• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Emerging Scholars Blog

InterVarsity's Emerging Scholars Network

DONATE
  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Our Bloggers
    • ESN Writing Inquiries
    • Commenting Policy
  • Reading Lists
  • Scholar’s Compass
    • Scholar’s Compass Discussion Guide
    • Scholar’s Compass Posts
    • Scholar’s Compass Booklet
  • Connect
    • Membership
    • Events
    • Donate
    • Contact Us
Home » My Calling at Home (Liturgies of Calling, Post 3)

My Calling at Home (Liturgies of Calling, Post 3)

October 4, 2015 by Mike Gehrling Leave a Comment

father and son african photo
Photo by B.C. Lorio

Now  and then, we’ll take a break from our Sunday Scholar’s Compass rhythm to share other material that can be used in personal reflection and communal worship, and this week we continue a series of  liturgies from a recent InterVarsity conference. Every summer, InterVarsity hosts  the  Midwest Faculty Conference  as a time for faculty to rest, reflect, and meet with God and each other. This year’s theme was The Faculty Vocation: Exploring a Christian Anthropology of the Academic Life. Mike Gehrling,  InterVarsity’s Director of International Graduate Student and Faculty Ministry, crafted liturgies for worship at the conference around the theme of vocation. He shares them with us here.  Part 1  can be found here, and Part 2 is here.

My Calling at Home – A Liturgy based on Colossians 3:1-4:1

Song – Jesus, What a Beautiful Name  (Tanya Riches)

Words of Exhortation

If then you were raised with Christ,
seek those things which are above,
where Christ is,
sitting at the right hand of God.
Set your mind on things above,
not on things on the earth.

For you died,
and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
When Christ who is our life appears,
then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Song – Before the Throne of God Above  (Charitie Lees Bancroft)

Prayer of Repentance

Christ our life,
we put to death our earthly members.
We repent of our fornication, uncleanness,
 passion,
evil desire, covetousness and idolatry,
and we nail them to Your cross.
We take off the old self:
our anger, wrath, malice,
blasphemy, filthy language, and lies,
and we nail them to Your cross.

Christ our life,
we put on the new self.
Renew us in the knowledge of the image of God.
As the elect of God, holy and beloved,
we put on tender mercies, kindness,
humility, meekness, and longsuffering.
Help us to bear with one another,
and to forgive each other as you have forgiven us.

Above all these things,
we put on your love, the bond of perfection.
Let your peace rule in our hearts;
make us one body,
and make us thankful.
Let Your word dwell in us richly in all wisdom.
Fill our homes 
with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs,
with words and deeds in Your name,
and with abundant thanks to God the Father through Christ.

Song – Center (Charlie Hall and Matt Redman)

Prayers for Our Households

Christ, our life,
bless all husbands and wives
with marriages that point to Your love for the Church.
Remove all bitterness from our marriages,
and fill us with your love.

Christ, our life,
bless our parents and our children.
Help us to continue honoring our parents in all things,
and to raise our children
 to know You and to love You.

Christ, our life,
bless us in our service to others,
and in our being served.
Keep us from eye-service and people-pleasing,
and fill us with sincerity of heart and fear of God.

Keep before us the reward of our inheritance in Christ,
that we may approach every task heartily
and in service to you.
Keep us knowing that You are our Master,
that we may treat those who serve us justly and fairly.  


Part  of Mike Gehrling’s Liturgies of Calling series, appearing in the Highlighting Community feature of the Emerging Scholars Network Blog. Part 3. Find Part 1  here  and Part 2 here.  

Mike Gehrling
Mike Gehrling

Rev. Michael Gehrling is InterVarsity’s Director of International Graduate Student and Faculty Ministry, leading GFM’s ministry to international students and scholars across the country. He also serves as co-pastor of The Upper Room, a Presbyterian church plant in Pittsburgh, PA. Find him on social media @mikegehrling.

Share this:

  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • More
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest

Filed Under: Christ and the Academy, Love Your Campus Tagged With: calling, community, housekeeping, hymns, Liturgies of Calling series, Love Your Campus, The Four Loves, theology of vocation, vocation

Reader Interactions

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Primary Sidebar

Become a Member

Membership is Free. Sign up and receive our monthly newsletter and access ESN member benefits.

Join ESN Today

Scholar’s Compass Booklet

Scholar's Compass Booklet

Click here to get your copy

Top Posts

  • Rest and Flourishing: ESN Weekly Summer Readings for Faculty (Small Group or Individual)
  • Rest and Growth: ESN Weekly Summer Readings for Grad Students (Small Group or Individual)
  • Faith and Reason, Part 2: Augustine
  • A Prayer for Those Finishing a Semester
  • The Message of Genesis 1

Facebook Posts

Facebook Posts

Footer

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Recent Posts

  • Encouraging One Another
  • Science Corner: Grandmother, What Grey Fur You Have
  • ESN Conversation: Nailing It

Article Categories

Footer Logo
© 2025 InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA®. All rights reserved.
InterVarsity, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, and the InterVarsity logo are trademarks of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA and its affiliated companies.

Member of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Contact Us