By Curry F. Butler, Lindsey Baynham, and Kachael J

God, We Hear You in Spite of the Chaos

A Call to Worship Inspired by Psalm 29
(Curry F. Butler)

Leader: God, you choose to speak in mysterious ways.
People: Your trumpet sounds within my soul.

Leader: Your voice can be heard over every gunshot that pierces
through the heart of men with darker hues.
People: Your trumpet sounds within my soul.

Leader: Your voice can be heard over every screaming cry of a mother longing for her baby boy.
People: Your trumpet sounds within my soul.

Leader: Your voice can be heard over every police siren that pulls over
any driver charged with DWB (Driving While Black).
People: Your trumpet sounds within my soul.
All: We hear you loud and clear God. We ain’t got long to stay here.

God, Your Voice is Majestic

A Prayer Inspired by Psalm 29
(Curry F. Butler)

Lord, we come before your throne of grace to acknowledge your voice. You speak; you have always spoken; and you are speaking. Your voice is majestic. It hovers over the waters, bringing about peace. It rides in the mighty roar of thunder, letting us know just how mighty you are. We hear your voice dancing in the consuming flames of fire found in the pit. Your voice swims amidst the raging flood waters to let everyone know that it will be ok. Today, we ask you to speak to us so that we can hear you. Speak for us so that it is never a question of who sent us. And speak through us so that your children might be saved. It’s in your darling son Jesus’ name, we pray…AMEN.

Night

A Monologue for John 3:1-17
(Lindsey Baynham)

If your congregation uses video bumpers, this would make an excellent prelude to a sermon about Nicodemus.

Stillness.

And yet I hear the crickets singing incessantly among the reeds. It gives me comfort to know that my existence is not alone, siloed. When I think all has finally stopped for the day--I sense him, feel him, before I see him. A shadowy figure, moving slowly when concealed and swiftly when in the open. As the moon hits the figure--I can tell it is a man...and not just any man, a leader.

A Pharisee. What’s he doing out this late at night? Moving sketchily in the darkness. Where is he going? It’s not like I can betray myself and reveal him for all to see. No,--I, the night, am his accomplice. His sudden movements stop at a door that has caused a lot of commotion in recent days.

He knocks--it’s done quietly, but echoes so loudly…

Are You Afraid?

A reflection on Nicodemus’s visit to Jesus
May precede or follow the sermon.
(Kachael J)

You come to us at night again?
All you Pharisees are the same.
You slander us by day and hinder our forward progress by night
You turn the people against our teachings.
You condemn the one we follow who does amazing works.
But when night falls,
When all sleep and no one can give account to when you come
And where you go, you ask wisdom of us.
You hypocrite.
Yet, Jesus continues to give you his time and guidance.
But when morning breaks,
You will go right back to slandering us and his name.
You don’t see because you choose not to see
What is standing right in front of you.
Are you afraid?

Are you afraid to be found out?
Are you afraid that your deep, dark secrets will come to light
And be exposed for all to see?
That your position will be threatened,
Your seat of power taken away,
Your social status rescinded,
Your name slandered?
People’s trust in you turned to doubt and utter hatred?
Are you afraid that the cost is too much to bear,
The water not deep enough to cleanse and,
The fire not hot enough to refine?

The call will lead you where you wish not to travel.
Your traditions challenged by the Spirit of God.
Are you afraid that all you have ever known and clung
To with ferocious determination,
Greater than to even God himself
Will prove not enough to save your soul?

Be God’s Prophetic Voice

A Sending Inspired by Psalm 29
(Curry F. Butler)

Now let us go out into the world to be the prophetic voice that God has called us to be, allowing our lives to be the very mouthpieces of God, evangelizing the sinner, equipping the saint, and being the change that we want to see in an ever-changing world.

Rev. Lindsey Baynham is an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church currently serving as the Director of Clergy Excellence in the Virginia Annual Conference. This proud alumna of Randolph-Macon College and Duke Divinity School has a passion for worship design, preaching and teaching, laughter over a meal with friends, and connecting folks.

Rev. Curry F. Butler, Jr. is an ordained deacon in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Currently, Rev. Butler is completing his Doctor of Ministry degree at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

Kachael J was a voracious reader growing up, and she enjoys exploring new worlds through literature. A researcher by training and a worshiper at heart, she desires to see people and communities raised, repaired, and restored by the power of the Holy Spirit and preaching of the gospel. Using one of her hobbies, video editing, Kachael creates videos to encourage and help others in their faith walk. The daughter of a United Methodist ordained elder and a native of Atlanta, Georgia, she currently resides in the Atlanta Metro area and works in commercial real estate.