Click here to read worship resources for Black History Month.

A Matter of Color

A Gathering Meditation on Romans 4:13-25
(Linda Furtado)

I can’t say wrong and right is black and white when black is darkness and beauty and death, and white is blinding and pure and even the emptiness of this page. Without these black letters stamped on white paper, we might forget that we all matter in God’s eyes. Working together page after page requires trusting God’s will and God’s way. Only by God’s grace will the mixing and matching of our hues do more than reveal our imperfections.

If we believe that God’s creative vision is on-point, then the most versatile, righteous, and perfect Redeemer may just have a chance to make righteous the rips, broken places, and old stains that we wrongly thought defined our worth.

It is no wonder that God decided to make many nations. One color is boring and not worth the time and attention.

Pick Up Your Cross and Follow Me

(Based on Mark 8:31-38)
(Safiyah Fosua)

Leader: Jesus said: “Pick up your cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34)

People: What does it mean to carry a cross?

Leader: "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it.” Your way is the road less traveled. (Matthew 7:13)

People: How shall we carry this cross?

Leader: Jesus said: “go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor… then come, follow me." (Mark 10:21)

People: We are called to love one another and to be willing to give something of ourselves to others.

Leader: It takes strength to carry a cross; more than we have, sometimes more than we want.

People: God of Mercy, give us the strength to walk in your way, to carry the cross, to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. Amen.

Change ‘Mah Name

(For Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16)

(Background music: the spiritual, "Changed Mah Name." You may watch Jennifer Bynum's performance of this spiritual on YouTube or an mp3 of Roberta Flack's version may be purchased from Amazon)

Soloist sings first verse of "Changed Mah Name" (I Told Jesus)

Leader (Music continues in background):
What is your name?
People: Sarai…
Oh no, my sister, your name is not Sarai anymore -- it's SARAH!

(Pause while music and soloist continue)

What is your name?
People: Abram? No, Abraham!
People: Jacob?
No, Israel!
People: Simon?
No, Petros!

Soloist repeats refrain of "I Told Jesus"

Leader (Music continues in background):
What is your name?

(Several people from the congregation say their names) __________________!
__________________!
__________________!
__________________!

Soloist repeats refrain of "I Told Jesus"

Leader (Music continues in background):
What is your name?
(Everyone, say your name!)

Leader: It does not matter if your name is Mona, Joanna or Maria, Sebastian, Steven or Juan. It does not matter if you use a nickname or an alias -- or even if other people try to name you. What matters is that you are known and named by God. When God changed Abram's name, he began the transformation from lonely wanderer to person of God. When Jesus changed Simon's name, he was gradually transformed from sinner into saint. The same God that changed them invites each of us into a Lenten journey of change.

People: Today, we tell Jesus it would be all right if he changed our names. Change us, O God, from sinners into saints. Change us, O God, from lonely wanderers into children of God. Today, I tell Jesus it would be all right if he changes my name. Soloist finishes "I Told Jesus"

Go in God’s Power

A Sending for the Second Sunday of Lent
(Linda Furtado)

Go, in God’s power that moves through acts of faith.
Open your ear to God’s divine revelations.
Depend on God, who is wise beyond the laws of this land.
Do all these things so that all that is right and good permeates each day until we meet again.
Amen.

Linda Furtado currently serves as the Minister of Worship, Arts, and Media at McKendree United Methodist Church in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Linda, a ministry leader in the Tennessee Annual Conference, is married to the Rev. Jefferson M. Furtado. She is the mother of three school-age daughters, Sueli, Cintia, and Emma.