Thursday Sending Forth

1. Thursday Sending Forth Resources from The Africana Worship Book Year A General Editor, Valerie Bridgeman Davis, PhD Associate Editor, Safiyah Fosua

2. Heaven Help usRay Charles and Gladys Knightas we gather

3. Transform Us into Prophetic People Reader 1: When Jesus appeared to his disciples on the mountain of transfiguration, They realized that he was “that special one.” Change us, too, Lord, into “somebody special.” Change our hearts until they beam like the sun. Change our lives into shining examples of your grace. All: Transform us into prophetic people of God moved by the Holy Spirit.

4. Reader 2: Give us a “spirit” so unique that no one can match it, An essence so mysterious that no artist can catch it. We want to live in the strength that lies deep within our souls. We long for an appearance that reveals character, And a strong determination to follow your will. All: Transform us into prophetic people of God moved by the Holy Spirit.

5. Readers 3: Give us powerful arms and strong legs For the burdens that lie ahead Give us eyes for the truth, And a mind that stays on you. We want to be like that perfect one, “that special one.” Readers 1, 2, and 3: Transform us, too! That’s why we call on you! All: Transform us into prophetic people of God moved by the Holy Spirit. (Catrinia N. Harrison & Carolyn W. Dandridge, Transfiguration Sunday, Year A)

6. A Blessing

7. Listen, Don’t You Hear It?(Isaiah 49:1-7) Listen, don’t you hear it? The Lord is calling. Change the “when” of your hearing. God doesn’t need to wait until we’re grown to speak. God begins to call us before birth, while still in our mother’s womb. Listen, don’t you hear it? God not only calls us, God names us. God forms our mouths to speak the pointed truth that nations and rulers and gang-bangers need to hear. Listen, don’t you hear it?

8. God speaks to us in dreams and visions and whispers destiny into our souls. If we’re vigilant, we’ll hear what our purpose is in this world. Listen, don’t you hear it? Too many of us are soul-deaf. We miss those moments when God intersects our lives. Too many youth are preoccupied with the death of their friends in the violent streets. Listen, don’t you hear it? God is looking for willing servants to carry out a divine cause. Divine causes can restore the broken hearted and the broken places. Listen, don’t you hear it? God is calling you . . . (Kwasi I. Kena, Second Sunday after Epiphany, Year A)

9. 1 Corinthians 3:9-14 Porque nosotros , colaboradores somos de Dios; y vosotros labranza de Dios sois, edificio de Dios sois. Conforme a la gracia de Dios que me ha sido dada, yo como sabio maestro de obra, puse el fundamento, mas otro prosigue el edificio, pero cada uno vea cómo prosigue el edificio.  Porque nadie puede poner otro fundamento que el que está puesto, el cual es Jesús, el Cristo. Y si alguno edificare sobre este fundamento oro, plata, piedras preciosas, madera, heno, hojarasca; la obra de cada uno será manifestada, porque el día la declarará; porque por el fuego será manifestada; y la obra de cada uno cual sea, el fuego hará la prueba. Si permaneciere la obra de alguno que prosiguió el edificio, recibirá el salario. For we are God's servants, working together; you are God's field, God's building.According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it. Each builder must choose with care how to build on it. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid; that foundation is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw-- the work of each builder will become visible, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each has done. If what has been built on the foundation survives, the builder will receive a reward.

10. Ruth-Ann Homily

11. The Lord be with you.And also with you. Lift up your hearts.We lift them to the Lord.Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.It is right to give him thanks and praise.Then, facing the Holy Table, the Celebrant proceedsGod of all power, Ruler of the Universe, you are worthy of glory and praise.Glory to you for ever and ever.At your command all things came to be: the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home.By your will they were created and have their being.From the primal elements you brought forth the human race, and blessed us with memory, reason, and skill. You made us the rulers of creation. But we turned against you, and betrayed your trust; and we turned against one another.Have mercy, Lord, for we are sinners in your sight.Again and again, you called us to return. Through prophets and sages you revealed your righteous Law. And in the fullness of time you sent your only Son, born of a woman, to fulfill your Law, to open for us the way of freedom and peace.By his blood, he reconciled us.By his wounds, we are healed.And therefore we praise you, joining with the heavenly chorus, with prophets, apostles, and martyrs, and with all those in every generation who have looked to you in hope, to proclaim with them your glory, in their unending hymn:

12. Celebrant and PeopleHoly, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might,heaven and earth are full of your glory.    Hosanna in the highest.Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.    Hosanna in the highest.The Celebrant continuesAnd so, Father, we who have been redeemed by him, and made a new people by water and the Spirit, now bring before you these gifts. Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.At the following words concerning the bread, the Celebrant is to hold it, or lay a hand upon it, and at the words concerning the cup, to hold or place a hand upon the cup and any other vessel containing wine to be consecrated.On the night he was betrayed he took bread, said the blessing, broke the bread, and gave it to his friends, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body, which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."After supper, he took the cup of wine, gave thanks, and said, "Drink this, all of you: This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this for the remembrance of me."Remembering now his work of redemption, and offering to you this sacrifice of thanksgiving,We celebrate his death and resurrection,as we await the day of his coming.

13. Lord God of our Fathers: God of Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, and Jacob and Leah; God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: Open our eyes to see your hand at work in the world about us. Deliver us from the presumption of coming to this Table for solace only, and not for strength; for pardon only, and not for renewal. Let the grace of this Holy Communion make us one body, one spirit in Christ, that we may worthily serve the world in his name.Risen Lord, be known to us in the breaking of the Bread.Accept these prayers and praises, Father, through Jesus Christ our great High Priest, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, your Church gives honor, glory, and worship, from generation to generation. AMEN. And now, as our SaviorChrist has taught us,we are bold to say,

14. The Breaking of the BreadThe Celebrant breaks the consecrated Bread.A period of silence is kept.Then may be sung or said[Alleluia.] Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;Therefore let us keep the feast. [Alleluia.]Facing the people, the Celebrant says the following InvitationThe Gifts of God for the People of God. God is Moving, Sandra Crouch Let us pray.Celebrant and PeopleEternal God, heavenly Father,you have graciously accepted us as living membersof your Son our Savior Jesus Christ,and you have fed us with spiritual food in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.Send us now into the world in peace,and grant us strength and courageto love and serve youwith gladness and singleness of heart;through Christ our Lord. Amen.

15. Rhythm Band(Psalm 150:1-6) I’ve got a tambourine in my bosom. It’s beating out praises to God my King. No one else can hear it, but it beats out a rhythm that says, “Praise You. Thank You, Lord!” Its bells shake and accentuate time when I walk through the produce section at the grocery store. Its skin is well worn from praising the Lord. I’ve got a trumpet in my heart. It sings with sweet brassy notes. It soars through holy melodies while I’m riding in my car. Flourishes and salutes, blue notes and high notes reach toward the heavens to worship my Lord. I’ve got a harp in my hands. Its gentle notes are strummed as I sit at my desk. My hands caress each string each time I think of Him. No one else hears the music as I reach for the harp strings; but its melodious sounds and chords reverberate through my soul. Holy Spirit take control.

16. The brass drum is in my belly. With each beat of the bass, I bend and sway and reach out in adoration. That drum beats when I walk down the street. It gives me purpose and coaxes my feet to gently pound the pavement. My neck begins to bob in response to its otherwise inaudible beat. I beat the drum down the street. There is dancing in my feet as I wait for the bus. Left-side-sway-step! Heh! Rightside- sway-step! Just like the choir—along with the choir. There’s a rhythm band on the inside of me; there’s music in the air; there’s dancing in my feet! Praise you, my King. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. (Excerpt from Mother Wit by Safiyah Fosua (c)1996 by Abingdon Press. Used by permission.)

17. He reigns/Awesome God • Kirk Franklin