21st Century Africana Worship Resources for the Twelfth Sunday After Pentecost, Year A

Call to Worship
Based on Psalm 105:1-6)
Left Side: We give thanks to the God, we call on the name of the LORD, we make known God's deeds among the peoples.

Right Side: We sing to God, sing praises to God; we tell of all the LORDs wonderful works.

Left Side: We glory in God's holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

Right Side: We seek the LORD and the LORD's strength; we seek God's presence continually.

Left Side: We remember the wonderful works God has done, God's miracles, and God's judgments.

Right Side: We are offspring of God's servant Abraham, children of Jacob, God's chosen ones.

All: We give thanks to the LORD, we call on his name, we make known his deeds among the peoples. Litany
(Based on Psalm 105:16-22, 45b) Somebody meant it for evil, but God meant it for good!

When he summoned famine against the land,
and broke every staff of bread,
he had sent a man ahead of them,
Joseph, who was sold as a slave. (Psalm 105:16, 17)

Somebody meant it for evil, but God meant it for good!

His feet were hurt with fetters,
his neck was put in a collar of iron;
until what he had said came to pass,
the word of the LORD kept testing him. (Psalm 105:18-19)

Somebody meant it for evil, but God meant it for good!

The king sent and released him;,
the ruler of the peoples set him free.,
He made him lord of his house,,
and ruler of all his possessions,,
to instruct his officials at his pleasure,,
and to teach his elders wisdom. (Psalm 105:20-22),
that they might keep his statutes,
and observe his laws.,
Praise the LORD! (Psalm 105:45b)

Closer Than a Brother
A Litany based on Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28
Leader: Joseph was shepherding the flock with his brothers; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. (Genesis 37:2)

People: Sometimes a brother don't act like a brother, but there is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Leader: Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him.

People: Sometimes a brother don't act like a brother, but there is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Leader: Now his brothers went to pasture their father's flock near Shechem. And Israel said to Joseph, "Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock; and bring word back to me." So he sent him from the valley of Hebron. So Joseph went after his brothers, and found them at Dothan.

They saw him from a distance, and before he came near to them, they conspired to kill him. They said to one another, "Here comes this dreamer. Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams."

People: Sometimes a brother ain't much of brother, but there is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Leader: But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, "Let us not take his life." Reuben said to them, "Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him" ?? that he might rescue him out of their hand and restore him to his father.

People: Sometimes a brother don't act like a brother, but there is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Leader: So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves that he wore; and they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it. Then they sat down to eat.

People: Sometimes a brother ain't much of brother, but there is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Leader: Then Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh."

People: Sometimes a brother don't act like a brother, but there is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Leader: When some Midianite traders passed by, they drew Joseph up, lifting him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.

All: Sometimes a brother don't act like a brother, but there is a Friend.

Special Music: "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Chile," 83, Songs of Zion

Prayer
(Based on Matthew 14:22-33)
Lord, if it's you, we need to hear from you.

When we are alone,
When we go away to pray,
When we have little faith,
When we are battered by the waves,
When the wind is against us,
When we get in the boat,
When we're terrified by our ghosts,
When we seek you on the mountain,
When we cry out in fear,
When we start walking on water,
When we begin to sink,
When we are far from land,

Lord, if it's you,
speak to us,
calm our fears,
calm our storms.
Strengthen our resolve.
Remind us who you are.
Walk to us.
Call to us.
Save us.
Reach out your hand and catch us.
Quiet the wind around us.

Lord, if it's you, we worship you for "Truly you are the Son of God."

Affirmation
(Based on Matthew 14:22-33)
Jesus you walk toward us on our stormy lakes.
Even when we are terrified, you keep coming to us.
When we cry out in fear you say, "Take heart."
When we question you, you bid us, "Come to me."
When we start to sink, we can cry out, "Lord save me!"

When we need you, you say:
Take heart;
it is I.
Do not be afraid;
come to me.

About the Author: Tony Peterson is a former staff member of Discipleship Ministries.