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Below are some worship resources which you are welcome to use at no charge. Please just use a copyright acknowledgment "Copyright Lisa Frenz. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission."
Most of these worship resources were written for Mt.
Carmel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Portland, Oregon combining elements
of traditional Lutheran liturgy with new wording, rituals, etc. to meet the
needs of a modern worshipping congregation.
Below is the order of worship for this service. Please feel free to use its liturgy, litanies and prayers as best suits your worshipping community. The anthems, hymns and scripture texts are suggested only, please feel free to use others as appropriate. The direction (spoken over music) means that I would like to have your musician play softly under the spoken words.
If you do use this I just ask that you acknowledge the source as follows:
From Reconsiling in Christ Service of Affirmation and Inclusivity, conceived
and written by Lisa Frenz Copyright 2003. All rights reserved.
Prelude & Lighting of the Candles
Call to Worship: Choir Anthem All Are Welcome Here (W. Michael Aguilar
© Shandy Music Industries. All rights reserved.,
Music by W. Michael Aguilar III available through Shandy Music Industries,
P.O. Box 10402, Portland, Oregon 97296.)
P: As Christ welcomed all who came to him,
A: Regardless of social status, wealth, family,
P: Ethnicity, race, gender,
A: Holiness, righteousness, purity,
P: Illness, disabilities, limitations,
A: Intelligence, mental health, abilities,
P: Religion, faith, or commitment,
C: So do we welcome all who come, all who are sent, all who join us. For
God has called us all to be one family in Christ. Amen.
GATHERING SONG: All Are Welcome vs. 4, 2, 5, (Marty Haugen, Gather Comprehensive 753, GIA Music)
4. Let us build a house where hands will reach . . .
2. Let us build a house where prophets speak . . .
5. Let us build a house where all are named . . .
Gathering Prayer/Prayer of the Day
Scripture Readings (the following may be used or other appropriate texts):
Numbers 11:4-6, 10-16, 24-29
Psalm 19:7-14
James 5:13-20
SCRIPTURE SONG: I Didn't Ask Why (music: Mike Stern, words based on Martin Niemöller, 1892-1984)
Holy Gospel: Mark 9:38-50 (or other appropriate text)
Music for Meditation
Message
THEME SONG: Open the Door (Ray Makeever, Dancing At The Harvest 75, Augsberg Fortress Press) or other appropriate song or verse
We believe in one God, who is Creator, maker of all we see and all we
don't see. Who is Ruler of the universe: Source of all creation!
We believe in one God, who is Jesus Christ, God from God, Light from Light,
true God and true human. He is one with the Creator; the Word made flesh, our
Messiah: Savior of all creation!
We believe in one God, who is Holy Spirit, Breath of God moving among us. Who
is one with the Creator; one with the Christ; our Comforter and our Guide: Mentor
of all creation!
The people described below are real. I either know them personally,
or learned of their stories from family and friends. LF
Song: People of the Word vs. 1, 2 (Ray Makeever, Dancing At The Harvest 1, AugsbergFortress Press) or other appropriate song or verse
(Spoken over music)
P: Hear the words of a receptionist in Portland:
A: My heart aches even as I smile; my parents kicked me out of my home at
age 16 when I told them I was gay.
C: O Lord, may we always be a safe place, a healing place, a place blessed
to say
All: All are welcome here.
P: Hear the words of a girl from Alexander:
A: My face is calm even as my stomach tightens; my classmates shun me and
make fun of me every day.
C: O Lord, may we always be a safe place, a sustaining place, a place blessed
to convey
All: All are welcome here.
P: Hear the words of a woman in Nashville:
A: I will never forget it. The day they burned a cross on my front yard.
C: O Lord, may we always be a safe place, a comforting place, a place blessed
to demonstrate
All: All are welcome here.
P: Hear the words of a man in Rockford:
A: My eyes flinch even as I walk tall; my church asked me to leave when they
found out I was a transvestite.
C: O Lord, may we always be a safe place, an accepting place, a place blessed
to advertise
All: All are welcome here.
Song: People of the Word vs. 3 (Ray Makeever, Dancing At The Harvest 1, AugsbergFortress Press) or other appropriate song or verse
P: Hear the words of a woman from Long Island:
A: I don't ever want to go to Germany. I'm afraid of what I'll feel; many
of my relatives died in concentration camps.
C: O Lord, may we always be a safe place, a loving place, a place blessed
to proclaim
All: All are welcome here.
P: Hear the words of a woman in Chicago:
A: My lips harden even as I breath deeply; my friends of 30 years ordered
me from their house when they found out my sons were gay.
C: O Lord, may we always be a safe place, a consoling place, a place blessed
to assert
All: All are welcome here.
P: Hear the words of a sex offender from Columbia County:
A: I messed up big time. I know God has forgiven me, but I also know society
never will.
C: O Lord, may we always be a safe place, a supporting place, a place blessed
to impart
All: All are welcome here.
P: Hear the words of a woman from Los Angeles:
A: I can't return to worship. My church excommunicated me because I divorced
my abusive husband and I feel unworthy.
C: O Lord, may we always be a safe place, an affirming place, a place blessed
to express
All: All are welcome here.
Song: People of the Word vs. 4 (Ray Makeever, Dancing At The Harvest 1, AugsbergFortress Press) or other appropriate song or verse
P: In a world where hurts are easily dealt to others by individuals and groups,
C: We seek to heal.
P: In a world where oppression hides behind social acceptance,
C: We do our best to uncover our blindness.
P: In a world where injustice is common,
C: We work to be advocates for those wronged.
P: In a world filled with prejudice and hate, fill us with love, O Lord,
C: That we may be a people who love the loveless, touch the outcast and welcome
the stranger. Let us speak the words of acceptance.
P: Amen.
C: So be it, Lord.
Greeting of peace:
P: May the peace of the Christ Jesus be with you,
C: And also with you.
P: Let us share the peace of God, the peace which knows no bounds.
Offering
A: Let us pray,
C: God of all, thank you for the life you give me, the goods which you supplied
to me, the power to make a difference in this world. Be with me in my daily
tasks, my daily joys, my daily sorrows, so that every day, every minute belongs
to you. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.
Prayers of the Community followed by The Lord's Prayer
P: Let us pray,
C: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will
be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our
sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours
now and forever. Amen.
PRAYER SONG: Lord Listen to your children praying (Worship and Praise 92, Augsberg Fortress Press)
Holy Communion: (if Communion is not served continue with the Closing Prayer)
Eucharistic Prayer
Distribution of Communion
Dismissal from Communion
THANKSGIVING SONG: Alleluia! Sing to Jesus vs. 1, 4 (Lutheran Book of Worship158, Augsberg Fortress Press)
Closing Prayer:
A: Lord of all life and light, you sustain us with your very self, giving
us food for our journey. Grace us with your continuing presence that we may
be an active part of your work in our world, sharing the message of Christ Jesus
that all may come to know The Way, The Truth and The Life.
C: Amen.
Blessing:
P: The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you, And
be caring towards you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you
peace. Numbers 6:24-26
C: Amen.
Announcements
SENDING SONG: A Dazzling Bouquet (Bret Hesla, Global Songs 2,
28 Augsberg Fortress Press)
A: Go in Peace serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God!
Postlude