Two Litanies Based on Psalm 118: A 21st Century Liturgy Resource

Litany Based on Psalm 118:1-6

All: Give thanks to the LORD, for God is good; God's love endures forever.

One Voice: Let the people of God say: His love endures forever.

Many Voices: Let the priests who serve in prayer say: His mercy endures forever.

One Voice: Let all who reverence the Creating God say: His love endures forever!

All: We know what it is to cry out in anguish and fear.

One Voice: God's love endures forever.

All: God is with us; we will not be afraid.

One Voice: Let all who reverence the Saving God say: His love endures forever!

All: The Lord is our help and refuge; God's love endures forever.

One Voice: We put our hope in God rather than governments.

All: God's love endures forever!

Litany Based on Psalm 118:19-29

One: Open the gates of righteousness.

Many: Enter in and give thanks to the Lord.

One: This is the gate of God.

Many: Enter in and be saved!

One: This is the gate of God.

Many: Give thanks as you enter in.

One: This is the place where God answers.

Many: Enter in; give thanks to the Lord for salvation!

One: The stone the builders rejected is the strongest part of God's house.

Many: Jesus is that stone; give thanks as you enter in.

One: The stone that was rejected is our Rock and strength.

Many: The Lord has made it so, and it is marvelous in our eyes.

One: This is the day the Lord has made.

Many: We rejoice, glad in it!

One: This is the day the Lord has made.

Many: We came to shout about it!

One: God is our salvation and our success.

Many: We came to shout about it!

One: Blessed is the One who comes in the name of God.

Many: We came to shout about it!

One: From God's sanctuary we bless you.

Many: We came to shout about it!

One: The Lord is God and shines on us.

Many: We came to shout about it!

One: With palm branches in hand and a song in our heart

Many: We came to shout about it!

One: We join the festive procession from age to age and place to place.

Many: Give thanks to the Lord, for God is good.

All: God's love endures forever. and we came to shout about it!

Valerie Bridgeman Davis, Ph.D., Biblical Studies (Hebrew Bible), teaches preaching and worship at Memphis Theological Seminary. Dr. Bridgeman Davis is a consultant for the 21st Century Africana Worship Resource Project.

"21st Century Africana Liturgy Resources: Choral Reading for Psalm 31:9-16" Copyright 2005 The Rev. Dr. Valerie Bridgeman Davis. Used with permission.