God Inspired Joy:
Service Prayers and Ideas for Pentecost Six
Proper 10 (Inclusive)

CALL TO WORSHIP   (based on  2 Samuel and Psalm 24)

Leader:             Come, let us come into the House of the Holy One with song and dance.

People:            We have come to worship our God,

                        the Creator of heaven and earth, seas and rivers,

                        and all that dwells within.

Leader:             The Lord of the Dance beckons us

                        to join in this time of celebration and joy…

People:            That we might know that we are gathered in God’s holy place.

Leader:             We join the psalmist with songs of the glory of the God of Hosts.

People:            We seek to know the faithfulness and wisdom

                        that God offers to us.

All:                  We come that we might know God’s rhythm of life

                        and follow in the ways of the Word.

                        God will bring us home where dancing  and joy will be unceasing.

CALL TO CONFESSION

                        This is a moment given by God to confess our sins against

                        each other, all that God has created, and  God. 

                        Let us take this moment to account

                        for the ways in which we have not embodied

                        what it means to be created in the image of God.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION

                        Holy God, we confess that too often we have not been open

                        to the rhythms of life you offer to us.

                        We let ourselves be put off your pace

                        and allow ourselves to wander off into our own songs.

                        Too often the melodies of the world  misdirect us. 

                        We have led ourselves and others to paths

                        that are not according to your loving pace and direction. 

                        Help us pay attention with all of our senses. 

                        Make our dancing faithful;

                        help us take the risks that are part of letting you be the leader. 

                        Put us back on your rhythm and notes.

                        Clean our hearts and purify our hands

                        and steady our feet that we might know and

                        share your blessings. 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

The God of Hosts assures us that if we trust God’s Word, we will be led back to the songs that God would have us sing.  God is eager to show us the path home.  Accept the offer of the new song we have been given through Jesus the Christ. 

Invitation to Offering*

When David danced rejoicing before the Arc of the Covenant, his joy was not complete until he had made an offering of thanks, and distributed  gifts of food and drink to all who were in need.

Perhaps the most joyful and challenging of all the commandments is to generosity and mutual care: to love one another as God loves us.   

Let us gather our gifts together and offer them to God in gratitude, heartfelt commitment, and praise.

Blessing Over the Gifts

Beloved Jesus, you surprise us by naming us your friends. Your dance of faithfulness and life, open before  us a way of of unexpected justice, mutuality and joy.  Take these gifts and bless them and let them serve your people at home and throughout the world, all of us, your cherished friends. 

BENEDICTION

Go forth into the world in faithfulness.  Join all those who have danced with the Lord throughout the generations.  Take the song and rhythm of God’s Word into the world and invite others to celebrate the joy with you.  AMEN

* Some churches may want to vary their practice of collecting the offering by sending ushers into the congregation.  Instead, you may suggest a dance of justice and generosity by inviting the congregation to leave their seats and move in time to joyful music down the aisles toward the ushers, who will collect their tithes and offerings. 

God Inspired Joy: Service Prayers for Pentecost Six was written by the Rev. Dr. Bertrice Wood of Cleveland OH.Copyright 2009 Local Church Ministries, Congregational Vitality and Discipleship Ministry Team, United Church of Christ, 700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH  44115-1100.  Permission granted to reproduce or adapt this material for use in services of worship or church education.  All publishing rights reserved.