Racial Justice Day
Second Sunday after the Epiphany (Ordinary Time)
Lord, Speak to Me
Scriptures
1 Samuel 3:1–20; Psalm 139:1–6, 13–18; 1 Corinthians 6:12–20;
John 1:43–51; Doctrine and Covenants 155:8
Welcome
Call to Worship (soloist or congregation)
“Great God, Your Love Has Called Us Here,” verse one. (Text by Brian Wren, Worship & Rejoice 55. Suggested tune: HS 433. Worship & Rejoice is available from Hope Publishing Company. To order call 1-800-323-1049.)
OR “The measure of a people’s heart is this:
Do we remember the sacrifices of the past;
Do we work for peace in the present;
Do we speak of hope for the future?
And so we come now before God
To name as our dream God’s reign of shalom,
To commit ourselves to the cause of peace,
And to remember.
Let us worship God.”
—Rod Sykes, Gathering, S/A 2010, p. 49, used with permission
*Invocation
*Musical Response
Statement of Confession
One voice: Lord, I am sorry. My ears are blocked with noise and I’m listening to other things. I miss your still voice guiding me.
Another voice: Lord, I am sorry. My life is crazy busy with work and school and friends and chores and I miss being aware of your presence with me.
Together: Forgive us, Lord, and thank you for your unending love, given to us through Jesus.
Prayer for Peace
Scripture Reading
Psalm 139:1–6 (two readers stand on either side of the sanctuary reading every other verse)
Congregational Hymn
“Teach Me, God, to Wonder” HS 176
OR “The Living Word of Scripture” HS 299
Drama: “The Affirmation of Call” by Barbara Howard (see script following this worship outline)
Scripture Reading
Doctrine and Covenants 155:8
Ministry of Music
“Word of God Speak” by Mercy Me
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yx4eT7ZxZk
OR Hymn “Lord, Speak to Me” HS 412
Message
Based on 1 Samuel 3:1–10 (11–20)
Instrumental Meditation
(If possible, ask a young musician to offer their ministry.)
Disciples’ Generous Response
Each Sunday, as part of the Disciples’ Generous Response, we ask you to integrate the message of “share equally” between Local/Mission Center and World Mission Tithes. Generosity stories are provided to keep the church in touch with how contributions to Mission Tithes focus on the whole mission of Jesus Christ through the five life-changing, church-changing, and world-changing mission initiatives.
Please use the stories, testimonies, and up-to-date contribution information as part of your offertory ministry. Visit www.CofChrist.org/generositystories/ to print a copy, or contact your pastor, congregational financial officer, or worship coordinator for a copy.
Blessing and Receiving of Mission Tithes
*Closing Hymn
“Called by Christ to Love Each Other” SP 36
OR “Master, Speak! Thy Servant Heareth” HS 410
*Benediction and Sending Forth
God, we thank you for speaking to us through the life and ministry of Jesus. May we listen to hear your call in the world around us today and through the coming week. Amen.
The Affirmation of Call
By Barbara Howard
Setting: Two sleeping bags on which are seated two young women (about 16 years old) in their pajamas. One (Nancy) is writing in her journal. The other (Sarah) is reading a magazine. Sarah sits up, starts brushing her hair...
Sarah: Nance, sometimes you really shock me.
Nancy: What now? Was it my new nail polish or that I’m loving chemistry? What?
Sarah: What you did today. I couldn’t believe it.
Nancy: What? That I did it?
Sarah: Yeah. Weren’t you scared? You didn’t look scared. You just walked right up to that bunch of guys and…
Nancy: Told them to stop.
Sarah: Yeah. Were you scared?
Nancy: Not really. We were on the school grounds and they weren’t going to hurt me. Gosh, I’ve dated two of those guys. I couldn’t believe what they were doing.
Sarah: Yeah, I really felt sorry for Kim. They looked like they were going to beat him up.
Nancy: No, they were just acting crazy. Kim is so sweet and gentle, and they have this stupid idea that someone like that is a sissy or a coward.
Sarah: Yeah, but they were pushing him around and calling him ugly names.
Nancy: But they know we have a policy at school about bullying. They knew they were wrong.
Sarah: But why did you do it? How could you be so brave?
Nancy: I wasn’t being brave. I just know that those guys know better, and I wasn’t going to stand by and see Kim embarrassed and maybe get hurt.
Sarah: Well, you were braver than I’d be. What made you do it?
Nancy: I guess I was remembering what Mr. Reed said at camp last summer about how sometimes God calls us in an article in the newspaper or in a comment someone makes or something someone does.
Sarah: Did you hear God calling you to go talk to those guys?
Nancy: Not exactly. I think I felt God calling me when I saw how frightened Kim was. Kim has been such a great friend. He helped me get through my history class last year. We created quizzes about the week’s work and studied together at my house. Since he grew up in Korea, he was really interested in our country’s history. You know, his dad met his mom there, and he’s been in our country just since he was twelve.
Sarah: I knew that. In fact, after I saw how hard history was I decided to take another course this year. I’m glad you’re a year ahead of me.
Nancy: Well, Kim would help you this year. He’s just a great guy.
Sarah: You helped him today. I know that.
Nancy: Well, I hope I helped those boys, too. I just think it’s important to stand up for what’s right, and sometimes I don’t. Today, I decided God was calling me to act. So, I did.
Sarah: (by now is brushing Nancy’s hair) Well, I’m glad I was there. You’re right about the boys. They were just being cruel, but I’m glad you knew them and knew that they wouldn’t hurt you.
Nancy: (turning and hugging her friend) You were with me. That’s one reason I wasn’t afraid.
SERMON HELPS
Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1–20
Exploring the Scripture
The opening scene of 1 Samuel 3 reveals an old priest and a young boy in the roles of mentor and apprentice. In earlier passages we find that the young boy, Samuel, has been dedicated by his mother to the Lord when she handed over her son to the care and tutelage of the old priest Eli. We also discover in the preceding chapter that Eli’s sons, also priests, have disgraced the office of priest and the family name. Because of their sinful ways the Lord is preparing to punish the entire house of Eli. As Eli’s house falls from power, the apprentice, assisted by the mentor, will be called to assume their roles of leadership and power. Samuel’s leadership will change the course of history for the Israelites.
Today’s verses are 1–10; however, it is important to be familiar with verses 11–20. Verses 1–10 alone depict a nice story involving a little boy, a grandfatherly figure, and God’s gentle call of the boy. However, in verses 11–20 this nice story becomes one which will denounce the current religious leadership structure and challenge Eli and Samuel.
Samuel is sleeping next to the Ark of the Covenant, most likely because Eli’s health would not permit him to do so. The priest may have slept next to the Ark to tend to the lamp nearby. It is also suggested that the priest was to be near the Ark to hear when the Lord spoke. The writer states, “The lamp of God had not yet gone out.” This may simply be an indication that it was near dawn and the lamp was not yet extinguished after burning all night. But more importantly, the writer may be signaling that there is still hope of the Lord speaking.
In verse 1 we read that it was rare for God to speak in those days. It is assumed that the behavior of the house of Eli was a major reason God was not being heard. When the writer says, “The lamp of God had not yet gone out,” it is intended to plant a seed of hope. Hope was not yet lost; there was hope that the Lord would soon speak a new thing. That is a primary thread of this story: a God of hope speaking and doing something new.
During the night on three occasions the Lord calls Samuel, but Samuel believes it is the voice of Eli. Only after three calls does Eli realize it is the voice of the Lord. Eli then instructs Samuel how to respond if the Lord calls again. Ironically, the message Eli helps Samuel receive from the Lord is a message of condemnation toward the house of Eli, but within the message there is new hope and new possibilities for the Israelites.
Samuel is being called into this role not because of family lineage or because he is of the “right” political stripe. Samuel is being called because God does not always call the expected ones. There are many stories of God doing a new thing, bringing new hope and calling those who are not expecting to help usher in that new hope.
There was no doubt a desire to hold to the old ways, particularly for those who had been taking advantage of others through the now-corrupted priestly system. To bring about a new hope in that environment required courage on the part of Samuel; it took great courage to relay God’s message to his tutor. We have been called to courageously challenge systems and cultures of our day to bring about new hope and God’s peace.
Central Ideas
- It was not God’s refusal to speak; it was the people’s refusal to listen.
- If we are listening, God speaks new things in the midst of struggle and uncertainty.
- Sometimes those whom God calls are not ones who are on the “expected” list.
- We live in hope that God will continue to speak a new thing.
- It takes courage to speak that which we have heard from God.
Questions for the Speaker
- How are the Enduring Principles of all are called and continuing revelation illustrated in this text?
- In the temple, the center of the religious structure, God spoke four times before either Eli or Samuel recognized God’s voice. Where and when does God speak in the midst of your religious celebrations, your congregational worship activities, and you miss hearing God? How can you become better at listening?
- How is your congregation identifying and mentoring new leaders?