Call to Worship

Welcome all who long to encounter Jesus, the one who loves, tends, sustains, and saves us.
Jesus said, “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.”

Welcome all who walk the halls of power, who feel pushed and pulled to fight for position, status, and authority.
Jesus said, “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.”

Welcome all who feel burned out, who have given more than they have day in and day out and long for someone to notice that you, too, need help and support.
Jesus said, “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve.”

Welcome, followers of Christ, who came to serve and show God’s abundant love and grace among us.
We come to worship Jesus who shows us that serving is the fruit of our love and being served by one another is the source of our power as the Body of Christ. Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, July 2024.

Opening Prayer

Though you are God,
with all the influence and status that the name implies,
you refused to pull rank,
and parade your power among us.

Instead, you chose to step down into our experience,
living among us, as one of us,
with all the struggle and suffering
that goes with being human.

More than that, you adopted the role of servant,
washing feet, serving people of no reputation or social standing,
and giving of yourself completely.

As incredible as it sounds,
you are the God who serves,
and we can respond in no other way
than to give ourselves to you in praise.

Amen.

Adapted from by John van de Laar, and posted on the Sacredise.com website. Re-posted on the re:Worship blog at https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2012/10/prayer-god-who-saves.html.

Prayer of Confession

Gracious God, we confess that too often we clamor for attention. Me! Me! Look at how important I am. That’s what our actions say. Like James and John, we pray selfish prayers, for power, for position, for prestige—for what? So that people will say how great we are? Teach us that true greatness comes from humble service. Show us how to roll up our sleeves, dig in, and lend a hand; even when no one else will. Preoccupy us with humility, then greatness can come when we least expect it. Give us the grace to live as humble servants. Amen.

Written by Kwasi I. Kena, The Africana Worship Book, Year B (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2007), 162.

Benediction

Beloved, go today in the blessing of Jesus Christ, who challenges us to share our love through service and receive love through the service others, binding us together as a community through holy interdependence. Amen.

Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, July 2024.