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call to worship – based on Psalm 111

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submitted by Michael Morgan, organist, Central Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, Georgia; seminary musician, Columbia Theological Seminary; and author of the Psalter for Christian Worship

One: Praise the Lord! In the company of the saints above and beside us, let us give thanks to the Lord our God!
All: Great are the works of the Lord, full of honor and majesty,  whose righteousness endures forever.
One: The Lord is gracious and merciful; the work of God’s hands are faithful and just.
All: God’s covenant is established forever in truth and justice.
One: Our redemption is in the name of our Lord.
All: Holy and awesome is God’s name in all the earth!

Sunday’s Coming: working toward January 29

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Maybe this week you’re particularly praying for God to put words in your mouth, to raise up a prophet…it’s the middle of winter for many of us, and it’s that part of the Epiphany season when we’re getting tired of the first chapter of Mark and simultaneously our minds are occupied with Lent planning. In many churches (well, okay, mine anyway!) it’s also chili cook-off season…which brings to mind Paul’s discourse on food. Perhaps when someone asks for your secret chili ingredient, you can say “knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” (ha!) Or maybe you’ll seriously take it on–part of our constant seeking for both holiness and wholeness (of ourselves and community) means thinking about even mundane things. Or maybe you think this aspect of Scripture and everyday life needs to be addressed.

Are you continuing with Mark, the demons who know Jesus, the command to be silent, and the amazement at Jesus’ authority?

Or is this perhaps a week you just need some good news–the kind you can find in the Psalm with its praise, promise, and remembering?

Whatever you’re working on this week, we’re here to create worship together. Drop in to the comments with your ideas, seeds of ideas, words or phrases, hymn ideas, or liturgical resources we need to know about, so we can join in the creative process together!

CTW: it’s time

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Submitted by Scott Cervas, Pastor, Meadowthorpe Presbyterian Church (Lexington, KY)

It’s time! God’s intended reality for creation is approaching at full speed!
Change the way you think and live, and trust that the world is going to change.
God is calling us out of our hardened shells of personal religion,
and into this community that draws us together today!
So let’s be gathered together…and let’s worship God!

Looking Ahead: Lent

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Last week we started up a conversation about Ash Wednesday. Stop in and share your ideas, contribute a line to a prayer of confession, or just tell us what you normally do so we can brainstorm together!

This week we’re looking toward Lent. When it comes to major seasons like Lent, do you prefer to look for a theme to follow through the whole season? If so, do you get that theme from the lectionary or from somewhere else (the needs of the community, something you read, etc)? Or do you use whatever comes up in the lectionary? Or some other plan?

Do you do anything special for Lent–special decoration, artwork, worship style? I’ve heard of churches fasting from a printed bulletin during Lent, which sounds super interesting. I’ve also heard of going instrument-free, using only unaccompanied singing. And I’ve heard of giving up preaching for Lent, instead using other forms of proclamation.

Many of us will have a special focus on repentance during Lent, and we’ll pay more attention to our prayers of confession than we might otherwise. Do you have an idea for a confession? Or maybe a call to confession or a declaration of forgiveness that will be particularly poignant during this season?

Join in the conversation in the comments as we look toward the 6 weeks of Lent.

illumination: your lamp has not gone out

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Submitted by Rev. Stephanie Wing, member-at-large in Transylvania Presbytery.

God of all wisdom…
We live in a time where visions are not widespread,
but you assure us that your lamp has not gone out…
By the lamplight of your Holy Spirit, awaken our vision…
silence in us the thoughts and voices that distract…
open our ears to hear your voice calling to us…
so that we may say, “Here I am!”
Amen.