Elijah and the Still, Small Voice

Description

Here are some worship resources inspired by Elijah’s encounter with God at Mount Sinai.

Scripture

1 Kings 19:1-15
Psalm 46:10

Prayers

Prayer of Invocation: Be Still

O God who is greater than the most powerful forces in this world,
enable us to be still and know that You are God.

O Lord who answers out of the whirlwind of everyday life,
breathe in us Your Holy Spirit to strengthen, comfort, and guide us in the midst of the storm.

O still, small voice, speak to us this hour
that we might become makers of Your peace
in our homes, in our communities, in our world.
We pray all this in the name of the One who calmed the raging sea. Amen.

~ posted on My Redeemer Lives website.
http://www.myredeemerlives.com/prayers.html

Prayer of the Day

When we feel compelled
to push everything to its limits,
especially you, Holy One,
it is enough that your grace
can slow us down.

When we stand naked and exposed
to the buffeting winds
of our doubts and questions.
it is enough, Healing Servant,
that you clothe us in your peace,
and put our minds at ease.

When we are entangled
in that legion of worries and fears
which consume our lives,
it is enough, Spirit of Silence,
that you untie the knots
and set us free.

It is enough,
God in Community, Holy in One,
that you are with us
even as we pray as Jesus has taught us, saying,
Our Father . . .

~ written by Thom Shuman, and posted on Lectionary Liturgies.
http://lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.ca/

Prayer of Confession

We come seeking God in mighty earthquakes.
We come listening for God in resounding thunder.
We come expecting God in sweeping victories.
Yet God is found in a baby's touch.
Yet God speaks in silence.
Yet God is found in the least of these.
Save us, O God, from our aimless wandering.
Save us, O God, from our idols.
Save us, O God, from our self-induced chaos.
God, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
Amen.

Assurance of Pardon

Hear the good news of God's love for us;
not in the earthquake, not in the storms, not in the mighty deeds
but in the silence, in the gentle touch, in the quiet rain
God says,
again,
"You are my Beloved. I love you."

~ written by Katherine Hawker (1995), and posted on Liturgies Outside.
http://liturgyoutside.net/CPr5.html

Spoken Resources

Call to Worship

When we long for the special effects we think life should offer:
it is enough, for us, that God comes in a soft, summer shower.

When we our hearts are cracked by the drought of doubt:
it is enough, for us, that God opens up the fountains of faith for us.

When our senses are deadened by the sales pitches of our culture:
it is enough, for us, that God wraps us in the silence of grace.

~ written by Thom Shuman, and posted on Lectionary Liturgies.
http://lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.ca/

Benediction

Go now, proclaiming to all how much Jesus has done for you.
Be as one with each other in Christ.
Wait for the Lord, and be ready to hear God’s voice,
even in the sounds of sheer silence.

And may God be your fortress;
May Christ Jesus release you from all that torments you;
And may the Holy Spirit give you light and truth
to sustain you day and night.

We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
In the name of Christ.

Amen.

~ Copyright © 2001 Nathan Nettleton.
Posted on http://www.laughingbird.net/LaughingBird/Welcome.html

Songs

Traditional Hymn: Dear Lord and Father of Mankind

Worship Together #155

Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
(or, “Dear Lord, Redeemer of our lives”)
Forgive our foolish ways;
Reclothe us in our rightful mind,
In purer lives Thy service find,
In deeper reverence, praise.

In simple trust like theirs who heard,
Beside the Syrian sea,
The gracious calling of the Lord,
Let us, like them, without a word,
Rise up and follow Thee.

Drop Thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace.

Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and Thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small voice of calm.

~ John G. Whittier

Traditional Hymn: Speak, Lord, in the Stillness

Worship Together #153

Speak, Lord, in the stillness,
speak Your word to me;
Help me now to listen
in expectancy.

Speak, O gracious Master,
in this quiet hour;
Let me see Your face, Lord,
feel Your touch of pow’r.

Speak, Your servant listens—
I await Your word;
Let me know Your presence,
let Your voice be heard!

~ E. May Grimes

Contemporary Song: Be Still, for the Presence of the Lord

Worship Together #19

Be still for the presence of the Lord
The Holy One is here
Come bow before Him now
With reverence and fear
In Him no sin is found
We stand on holy ground
Be still for the presence of the Lord
The Holy One is here

Be still for the glory of the Lord
Is shining all around
He burns with holy fire
With splendor He is crowned
How awesome is the sight
Our radiant King of light
Be still for the glory of the Lord
Is shining all around

Be still for the power of the Lord
Is moving in this place
He comes to cleanse and heal
To minister His grace
No work too hard for Him
In faith receive from Him
Be still for the power of the Lord
Is moving in this place

Listen to it here: http://www.worshiptogether.com/songs/songdetail.aspx?iid=576346

Contemporary Song: Listening

More than just another song
More than one more melody
Maybe what we need is silence
Maybe what we need is to be still
And listen for the still small voice
‘Cause we don’t want to miss a whisper
Jesus now we lean in closer
And we wait

Speak Lord your servants are listening
Your servants are listening
Speak Lord your servants are listening
Your servants are listening

Lord I want to know your heart
Lord I want to know what moves you
To understand what makes you weep
To understand what makes you sing and smile
This will be my life’s one quest
To seek the one whose love has sought me
Gazing on your shining beauty
All my days

Just one word from you
And everything changes
Just one word from you
Will bring me life

~ Vicky Beeching. Copyright © 2010 Thankyou Music (PRS) (adm. worldwide at EMICMGPublishing.com excluding Europe which is adm. by kingswaysongs.com) / Integrity Worship Music (ASCAP). CCLI Song #5670664. If you use this song in worship, be sure to report it on your CCLI license.

Listen to it here: http://www.worshiptogether.com/songs/songdetail.aspx?iid=1812636

Images

~ Elijah in the Desert of Horeb, William Brassey Hole
http://www.allposters.co.uk/-st/William-Brassey-Hole-Posters_c128198_.htm

Additional Resources

Readers’ Theatre: 1 Kings 19:1-15
http://re-worship.blogspot.ca/2013/06/readers-theatre-1-kings-19-1-15.html

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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