LEVEL GROUND MENNONITE CHURCH AT-HOME WORSHIP (MAY 3)

PRAY, CRY, SING ... (PSALM 137)

SETUP Provide copies of Psalm 23, Congregation Prayer in a Pandemic and song lyrics for “Please Don’t

Make Us Sing This Song” for everyone in your group (2 pages in total; see below)

Before beginning, cue up the sermon and song (see below) on your internet device so that it can be played with minimal distraction.

Gather participants in a comfortable environment: around a kitchen table, in the living room, backyard, etc.

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READ ALOUD TOGETHER

Psalm 23 (see below)

LISTEN Go to the Level Ground Facebook page or YouTube account and listen to the sermon.

www.facebook.com/levelgroundchurch/ www.youtube.com/user/ChurchLevelGround

REFLECTION Take a few minutes to reflect quietly on this psalm. In preparing for sharing and responding, consider how you might reply to these questions:

How does this portion of Scripture shape my understanding of God and how I approach him?

In what ways have I been experiencing disorientation? Can I name what’s displaced or distressing me? Have I been able to be fully honest with God about how this makes me feel?

How do I practice lament? What expressions are comfortable or familiar to me?

Who around me is hurting? How might I help them to honestly express their hurt to God?

SHARING

Respond to the Scripture focus and the reflection questions, taking turns to express how the passage resonates with you. Perhaps you have a seen a prayer request filled, perhaps the text connected with you or you have observation that you would like to share with the group.

SILENCE

In quietness turn what was shared into prayer. Take a moment or two of silence to contemplate, to express gratitude for God’s provisions, to intercede for matters shared, to worship.

LISTEN

Play “Please Don’t Make Us Sing This Song” (lyrics below) https://gentlewolves.bandcamp.com/track/please-dont-make-us-sing-this-song-live

READ ALOUD TOGETHER

A Congregational Prayer in a Pandemic by Carol Penner (see below) Have one person be the primary reader. The remainder of the group joins and prays aloud the emphasized phrases in unison . Give space for anyone who wants to respond to the prayer, whether it be a response of gratitude or confession, a reflection of encourage and hope, etc.

BENEDICTION

Read in closing: And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39, NLT) -----------------

OPTIONAL: SING THE DOXOLOGY As a way of concluding your time together you could sign the doxology. Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow Praise Him, all creatures here below Praise Him above, ye heavenly host Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

OPTIONAL: DAILY REFLECTION Either through journalling, convesation or prayerful contemplation, you can use these three questions as a daily means of guiding and giving voice to your losses and gifts in this season.

What has the pandemic taken away from you today? [grief]

What has the pandemic not taken away from you today? [awareness]

What has the pandemic given you today? [gratitude]

Source: JR Briggs and Jared Mackey (twitter.com/jr_briggs/status/1246168262284660737)

OPTIONAL: KEEPING THE CONVERSATION GOING If you are interested in learning more about the psalms, how they came about and they are to be used in prayer especially in this time, you can listen to this 25-minute podcast from Adam Young called Emotions in the Time of Coronavirus: Praying the Psalms. adamyoungcounseling.com/2020/04/26/emotions-in-the-time-of-coronavirus-praying-the-psalms/

PSALM 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

“Please Don’t Make Us Sing This Song”

By the rivers of Babylon We sat and wept

When we thought of home So far away

On the branches of the willow trees We hung our harps

And hid our hearts from the enemy

And the men that surrounded us made demands That we clap our hands and sing

Please

Don’t make us sing this song We used to be happy

When we were free and home If I can’t remember

May I never sing a song Again

I can’t I won’t

I feel so far away

Congregational Prayer in a Pandemic

Great God: our community gathers in spirit through the marvels of technology to give thanks together. Thank you for medical professionals and staff who work so faithfully in hospitals, clinics and nursing homes… give them strength, courage and personal protective equipment. Thank you for the diligence of scientists working on a vaccine, and the way so many have ramped up the production of essential supplies. Thank you for storekeepers and clerks, farmers and truck drivers, police officers, firefighters and all who show up to work every day in essential services. Thank you for those who care for children in close quarters, and all the creativity and patience they are showing. There is so much to be thankful for, we pause here to lift up our own silent prayer of thanks….

(pause) We come to you with many needs today. Hear our prayer for those who are sick with this virus… ease their suffering and restore them to health. Hear our prayer for those who are grieving, who bury their loved ones without the comfort of funerals, or the physical presence of family and friends. Hear our prayer for the unemployed and business owners in this time of financial insecurity… help them survive this economic downturn. Hear our prayer for children whose routines are disrupted and who long to play sports and visit playgrounds… show them how to have fun inside. Hear our prayer for those who suffer silently, pinned down by anxiety, depression or fear, whose mental health is wavering in isolation … guide them to the help they need. Hear our prayer for vulnerable people everywhere, especially refugees, and people in war-torn countries who have no access to medical care…. we need a miracle to spare them from this virus. Finally, hear our prayer for public health officials around the world-- give them wisdom as they make decisions to reduce fatalities. Great God hear our prayer for mercy. This week, when we are tempted to dwell only on our own loneliness, help us reach out to others, being the community we long to have. Thank you for showing us new ways to be the church, the church alive, vibrant and witnessing to the risen Christ in times like these. Amen

source: adapted from Carol Penner (carolpenner.typepad.com/leadinginworship/2020/04/pandemic-congregational-prayer.html)