Sing a Brand New Song!

Leader: Sing God a brand-new song! Earth and everyone in it, sing! 
People: We will sing to God! We will worship God!
L: Shout the news of his victory from sea to se.
P: We will take the news of his glory to the lost,
L: News of his wonders to one and all!
P: For God is great, and worth a thousand Hallelujahs. 
L: Sing God a brand-new song! Earth and everyone in it, sing! 
P: We will sing to God! We will worship God!

This Call to Worship is an adaptation of Psalm 96 from Eugene Peterson's The Message paraphrase.

Sing Praises

L: Friends we’ve been given voices to sing
P: Sing praises to God

L: Because God has written a tune in our hearts
P: Sing praises to God

L: Because God loves us even better than our fathers and mothers
P: Sing praises to God

L: Because God has called us to be one body in Christ
P: Sing praises to God

L: Even when storms of life cause a change to our plans
P: Sing praises to God

How Great is Our God!

Leader: How great is our God!

People: There is none like our God!

L: Where else can we find a god who loves and accepts broken people like us?

P: Who else has a God who listens to our every need?

L: Who else is worthy of our worship?

P: There is none like our God!

L: If we don’t devote ourselves to God, we’ll end up giving our lives to something vastly inferior.

P: So let’s give ourselves to our wonderful God.

L: Come Christians, sing out to your God!

P: How great is our God!

L: Come Christians, break bread as the People of God!

P: How great is our God!

L: And Christians, as we leave, let us worship God with our lives!

P: How great is our God!

Pulled in so many directions...

L: In the midst of your hectic week you have come to worship God.

P: Our lives are pulled in so many directions, we seek God’s guidance.

L: Let go of the burdens that weigh you down. God will take them.

P: We thank God for the rest we are given.

L: Tune your hearts and voices in praise to God.

P: Let our voices bear the joy we feel because of God’s love for us.

Seeking the Kingdom...

People: We have come seeking the Kingdom of God.

Leader: God’s Kingdom has no borders and no specific location.

P: Where then can we find it?

L: Search for the King, and you will find the Kingdom.

P: Where can we find the King?

L: The King resides in the edges of this world’s kingdoms, at those places where this world does not meet the needs of its people.

P: Then we will look into our own suffering and the suffering of those around us.

L: Let us be blessed in the search.

P: Let us remember that the King said, “Seek and you will find.”

The table has been set...

Leader: As we approach our Master in worship this morning,

People: The table has been set and a feast has been prepared.

L: Who will sit and partake in this spiritual feast?

P: All who are hungry, all who long to be with their Master.

L: Many have been invited, but not all have come.

P: Who can we find to fill these empty seats?

L: Let us bring in everyone – rich and poor, sick and well, young and old, free and oppressed.

P: Let us join together in the Great Feast prepared by our God.

A Call to Worship from Children...

(written by children in Mississippi)

Leader: Children want love. Will you love me?

People: As Jesus loves the children, we will love you.

L: We want to learn to pray. Will you pray with us?

P: As Jesus prayed with his disciples, we will pray with you.

L: Sometimes we are mean and do bad things. Will you teach how to say I'm sorry?

P: As Jesus forgives, we will look into our own hearts and forgive.

L: When we grow up, we will take care of you. Show us how to care.

P: With God's help, we will show you how to care.

L: We cannot vote. Will you vote for us?

P: We will stand for you and we will vote for you.

L: Our world is all messed up. It is hard to know what is right. Will you help?

P: With God's help, we will show you how to live.

L: Jesus listened to children. Will you hear us when we call your name? Are we important to the church?

P: Jesus said, "Unless you turn and become children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Children are our teachers. Yes, we are the church together!

Beloved creations of God...

Leader: Look around. What wonders we behold!
People: We see others, gathered here to worship and praise God.
L: Each person here is a unique, beloved creation of God.
P: Each person here is given special gifts and talents by God.
L: Come, let us worship God who has blessed us so mightily.
P: Let us praise God with our whole hearts, souls, minds, and spirits

We approach you, God..

Leader: Most wonderful God, we approach you with our little lives, our tiny minds and our large ignorance,

People: But also with our purest longings and hopes.

L: We want to worship you with all that we have and are,

P: But unless you encourage and assist us,

L: We will fail in this our holiest intention.

P: Therefore please let your Spirit move in our hearts and minds,

L: Lifting us above things of secondary importance,

P: And concentrating our whole being on your love and beauty.

Kingdoms all around us...

Leader: We see kingdoms all around us.

People: Kingdoms of power and authority. Kingdoms of fear and greed.

L: These kingdoms leave us feeling helpless and unfulfilled.

P: We seek a better kingdom. We seek a greater kingdom.

L: Take heart, for the God of the universe wants to be your king.

P: We seek a kingdom of justice and righteousness.

L: God opens the doors of his kingdom to all who wish to enter.

P: We worship you, O God, our King, and are here that we may serve you.

With all you have...

Leader: With all your strength, sing aloud to the Lord, who has brought you here and blessed you.

People: Our voices shall shout forth praise and thanksgiving to God.

L: With all your heart, reach out in service to those in need, remembering God's mercy in your own life.

P: Our lives shall be witnesses to the love of God which has been lavished upon us.

L: Come, let us worship the Lord with Great joy!

P: Let us bring all that we have and all that we are to God in gratitude.

Refuge and Stronghold...

L: With great rejoicing we come to the house of the Lord today!

P: God is our refuge and our stronghold.

L: The power and love of God flow through this gathering.

P: We place our whole trust in God’s mighty compassion for us.

L: Come, let us worship the Lord!

P: Let us celebrate the presence of God here in this place and in all our lives.

A Vineyard was Planted...

L: Long ago a vineyard was planted. The ground was prepared, and all was made ready.

P: But the vines grew wild, the ground was unable to support the wild grapes.

L: What happened in that place of promise?

P: People forgot the One who planted the vineyard. They chose their own ways and failed.

L: Let us again turn to the Lord, who will again plant, prune, and cause us to grow in faithfulness.

P: Let us open our hearts to God, trusting in God's ways and God's word.

Why have you come today?

Leader: Christians, why have you come today?

People: We have come to worship God.

L: Where is this God you worship? I cannot see anything.

P: We don’t yet see clearly, we’re just squinting through a fog, but still we worship.

L: How do you know that it is real? How do you know that God is there?

P: We have felt God’s Spirit move through our lives like the wind.

L: And is this a good God that you worship?

P: We trust our God with our whole lives. His goodness, his love and his mercy make Him most worthy of praise!

First things first...

Leader: God has lavished us with so many wonderful gifts,

People: He has given us our time, our talents and our daily bread.

L: Meanwhile we chase after petty gadgets and gizmos

P: And the grass that always looks greener on the other side.

L: But today we have come to set first things first.

P: We have come to recognize that God provides all things.

L: So let us worship God, let us chase after Him alone.

P: May we use our gifts to worship Him always.

Be strong and very courageous...

Leader: From where we stand, we can see the Promised Land.

People: Be strong and very courageous.

L: It has taken great faith and great leadership to bring us here.

P: Be strong and very courageous.

L: Who knows what lies before us? Who knows what can keep us from wandering?

P: Be strong and very courageous.

L: Oh how deeply we yearn to be at home in God’s presence.

P: Be strong and very courageous.

Unless the Lord builds the house...

Leader: “Unless the Lord build the house, those who build it labor in vain.”

Congregation: “Thou hast shown us how to build, our Father, and we have built unto Thee.”

Leader: “The church cannot build for itself alone, but for all who share in the Church Universal.”

Congregation: “So do we pledge that this is house doing that which shall benefit all.”

Leader: “Even as the many churches have joined together for the uplifting of the Kingdom. Nor can the church be blind to the needs of our country and of all mankind.”

Congregation: “So do we dedicate this house to the building of man's brotherhood.”

Leader: “Let us seek the approval of God that his house, in the service of man and the Father, may be to His glory and praise.”

Congregation: “Praise to the living God, for He has built us a church, and we dedicate it to His use.”

How lovely is your dwelling place...

Leader: How lovely is the dwelling place of God!

People: Our souls long for the courts of the Lord.

Leader: In God’s loving presence, all will find rest and peace.

People: In God’s care, all will find a home forever.

Leader: Place your lives in God’s compassionate care.

People: Open our hearts and our spirits, to receive the joys you offer, O Lord.

Called to hope and service...

L: God has called all God’s people to lives of hope and service.
P: We want to serve God, but sometimes life gets to be too difficult for us.
L: When we try it on our own, it seems impossible.
P: But with God, all things are possible.
L: Place your trust in God’s power and love.
P: God understands our needs, our sorrows, and our joys.
L: Come, let us worship God who is with us always.
P: Praise God for God’s eternal presence.

Help us with our unbelief!

Leader: Faith is a fleeting thing.

People: We believe in you, God, help us with our unbelief!

Leader: But do not fear, faith is not having all the answers.

People: O God, there is so much about you that we do not know.

Leader: Do not fear, faith does not require perfection.

People: Thank you God, there is so much work left to be done.

Leader: Faith is this: trusting God when all other lights go out.

People: O God, we are here today to put all our hope and trust in you.