Call to Worship

Are you awake? Are you alert?
Christ is coming into our lives in a new way.
Are you watching the signs?
Are you interpreting what is happening today?
Christ is coming into our lives in a new way.
Do you see opportunities for ministry?
Do you see the poor, the homeless, the hungry, the needy?
Christ is coming into our lives in a new way.
Come, let us worship and let us work in the reign of God.
Christ has extended the invitation:
let us work together in the reign of God on earth.

Rev. Mindi on her Rev-o-lution blog. Reposted: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2011/11/contemporary-call-proper-27a.html.

Response to the Word

(inspired by Matthew 5:21-37, Deuteronomy 30:15-20)

O God, send your Spirit upon us and light our path,
that we may travel the road you have prepared for us.

Having heard your scriptures proclaimed,
and your word revealed,
enable our hearts and minds to more fully understand
your goodness and your grace.

Help us break free from ideas that no longer bring life,
that we may embrace the life-giving work of your Spirit.
Challenge us to forsake paths that ask little of us,
and help us resist the evils and temptations of this world,
that we may truly follow the way of kingdom living. Amen.

Posted on the Ministry Matters website. http://www.ministrymatters.com. Reposted: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2014/01/prayer-epiphany-6a_31.html.

Prayer

(drawing on 2 Corinthians 1:17, James 5:12, Matthew 5:37)

Discerning God,
help me consider this day
how I live my life
and how I choose the direction I take.

Do I make my plans according to ordinary human standards,
ready to say ‘Yes, yes’ and ‘No, no’ at the same time? (2 Cor. 1:17)

Discriminating God,
help me understand
how crucial are the words I speak to others
as I seek relationships in my life.

“Let your ‘Yes’ be your yes
and your ‘No,’ no,
or you will be condemned.” (James 5:12)

Disturbing God,
help me find clarity in my relationship with you,
with others, and maybe especially with myself.

Let your word be 'Yes, Yes' or 'No, No':
anything more than this comes from the evil one. (Matthew 5: 37)

Written by Kenn Stright, Minister, Presbyterian Church of Saint David in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Posted: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2017/02/prayer-choices.html.

Benediction

When Jesus said, “But I say to you,” he was raising the bar; he was calling for more than the law requires. He was calling us to righteousness. Let us go from here determined to follow his call by the Spirit’s grace and live as disciples every moment of our lives. Go with God. Amen.

Derek Weber, Discipleship Ministries, July 2022