Calls To Worship
Darkness
Adapted from Genesis 1
Leader: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, Darkness was over the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
People: Centuries before Jesus walked among us, The Spirit of God was promised to him, so that he would bring justice to the nations.
Leader: Jesus sent the Spirit of truth to teach us and give us peace.
People: At Pentecost the Spirit came, as the rush of violent wind and tongues of fire.
All: That same Spirit is among us now. Let us worship God!
Submitted by Chip Hardwick
Adapted from Genesis 32
In the morning when the sun rises we shall praise You, O Lord.
People: You have delivered us through every long night and given us safe passage across rivers of struggle.
Leader: The darkness is past; the light has come. Let us raise our song and prayer to you, O Lord, in joy.
Adapted from Isaiah 9:2; 6-7a (NIV)
Leader: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”
People: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.”
Leader: “And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
People: “Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.”
Submitted by Stuart Strachan Jr. (NIV, adapted for liturgical use)
Adapted from John 12 and Isaiah 60
Leader: Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you.”
People: “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.”
Leader: “If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going.”
People: “For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon us and His glory will appear over us.”
Leader: “While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.”
People: Nations shall come to our light, and kings to the brightness of our dawn.
(Jn 12:35-36, Is 60:1-3 NRSVUE, adapted for liturgical use)
Adapted from John 12 and Isaiah 60
Leader: Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you.”
People: “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.”
Leader: “If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going.”
People: “For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon us and His glory will appear over us.”
Leader: “While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.”
People: Nations shall come to our light, and kings to the brightness of our dawn.
Leader: Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
People: Then we shall see and be radiant. The sun shall no longer be our light by day, nor shall the moon give light to us by night; but the Lord will be our everlasting light, and our God will be our glory.
(Jn 12:35-36, Is 60:1-3, 5, 19, Jn 8:12, NRSVUE, adapted and pronouns changed for liturgical use)
Adapted from 1 John 2
Leader: This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
All: If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.
Leader: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
All: If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Adapted from multiple scriptures on Light and Darkness
Leader: Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you.”
People: Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
Leader: “If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going.”
People: For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon us and His glory will appear over us.
Leader: “While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.”
People: Nations shall come to our light, and kings to the brightness of our dawn.
Leader: Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
People: Then we shall see and be radiant. The sun shall no longer be our light by day, nor shall the moon give light to us by night; but the Lord will be our everlasting light, and our God will be our glory.
Adapted from Isaiah 60:1-5a
Leader: Arise, shine, for your light has come,
And the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
People: See darkness covers the earth
And thick darkness is over the peoples,
But the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
Leader: Nations will come to your light
And kings to the brightness of your dawn.
People: Lift up your eyes and look about you:
All assemble and come to you;
Your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the arm.
Leader: Then you will look and be radiant,
Your heart will throb and swell with joy.”
Submitted by Bud Thoreen
Isaiah 9:2-4
Leader: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.
All: The light has shined on those who lived in the land of the shadow of death.
Leader: You have multiplied the nation. You have increased their joy.
All: They rejoice before you according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
(WEB, adapted for liturgical use)
Adapted from Psalm 139
Leader: The Lord searches us and knows us. God discerns our thoughts and is acquainted with all our ways.
People: Even the darkness is not dark to God; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light to the Lord.
Leader: God formed our inward parts, knitting each of us together in our mother’s wombs. Our frames were not hidden from him when we were being made in secret, as we were intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
All: Praise the Lord, for we are fearfully and wonderfully made!
Submitted by Darren Pollock