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
we have gathered to worship the Lord of all
to sing, pray, listen, and reflect
in this, we hope to be formed more fully in the way of Christ
to be transformed into people
who extend the love of God to all of Creation
and to realign our desires with the Kingdom of God
so that our lives might reflect our true citizenship
Amen.
Scripture
Psalm 68:1-10, 33-36
May the True God rise up and show Godself;
may those who are united against God be dispersed,
while the people who hate God run away at the sight of God.
As smoke disappears when it is blown by the wind,
may You blow away Your enemies forever.
As wax melts in the presence of fire,
may the wicked heart melt away in God’s presence.
But may those who are righteous rejoice
in the presence of the True God—so may they be glad and rejoice.
Yes, let them celebrate with joy!
Sing songs of praise to the name that belongs to the True God!
Let your voices ring out in songs of praise to the One who rides through the deserted places.
God’s name is the Eternal;
celebrate in God’s glorious presence.
The True God who inhabits sacred space
is a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows.
God makes a home for those who are alone.
God frees the prisoners and leads them to prosper.
Yet those who rebel against God live in the barren land without God’s blessings and prosperity.
O True God, when You led Your enslaved people from Egypt,
when You journeyed with us through the wilderness,
The whole world trembled! The sky poured down rain
at the power of Your presence; even Mount Sinai trembled in Your presence,
the presence of the True God, the God of Israel.
You sent a heavy downpour to soak the ground, O True God.
You refreshed the land—the land Your people would inherit—when it was parched and dry.
Your covenant people made their homes in the land,
and because You are so good, You provided for those crushed by poverty, O True God.
To the One who rides high up beyond the heavens, which have been since ancient times,
watch and listen. The Voice speaks, and it is powerful and strong.
Attribute power to the one True God;
Whose royal splendor is evident over Israel,
and Whose power courses through the clouds.
O True God, You are awesome from the holy place where You dwell.
The True God of Israel
grants strength and power to God’s people.
Blessed be our God!
Acts 1:6-14
When the apostles had come together, they asked Jesus, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them.
They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.
All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.