Thank you to the Hannah Ministry at Watts Street Baptist Church in Durham, NC. In May, just before the Mother’s Day/Father’s Day season begins, the Hannah Ministry holds a Service of Grief, Hope, and Worship for those who are grieving infertility, miscarriage, and the loss of infants.
A Service of Grief, Hope, and Worship
Prelude
Invocation
Statement of Worship – We have arrived here tonight from many places, some of us hurried with minds racing and details swarming, some of us simply waiting for God who promises to meet us here. All of us formed by the grief that has seeped into our lives because of infertility, miscarriage, or the death of an infant child. All of us show up hoping that God’s love is brighter than our darknesses. Tonight, gathered in this place, we will weave together our grief, our hope, and our worship, remembering that God is, indeed, with us. Kyrie Eleiason. Lord, Have Mercy.
Weaving – Tonight during our service we will be moving through Psalm 69 and, as we move, we will spend some time at each of these tables, these candles illuminating our grief, our hope, and our worship. The Christ Candle is already lit. We are reminded that the light has come, and the darkness will never overcome it. As we progress, you will collect fabric strips. Hold on to them! They will form our response this evening.
Grief
Plea: Psalm 69:1-3
Promise: Isaiah 43:1b-3a
Sung Together: Kyrie Eleison
Hope
Prayer: Psalm 69:13-17
Promise: Isaiah 43:1b-3a
Sung Together: O Lord hear my prayer, O Lord hear my prayer, when I call, answer me, O Lord hear my prayer, O Lord hear my prayer, come and listen to me!
Worship
Praise: Psalm 69:30, 32-34
Promise: Isaiah 43:1b-3a
Sung Together: When the night becomes dark, your love O Lord is a fire, your love O Lord is a fire.
Response – Beautiful Things, Gungor
Time of silence
Hymn – How Firm a Foundation
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in God’s excellent word! What more can be said than to you God has said, to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled! Fear not, I am with the, oh, be not dismayed, for I am thy God, and will still give thee aid. I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand. When through the deep waters I call thee to go, the rivers of woe shall not thee overflow; for I will be near thee, thy troubles to bless, and sanctify to thee thy deepest distress. When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, my grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply. The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine. The soul that on Jesus still leans for repose, I will not, I will no desert to its foes’ that soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!
Closing Prayer __________
Postlude
