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.
About the author:
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.
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