Beatitudes, The

Description

Here are worship resources inspired by the Beatitudes in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.

Scripture

Matthew 5:2-11
Luke 6:20-23

Prayers

Prayer of Praise

King of the poor to whom belongs the kingdom of heaven,
we thank you for your mercy
and praise you for your enduring love.

King of the sorrowful who experience a comfort this world cannot give,
we thank you for your mercy
and praise you for your enduring love.

King of the meek, who are destined to inherit the earth,
we thank you for your mercy
and praise you for your enduring love.

King of the hungry and thirsty to whom are given heavenly bread and wine,
we thank you for your mercy
and praise you for your enduring love.

King of the merciful who receive far more than they ever give or expect,
we thank you for your mercy
and praise you for your enduring love.

King of the pure of heart, who see God where others see wilderness and despair,
we thank you for your mercy
and praise you for your enduring love.

King of the peacemakers, who receive the right to be called children of God,
we thank you for your mercy
and praise you for your enduring love.

King of persecuted believers,
who rejoice to be counted worthy of suffering for Christ’s sake,
we thank you for your mercy
and praise you for your enduring love.

Thanks be to you, God of Christ our Wounded King,
for everything he has taught us,
for the humble path he has shown us,
and for all he has suffered for us and the whole world.
For yours in the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever.

Amen!

~ written by Bruce Prewer, and posted on Bruce Prewer’s Home Page. http://www.bruceprewer.com/

Confession and Assurance

Blessed are we when we let go of possessions
for the kingdom of God unfolds in open places.
Woe to us when we gather into barns
for soon this life will be over.

Blessed are we who know the ache of hunger
for the empty places in body and soul are the fertile soil for new growth.
Woe to us who fill our lives to capacity
for we fail to recognize what is missing.

Blessed are we who know sorrow
for the ache of love lost is witness to the seed planted.
Woe to us who have yet to know the pain of grief
for the fullness of love is woven with sorrow.

Blessed are we who know scorn
for the rejection of humans keeps us mindful of that beyond.
Woe to us who depend on the approval of others
for to dance with Spirit appears foolish.

Blessed are we who live in the harmony of life in the Spirit,
For we will recognize abundance.

Amen.

~ written by Katherine Hawker (2004) and posted on Liturgy Outside.
http://liturgyoutside.net/beatitudes.pdf

Prayer of Commitment

Jesus says to his disciples:
Happy are you needy ones:
The kingdom of God is yours.

Happy are you who are hungry:
You will be satisfied.

Happy are you who weep now:
You will be filled with laughter.
Rejected, insulted, happy are you;
Be glad and dance with joy.

Jesus said: Take up your cross.
We will follow you, O Christ,
into the needs of the world,
into the truth of our lives,
into the pain of our hearts,
into the presence of God.

Amen.

~ written by Brian Woodcock. Posted on the website of Patmos Abbey—The Order of Saint Columba.
http://www.patmosabbey.org/

Spoken Resources

Call to Worship

In Luke's gospel, Jesus called together the disciples
and a great multitude to a level place.
There he touched, healed, and taught.
There he spoke, "Blessed are…"
There he named the blessed—the saints of the faith.

O God, call us together as you did those so long ago
to discover your blessed people.
Today, in this place, Christ gather us.

Let us remember, confess, celebrate, and embody
the blessed saints of God.
Christ, come among us. Alleluia!

~ written by Sidney D. Fowler. Posted on the United Church of Christ website.
http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/nlb/special-occassions/special-the-blessed-ones.html

The Beatitudes: An Intergenerational Version

Blessed are the saints who trust God’s power and loving care,
for they are part of the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are the saints when they are sad because the world is so unfair,
They have God’s promise that justice will come.

Blessed are the nobodies who know they are nobodies and still do God’s work.
In God’s world they are the leaders.

Blessed are the saints whose greatest wish is to do what God desires.
God will give them what they want.

Blessed are the saints who treat other people gently,
God will treat them gently.

Blessed are the saints who get in trouble when they do what God requires,
For they are surely among God’s saints.

~ Carolyn Brown, Worshiping with Children.
http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.ca/

Songs

Contemporary Hymn: Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

Blessed are the poor in spirit; all God's realm is surely theirs.
Those in mourning will find comfort as an answer to their prayers.
Meek ones whom this world despises will inherit everything.
God, your kingdom still surprises; may we seek the reign you bring.

Blessed, too, are those who hunger and who thirst for what is right.
They will not be prone to wander, for your will is their delight.
Those who show God's care and mercy will receive that mercy too.
God, in Christ you show us clearly of the joy we have in you.

Those who share the peace God gives them will find blessings as God's own.
Those oppressed for faithful living will call heaven's kingdom Home.
When the world's ways seem distressing and we feel life's painful sting,
God, remind us of the blessings of the wondrous life you bring.

Tune suggestion:
NETTLETON (“Come, thou fount of ev’ry blessing”)

Contemporary Song: All the Saints

O when the saints (O when the saints)
go marching in (go marching in)
O when the saints go marching in,
I want to be in that number,
when the saints go marching in.

All the saints who serve in heaven,
all the saints who serve on earth:
only God has made them holy;
they are saints by God's new birth.

Some are shy and some are famous,
some have pain and death to face;
but they all have faith in Jesus
and he saves them by his grace.

All the saints who walked and witnessed
on the roads of Galilee,
all the saints who followed after,
all the saints who yet shall be.

All the saints in Rome and Corinth,
Athens, Egypt, Crete, Judaea,
they are one in work and worship
with the saints who live right here.

All the saints who walked and witnessed
on the roads of Galilee,
all the saints who followed after,
all the saints who yet shall be.

All the saints in Rome and Corinth,
Athens, Egypt, Crete, Judaea,
they are one in work and worship
with the saints of Hartismere.

As in Christ we come together
so in us his light shall shine;
sing out Holy, Holy, Holy
to the Majesty divine.

As the Lord of love and wisdom
never sleeps or fails or faints,
sing out Glory, Glory, Glory,
to the God of all the saints.

Contemporary Song: Blessed Are

Blessed are the poor in spirit
God has faithfully revealed
That the riches of the kingdom
With their souls in Christ are sealed

Blessed are the grieved the weeping
Those who tears for others cry
Selfless giving bearing sorrow
Will be dancing by and by
Those who hunger and are thirsty
Craving righteousness and life
Won't be filled by any other
Satisfied by none but Christ

Blessed are the meek and gentle
No demands no claims to rights
In their patience strong and mighty
Confidence and faith in Christ
And to those of tender mercy
From them falls as gentle rain
Grace and kindness sweet compassion
Mercy giv'n and mercy gained

Blessed are the true peacemakers
With contentment for the fold
They cling to promises of heaven
Working in the field of souls
Blessed are

Listen to it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkNaUPaSRIY

Contemporary Song: All the People Said Amen

You are not alone, if you are lonely
When you feel afraid, you're not the only
We are all the same, in need of mercy
To be forgiven and be free
It's all you got to lean on but thank God it's all you need

And all the people said Amen, woah
And all the people said Amen
Give thanks to the Lord for His love never ends
And all the people said Amen

If you're rich or poor, well it don't matter
Weak or strong, you know love is what we're after
We're all broken, but we're all in this together
God knows we stumble and fall
And He so loved the world, He sent His son to save us all

Blessed are the poor in spirit who are torn apart
Blessed are the persecuted and the pure in heart
Blessed are the people hungry for another start
For this his the kingdom, the kindom of God

Listen to it here:
http://www.worshiptogether.com/songs/songdetail.aspx?iid=1986691

Images

~Jesus Delivers the Eight Beatitudes by Cosimo Rosselli, 1439-1507

Notes

This worship resource was created/compiled by Christine Longhurst. You are welcome to use it free of charge, and where appropriate, please note the source. If you are printing any of the resources for distribution, please print the source as well. The content of the worship resource does not necessarily represent the views of the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches, which oversees the Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies. For more worship resources by Christine Longhurst, see http://www.re-worship.blogspot.ca or http://www.faithmatters.ca.

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