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Worship Suggestions for 3V: Called to
Love and Justice
Being a Prophet Isn’t All It’s Cracked Up to Be (2 Samuel 11:26–12:12), page 1
Have the students examine what’s going on in the news and in the culture right
now. What situations that need the voice of prophets to speak truth? As
resources permit, allow the youth to search newspapers, magazines, and websites
for such stories. Have the students work together to write a responsive reading
in which participants name these situations and respond to each with a
prophetic word. When the reading is completed, set around as many candles as
there are situations that the youth named. As each prophetic response is read,
have one participant light a candle representing the light of God shining in a
troubled world.
Showdown at Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18:20-40), page 14
Set aside time foryou and your students to show loyalty and commitment to the
Lord. Provide a variety of art supplies (paper, markers and/or colored pencils,
modeling clay, and so forth) and invite each youth to create something as an
offering on the altar. When they are finished have them place the offerings on
your altar space or worship center and say, "O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and
Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, that I am your
servant." Each time a creation is offered, the rest of the group should
respond, "The Lord indeed is God; The Lord indeed is God."
One Can Stand for Many? (Isaiah 52:13–53:12), page 27
Hand out copies of The Faith We
Sing, or another songbook, and sing or read aloud the words to “The
Servant Song,” number 2222. Afterwards, talk about what the song means to each
of the students after studying this passage from Isaiah.
Preaching to the Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14), page 39
Invite the students into an extended period of silence during which they will
focus on their breathing and be intentional about breathing in deeply the
life-giving breath of God. As you enter the silence, sing together the praise
song, "Breathe" (featured on the Top
25 Praise Songs 2007 CD). After some time has passed, say: The
Lord says to you this day, ‘I will put my spirit within you and you shall
live.’
Freedom Has a Price (Hosea 11:1-11), page 52
Have students write a prayer that begins, "God, you are like . . . ." When the
youth have finished, collect their prayers in a basket and mix them up. Have
each youth pull out someone else’s prayer and read this prayer aloud for a
closing prayer time.
The Day of the Lord Will Be Great (Amos 8:1-12), page 63)
Talk for a moment about poverty in your area. Spend time in conversation,
discerning how you could work together toward eliminating poverty and injustice
against persons who are poor. Allow for silence, prayer, and reflection on what
actions you could take. Afterward, debrief the discernment process and put
together an action plan for next steps.
"I Caught a Man This Big," Said the Fish (Jonah 3:12–4:11), page 77
Provide a strip of leather cording for each student and several different
colored beads. Invite students to create bracelets that declare "yes" to God
when they wear them. Play some worship music in the background. When the youth
have finished, ask them to tell about the colors they chose, what these colors
mean, and how they will continue to live out their call to bring about love and
justice in the world.
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