Call to Worship
One: Friends, Let us listen for the word of the Lord, this day and ever more.
All: We will open our ears and hear what God has revealed!
One: The Lord is still speaking to his people; with every thunder clap, musical note and child’s cry we listen for the word of the Lord.
All: To those who have ears let them hear!
One: The Lord is still speaking to his people; with every pregnant pause, whispered word, and still silence, we listen for the Word of the Lord.
All: To those who have ears let them hear!
One: I tell you the Lord is with us now and forever, if we can only be still and know God’s presence.
All: We will open our hearts and minds to the Lord. For in him we live, and move and have our being. Amen.
Prayer of Renewal
Too often we are quick to speak and slow to listen. We rebuke our neighbors before we hear their words. With prideful hearts we think we understand the ways of others, when we barely understand ourselves. Lord, help us to look inward before lashing out. Help us to listen in order to understand, rather than to criticize. And in our moment of silence help us to humble our hearts so we may perceive your forgiving grace.
Scripture: 1 Kings 19:9-16
9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shatteredthe rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram.16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.