This Call to Worship was created for a service celebrating God’s faithful and abundant provision.

Praising God’s Provision
As the music begins, four persons enter the worship space joyfully. Each process or dance in one of four symbols of God’s provision. They make their way to the front and turn to face the congregation. Each says their line and then places the item on the altar table. 

CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 36:5-8 (NRSV), adapted 
ONE VOICE:
Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.
A person places wool, cloth, or some other representation of clothing on the altar table.

ONE VOICE:
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your judgments are like the great deep
A person carries a clear pitcher of water. He/She pours some water into a pre-set bowl before leaving the pitcher on the altar table.

ONE VOICE:
You save humans and animals alike, O Lord.
How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
A person places on the altar table a plant which is flowering or bearing fruit,
or a basket of food

ONE VOICE:
All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
A person places a representation of home/shelter on the altar table

All are invited to stand as they are able

ALL VOICES:
We feast on the abundance of your house,
You give us drink from the river of your delights.

OPENING SONG:
ONE, SOME, OR ALL SINGING
Chose one of the suggested songs:
Third Day’s Your Love Oh Lord (CCLI Song No. 1894255)
Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow (United Methodist Hymnal #94)
Great is Thy Faithfulness (United Methodist Hymnal #140, v. 1)
O God Beyond All Praising (The Faith We Sing #2009, v. 1)
My Gratitude Now Accept, O God (The Faith We Sing #2044, v. 1-2)

Instruments continue during the scripture reading

SCRIPTURAL INTERLUDE: Psalm 105:37, 39-43 (NLT) adapted
ONE VOICE:
The LORD brought the enslaved safely out of Egypt,
loaded down with silver and gold.
There were no sick or feeble people among them.
The LORD spread out a cloud above them as a covering
and gave them a great fire to light the darkness.
They asked for meat, and the LORD sent them quail.
They asked for bread, and the LORD gave them manna
— bread from heaven.
The LORD opened up a rock,
and water gushed out to form a river through the dry and barren land,
for the LORD remembered his sacred promise to Abraham his servant.
The LORD brought all the enslaved out of Egypt with joy,
his beloved children and chosen ones with rejoicing.

ONE, SOME, OR ALL SINGING
repeat the song choice you used before

Instruments continue during the scripture reading

SCRIPTURAL INTERLUDE: Psalm 23:1-3a, 5(NLT)
ONE VOICE:
The LORD is my shepherd;
I have everything I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.

ALL VOICES:
You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You welcome me as a guest,
anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.

ONE, SOME, OR ALL SINGING
repeat the song choice you used before

Invite the congregation to offer prayers of thanksgiving, in silence or aloud

Instrumentation ends

Close with an AFFIRMATION OF FAITH

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This worship idea was part of a series of services designed by the worship planning team for the 2011 Summer Church Music Workshop sponsored by the Florida Chapter of the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts. The workshop is a terrific yearly event which includes sessions for adults and youth in areas such as traditional choir, contemporary worship, liturgical dance, sign language, handbells, banner making, altar table displays, organ, guitar, etc. plus great worship and fellowship. For more information, go to http://floridafellowship.org/

Compilation © 2011 Lisa Ann Moss Degrenia

For more information on the scripture translations, music and the use of this resource in other settings, please refer to the copyright information page.