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 Eternal One
the Maker of all things,
whose boundless love endures boundlessly
to participate in the story of God and the people of God
with our songs, our prayers, and our listening
bringing with us the full complexity of our lives
hoping the Spirit of God would form us more fully into the way of Christ
and draw us into God’s work
of Beloved Community in the world.
Amen
Scripture
Psalm 136
O give thanks to the Lord, for the Lord is good,
for the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever.
O give thanks to the God of gods,
for the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever;
O give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever;
who alone does great wonders,
for the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever;
who by understanding made the heavens,
for the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever;
who spread out the earth on the waters,
for the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever;
who made the great lights,
for the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever;
the sun to rule over the day,
for the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever;
the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever;
who struck Egypt through their firstborn,
for the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever;
and brought Israel out from among them,
for the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever;
with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever;
who divided the Red Sea in two,
for the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever;
and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
for the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever;
but overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,
for the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever;
who led the people of the Lord through the wilderness,
for the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever;
who struck down great kings,
for the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever;
and killed famous kings,
for the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever;
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever;
and Og, king of Bashan,
for the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever;
and gave their land as a heritage,
for the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever;
a heritage to the Lord’s servant Israel,
for the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever;
It is the Lord who remembered us in our low estate,
for the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever;
and rescued us from our foes,
for the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever;
who gives food to all flesh,
for the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever;
O give thanks to the God of heaven,
for the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever.
Acts 16:6-10
They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. When they had come opposite Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them; so, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.
During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.
Prayer
This week’s prayer was from An Iona Prayer Book (98):
Lord of Life
we celebrate your countless gifts,
in days and nights,
in rainbows and rain,
in touch, dream and smile,
in partners who love,
in kids who cuddle,
in grannies who listen,
in friends who care,
in dogs that lick,
in hands that sew,
in food on the table;
yet above all,
in your coming among us,
walking our roads,
calling our names,
enfolding our lives,
inviting us home.