BRING LIFE | Healing Hands Worship Series, week 1
July 1, 2018

(BOW=United Methodist Book of Worship)

Planning for This Service

Today marks the beginning of a new five-week series. This series follows Jesus in the Gospel of Mark and John as his ministry begins to take shape and become known through the land.

This season, we will be giving worship pieces in this space rather than an order of worship. This is to allow churches to use these resources in the order of worship that their context is used to. We suggest that you consider including a ritual action each week in worship that connects to the Scripture and allows your congregation to embody their response to the Word.

Week 1 - Service of Healing (BOW 615). If you are welcoming a new pastor today, consider including a Service for the Celebration of an Appointment (BOW 595).

Week 2 - Blessing of Hands

Week 3 - Reaffirmation of the Baptismal Covenant (BOW 111)

Week 4 - Movement Hymn (see Music Notes)

Week 5 - Communion or gathering for a meal immediately following worship.

Worship pieces that you may consider for this week:

CALL TO PRAISE AND PRAYER

One: Let’s look at our hands. Lord, what have you called these hands to do?
Many: Our world needs God’s healing touch and restoration. Wherever our journey goes, God is with us. Yes, we are seeking God’s healing touch!

One: Today, we are asking God to bring life unto this world in new ways. With these hands, God is healing our hearts, renewing our souls, raising us from death, and granting us a new day!
Many: Yes, we are seeking God’s healing touch! Bring life to all the world!

One: What is our call today? Worship an awesome God who brings life and light to a dark world.
All: Let us worship God this day as new life comes forth in the name of Jesus Christ!

GENERAL PRAYER:

Prayer: Gracious and merciful God, we love you and magnify your name. Lord, a touch from you is what we need each day. Your Spirit is guiding us to live for you. Continue directing our restoration journey. May God bring life to all humanity in new ways and send us forth to witness transformation. Continue to remind us that you are known by your love and that you make time for the crowds who are drawn to you for healing. Call us to believe that we can feed the world in ways that are pleasing unto you. We celebrate that your healing hands are touching our hearts, so that we will shine new lights in this dark world. Lord, we give all glory, honor, and praise.

NRSV texts, artwork and Revised Common Lectionary Prayers for this service are available at the Vanderbilt Divinity Library.
Leccionario en Español, Leccionario Común Revisado: Consulta Sobre Textos Comunes.
Lectionnaire en français, Le Lectionnaire Œcuménique Révisé

Calendar Notes

The color from now until All Saints Day or All Saints Sunday (November 1 or 4) is green. Consider using different shades or patterns of green throughout the coming months, if you have means available to do so. On All Saints, the color is white or gold.