As in the days before ballots were being counted, music is where my heart is led. I haven’t yet turned on the Christmas carols but I’m close. I’m really close.
It was actually while I was looking for music for Advent and Christmas that I found this song. it speaks to what im feeling after th election results were tallied. I know it is mot universal. there are those across the aisle greiving, protesting amd even condemning their neighbors. I saw a colleague pose the question on Facebook as to how we make room for that grief in the purple messy middle that is more common than not in most American churches.
I’m not even sure it could be used in worship and not just because of licensing. I’m not quite sure it leaves room for us all to mov forward together even when that is what we are called to do not only as Americans but as people of faith. As the Christian calendar slowly turns to the hopes and fears of all the years, I wonder about our hopes for this world.
Maybe I’m already feeling the haunting need to sing carols out of tune from the pews. (I am not gifted with voice.) Or maybe it’s that singing is the only way that I can imagine such hope right now. Even when we are not able to sing together, music fills these prayers.
Call to Worship
inspired by Psalm 123
O God, you have been our help
in ages past. You’ve reminded us
what was possible
and pushed us beyond our fears.
You’ve raised our eyes
to higher ground
and made our hearts soar
with the hope of years to come.
Be our guard while
these troubles last
and dare us to dream
in this new day.
Surprise us, O God,
with good trouble
in our worship
this day.
As this prayer alludes to a favorite old hymn, you might opt to follow the prayer with a new rendition of an old favorite. Or instead ask your talented choir or soloist remind us of the power of this favorite hymn.
Prayer of Confession
using sung response Wait for the Lord
inspired by 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
We still wonder, Holy One,
how that day will come.
Will it come like a thief?
Will we feel robbed
and frightened
by what we could not control?
We wait in hope, O God.
Verse of Wait for the Lord
We are not sure
what peace and security might look
like or how it might come to dwell
in our marrow, for we
are too preoccupied with
what has been lost
and who has been hurt
and how much work we still have to do
to imagine your possibility and love.
We wait in hope, O God.
Verse of Wait for the Lord
We have felt the darkness
so much more than
we have convinced ourselves of the light.
We have feared more than we hoped.
Our teeth have clenched
and knuckle have gone white
wondering what else could happen
that we have let ourselves
be convinced that
this is just the way it is
rather than daring to dream
that we could encourage
and build each other up
into the hope that you have never
doubted was possible
for the children of light.
Help us, Holy One,
to create with you.
We wait for your muse
and encouragement.
Verse of Wait for the Lord
If you opt for Psalm 90, you might prefer this Call to Worship from a few weeks ago. There are also a lot of wonderful suggestions for this Sunday on Singing from the Lectionary. It is hard to pick just one or two songs to move our souls.
That’s all I’ve got for you this week.
As always, dear pastors, musicians and worship leaders, I’m praying for you.
Cooking with Elsa 