,
We thank you for the glory of your creation--a mystery that surpasses our knowledge.
Eternal God,
We thank you for the earth and water, sun and wind, creatures and peoples--cultures--nations:
Guide us
we gather to confess that we have violated the gift of life given to us.
Strengthen us
as we seek to affirm that the earth and all therein is yours.
Enable us
as we seek to recall your covenant and make it our own
(Source: World Council of Churches. Used by permission.)
Prayer for Justice
Leader: Ever loving God,
You have taught us that justice is your will and your way. We are grateful for the lessons of love taught by the life, death and resurrection of your son Jesus. We come in full recognition of the reality that justice is expected of us and yet we confess that our days have been marked with injustice. We pray this day, O God, that we might be moved to act against injustice so that all might have life abundant, full and free: Let us remember those women and men who gave their lives in the struggle for justice and let their sacrifice be an inspiration to us. Let us all name those known and unknown who suffer still and stand in need of God's love.
(The congregation is invited to call out names.)
Leader: Let us pray. Righteous God, hear our prayer, hold all those who suffer in your everlasting arms. Lead us to discern injustice and to resist with all our being. Enable us to be in solidarity with all who are oppressed. Lead us to follow Jesus who was unjustly put to death, whom you did raise again as our every living hope. Praise be to God. Amen!
(Source: World Council of Churches. Used by permission.)