This first week of the series, we are establishing the idea of praise and labor living side by side. And sometimes the labor is strenuous. Sometimes the labor comes from struggles in our lives and in our world. There are things worth fighting for. Yet praise continues.

The worship center could show images or symbols of the struggle for justice, of the brokenness of our world and for our determination to work toward the kin-dom of God in all our words and deeds.

Call to Worship

Leader: Now is the time to awaken to the presence of God the Eternal Spirit.
People: Now is the time to come alive with our songs of praise.
Leader: Today we open ourselves to the power of the Spirit in our lives.
People: Today we extend our hands in caring toward humanity.
All: We do all this because we have responded to the ministry and message of Jesus Christ, whose people we are.

Ruth Duck, Bread for the Journey, Pilgrim Press, 1981, p.53.

Psalm 149 - A Call to Worship

Praise the LORD!
Sing to the LORD a new song.
Praise God among the communion of saints.
Let the people of God rejoice in their creator.
Let them praise the LORD with dance,
and celebrate with musical instruments,
because the LORD delights in them,
and adorns the despairing with welfare.
Let all the saints jump for joy;
let them cry out with gladness where they rest.
Let high praises of God be in their throats:
word and song that overcome injustice,
binding rulers in chains and the powerful in iron shackles;
bringing justice to them, and honour to all God's faithful.
Praise the LORD!

Litany of Praise, based on Psalm 149

One: Praise the Lord and sing to the Lord a new song.
Many: Let’s lift our voices and just praise the Lord!

One: Let the people rejoice in God their maker, and let all the children be filled with joy.
Many: Let’s lift our hands and just praise the Lord!

One: Praise the Lord with dancing and singing, timbrels and harps.
Many: Let’s lift our souls and just praise the Lord!

One: Let the saints of God be joyful and let them sing aloud all the day long.
Many: Let’s lift our songs and just praise the Lord!

One: Let there be high praises to God in our mouths and on our lips.
Many: Let’s lift our shouts and just praise the Lord!

One: Praise God for mighty deeds of justice, righteousness, and honor.
All: Let’s just praise the Lord!

(Eugene Blair, The Africana Worship Book: Year A, Discipleship Resources, 2006, p. 119.)

Pastoral Prayer (or Prayer for Reflection)

Let there be praise and joy in our hearts, O God. We have many suggestions about how things could be different and better. It could be cooler; there could be more rain; we could be less busy; we could have more vacation; we could have fewer bills to pay. The unfortunate we smart over, the good we take for granted. Forgive us when we fret so much about the way things aren’t that we forget to be thankful for remarkable blessings which are ours in the way things are.

In these moments we will remember enough to let there be praise and joy in our hearts. Call to our mind the joy of a good stretch when we’ve slept soundly; the exhilaration of a day when we don’t have to follow a regular routine; the grace of a drink of cold water going down on a hot day. Review for us the pleasure in the song of the thrush; the sight of the hovering hummingbird’s miraculous flight; the nervous chittering of the squirrels. Call to our mind the good feeling when we are comfortable with a loved one; the excitement when we look forward to being with friends or family; the wonder of mutual love creating a new baby; the richness of watching children grow and mature; the full heart experienced when a child says “I love you grandpa.” The list is longer than we can finish. We have enough and more for there to be joy and praise in our hearts. Let it be, dear Lord.

We do not desire to gloss over the pain and hurt which is a part of life. We know persons who are bowed down with heavy responsibilities; persons who are trying to gather the pieces of broken relationships; persons who wonder what it would be like to feel healthy again; persons who both accept and struggle against physical limitations. By your Spirit, Lord, when any of us are confused or in pain, we are able to live in strength and courage if, in faith, we remember to ask for help. Let it be so for all who need you. Let some sense of blessing touch each one who joins in this prayer. And in return, you shall hear in our hearts a song of praise and joy. Through Christ we pray, Amen.

(Earle W. Fike, Jr., Please Pray with Me: Prayers for People at Worship, Brethren Press, 1990, #33.)