2. NAME Music Leader

3. Gathering Music

4. Call to Worship

5. Leader: In these opening moments of worship we turn our hearts to You, O God of Blessings. Scripture tells us, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.”

6. Today, we come as we are to share in this time together. Some of us feel blessed and our lives are filled with happiness. Some of us feel burdened and our lives feel overwhelmed. Some of us haven’t really thought about it.

7. All:But we are here, O God of Blessings, knowing that you are here with us too. We open ourselves to You to listen and learn, to speak and to feel.

8. Leader:“Happy are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.” All:We have come from many places, from many situations, from many relationships, from many opportunities and we are here to listen and learn, to speak and to feel.

9. Leader: Whether or not we “feel” happy or blessed, we know that we are surrounded by Your love. Your presence goes with us everywhere in every place enfolding us in every circumstance. All: For this time and this place, we are here to listen and learn, to speak and to feel, and perhaps to change.

10. Leader: Yes, to change. All:May it be so in Jesus’ name. Amen.

11. Blessed Assurance Lyrics by Fanny J. Crosby Music by Phoebe P. Knapp Public Domain

12. Scripture Reading Esther 4 NRSV “Such a Time as This”

14. Reflection Questions  What time is this?  What is happening in your community/country/world that concerns you?  Where do you have opportunities to lead?

15. Prayer Time Sharing of our prayers Leader: Lord, in your mercy All: Hear our prayers.

16. O Lord Hear Our Prayer Words: Stephen F. Key Words © 1997 StepKey Music./ASCAP. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

17. Leader: We hear the call of God to Esther, “Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.” While we know that we are not “royal,” we know we are called. Today’s sharing tells us that the times require leadership. Closing Benediction

18. All:May we say with Esther, “I…will also fast as you do. After that I will go…though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.”

19. Lift Every Voice and Sing Words: James Weldon Johnson