On the day that our province declared a state of emergency due to the coronavirus, I received an email asking for permission to include some of my writing on a new worship website. In the midst of the pandemic with new cases of COVID-19 increasing daily and the death toll rising, how could I possibly think about that?
And yet, I wondered, What better time for worship? When life seems strange, uncertain, unbelievable—isn’t that the very time to reach out in faith to God? To reach out with others in prayer?
Now months later, the pandemic continues. My husband had a medical emergency and has now been in the hospital for over five weeks. And the new Together in Worship website is now live. Once again I find myself asking, How can I possibly think about that?
And still I find myself answering in the same way, What better time for worship? When life is hard, uncertain, overwhelming—isn’t that the very time to put our hope in God? To turn to one another for prayer?
Below is a selection of worship resources focused on hope, all drawn from Together in Worship. The Words for Worship section of the site is the most well developed, with sections on Music, Video, Visual Art, and Teaching more sparsely populated. More submissions are invited from “Anabaptist individuals, congregations and organizations.”
May these words of hope encourage and inspire you today. And for more Anabaptist worship resources, check out Together in Worship.
Call to Worship – We Put Our Hope in God
Leader: Praise God!
People: Praise God, O my soul!
Leader: We put our hope in God
People: Who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them;
Leader: Who keeps faith forever;
People: Who brings justice for the oppressed,
Leader: Gives food to the hungry,
People: Sets the prisoners free,
Leader: Opens the eyes of the blind,
People: And lifts up those who are bowed down.
Leader: Praise God!
People: Praise God, O my soul!
Based on Psalm 46
Joanna Harader (USA), 2018. spaciousfaith.com
Creative Commons: Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-4.0)
Praise – Hope in God’s Promises and Care
Leader: O God, we put our trust in you. Your care is evident in your creation:
Part 1: You provide for the birds.
Part 2: You beautify the plants with blossoms.
Part 1: You spread the mountains with color.
Part 2: You sparkle the night sky with lights.
Part 1: You give rivers and streams a voice.
Part 2: You place music on the breezes.
Leader: O God, we put our trust in you. Your care is evident in all your gifts:
Part 1: The gift of your Son Jesus.
Part 2: The gift of life itself.
Part 1: The gift of health and food.
Part 2: The gift of family and friends.
All: O God, we claim your promises and we put our hope in you. Amen.
Jewel Harman Shenk (USA), 2010.
Creative Commons: Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-4.0)
Confession and Assurance – Telling the Truth
confession means telling the truth.
So lean a little closer, please, we might not want to shout our truth for all to hear.
We each hold our confessions in our hearts,
so would you help us to let go of them just a little bit,
so that you can carry the heavy parts?
We confess the things we’ve messed up, done wrong, avoided.
The people we’ve disappointed, misled, hurt.
We confess the times we’ve let fear, apathy, or bitterness drive.
We confess the times we haven’t forgiven others, forgiven ourselves, or maybe even you.
We’re sorry, God, and that’s the truth.
Amen.
sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure
water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for the One who promised is faithful.
(from Hebrews 10:22-23)
Creative Commons: Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-4.0)
Litany – We Wait Quietly Before God
Leader: Our salvation and honor come from God alone.
He is our refuge, and a Rock of safety.
People: We wait quietly before God,
for our hope is in him, our Rock and our Salvation.
Leader: O my people, trust him at all times.
Pour out your heart to him, for he is our refuge.
People: We wait quietly before God,
for our hope is in him, our Rock and our Salvation.
Leader: From the greatest to the lowliest—all are nothing in his sight.
If you weigh them on the scales, they are lighter than a puff of air.
People: We wait quietly before God,
for our hope is in him, our Rock and our Salvation.
Leader: Don’t try to get rich by extortion or robbery.
And if your wealth increases, don’t make it the center of your life.
People: We wait quietly before God,
for our hope is in him, our Rock and our Salvation.
Leader: God has spoken plainly—we have heard it many times.
Power, O God, belongs to you; unfailing love, O Lord, is yours.
People: We wait quietly before God,
for our hope is in him, our Rock and our Salvation.
Gerald Hildebrand (Canada), 2020.
Creative Commons: Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-4.0)
Prayer – Christ is Our Hope
Blessed God, we wait for the day when, in the fullness of time, you will gather up all things in Christ, things in heaven and on earth. We wait for the day when all prophesy is fulfilled. We wait for the day of redemption. Through Christ who is our hope we pray. Amen.
Doug Klassen (Canada), 2015.
Creative Commons: Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-4.0)
Offering – In Remembrance
Amen.
Emily Toews (Canada), 2015.
Creative Commons: Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-4.0)
Sending – Abundant Life
in order that we might live an abundant life of hope.
Lois Siemens (Canada), 2014.
Creative Commons: Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 International (CC BY-4.0)
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