The salutation of I Corinthians contains a wealth of material for preaching and worship, not least is the enthusiasm with which Paul addresses his readers and hearers. He is not building them up to take them down later, but instead trying to remind them of all that they share as a part of the body of Christ. While there is correction to come, it can happen only in the context of the abundance of the body. This is where we must begin to build our unity.

Planning Notes

Human Relations Sunday, Year A

(January 19, 2020)

CALL TO WORSHIP

One: A wilderness beckons us: a desert, a barren place, yet a place of blessing and discovery.

Many: Jesus, steady companion, accompany us, as we enter new territory, the frightening places, the exciting places, those that evoke memories of past spaces,and those that give us hope for the future.

One: Jesus, our wise and well-traveled guide, lead us into this new land, give us boldness and courage to follow you. Give us your vision and wisdom.

Many: Walk with us through this time of liminality and uncertainty. Help us to trust that we are in a space where all things will be made new.

(adapted from: Steve Garnaas-Holmes, Worship and Song: Worship Resources, p. 12)

OPENING PRAYER

Gracious Spirit, Holy One, we gather in this place to remember, celebrate, and acknowledge once again our common call to ministry and service in your church. Our gathering celebrates anew and always, Jesus’ inclusion of women and those on the outskirts of society in his earthly ministry. We come, as always, from various places in life and ministry, some that are joyful and others that cause us pain, some that are fulfilling, and others that cause us to question the fitness of our response to God’s call, even some that are so in tandem with the world’s oppressive systems that we wonder where you are in the midst of all the turmoil that overshadows the work we do. But beyond it, all we come in the sure and certain faith that in gathering together, we experience your enlivening, empowering presence, and above all, your grace that never ceases. Fill us with your Holy Spirit, now, throughout our time together, and all the days of our lives. In the name of Jesus Christ. our Savior and Lord, we pray. Amen.

Written by Dr. Gennifer Benjamin Brooks, Ernest and Bernice Styberg Professor of Preaching
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Styberg Preaching Institute Director
Director, Doctor of Ministry Programs
Dean of ACTS DMin. in Preaching Program

LITANY OF SENDING

In the spirit of the women who survived the middle passage, withstood and overcame the oppression of enslavement,
We go forth, heading North.

In the spirit of women who dared obstacles and challenged unjust barriers and forged new peoples in new lands,
We go forth, heading South.

In the spirit of women who refused to be browbeaten and held back and opened new paths for others to follow,
We go forth, heading East.

In the spirit of women who refused to be shut out and who demolished boundaries to open new spaces for sisters unborn,
We go forth, heading West.

We go forth, moving in all directions, moving at the directive of the Holy One, moving boldly and courageously in the assurance of divine guidance, anointing presence, and enabling power; in the spirit not only of our ancestors in the sistahhood, but at the direction of Sistah Wisdom, Sofia, who calls each and all to in-courage-her for the sake of God’s glory.

We go forth!
We go forth!
Thanks be to God!

A TRI-LINGUAL READING OF PSALM 22:22-31 (NRSV)

FRENCH
PSAUMES 22:22-31 La Bible du Semeur (BDS)

²²Délivre-moi de la gueule du lion!
Préserve-moi des cornes des taureaux! Oui, tu m’as répondu!
²³Je proclamerai à mes frères quel Dieu tu es, je te louerai dans l’assemblée^.
²⁴Vous tous qui craignez l’Eternel, célébrez-le!
Descendants de Jacob, glorifiez-le! Descendants d’Israël, redoutez-le!
²⁵Il n’a ni mépris ni dédain pour le pauvre dans l’affliction,
il n’a pas détourné son regard loin de lui. Non! il a écouté l’appel à l’aide qu’il lui lançait.
²⁶Grâce à toi, je te loue dans la grande assemblée,
j’accomplirai mes vœux devant ceux qui te craignent.
²⁷Que les malheureux mangent, et qu’ils soient rassasiés!
Oui, qu’ils louent l’Eternel, ceux qui vivent pour lui! Que votre vie dure toujours!
²⁸Aux confins de la terre, tous les peuples du monde se souviendront de l’Eternel. Tous, ils se tourneront vers lui, et toutes les peuplades se prosterneront devant lui.
²⁹Car l’Eternel est roi, et il domine sur les peuples.
³⁰Tous les grands de la terre mangeront et l’adoreront, et ceux qui s’en vont vers la tombe, ceux dont la vie décline, se prosterneront devant lui.
³¹Leur postérité, à son tour, servira l’Eternel et parlera de lui à la génération qui viendra après elle.

SPANISH

22 Anunciaré tu nombre á mis hermanos: En medio de la congregación te alabaré.
23 Los que teméis á Jehová, alabadle; Glorificadle, simiente toda de Jacob;
Y temed de él, vosotros, simiente toda de Israel.
24 Porque no menospreció ni abominó la aflicción del pobre,
Ni de él escondió su rostro;
Sino que cuando clamó á él, oyóle.
25 De ti será mi alabanza en la grande congregación;
Mis votos pagaré delante de los que le temen.
26 Comerán los pobres, y serán saciados: Alabarán á Jehová los que le buscan: Vivirá vuestro corazón para siempre.
27Acordarse han, y volveránse á Jehová todos los términos de la tierra;
Y se humillarán delante de ti todas las familias de las gentes.
28 Porque de Jehová es el reino; Y él se enseñoreará de las gentes.
29 Comerán y adorarán todos los poderosos de la tierra:
Postraránse delante de él todos los que descienden al polvo,
Si bien ninguno puede conservar la vida á su propia alma.
30 La posteridad le servirá; Será ella contada por una generación de Jehová.
31 Vendrán, y anunciarán al pueblo que naciere, Su justicia que él hizo.

PSALM 22:22-31 (NRSV adapted)

²²I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters;
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
²³You who fear the Lord, praise [God] !
All you offspring of Jacob, glorify God; stand in awe of God,
all you offspring of Israel!
²⁴For God did not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted;
God did not hide God’s face from me, but heard when I cried to God.
²⁵From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
my vows I will pay before those who fear God.
²⁶The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek God shall praise the Lord.
May your hearts live forever!
²⁷All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord;
and all the families of the nations shall worship before God.
²⁸For dominion belongs to the Lord, and God rules over the nations.
²⁹To God, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down;
before God shall bow all who go down to the dust, and I shall live for God.
³⁰Posterity will serve God; future generations will be told about the Lord,
³¹and proclaim God’s deliverance to a people yet unborn,
saying that God has done it!

CLOSING LITANY

ONE: Children of God, you have heard God’s voice calling. How will you respond?

MANY: “Speak, your servants are listening!”

ONE: Saints of the Most High, God has commanded you to heal the sick, set the captives free, and bind up broken hearts. How will you respond?

MANY: “Speak, your servants are listening!”

ONE: Leaders of leaders, God is calling you by name, commanding you to go forth with power and authority. God has promised to be with you always, even till the ends of the earth. How will you respond?

MANY: “Speak, your servants are listening!”

ONE: Beloved, hear the voice of God declaring that you are chosen people, a royal priesthood, are you listening? How will you respond?

MANY: “Speak Lord, your servants hear!”

ONE: Sisters and brothers, be assured of this, God will not call you to go where God cannot keep you. So, go from this place determined to live everyday like it is your last, love God and God’s people unconditionally, and look forward to hearing God say, “I am making all things new!” (Rev. 21:5). How will you respond?

MANY: Here we are Faithful Shepherd, Speak to us, we are listening!

ONE: ASHE’!

ALL: ASHE’!

Written by Cynthia Wilson
© Free Indeed Productions 2016

Other Resources:

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Celebration by Dr. Valerie Bridgeman Davis

LITANY: "The Diversity Among Us" by Rev. Trudy D. Robinson
This is an edited form of a litany originally written as a part of the Rocky Mountain 2007 Annual Conference Service of Holy Communion. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2008 Posted with Permission on the General Board of Disciple Worship website: www.umcworship.org

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