Dear partners in ministry,
“O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending.”
As part of the prayers offered in Evening Prayer, these words point us to that which is uncertain. In March 2020, the ELCA Worship team (and other churchwide and ecumenical ministries) were called to support unknown perils that lay ahead. That spring, as the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic were changing all aspects of our lives, “Worship in the Home” became one way to anchor the week in Scripture, song, and prayer.
After a year and a half, the “Worship in the Home” weekly resource provided on the ELCA Worship blog will come to an end; the final installment will be for Sunday, Sept. 5. We are grateful for the contributions of the Rev. Gordon Lathrop (weekly lectionary reflection) and Gail Ramshaw (weekly intercessions). Through their dedicated care to these tasks from home throughout this pandemic time, we were supported in prayer in our homes.
Of course, worship in our homes does not come to an end. We are guided by St. Paul to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Even if you are now worshiping weekly in person, we are sent to our homes and to all other places of daily life with the good news of Jesus Christ. Our days are still uncertain. What will the variants mean? How might work and school look different come fall? How do we live in community in ways that are truly equitable and just? And then unsettling questions for our planetary home itself as wildfires burn, temperatures soar and storms threaten.
Yet the prayer for evening culminates in guiding us to “go out with good courage ... knowing that God’s love is leading us and supporting us.” May God’s Spirit give us such courage as we support one another with the love of Jesus.
In peace,
Deacon Jennifer Baker-Trinity
Program Manager for Worship Resource Development
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Worship resources for “God’s Work. Our Hands.” Sunday
Prayers, hymn suggestions and considerations for preaching for use on Sunday, Sept. 12, the ELCA’s annual day of service, are available in PDF and Word formats.
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All Creation Sings
“All Creation Sings: Liturgy Webinar” from June 8 is now available to view.
Visit the All Creation Sings website to learn more and place an order. You can view videos of recent webinars and selected hymns and songs, access introductory helps, and read several blog posts about this resource.
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Worship Resources at ELCA.org
When it is possible for worshiping communities to gather safely in person, you may desire a rite for regathering. "Worship Resource for Re-Gathering" is available in both PDF and Word formats. You are invited to adapt as needed for your context. |
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Worship in the Home
“Worship in the Home” is available weekly on the ELCA Worship blog. You are encouraged to worship as you are able in homes on Sunday and throughout the week. If you don’t have Evangelical Lutheran Worship at home, a copy can be purchased through Augsburg Fortress’ web store, or perhaps your church might set up a lending library for home use. In addition to Sunday worship resources, resources for Daily Prayer are available, including simplified forms of Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, and Night Prayer as well as table prayers.
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