by Ken Sehested
Sisters and brothers, don’t be fretful.
Don’t chew your nails or gobble your food.
Pace yourself, on both gas pedal and heart rate,
so you don’t race to ruin.
Litanies & Prayers
We shall not be moved
Happy are you who do not heed the advice of evil ones, or take the path of deceivers, or sit in the chambers of the haughty. We shall not be moved!
But our delight is in the Way of Life; we labor along its path by day and we are wrapped in its protection by night. And we shall not be moved!
Because of this, you are like trees planted by fresh streams of water, yielding your fruit in season, holding your leaves without fail. Your future is assured. We shall not be moved!
Read more ›Come to the Waters
Litany of Confession and Pardon inspired by Isaiah 55
by Ken Sehested
Call to Confession
The Word of Strong Deliverance is whispered in the ears of all who long for the relief of pardon. “Listen,” says the Assuring One, “all of you who thirst for righteousness, who hunger for justice, come to the waters. All of you who know you are broke, who have no way of buying your freedom, no way of bargaining for joy—come, buy, eat and rejoice!”
Read more ›Martin Luther King’s birthday commemoration
A litany for worship
by Ken Sehested
Admiring Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream is not the same as being captured by it. Too many find it possible to respect the man but relinquish the mission.
It has become too easy to revere the dreamer but renege on the dream.
Read more ›My soul thirsts for You
Selected texts about water for use as a litany for worship
Selected and arranged by Rev. Missy Harris
Circle of Mercy Congregation
O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Read more ›Give wisdom to legislators
A litany for worship inspired by Psalm 72 and a new congressional session
by Ken Sehested
O God of justice, ignite the hearts of our legislators with your commitment to truth and your demand for justice.
Give them wisdom to match their passion, intelligence to match their zeal.
Read more ›King Jesus and Brother Pontius
A litany for worship, "Christ the King/Reign of Christ" Sunday
by Ken Sehested
Prior to his lynching at the hand of Roman rage, and to the cheers of Caiaphas’ temple tyranny, Pilate asks Jesus, “So, are you to be king?”
“So say you, Brother Pontius,” Jesus replies. (Which is to say, I am but not as you think.) “My reign is not planted in the world you imagine. If it were, all who claim me as lord would bloody the sword.”
Read more ›The earth is satisfied
A litany for worship inspired by Psalm 104
by Ken Sehested
Worthy, worthy the One who conceived the earth and gave birth to bears and basil and beatitudes alike.
The earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work!
Read more ›Prosper the work of every generous hand
A litany for worship inspired by Psalm 90
by Ken Sehested
The earth and all its environs were marked from the beginning as the Dwelling Place of abundance. In this once-and-future land the arrogant are humbled by the countenance of Truth.
Holy the Name, whose might is manifest in mercy. Prosper the work of every generous hand.
Turn back, O merchants of misery. Your market rule shall wither in the Light of Heaven’s approach.
Read more ›Strangers we were
A litany for worship inspired by Ephesians 2:11-22
by Ken Sehested
Listen, O people of the Way, and take note. Your ancestors were once illegal aliens in the land of Southern Appalachia.* Boat people, all of you, undocumented immigrants. Scots-Irish trash; crackers and kaffirs, wetbacks and wops; gooks, goyim, gringos and gypsies.
Strangers we were, with no stake in the Promise; hopeless, helpless, beggarly-born.
Read more ›