Faith to Change

Extend a Hand: A Meditation for World Communion Sunday

If I really had faith the size of a mustard seed,
What would I do?

Would I wave a hand to hurl Mount Kilimanjaro into Lake Victoria
Just to prove I could?

If I really had mustard-seed faith what would I do?

Would I start by extending a hand of peace
To the church across the street
Whose sign says something different from mine?

Would I by extending a hand of peace
To the Ol’ G that terrorizes the old people down the street?
Or, to the grizzled homeless man that sits on the corner with a sign?

Would I start by extending my hand of peace
To those who brawl on schoolyards
And to those who brawl on battlefields
In search of a future with hope?

Maybe I could begin by just taking my hand of peace
Out of its hiding place
Long before the moment
That I cup my hands to receive communion.

O, Lord, increase our faith!

Safiyah Fosua, The Africana Worship Book for Year C, Discipleship Resources, 2008, 255.

Call to Worship

Destruction and violence are everywhere;
strife and contention are all around

The needs of the world are so great;
O Lord, increase our faith.

The law is slack,
and justice does not prevail.

The needs of the world are so great;
O Lord, increase our faith.

How many threats surround us;
warfare, homelessness, loneliness, loss.

The needs of the world are so great,
but you, O God, are greater still –
the One in whom all things are possible.
O Lord, increase our faith in you!

Feasting on the Word, Worship Companion, Liturgies for Year C, Vol. 2, Kimberly Bracken Long, ed. WJK Press, 2013, 193.

Prayer

For the gift of faith
which sees beyond the present moment
and looks to an eternity,
we thank you.
For the gift of faith
small as a mustard seed, which has power
within its simplicity,
we thank you.
For the gift of faith
bestowed on those who would simply come,
hearts open in humility,
we thank you. Amen

Written by John Birch, and posted on his Faith and Worship website. Reposted: https://re-worship.blogspot.com/2013/09/prayer-of-thanksgiving-for-gift-of-faith.html.

Benediction

(inspired by Luke 17: 5-6)

Imagine what a mustard seed of faith
might do this week in your life.
Not a quart,
nor a gallon,
nor a truckload.
Just a mustard seed.
Imagine.
Now go and live out that grace.
Yes! Let it be so! Amen!

Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren website. http://rockhay.tripod.com/worship/orders/2010/10-10-03.htm.