Call to Worship Cycle: The Gifts of Faith

These opening words for worship were created to accompany the Epiphany sermon series “The Gifts of Faith.” The bolded words are spoken by the congregation. You are welcome to use or adapt these liturgies for worship, with credit. When printing these liturgies, please use the following credit line: “Prayer by Rev. Carol Holbrook Prickett.”

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Week 1: “The Gift Exchange”

God’s greatest gift is born for us:
a child, a Savior, Daystar of our lives.
We can never pay God back
but we can offer the gifts we have.
Love and joy, grace and gratitude.
Let us kneel before the king!

Week 2: “The Gift of the Spirit“

Spirit of the Living God,
descend on us this day.
Open us to the gift of your presence
as you fell upon Christ in the River Jordan.
Reveal your wisdom to us as we listen for your Word
that we might forever testify to your goodness.
Spirit of the Living God,
descend on us, we pray.

Week 3: “The Gift of Community”

We come from different places
carrying different burdens
with different expectations
and different ways of living our faith.
And yet, in this holy hour, we are one
your beloved community, united in your Spirit. 

Week 4: “The Gift of Scripture” 
(excerpted from lyrics to a Swahili hymn: Listen, God is Calling)

Listen, God is calling, through the Word inviting,
offering forgiveness, comfort and joy.
Help us to be faithful, standing steadfast,
walking in your precepts, led by your Word.

Week 5: “The Gift of Love”
(adapted from 1 John 4)

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God;
everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 
God’s love was revealed among us in this way: 
God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 
Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.
If we love one another, God lives in us, and God’s love is perfected in us.

Week 6: “The Gift of Worship”
(adapted from the PCUSA Directory for Worship within the Book of Order)

In Christian worship Jesus Christ is truly present and active among us.
To be a Christian is to worship Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. 
To be a member of Christ’s body, the Church, 
is to share through Word and Sacrament 
in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, 
and the communion of the Holy Spirit.
Through Christian worship, we participate in God’s plan
for the redemption of all creation for the glory of God.

Week 7: “The Gift of Warnings”

God has set aside this time
for worship and for rest.
God has set aside this place
as the holy house of God.
Calm our hearts, God of All;
help us focus on your presence.

Week 8: “The Gift of Resurrection Mystery”

We have come today to visit a mystery
find words for the unspeakable
catch glimpses of the invisible
and sit for an hour with eternity.
Help us now to understand what we can
and praise you for what we cannot!

Week 9: “The Gift of Revelation”

Jesus, take us to the mountain
to be dazzled by your glory
see the company of prophets
hear the voice of our very God.
Jesus, take us to the mountain,
we will offer songs of praise!