illumination: breathe in

Submitted by Rev. Scott Cervas, Meadowthorpe Presbyterian Church, Lexington, KY

God of our deepest strength,
as we breathe in the words of ancient poets and prophets,
as we inhale the words of 1st century storytellers,
refresh our hearts and minds
so we might hear these words in new ways…
so we might struggle with those words long enough to understand them…
so we might be renewed to go and be and do…
Amen.

call to confession / declaration of grace: exhausted / restored

Submitted by Rev. Scott Cervas, Meadowthorpe Presbyterian Church, Lexington, KY

It takes a great deal of energy to live the life for which God created us…
and sometimes, we are simply too exhausted.
So please join me in the prayer of confession, printed in the bulletin,
followed by a moment of silent reflection and personal confession.

This is good news:

We may grow weary…
We may grow tired and indifferent…
But the Holy Spirit breathes into the very depths of our being,
restoring us to lives that reflect the profound goodness of God.

So let’s sing and give thanks to God!

call to worship: breathe in

Submitted by Rev. Scott Cervas, Meadowthorpe Presbyterian Church, Lexington KY

Wipe the sleep from your tired eyes…
Stretch the gnawing apathy from your aching muscles…
Breathe in…deeply…the goodness of God…
And let your lives be renewed…now…as we worship together!

call to worship: don’t you know? haven’t you heard?

based on Isaiah 40:21-31, Common English Bible
submitted by Rev. Andy James, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Whitestone, New York

Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard?
God created all things and summons everyone by name.

Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard?
No one – nothing – can compare to God’s glory.

Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth,
and never grows tired or weary.

Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard?
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength forever and ever.