This blog is a record of the call to worship, Scripture readings, and prayers from our Sunday liturgies. If you are interested in writing something for the liturgy, or if you have a concern about any aspect of our liturgy, please email jamie@ubcwaco.org.
Call to Worship
[This week's call to worship was written by Kim Stübben]
Welcoming and Compassionate God,
we gather knowing you have
asked us to be bold.
As you have inscribed us on the palms of your hands,
may we not forget those who are in
need of healing, justice, and mercy.
Remind us of your perfect love
and give us the hope
to reconnect to your design.
Amen
Scripture
Isaiah 49:15-18
Can a woman forget her nursing child,
or show no compassion for the child of her womb?
Even these may forget,
yet I will not forget you.
See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are continually before me.
Your builders outdo your destroyers,
and those who laid you waste go away from you.
Lift up your eyes all around and see;
they all gather, they come to you.
As I live, says the Lord,
you shall put all of them on like an ornament,
and like a bride you shall bind them on.
1 John 4:17-19
Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us.
Prayer
This week's prayer was from the Iona Community Worship book (73, 74):
Spirit of truth and judgment,
Who alone can cast out
the powers that grip our world
at the point of crisis,
give us Your discernment,
that we may accurately name what is evil,
and know the way that leads to peace,
Spirit of integrity,
You drive us into the desert
to search out our truth.
give us clarity to know what is right,
that we may abandon the false innocence
of failing to choose at all,
but may follow the purposes of Jesus Christ,
Amen.