[LITURGY] Gratitude and Honesty

Mariah: Hey South Bend City Church, Mariah here, the Director of Art and Worship. We’re so thankful that you chose to join us today for this liturgy episode of the podcast. Today, you will hear the liturgy that we engaged in this weekend during week two of our gratitude series. And this week, we not only focused on gratitude, but we also took a moment to reflect and honor those who maybe are in a season where gratitude does not come naturally, or maybe it even feels counterintuitive to the things that they’re going through right now.

So we hope that no matter where you are on the spectrum of belief, doubt, or maybe you’re feeling a bit of both today, we hope that you feel seen and known and that this time of reflection, singing, and reading will be meaningful for you today wherever you are. Once again, thanks for joining us. Let’s jump in with the rest of our community now.

 

You Are Good by Israel HoughtonINTRO
Verse (x2)
Lord You are good and your mercy endures forever

Pre-Chorus
People from every nation and tongue
From generation to generation

Chorus
We worship You Hallelujah Hallelujah
We worship You for who you are
We worship You Hallelujah Hallelujah
We worship You for who you are
You are good

Verse (x2)
Chorus
Instrumental
Bridge
You are good all the time
All the time You are good

Verse (x2)
Pre-Chorus
Chorus (x2)

 

Thankful by LCBC Worship
Verse 1
When I pause and see
I have all I need
That’s when I find your peace
That’s when your peace finds me
When I fix my sight
On what’s true and right
That’s when I find your peace
That’s when your peace finds me

Chorus
And I’m thankful thankful
I’m so thankful thankful
What else can I say
You’re worthy of all praise
What else can I do
But give my thanks to You
Thank You

Verse 2
When I leave some room
Let your Spirit move
That’s when Your glory speaks
That’s when it speaks to me
That’s when Your glory speaks
That’s when it speaks to me

Chorus
Instrumental
Bridge
For your love, Your pursuit
Again I will rejoice
For your strength, in my weakness
Again I will rejoice
For your freedom, Your forgiveness
Again I will rejoice
For your endless love that never quits
Again I will rejoice
For the life I have
From the love You gave
Again I will rejoice
For the peace I have
From the grace-filled waves
Again I will rejoice
And again and again
Again I will rejoice
And again and again
Again I will rejoice

Chorus (x2)

 

Mariah: Now for some of you who walked in and those songs are like, yes, absolutely, and we celebrate with you. For some of you, you’re like, that’s not where my life is at right now. And that’s okay. This next prayer that I’ve asked Amina to lead us through is kind of a prayer of maybe some honesty for some of us. And so I’ve asked her to lead this. And when you see the words in bold and italics, go ahead and read with her. But this is a prayer that we’re gonna share in together this morning.

 

Amina:
Spirit of Creation, God of All,

I don’t understand you, I don’t even know if I believe in you, but this is my cry to you, whomever you are, I figure if you are as big as people say you are, you are not going to be offended if I get things wrong.

Thank you for being an understanding and gracious Presence.

My life feels messy, things are not going smoothly at all.

Some of it I have done, some of it has been done to me, some of it just seems to have happened.

Sometimes I feel angry, sometimes shame.
And sometimes, to tell you the truth, I feel nothing at all.

Thank you for the space to feel what I feel without shame.

I could use some help through these tough times, I am open to receive help from any source that has my wellbeing in mind.

Please, place good people, kind people, along my path.

Thank you for those that I have already found to be good and kind.

Please God, help me have the wisdom to make right choices.

This is my cry to you.

Thank you for listening.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

My World Needs You by Kirk Franklin
Verse 1 (x2)
Show me your face
Fill up this space
My world needs you right now
My world needs you right now
I can’t escape
Being afraid
Fill me with you right now
My world needs you right now

Verse 2
Power fall down
Bring with it a sound
That points us to you right now
Erase substitutes right now
Fix what I see
And God please fix me
My world needs you right now
Let us see you right now

Interlude (with ad libs)
Jesus

Bridge (x3)
Storms may come but when we call your name
All things change
Kingdoms fall
One thing forever reigns
Is your name

Verse 1

 

Sufficient for Today by Maverick City Music
Verse 1
There may be storms
That won’t move out the way
And trials will come
To only test my faith
What I’ve learned about Your favor
Your mercy and Your grace
Is they go on forever
They’re sufficient for today

Verse 2
When I’m worried about tomorrow
I won’t be overwhelmed
And the burdens that I’ve carried
I will choose to lay them down
‘Cause what I’ve learned about Your favor
Your mercy and Your grace
Is they go on forever
They’re sufficient for today

Chorus (x2)
And hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
They’re sufficient for today

Verse 3
In the joy and in the sorrow
I find You just the same
And behind my darkest mornings
There’s a peace I can’t explain
I’m so grateful for Your favor
Your mercy and Your grace
‘Cause they go on forever
They’re sufficient for today

Chorus (x2)

Verse 4
One day I’ll finally see You
And my faith will be my sign
And all my present suffering
Will be gone and left behind
I’ll be standing in Your favor
Your mercy and Your grace
‘Cause they go on forever
They still go on forever
Oh, they still go on forever
All glory to Your name

Chorus 2 (x2)
And hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
All glory to your name

Chorus (x2)

 

Mariah: So God, for those of us that are maybe feeling like gratitude and thankfulness is something that is not true to our experience, would we at least say that your grace and mercy is sufficient for today and that we’re gonna take it day by day by day by day. And we just ask for daily bread today.

And for those of us who are celebrating and thankful and full of gratitude this morning, thank you that we can be in a community that can coexist in those two experiences. And will we lift each other up, will we encourage each other and walk alongside of each other and celebrate with one another and mourn with one another. Thank you for the space.

Thank you for being here, we love you, we pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.