An interactive worship service

Welcome

(Thank the people for gathering together in God's presence. Explain that we will pray together and pray individually, share news - good, bad, and still waiting, and offer reflections to listen and learn from each other. And that we will listen to the scriptures, sing, and listen for God's Word. Light a single candle as reminder of God's presence and love.)

Call to Worship

Leader: Creator God, we grope through the darkness, seeking a glimmer of light.

People: Master of the Starry Skies, guide us through this dark, dark night. Dispeller of Darkness, send us Your light.

Leader: Lord of Creation, we need Your deep comfort in our confusion and loss, in our anger and pain.

People: Mother of Humanity, embrace us in Your strong arms, enfold us in Your loving heart.
Leader: Ruler of All Nations, we sorely need Your leading. The wilderness grows wilder around us.
People: Creator of the Wind's Caress, touch us gently with your presence and shine a little tenderness on Your children in the wilderness.

(from Eliza Gilkyson's "Children In The Wilderness" song which is found on her Legends of Rainmaker CD)

Sharing News

(Give time for people to share personal news of friends and loved ones affected by these events.)

Time of Silence

Song

Sweet Hour of Prayer (Chalice Hymnal #570) (more listed below)

Reflections on Support

(Give time to share individual reflections on how we help each other through this time. What do we tell the kids? Those confused and angry? Add your own questions or categories to these reflection sections.)

Song

Let There Be Peace on Earth (Chalice Hymnal #677) (more listed below)

Reflections on Humanity

(Has this changed our understanding of people? What are we learning about the best and the worst of humanity?

Song

Amazing Grace (Chalice Hymnal #546) (more listed below)

Reflections on Faith

(What are the resources of the faith that sustain and guide you? What do you want to say
to God? Where have you gotten a glimpse of God at work in the midst of these events? . . . .)

Song

For the Healing of the Nations (Chalice Hymnal #668) (more listed below)

Reflections on Action

What can we do to become a healing and reconciling community?

Scriptures

(use selected scriptures from this list or others you find helpful)
Psalm 22
Psalm 23
Psalm 34:4-14
Psalm 46
Psalm 91:1-11
Isaiah 40:1-2, 41:13
Jeremiah 8:15
Micah 6:6-8
Matthew 5:3-12
John 14:1-3
Romans 8:31-39
Romans 12:14-21
Colossians 3:12-15
Revelation 21:1-5

Prayers of the People

...

Benediction Song New Doxology

Praise God whose love surrounds us all;
Praise God who lifts us when we fall;
Praise God for hope in times of fear;
Praise God who always holds us near.
(Roger Lynn, pastor The United Church of Moscow, affiliated with the Disciples of Christ and the American Baptist Churches, Moscow, Idaho. More worship resources from Roger found here.)

Additional Song Suggestions for Crisis Times

Selections from Chalice Hymnal, available through Christian Board of Publication:
(prepared by Cricket Harrison, visiting lecturer in practical theology, Lexington Theological Seminary, Lexington, Kentucky)

Finding hymns to open worship can be especially hard. Giving praise to God for God's constant care in times of trouble is different than simply finding a "good, up-beat" song to open worship.

(An asterisk (*) means especially appropriate this immediate Sunday)

Singing about God:
Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty! #4 (Rev. 4:8-11)
O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing #5
All People That on Earth Do Dwell #18 (Psalm 100)
In the Name of the Lord #28
Sing Hallelujah to the Lord #32
Creator God, Creating Still #62
*A Mighty Fortress Is Our God #65 (Psalm 46)
*O God, Our Help in Ages Past #67 (Psalm 90)
*On Eagle's Wings #77 (Psalm 91)
*The Lord's My Shepherd #78 (Psalm 23)
*God Is My Shepherd #79 (Psalm 23)
*My Shepherd, You Supply My Need #80 (Psalm 23)
His Eye Is on the Sparrow #82 (Luke 12:6-7)
*Great Is Thy Faithfulness #86 (Lamentations 3:22-23)
All My Hope on God Is Founded #88 (1 Timothy 6:17)
Singing about Christ:
In the Cross of Christ I Glory #207
Jesus Walked This Lonesome Valley #211
Singing about the Holy Spirit:
Spirit, Come Dispel Our Sadness #253
Breathe on Me, Breath of God #254
Spirit of the Living God #259
Let It Breathe on Me #260
Where the Spirit of the Lord Is #264
Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart #265
Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me #266
Singing about the Church at Worship:
Christians, We Have Met to Worship #277
*God Is Here! #280
Gather Us In #284
How Lovely, Lord, How Lovely #285 (Psalm 84)
This Is the Day #286 (Psalm 118:24)
*What Is This Place #289
Senor, Yo Quiero Entrar (O God, I Want to Enter) #291 (Psalm 24:3-4)
Miren Que Bueno! (O Look and Wonder) #292 (Psalm 133)
In This Very Room #295
Give to Us Your Peace #296
Dona Nobis Pacem #297
*Into My Heart #304 (can be very effective as a closing, adding a second stanza):
Out of my heart, out of my heart;
Shine out of my heart, Lord Jesus.
Shine out today. Shine out always.
Shine out of my heart, Lord Jesus.
*Hear Our Prayer, O Lord #306
Come to Me, O Weary Traveler #353 (Matthew 11:28-30)
Seek Ye First #354 (Matthew 6:33)
Lo, I Am with You #430 (Matthew 28:20)
Go, My Children, with My Blessing #431
*O Christ, the Way, the Truth, the Life #432 (John 14:6)
Healer of Our Ev'ry Ill (506)

Other hymns of faith, witness, confidence, encouragement, justice:
*Love Divine, All Loves Excelling #517
The Gift of Love #526 (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)
*Pues Si Vivimos (When We Are Living) #536 (Romans 14:8)
*My Hope Is Built #537
Hope of the World #538
No, Not One! #544
He Leadeth Me, O Blessed Thought! #545
Amazing Grace #546
You Are My Hiding Place #554 (Psalm 32:7)
Through It All #555
*Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us #558 (John 10:11-15)
*It Is Well with My Soul #561
If You Will Trust in God to Guide You #565 (Psalm 55:22-23)
*Be Still, My Soul #566
*My Faith Looks Up to Thee #576
*I Need Thee Every Hour #578
* Near to the Heart of God #581
Kum ba Yah #590
*Dear Lord and Father of Mankind #594
How Firm a Foundation #618 (Isaiah 43:1-2)
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah #622
I Want Jesus to Walk with Me #627
Precious Lord, Take My Hand #628
Stand By Me #629
In the Bulb There Is a Flower #638
*How Long, O God, How Long? #642
Restless Weaver #658
*For the Healing of the Nations #668
When Will People Cease Their Fighting? #675
O God of Love, O Power of Peace #676
God the Omnipotent! #679

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