Call to Worship:
Leader: The earth is the Lord's, and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it. (Psalm 24)
People: We praise you, O God, for the earth in which the seed is planted, for sunshine and rain that nurture the seed.
Leader: Let us give thanks for those who tend the crop and gather the harvest, often in great pain.
People: We worship and praise God, and lift up those who wait in eager anticipation to be nourished and sustained in body, mind and spirit from the gathered harvest.
All: In intercession, petition and action on behalf of the multitudes around the world who receive too little of the harvest, we worship the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Litany with sung refrain:
When one of your children is hungry, you're hungry, God; you're hungry, God.
When one of your children is suffering, you're suffering, God; you're suffering, God.
One: For every person who will die today because they do not have enough to eat;
All: Hungry God, hear our prayer.
One: For the nations, that we might repent of policies that tolerate hunger and poverty;
All: Hungry God, hear our prayer.
One: For all who are fighting the loss of their families' farms and grieving the loss of their livelihoods;
All: Suffering God, hear our prayer.
One: For the nations, that we might not respond to grief with amnesia or to demands for restitution with easy promises;
All: Suffering God, hear our prayer.
When one of your children is hungry, you're hungry, God; you're hungry, God.
When one of your children is suffering, you're suffering, God; you're suffering, God.
One: We gather here today, longing to know you and to give birth to your new realm of justice and hope;
All: Hungry God, hear our prayer.
One: Help us confront our satisfaction, righteousness, entitlement and pity that corrupt our efforts to build relationships of dignity and equality;
All: Hungry God, hear our prayer.
One: We pray for eyes to see you incarnate in our midst, Lord, even when the sight of you in human flesh is painful to behold;
All: Suffering God, hear our prayer.
One: We pray for minds to imagine that the priorities on earth might be rearranged until they mirror those of heaven;
All: Suffering God, hear our prayer.
When one of your children is hungry, you're hungry, God; you're hungry, God.
When one of your children is suffering, you're suffering, God; you're suffering, God.
Words and music of refrain by Rev. Noelle Damico, United Church of Christ. Used by permission.
Prayer of Dedication:
O Lord our God, we lift up before you, as we will lift up before our public officials, these letters of petition. We know that your heart is moved by the concerns contained herein. By the power of your Spirit, move now in the minds and hearts of those whom you have seated in positions of power and cause them to respond favorably—to the glory of your matchless name. Amen. |
Call to Worship and Prayer of Dedication written by Rev. Dr. Joe Albert Bush, Sr.,Walker Memorial Baptist Church, Bronx, NY.
